Fry School Science Fair

January 4th, 2016

Dear Parents and Family of Fry School Students,

Such exciting news, Fry is holding its first annual Fry School Science Fair!

Save the date of Thursday, April 6th, from 6-8pm. Come with the entire family to view the children's science fair projects.

Not sure what it entails or how to get started, then come to the “Science Fair Information Night” on January 13th at 7pm. Please come with your questions and find out more about this fun science night.

Illinois’s newly adopted science standards, Next Generation Science Standards, www.nextgenscience.org/illinois, emphasize six key practices that all students need for 21st century skills. These practices include asking questions, planning and conducting investigations, using data to draw conclusions, making models, and obtaining, evaluating and communicating information. All of these skills can be practiced through a science fair project! Plus the cool factor, remember all the super heroes are scientists!!

Students may conduct investigatory or demonstration projects (for details and information see below in the project planning guide or website). Students can work in teams (up to 4 students) or as individuals and siblings may work together.

Students will conduct and complete their science fair projects at home, and bring them to school where they will be presented and reviewed by friendly judges on the evening of the Science Fair April 6th, 2016.

As part of Family Science Night, the Science Committee will host an “Are You Stuck?” table for parents and students on March 10th, the night of the NIU STEM event.

This science fair step by step guide will lead you easily through the process of conducting a science project. Further documents including the registration form and the display board preparation document can be found on the website under the PTA STEM tab. This is Fry School’s first Science fair and participation will be rewarding, exciting, historical, and fun. It’s a wonderful opportunity to educate the entire Fry community on many topics of Science.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns at

caoimhemdardis@gmail.com and dihouck@yahoo.com

We’re looking forward to a great Science Fair!

Warmly,

Caoimhe, Diana, Mini, Avani, Helena

Key School Science Fair

How do I come up with a project idea ?

Coming up with a science project is so fun and exciting yet it is also one of the most challenging aspects of the project. This should help!

What are you

interested in ?

What do you have questions

What has been your favorite topic in science class ?

Helpful tips to get started

✓ A testable question is a question that can be answered by conducting an experiment, usually it begins with Can? how can? does? what if? or which one?

✓ Visit sciencebuddies.org to get ideas for a project. Students can complete e a survey to help you identify your areas of interest and pick a project - Yay

✓ Explore science books, articles and magazines, chat about them at dinner with your family!

✓ Check out the experiments on Science Bob, sciencebob.com or Steve Spangler Science, stevespanglerscience.com and see if you can come up with your idea?

✓ Important: the simpler the better and Enjoy!

Jot down some of your idea here!

Fry School Science Fair

1. Investigative or research projects - To make the process easier if working on an investigative project, the following are guidelines, Primary students (K) use a process called Guess, Test, and Tell. First and second graders may use the Predict, Test, Observe, and Explain method. Students in grades 3-5 can take the project a step further using a formal process of Hypothesis, Background, Materials and Methods (experiment), Results (data collection), and conclusion.

1.1 Investigatory or Investigative Projects: involves using the scientific method of scientific method to create a hypothesis and to prove or disprove this hypothesis by conducting an experiment. 

1.2 Research Projects: is a scientific report on a topic. The student will research the are of interest and write a report on their findings and opinions, for example a review on the different types layers in the earths surface or the effects of El Nino on weather patterns.

2. Demonstrations, models or collections - A display project is great for K thru 2nd. A display project would explain or show an area of science, for example, dinosaurs of the Jurassic Period, planets of our solar system or a vinegar and baking soda volcano.

2.1. Demonstration Projects: this type of project proves a scientific principle by recreating an experiment. Often, the demonstration will involve manipulating different variable to see what happens with change.

2.2 Models: A model science fair project involves building a model to demonstrate a principle or concept examples of which include, the mentor and diet coke or the baking soda volcano.

2.3. Collections or museums: are basically a collection of items. For example it could include collecting leaves from your area and comparing them with leaves from a different area and discussing why they are different or perhaps a museum of different geological rocks

Investigative Projects (Projects that explore a testable question; involves observations, collecting data, and using data to answer the big question).

• Can plants grow without soil? • Does it matter what direction seeds are planted? • Do certain plants help prevent erosion better than others? • Do green roofs help stop pollution? • How does the length of the wire in a circuit affect the brightness of light? • How does the outside color affect the inside temperature of a closed container? • What are the effects of road salt on trees and plants? • What is the best way to remove oil from feathers? (Engineering based project) • What kind of a pulley can hold the most weight? (Engineering based project) • Which materials absorb run-off better? (Engineering based project) • What is the best way to remove oil from water? (Engineering based project) • Can exercise make our brains think netter (Sports science)

• How much energy does dribbling a basketball take? • Does exercise increase your heart rate?

Demonstration Projects (Projects that explain how something works; involves making a model or museum. After a student researches how something works, they create a model to demonstrate its function or process)

• How can you make a model of a thermometer? • How can the speed of wind be measured? • How do the lungs work? • How does a seismograph work? • How does sedimentary rock form? • How do simple machines make work easier? • What do wetlands do? • A collection of different geological rocks and the background of where they came

from, eg, metamorphosis, igneous, etc

Resources and Helpful websites

sciencebuddies.org stevespanglerscience.com sciencebob.com http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/ www.sciencefairadventure.com www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html www.all-science-fair-projects.com

Check with the Naperville library Check with the LMC for science resources

Fry School Science Fair

Name: Grade:

Partner? Yes No

1. My testable question or title (simple and specific):

2. My prediction/hypothesis:

3. Materials and Methods - step by step description of how to conduct experiment.

Helper Box: Your hypothesis should be a cause and effect statement.

For example: “When I change , will happen”.

Helper Box: Here’s an example of a

specific step:

Step 1: Measure ½ cup of water into three, 2-liter bottles.

4. This is a brief summary of my experiment plan (how I will set up my investigation to test my question):

Fry School Science Fair

Step One: PLAN YOUR RESEARCH

• Using the attached Step 1 form, think about your project and what question you

are trying to answer. You will be developing three questions that will help guide your

research. Fill out the form before moving on to step 2!

For example, if my big question was: Which plants stop erosion best? I might ask the

following questions:

1. What is erosion?

2. What causes erosion?

3. How do plants slow down erosion?

4. What part of the plant slows down erosion?

5. What type of plants slow down erosion?

Step Two: RESEARCH

• Using the Step 2 Graphic Organizers, write each question at the top of the organizer.

You will use one organizer for each of your 3 questions. As you find information, write

down the source(s) and the information that answered the question.

• **As you research, if you come across other useful information, write it down on a

separate research page. Form also included (Step 2.1)

Helper Box: Helpful Tips:

✓ Try to find answers to your questions by using multiple sources (online resources, print resources, such as books, magazines, and encyclopedias, and/or by talking to an expert).

✓ Do not copy information word for word; rewrite the information in your own words.

✓ If you do not understand your research, ASK an adult for help!

Key School Science Fair

Name:

Create at least three questions to help you answer your Big Question:

Remember to ask for help and guidance

from your parent or teacher

Question 3

Question 2

Question 1

Topic

Big Question

Fry School Science Fair

Name:

Question 1:

Notes:

Resources:

Book/Article/Website Title

Author/ Organisation Website address (if applicable)

Date of Publication

Key School Science Fair

Name:

Question 2:

Notes:

Resources:

Book/Article/Website Title

Author/ Organisation Website address (if applicable)

Date of Publication

Name:

Question 3:

Notes:

Resources:

Book/Article/Website Title

Author/ Organisation Website address (if applicable)

Date of Publication

Fry School Science Fair

Way to go!

At this point, you’ve:

✓ Developed a testable question ✓ Researched your topic ✓ Completed a project outline

Now, you’re ready to conduct your experiment.

Good luck and happy experimenting!

Helper Box: Helpful Tips:

✓ Don’t forget to record what’s happening in your experiment! Here’s how you can record changes:

o Photos or drawings o Jotting notes in a journal o Tracking changes using a chart

✓ Are you stuck? If you need help creating a chart or figuring out how you should best measure changes, ASK for help!

Fry School Science Fair

Reflect on your experiment and the results. Write a conclusion below.

Conclusion (Your conclusion should include whether your prediction was correct and a summary of what happened. Use your research to help explain why something happened the way it did).

What would you do next time? What new questions do you have?

Fry School Science Fair

Your display represents all of YOUR hard work. Here’s what your display board should include:

✓ Title ✓ Big Question ✓ Introduction/Background/Overview ✓ Hypothesis ✓ Materials and Methods (Procedures) ✓ Results (including charts, photos and graphs) ✓ Conclusion and discussion ✓ Name and grade

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Introduction

Below are two examples of what

your board may look like

Fry School Science Fair

Assignment Guideline Dates

Project Proposal: “My Science Fair Project” - Choose a topic and decide what type of project you’d like to

complete.

Jan 27th

Research - Develop 3 guiding research questions and compile information

around your topic and question.

Feb 28th

Project Outline - Complete a “Project Outline”.

March 1st

Conduct Your Experiment - Conduct your experiment, collect data, and record results. It is

recommended to conduct an experiment at least three times.

March-April

Analyze & Write a Conclusion - Reflect on your experiment and write a conclusion about your

results.

by April 1st

Build a Display - Build a neat, attractive display to show off your hard work! While

working on your presentation, also think about how you will speak to others about your project. Bring it to school on the evening of the Science Fair, April 6th.

April 1-5th

Science Fair

April 6th 2015