SCIENCE FAIR 2011-12
DUE DATES
You will need to buy a bound composition book, a folder or notebook to keep all loose forms and paperwork in and a tri-fold presentation board. Tri-fold board will be due in November.
Everything you do must be documented in your BOUND composition book. Please date EVERY page. Write on the front of the page only. Have your adult supervisor sign and date the bottom of each page as they review your work. On due dates I will collect and check your journal for a 20-point homework grade unless otherwise noted. I may combine several dates for one larger grade (this will be at teacher discretion and students will be notified)
Write in BLUE or BLACK ink ONLY…no pencil.
Due 8/29 or 8/30
1) BRAINSTORM. Think of topics that interest you. List these topics in your composition book
Due 8/31 or 9/1
2)BRAINSTORM. Think of a problem that relates to your topic or a way to improve the subject you are interested in. This MUST be something that you can test as part of your investigation or an engineering design. List in your composition book.
Due 9/5 or 9/6
3) Final decision for your topic. You will not want to change this so make sure you have chosen something that interests you. AGAIN, you must have a problem that you can TEST or an engineering design to create and test.
Due 9/7or 9/8
4) Please research the Florida SSEF rules and guidelines. If you are dealing with vertebrate animals, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and work with a Vet, if you are working with bacteria, mold or mildew, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and work in a certified lab (UF not FWHS), If you are working with people, even yourself, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and will have to work under a medical doctors supervision. Please document in your notebook that you are aware and have researched the rules you will have to follow. www.floridassef.net. All other projects must consider safety rules. Please do not print or fill out forms until the 2012 forms are available.
5) RESEARCH. You will now begin the research of your project. Please find and document notes from sources about your subject (magazine articles, online articles, book research, personal interviews, etc.). I will require a minimum of 5 sources that help prepare you for your experiment and that help you understand your subject matter better. You must complete a bibliography at the top of the page in your composition book. Documentation may be MLA or APA style. This will also be a part of your English grade. At least 1 of your sources should be from a source OTHER than the internet. Make sure one of your sources includes safety. Some projects may require additional sources. I will let you know.
Due 9/12 or 9/13
6) RESEARCH. Please note the bibliography for one source in your notebook. Please write down a minimum of 5 facts from this source that help you better understand your topic
7-11) same as step 6. 2ndsource due 9/14 or 9/15 3rd source due 9/19 or 9/20, 4thsource due 9/21or 9/22, 5th source due 9/27 or 9/28.
Due 9/29 or 9/30
12) HYPOTHESIS: come up with a hypothesis for your project. A hypothesis is an educated guess based on your knowledge and research. What do you THINK the results of your science fair project will show? Write this is in your composition book
Due 10/3 or 10/4
13) MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES: create your test. First make a list of materials you will need and the step-by-step procedures you will follow. Do not leave out ANY material or ANY step of your procedure. Be specific so that anyone can recreate your test. Make sure you only include material that your parents can obtain and steps that you can safely follow under your parents’ supervision. Record these in your composition book
Due 10/5 or 10/6
14) Complete a Data analysis plan. Describe how you plan to gather and analyze data that answers research questions or hypothesis. Include a blank data table that you will use to gather information. Document this in your composition book
Due 10/10 or 10/11
15) FORMS: go to the SSEF website or see Mrs. Sweat for copies of forms needed for all projects. Form 1 must be completed in class with Mrs. Sweat, Form 1A, research plan, and 1B must be completed. Other forms must be completed if you are testing vertebrate animals, people (including yourself), mold, mildew or bacteria, or any other items deemed to be a risk.
Due 10/12 or 10/13
16) SAFETY: please document all safety rules that you must follow, list how you will you will reduce all risks, and list the safety equipment that you will have to use. Record this in your composition book
Due 10/12 or 10/13
17) VARIABLES: identify your variables: Independent variable: what you are going to manipulate in your test. Dependent variable: what data are you going to gather---what are you measuring. Constants: what stays the same in your test in order to make sure the test is “fair”. Document this in your notebook.See notation at end of 18.
18) Start your experimentation. Remember that the more tests you perform/trials you run, the more successful your project will be. I have seen projects with over 100 trials or tests in the state fair, depending on the type of project you are completing. Please document in your composition book on a fresh page with the date every time you work on your experiment. I will be checking journals on 11/3 and 11/4. If you have not been experimenting I will be taking off points. If you are conducting an engineering experiment, you will need to follow the engineering process.
19) Buy a tri-fold presentation board if you have not already done so. These are usually available at Wal-mart, Target, and any office supply store.
Due 11/14 and 1/1/15
20) FINISH YOUR EXPERIMENT: record the results of your experiment in your composition book. This is a summary of all your data (example: I found that 40 people ate cereal before taking a test and 20 people ate eggs).
Due 11/14 or 11/15
21) ANALYZE YOUR DATA: write your conclusion. This tells how your data relates back to your hypothesis. Does it support your hypothesis or prove it wrong. Did you discover something during your testing that could lead to another science fair project next year? Did you note any interesting trends that should be further explored? Document this in your composition book
Due 11/14 or 11/15
22) APPLICATION: tell me how your experiment can benefit mankind or society in general. Why is this test important to ME, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COMMUNITY, ETC…. document this in your composition book
Due 11/23 or 11/24
23) ABSTRACT: write a 250-word OR LESS summary of your project from step one to step 22. Record this in your composition book.
Over Thanksgiving break
30) look at the grading rubric for your science fair project. Start putting together your project board and your folder. Make sure that all work is typed or written neatly, and that you are creative in your display. Make sure it is visually appealing for judging. (A copy of all your information that goes on your board will go in your folder)
Due 11/28 and 11/29
31) Final project due. This is worth 1000 points, a large portion of your grade for the 2nd 9 weeks. You will present your project in class while I grade. You will have 2/7 or 12/8 in class to fix your project for a re-grade. I will submit all outstanding projects to the school science fair) where 25 middle school projects will be chosen to compete in County. If you are chosen to go to County, you will go with me on an SSA to LCCC for judging in January. 20 middle and 20 high school students will be chosen then to compete in Regional Science Fair in February and then a select few will be chosen to go to State in April. State was held in Orlando, Fl last year.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT COLLECT THE JOURNALS ON EVERY DUE DATE. I MAY OPT TO COLLECT SEVERAL AT ONCE FOR GRADING. STUDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED PRIOR TO COLLECTION OF JOURNALS. FOLDERS WITH SCIENCE FAIR PAPERWORK MUST BE KEPT WHERE STUDENT HAS ACCESS.
Everything you do must be documented in your BOUND composition book. Please date EVERY page. Write on the front of the page only. Have your adult supervisor sign and date the bottom of each page as they review your work. On due dates I will collect and check your journal for a 20-point homework grade unless otherwise noted. I may combine several dates for one larger grade (this will be at teacher discretion and students will be notified)
Write in BLUE or BLACK ink ONLY…no pencil.
Due 8/29 or 8/30
1) BRAINSTORM. Think of topics that interest you. List these topics in your composition book
Due 8/31 or 9/1
2)BRAINSTORM. Think of a problem that relates to your topic or a way to improve the subject you are interested in. This MUST be something that you can test as part of your investigation or an engineering design. List in your composition book.
Due 9/5 or 9/6
3) Final decision for your topic. You will not want to change this so make sure you have chosen something that interests you. AGAIN, you must have a problem that you can TEST or an engineering design to create and test.
Due 9/7or 9/8
4) Please research the Florida SSEF rules and guidelines. If you are dealing with vertebrate animals, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and work with a Vet, if you are working with bacteria, mold or mildew, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and work in a certified lab (UF not FWHS), If you are working with people, even yourself, you will have to complete a lot of paperwork and will have to work under a medical doctors supervision. Please document in your notebook that you are aware and have researched the rules you will have to follow. www.floridassef.net. All other projects must consider safety rules. Please do not print or fill out forms until the 2012 forms are available.
5) RESEARCH. You will now begin the research of your project. Please find and document notes from sources about your subject (magazine articles, online articles, book research, personal interviews, etc.). I will require a minimum of 5 sources that help prepare you for your experiment and that help you understand your subject matter better. You must complete a bibliography at the top of the page in your composition book. Documentation may be MLA or APA style. This will also be a part of your English grade. At least 1 of your sources should be from a source OTHER than the internet. Make sure one of your sources includes safety. Some projects may require additional sources. I will let you know.
Due 9/12 or 9/13
6) RESEARCH. Please note the bibliography for one source in your notebook. Please write down a minimum of 5 facts from this source that help you better understand your topic
7-11) same as step 6. 2ndsource due 9/14 or 9/15 3rd source due 9/19 or 9/20, 4thsource due 9/21or 9/22, 5th source due 9/27 or 9/28.
Due 9/29 or 9/30
12) HYPOTHESIS: come up with a hypothesis for your project. A hypothesis is an educated guess based on your knowledge and research. What do you THINK the results of your science fair project will show? Write this is in your composition book
Due 10/3 or 10/4
13) MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES: create your test. First make a list of materials you will need and the step-by-step procedures you will follow. Do not leave out ANY material or ANY step of your procedure. Be specific so that anyone can recreate your test. Make sure you only include material that your parents can obtain and steps that you can safely follow under your parents’ supervision. Record these in your composition book
Due 10/5 or 10/6
14) Complete a Data analysis plan. Describe how you plan to gather and analyze data that answers research questions or hypothesis. Include a blank data table that you will use to gather information. Document this in your composition book
Due 10/10 or 10/11
15) FORMS: go to the SSEF website or see Mrs. Sweat for copies of forms needed for all projects. Form 1 must be completed in class with Mrs. Sweat, Form 1A, research plan, and 1B must be completed. Other forms must be completed if you are testing vertebrate animals, people (including yourself), mold, mildew or bacteria, or any other items deemed to be a risk.
Due 10/12 or 10/13
16) SAFETY: please document all safety rules that you must follow, list how you will you will reduce all risks, and list the safety equipment that you will have to use. Record this in your composition book
Due 10/12 or 10/13
17) VARIABLES: identify your variables: Independent variable: what you are going to manipulate in your test. Dependent variable: what data are you going to gather---what are you measuring. Constants: what stays the same in your test in order to make sure the test is “fair”. Document this in your notebook.See notation at end of 18.
18) Start your experimentation. Remember that the more tests you perform/trials you run, the more successful your project will be. I have seen projects with over 100 trials or tests in the state fair, depending on the type of project you are completing. Please document in your composition book on a fresh page with the date every time you work on your experiment. I will be checking journals on 11/3 and 11/4. If you have not been experimenting I will be taking off points. If you are conducting an engineering experiment, you will need to follow the engineering process.
19) Buy a tri-fold presentation board if you have not already done so. These are usually available at Wal-mart, Target, and any office supply store.
Due 11/14 and 1/1/15
20) FINISH YOUR EXPERIMENT: record the results of your experiment in your composition book. This is a summary of all your data (example: I found that 40 people ate cereal before taking a test and 20 people ate eggs).
Due 11/14 or 11/15
21) ANALYZE YOUR DATA: write your conclusion. This tells how your data relates back to your hypothesis. Does it support your hypothesis or prove it wrong. Did you discover something during your testing that could lead to another science fair project next year? Did you note any interesting trends that should be further explored? Document this in your composition book
Due 11/14 or 11/15
22) APPLICATION: tell me how your experiment can benefit mankind or society in general. Why is this test important to ME, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR COMMUNITY, ETC…. document this in your composition book
Due 11/23 or 11/24
23) ABSTRACT: write a 250-word OR LESS summary of your project from step one to step 22. Record this in your composition book.
Over Thanksgiving break
30) look at the grading rubric for your science fair project. Start putting together your project board and your folder. Make sure that all work is typed or written neatly, and that you are creative in your display. Make sure it is visually appealing for judging. (A copy of all your information that goes on your board will go in your folder)
Due 11/28 and 11/29
31) Final project due. This is worth 1000 points, a large portion of your grade for the 2nd 9 weeks. You will present your project in class while I grade. You will have 2/7 or 12/8 in class to fix your project for a re-grade. I will submit all outstanding projects to the school science fair) where 25 middle school projects will be chosen to compete in County. If you are chosen to go to County, you will go with me on an SSA to LCCC for judging in January. 20 middle and 20 high school students will be chosen then to compete in Regional Science Fair in February and then a select few will be chosen to go to State in April. State was held in Orlando, Fl last year.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT COLLECT THE JOURNALS ON EVERY DUE DATE. I MAY OPT TO COLLECT SEVERAL AT ONCE FOR GRADING. STUDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED PRIOR TO COLLECTION OF JOURNALS. FOLDERS WITH SCIENCE FAIR PAPERWORK MUST BE KEPT WHERE STUDENT HAS ACCESS.
