An adventure with the Scientific Method

What is it?

The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an international competition of student – designed and student – conducted experimental investigations and engineering projects.

Our local school fair is December 8 Winners will go to the…

Paulding County fair Jan 14-16

Regional Fair, Wheeler H.S. February 7 State Fair, administered by UGA, spring Nationals, ?????ISEF, ??????

Last May, 6th through 8th grade Venture students had the opportunity to visit the ISEF since it was held at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Why do Venture students have to do a Science Fair project?

This project is perfect for gifted students! It requires students to think outside the box and is interdisciplinary, combining both science process and language arts skills.

The Paulding County Venture program has determined that all middle grades Venture students in the county should have this opportunity to do the project.

These students survived!!! Yours will too.

Smiling…

Still smiling…

And even proud!

What is involved in this project?There are three parts to the project:

the Research Paper, which includes background information, the experimental design, results and conclusion and some appendices and official forms.

the Backboard, which reiterates the essentials of the paper and puts it in a more visual, presentation format

the Log Book, which acts as a documentation of the entire research process. No pages should ever be ripped out of this book. It MUST be in ink, and if there is a mistake, students are to put ONE line through the mistake and go on. It should reflect the student’s steps (and missteps) in the investigation.

How should a parent/guardian help?You should support your students by

encouraging them to meet their deadlines, taking them to the library, proofreading their work (especially letters), asking questions to get him/her thinking, etc. For more ideas, go to Mrs. Pearson’s teacher web and click on the “Tips for Parents/Guardians” documents.

Do NOT do the project for them. Let them compose the research paper, create the backboard, think through the process. Students’ abilities and confidence grow with this challenge.

Where can we find information about the project?Go to Mrs. Pearson’s webpage at http://teachersweb.comGA/EastPauldingMiddleSchool/APearson/h0.stm

or link to it from Schoolnotes or the EPMS webpage

Use the UGA websites:http://www.uga.edu/oasp/Science%20Fair/GSEF%20Home.html

(the official site for the Georgia Science Fair)

http://www.uga.edu/oasp/Science%20Fair/Additional%20Information.html

(click on “Science Fair Basics” or “Project Ideas” on the left)

If your student is stuck or needs extra help…go to http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtmlIt can help with project ideas, how to do background research and even gives you access to expert advice by scientists.

What makes a good project?It should answer a scientific

question through experimentation. It should not have been done a

“thousand times before.”It should pass the “so what” test. In

other words, it should have some practical application.

Some of the best projects come from the student’s everyday life.

It should ONLY have ONE independent variable (this is the variable being changed during the experiment to see how it will affect the dependent variable).

The results (dependent variable) MUST be measurable. This means that the dependent variable will have to be measured in some way, for example, time, temperature, amount, mass, length, etc. Subjective data collection must be avoided.

The project must have at least 5 background resources available from printed sources, online, and/or through interviews, etc.

Let’s use these criteria to look at a couple of

projects.

Something from a student’s everyday lifeThis one sought to determine the best search engine to use by academic subject. “Dogpile” was best for Science. This was a highly useful project from the student’s own experience.There was no cost to this project, except for the backboard materials!

Product testing

This project is what we call “product testing” and answers the question, “Which product is the best?” “Best” must be defined by the student. Be sure the data is measurable.

Myth busting

Acting as a “myth buster,” this student hoped to determine if wrapping an aluminum can with foil (as some moms do to place it in the student’s lunch) will keep it cooler longer.It doesn’t.

The Project is NOT…a “show and tell”. It is not to

be a demonstration of explanation of how something works or what something is.

to include molds, bacteria, hazardous materials, human or vertebrate animal subjects or parts of the same. This is for safety reasons.

not to be a survey of people. The paperwork for these is enormous. A survey of plants, wildlife, a stream, or other natural events is fine.

What will my student need for the project?Composition book and pen1 pocket folder to keep related papers

from classTri-fold backboard and materials to use on

the backboard, such as rubber cementReport cover or notebookPhotographs of the projectMaterials, if necessary, for the experiment

So when does all this have to be done?Projects must be delivered to the

Media Center at school before homeroom on Monday, December 8. Judging begins that morning. If it is late or does not have the 3 pieces to the project, it will not be entered.

There is a timetable for getting the “pieces” of the project done. It is posted on Mrs. Pearson’s webpage.

Students may not move ahead on the experimental process UNTIL the previous step has been approved.

NO experimentation may begin until the “Research Plan” and specific official forms have been filled out. Your student will be told when he/she has the “green light.”

Grading

The log book will receive one summative grade (60% category). The backboard and research paper together will receive one summative grade. See Mrs. Pearson’s webpage for a copy of the grading rubric. It is different from the judging rubric.

Identified tasks along the way will be graded as a homework/class work assignment and be considered a formative assessment (40% category).

As with all work, work one day late will get a 10 point deduction. Work 2 or more days late will receive a “0” but will still be necessary in order to complete the project.

Grading of the little tasks:100 for tasks that are approved90 for tasks that just need a little

tweaking80 for tasks that need several

changes70 a good attempt was made but

and overhaul is needed0 for tasks turned in 2 or more days

late

In order to polish their task before it is turned in for a grade, students may conference with the teacher or request feedback on the task. Such input should be requested no fewer than 2 days in advance of the deadline. (Science Fair is extremely time-consuming for the teachers!!!) Students may also seek input from other students.

What kind of support will my student get?NBI (1st period, several

mornings/week. Do remember there are up to 30 students in this class.)

Teacher webpages will have updates and all kinds of information, websites, and documents related to Science Fair

Blog

Phew…..Are we there yet?

Nope. But…

together, we can make it !!!

Now,let’s take a quick tour of where those resources are on Mrs. Pearson’s webpage.