Students Information and Due Dates
(see 5th Grade Science Fair Information link for more details)
Step One—Pick a Problem
Begin reading and researching topics that interest you. Look through your science book, other books available, newspapers, or magazines. Take notes as you read about things that interest you. Also you will need to write down the title of the resource, the author’s name, the publication information, and the date of publication. This will be used to create your bibliography. When you are finished reading, write five questions about what you have read. Then stop and think . . . If you had all the time you needed and could spend time with the world’s top expert in the area that interests you, what five questions would you ask? These questions help you determine what you want to learn and do for your project. Think about ways to learn more and go about finding answers to your question. Start collecting all the information you can about this topic.
Step Two—Statement of Question, Purpose, or Problem
You will write up the problem and defend your decision to investigate this problem. Why do you want to do this project? In order for it to be accepted for grading, it must be free of grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. It must be clear, concise, and scientifically accurate. The problem will be looked at and given back as many times as necessary until it is acceptable. Remember to never ever copy information word for word from a book, magazine, newspaper, or internet.
Your Statement of Question, Purpose, or Problem is due February 5th, 2010.
Step Three—Statement of Hypothesis
Once the problem is accepted, you may start working on the hypothesis. Tell what you think the answer is and then explain why you think your answer is correct. This should also be free of grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. It must be clear, concise, and scientifically accurate. The hypothesis will be looked at and given back as many times as necessary until it is acceptable.
Your Statement of Hypothesis is due February 12th, 2010.
Step Four—Materials and Procedure
Materials-List the materials that are needed to do your project.
Procedure—Explain the steps it takes to carry out your project. Be detailed with your steps. Decide what data and information you will be collecting. As you are doing your project, you need to keep a log, journal, or notes about what you do, how or if you change anything, and what is happening. Be thinking about how you will make charts or tables to show your data.
These should also be free of grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.
Your Materials and Procedure are due February 19th, 2010.
Step Five—Conduct the Project and Collect Data
You have your materials, know what you want to do, have your steps to follow, and are ready to collect data. Follow your steps to do your project. Be sure to take notes along the way and write what happens. Don’t erase anything along the way. Just put a single mark through the thought or answer you want to change. Scientists do not erase.
Step Six—Analysis and Conclusion
Once you have finished your project, you need to start finding ways to analyze your data and draw conclusions. You need to create charts or tables to show your data, but you also need to write a paragraph or more explaining what happened or what you learned. Does what happened support or contradict your hypothesis? Explain what you now know or believe. What have you learned? In order for it to be accepted for grading, it must be free of grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. It must be clear, concise, and scientifically accurate. The conclusion will be looked at and given back as many times as necessary until it is acceptable.
Your Analysis and Conclusion are due March 5th, 2010.
Step Seven—Display Board—Entire Project
Your board needs to be neat, colorful, and eye-catching. You may have hand-written pieces on your board, but typing looks better.
Your Display Board—Entire Project is due March 23rd, 2010.
