My Science Fair Packet:

Transcription

1 My Science Fair Packet: My Science Project or Engineering Design Project K-4 th Grades Title (My Question) By: 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 1 -

2 Grade/Teacher 2013 CHVE Science Fair Overview of the Science Fair Calling all scientists, inventors, and problem-solvers! The Science Fair is a chance to investigate a scientific question you are interested in, OR to invent something to solve a specific problem through the engineering design process. K-4 th graders can work solo or with one partner (siblings or classmates). KEY STEPS: - Registration: we need to know how many projects we have and assign Project Numbers. Please turn in a Registration Form (see CHVE.org website under Programs) to your teacher by 9/26/13. - Science Fair Packet: Participants fill out this Packet as a guide for the process. Sample Science Fair Questions are posted on the chve.org website to help you narrow your question and design an experiment to test your hypothesis. - Project Display Boards: Your project product is a Project Display Boards to show your project. The Display Board shows your Title, Hypothesis, Background Information, Plan or Procedure, Data & Results, Conclusion. It should also include your Reflection (e.g. why did or didn t the experiment work? What next questions would you ask?). The layout for your Display Board is at the end of this packet. You can include photos of your experiments, fun facts, etc. - Presentation: Practice explaining your project (5-10 minutes) to a pair of (very nice) judges. They will be eager to hear about it and may ask questions. - Technology: We encourage kids to type their final sections for their Display Board, analyze the data from their experiment or invention testing, and create tables or bar graphs to show their results. Mr. Krulish, the technology teacher, is happy to help Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 2 -

3 Engineering Design Projects The ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS is very similar to the Scientific Process. You need to identify a specific problem or question, and then design and build something to solve it. Five-Step Engineering Design Process: 1 1. ASK - What is the problem or question? Why is it a problem? What are the constraints? (Title and Hypothesis) 2. IMAGINE: What are some possible solutions? Brainstorm ideas and pick the best one - why do you think this is the best solution? (Background Information, including research on constraints, what others have done) 3. PLAN: Draw a diagram. Make a list of materials you will need. What variables will you need to control, if any? (Plan or Procedure, Variables) 4. CREATE: Follow your plan and build/create it. Test it out! (Data) 5. IMPROVE: Talk about what works, what doesn't, and what could work better. Modify your designs to make it better. (Retest, and then analyze Results and draw Conclusion) Fill out your packet but think about these questions when you fill out the sections of your Packet. Your Conclusion and Reflection should include your thoughts on why your invention worked or didn t, how it might be improved upon, and what follow-up questions you might ask. 1 From the Engineering is Elementary curriculum developed by the Children s Science Museum of Boston Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 3 -

4 Guiding Question State the specific question you are going to investigate (or for engineering design, the specific problem you want to solve). Ask yourself: What do I want to know? Why do you want to investigate this question? What is your purpose? What led you to wonder about this topic? Your question becomes the Title of your project Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 4 -

5 Background Information Two Column Notes Research your topic to help you define your question and better understand how to test it. Background information also helps you explain your results/evidence. T= 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 5 -

6 Bibliography Directions: For the background information, you must cite at least three resources. The resources should include at least one book, at least one website, and an encyclopedia source Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 6 -

7 Hypothesis Stating Your Hypothesis You will try to predict what might happen as a result of your investigation. Your hypothesis should be based on your previous knowledge and/or some research you ve already compiled. Your hypothesis can begin with I think and must: Identify the subject(s) of the investigation State what is being measured State the variable/condition of the investigation State the results expected Example: I think mice raised on a diet of junk food will show lower body weights after 6 weeks than mice raised on a regular diet because of a lack of the necessary nutrients in the junk food. State your hypothesis: 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 7 -

8 Plan/Procedure Think about: What will change or be affected as a result of your investigation? What variables do you need to control? How big should your sample size be? How will you measure your results? (counting, measuring, senses) How many times will you need to repeat the experiment to be sure the results are accurate? What materials will you need to gather? Independent Variable: Your experiment has one variable that you will change to see if the results support or refute your hypothesis. What is the one variable you will change during the experiment? Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the change that occurs as a result of doing the experiment. This variable is the measure of the change. How will you measure the change? Remember your measurements must be in numbers that can be put into a graph Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 8 -

9 Controlled Variable(s): Which variables will you control or keep the same during your experiment? Materials: Include all items you will use from home and items that you will need to purchase. What tool(s) will you need to measure the change of your experiment? Sample Size: What will your sample consist of? Example: 3 plants X 3 each = 9 total plants Repeated Investigation: How many times will you repeat the experiment for accuracy? Remember your experiment needs to be done at least 3 times Science Fair packet K-4th.doc - 9 -

10 Plan/Procedure Flow Map Use this space to create a FLOW MAP showing the step-by-step procedures that one would follow to complete this experiment. Think about how to best give the steps to someone who has never seen your experiment so that it could be easily repeated without questions. BE SPECIFIC and DETAILED Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

11 Plan for Data Collection Collect and analyze your data: Keep a record of results in this packet on the Data Log sheets. Decide how you will share your data (type of graph), charts, or diagrams. Decide how often to collect data. (Remember to repeat at least 3 times!) Keep a record of any changes that you needed to make due to problems that may have occurred with the experiment. 1. How will you collect your data? 2. How long? 3. How often? 4. How will you share your data on your display board? 5. What type of graph is best for your information? (Bar, Line, Pie) 6. What other type of visual aids will you use to help others see the process of your experiment? 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

12 Data Log 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

13 Data Log 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

14 Claim and Evidence Claim/Evidence/Reasoning: Interpret results and make a claim. - Data collected and observations are used as evidence to make a claim, or answer to your question. - A claim is a deduction, pattern, or finding as a result of completing the experiment. Evidence is what supports the claim. - State why the data counts as evidence to support the claim. Claim: (I claim ) Evidence: (I know this because ) Reasoning: (Why did this happen?) Remember: Scientific investigation is a process, not a single right answer. We learn from what worked AND what didn t work Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

15 Conclusion What was learned from the evidence? (a summary statement) Does your conclusion agree with your hypothesis? If so, explain how it does. If not, how are they different? Reflection 1. What does your investigation leave you wondering? (I wonder ) 2. What are two questions you have now that you might like to investigate? 2013 Science Fair packet K-4th.doc

16 Science Fair Display Board Format (K-4 th brings tri-fold display board only no Notebook required) Hypothesis: TITLE (Your Question) Name(s) and Project # Plan/ Procedure: Background Information: Data/Graphs: Claim/Evidence: Experiment Design: Independent Variable: Dependent Variable: Controlled Variable(s): Pictures/Diagrams: Conclusion: Reflection: Note: You may decorate your board with pictures, etc. You can paste handwritten sections from your Packet, or re-type them for better presentation and clarity Science Fair packet K-4th.doc