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SCIENCE FAIR 2009

Page history last edited by Jason Hoeksema 7 mos ago

Oyster Adams Bilingual School

Science Fair 2009

Relevant due dates: The highlighted week denotes our current status in our preparation for the Science Fair. Please be sure you are on track with each component - including stated due dates. See me if this isn't clear or you have questions.

Week 1:

21 JANUARY (WE) – Project Registration

23 JANUARY (FR) – Hypothesis and Problem Statement

Week 2:

28 JANUARY – (WE) – Procedure (observation journal check)

28 JANUARY – FEBRUARY 5 – Experiment (observation journal check)

Week 3:

6 FEBRUARY – (FR) – Analysis and Resources

Week 4:

9 FEBRUARY – (MO) – Extensions (observation journal check)

11 FEBRUARY – (WE) – ROUGH DRAFT DUE

Week 5:

18 FEBRUARY – (WE) – FINAL BOARD DUE and OBSERVATION JOURNAL DUE

Week 6:

23 FEBRUARY – (MO) – SCIENCE FAIR SETUP

24 FEBRUARY – (TU) – SCIENCE FAIR JUDGING

26 FEBRUARY – (TR) – Science fair open to parents and community

27 FEBRUARY – (FR) – Tear down

Science Fair Project Description

The Science Fair project consists of a personal investigation testing a student hypothesis. The project should refer to one of the categories or "branches" in Science. Participation in the Science Fair is compulsory for each student attending the Intermediate Campus.

Scientific Investigation Process

The investigation should follow the essential steps to the Scientific Method:

1. Define the problem

2. Formulate a hypothesis that includes a minimum of two variables

3. Research to synthesize understanding of the investigation

4. Experiment, including:

a) The instruments used

b) Observations recorded

c) Analysis of the results

d) Evidence presented in appropriate graphs and/or tables

5. Conclusion that refers back to the hypothesis, stating it's validity

Rubric for Self-Evaluation

Students can know the quality and validity of their research by checking if they are doing the following scientific criteria:

1. Develop a topic related to a branch of science that includes the essential concepts that serve as a foundation.

2. Define a problem in the form of a question. The problem MUST be measurable.

3. Establish a hypothesis in the form of an "If - Then" statement. A hypothesis is an educated guess to your stated problem that includes, at a minimum, two variables.

4. Follow a well defined procedure that follows specific steps to test the hypothesis using systematic observation or experimentation. In both cases, the procedure refers to instruments used to give precise results.

5. Contains an analysis of the observation or experimental results with specific evidence such as graphs, data tables, graphics, or photographs referring back to the experimental process.

6. Provides a conclusion that refers back to the hypothesis and suggests future research.

7. Contains a self assessment, designed by the student that states what would be done differently next time, if such an opportunity arises.

8. Use a tri-fold panel that displays the official investigation and present it at the Science Fair.

9. Include an observation journal that documents the appropriate research.

10. The entire investigation is word processed, free of spelling or grammatical errors.

11. Includes additional notes and/or observations, as well as the research design signed by the teacher.

Bases and Conditions

1. Research must be original and made exclusively by the students.

2. Parents and teachers can only give advice or guidance when requested by students. We try to encourage a policy of genuine scientific curiosity and responsibility.

3. Students should develop their project using the steps of scientific method and keep a journal of research to demonstrate the sequence and consistency of their work.

4. The school will provide the tri-fold display for the project once the plan and research design is approved.

5. All Middle School students and upper Elementary School students are obligated to participate in the Science Fair. The quality and validity of their research will be evaluated by their primary Science teacher and included in their report cards as evidence of how they have achieved the standards issued by DCPS.

6. The scientific investigation will be into the following three (3) parts:

Part 1: Pre Investigation (left display): Contains the background information, problem, hypothesis (including 2 variables), resources, and procedure.

Part 2: Research (center display): Contains data (organized into tables or graphs) and evidence (photographs, statistics, graphics).

Part 3: Post Research (left display): Contains an analysis of the results, conclusion, and extensions (self evaluation).

7. The work will be presented publicly at the Oyster Adams Middle School Science Fair. If the participant wins in his or category, he or she will move on to the District fair to compete against area schools.

Project Schedule

1. General guidelines of the project

2. Pre-Design (plan) for the project

3. Implementation of the project

a. Experimentation

b. Collection of data and evidence

c. Records in the observation journal

d. Weekly reports on the progress of the project

4. Organization of the results of the investigation

5. Delivery of displays

6. Presentation of the projects at the Oyster Adams Science Fair

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