• To encourage students to become actively involved and interested in Science.

• Most important of all, for the students to have FUN while learning something new.

Main Objectives of Having a Science Fair

• Allow students to pursue their interests in Science beyond the boundaries of the classroom.

• Provide students an avenue to undertake planned and controlled investigations in Science.

• Encourage students to apply the scientific method to topics that interest them.

• Encourage students to record and present their work for others and develop the various skills used in scientific communication.

• Allow the Gomes community to see project work done by the students.

Other Objectives of Having a Science Fair

Helping the Student Choose the Helping the Student Choose the Right TopicRight Topic

The first and sometimes the hardest part of a Science project is to get a clear idea of the problem to be investigated.

Where can the student look for a problem which may interest them?

It is important for them to chose a topic which they will like and that is grade-level appropriate.

They may look to their personal environments to give them an idea. Here is a list of some possible areas in which to search for topics:

TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, LIBRARY MATERIALS, SCIENCE TEXTBOOK, INTERNET, DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHERS.

The best idea is their own!

ReferencesReferences

FUSD Science Fair pamphlet

Gomes Website – www.fremont.k12.ca.us/gomes, “Teachers,” “Warey, Ujwala,” “2015 Gomes Science Fair”

Libraries – Gomes Library and Fremont Main Library

Internet – Search for Science experiments by specific grade level

  www.gomespta.orgwww.gomespta.org

Science Fair Experiment ExamplesScience Fair Experiment ExamplesBiological Science: How do liquids or any one of the other factors that plants depend

on affect their growth? Does age affect reaction time? Does yogurt grow better in whole, low-fat, or non-fat milk? Which liquid stains teeth the most?

Earth Science: Does it matter which way a window faces? What effect does cooking have on the humidity of the house? What effect does slope have on erosion?

Physical Science: What materials conduct electricity? Do all liquids have the same density? What materials conduct heat best? Growing Crystals Boiled eggs floating.

Practical Science::Which detergent cleans the best? Which nail polish lasts the longest? Is it really biodegradable?

Science Fair: General RulesScience Fair: General Rules MustMust follow all FUSD Science Fair Contest Rules. Rules pamphlet sent follow all FUSD Science Fair Contest Rules. Rules pamphlet sent home before December holidays. Pamphlet can also be found at: home before December holidays. Pamphlet can also be found at: http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/Page/21393..

Grades K-4: Optional but encouraged.Grades K-4: Optional but encouraged. Grades 5-6: Encouraged.Grades 5-6: Encouraged. Grades K-5: Individual projects onlyGrades K-5: Individual projects only Grade 6: Individual projects or group project (2-3 students in one group)Grade 6: Individual projects or group project (2-3 students in one group) Grade 6 can submit the same project for the Alameda County Science and Grade 6 can submit the same project for the Alameda County Science and

Engineering Fair.Engineering Fair. Scoring rubric has been provided.Scoring rubric has been provided. ““Science Project Entry Information Form” Science Project Entry Information Form” mustmust be completed and glued to be completed and glued to

the central panel on the back of your poster board.the central panel on the back of your poster board. MustMust cite references/sources at the back of poster board. cite references/sources at the back of poster board. Electrical outlets are not available. If electricity is required, please provide Electrical outlets are not available. If electricity is required, please provide

a battery.a battery. One project from each grade-level will move forward to FUSD Science One project from each grade-level will move forward to FUSD Science

Fair.Fair. Remember, this is a student-project, not a parent-project.Remember, this is a student-project, not a parent-project.

Science Fair: Animal RulesScience Fair: Animal Rules

Invertebrate animals can be used in Science Fair projects with Invertebrate animals can be used in Science Fair projects with approval from Mrs. Warey. Examples: worms, insects, snails, approval from Mrs. Warey. Examples: worms, insects, snails, slugs, crayfish.slugs, crayfish.

Any vertebrate animals used need verifications of a veterinarian as Any vertebrate animals used need verifications of a veterinarian as a supervisor. Check with a veterinarian before you begin your a supervisor. Check with a veterinarian before you begin your project. Examples: fish, mice, snakes, hamsters, birds, chickens, project. Examples: fish, mice, snakes, hamsters, birds, chickens, rabbits. If vertebrate animals are used, you will need a Veterinarian rabbits. If vertebrate animals are used, you will need a Veterinarian certificate attached to the back center panel of your posterboard. certificate attached to the back center panel of your posterboard. You can obtain this Veterinarian certificate from Mrs. Warey.You can obtain this Veterinarian certificate from Mrs. Warey.

For vertebrate animals: both the Proposal and Completion For vertebrate animals: both the Proposal and Completion certificates must be filled out and attached to the back of the certificates must be filled out and attached to the back of the posterboard. Ask Mrs. Warey for these certificates.posterboard. Ask Mrs. Warey for these certificates.

Science Fair: Possible Science Fair: Possible DisqualificationsDisqualifications

Do notDo not do projects that may be dangerous to you or others. do projects that may be dangerous to you or others. Do notDo not use high-voltage electricity, strong acids/bases, volatile or use high-voltage electricity, strong acids/bases, volatile or dangerous chemicals or potentially bio-hazardous materials such dangerous chemicals or potentially bio-hazardous materials such as blood agar.as blood agar.

Do notDo not bring hypodermic needles or syringes for your project bring hypodermic needles or syringes for your project display.display.

Do notDo not bring items that could post an allergic reaction to other bring items that could post an allergic reaction to other people attending the fair such as mold and mildew. You may use people attending the fair such as mold and mildew. You may use photos of mold and mildew only – no actual samples are allowed at photos of mold and mildew only – no actual samples are allowed at the fair.the fair.

Science Fair: When in DoubtScience Fair: When in Doubt

Ask Mrs. Warey and Mr. Houston

Ask Science Fair Co-Chairs: Devi ,Chitra Arunachalam, and Norm Howell

Science Fair Experiment Setup The MUST-HAVE Six Steps to a Science Fair Experiment:

1. STATE PROBLEM (What are you trying to prove? There should be only one problem statement.)

2. HYPOTHESIS ( What do you think/predict will happen?)

3. MATERIALS AND REFERENCES (Who and what will be needed?)

4. PROCEDURE (How are you going to prove it? How are you going to conduct the experiment?)

5. OBSERVATION-RECORDING INFORMATION (Organizing reports)

6. CONCLUSION (What did you discover? Was your result different from the hypothesis? What could have been improved? What did you learn

from the project?)

Science Fair: PosterboardsScience Fair: Posterboards

Grades K – 3: Neatly written in pencil, neatly written in pen, or typed.Grades 4 – 6: Neatly written in pen or typed only.Check for spelling and typo errors.No photographs of any person or other identifying images allowed on posterboard.All work, including writing or typewriting, must be done by the student.Items must be firmly attached to the posterboard.Students’ work from previous years are displayed around the library today.

Science Fair: Important Dates

• October 15 – Gomes Registration Forms due.

• January 30 2015 - All Poster boards due to Science Fair Committee (your teacher may have an earlier due date)

• February 2, 2015 - Gomes Viewing in the evening.

• February 7, 2015 – FUSD Awards Ceremony

Volunteers NeededVolunteers Needed

To make this a successful event and experience for all, we need volunteers in the following areas:

(1.) To setup the auditorium and library with the displays (Friday, 1/30/15 during school hours).

(2.) To help with judging. (You need to be available the whole day on Saturday, January 31,2015.)

(3.) To help with viewing and guiding children and parents who come to see the displays (Monday, February 2, 2015 school hours).

(4.) Sign-up sheets are up front.