Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Due Dates.....................................................................................2 Materials and Log book set up .....................................................3 Project Topic/Question/Problem ...................................................4 Background Research ...............................................................5-6 Research Paper Requirements .....................................................7 Research Plan (also know as Procedural Plan) ...........................8-9 The Experiment (what to do in the log book)..............................10 Collecting Data in the log book...................................................10 Analyzing Data in the log book....................................................10 Discussion/ Project Conclusion in the log book............................11 Appendices ...........................................................................12-22
*Some of these dates are subject to change due to classroom teacher discretion or other mitigating factors.
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Getting Started
What you will need to begin
Standard Science Classes Composition notebook
Flash Drive (Highly advisable, but not mandatory)
Advanced Science Classes or Any Student Competing in Science Fair. Composition notebook Flash Drive (Highly advisable, but not mandatory) 1 inch three ring binder with dividers Backboard
Log Book
The first thing you should set up is the logbook. The Log Book is handwritten, and it may look a little abused by the end of the science project, but that is ok. Every entry must be dated and must include information on what you learned or completed on that date. It is like an interactive notebook or a diary, detailing your progress, mistakes, and thoughts and improvements as you go through this process. As you go through this packet, there are many logbook spots that tell you what to put in your logbook for that particular section of your project. Make sure that you do every one!
Log Book: Set-up 1. Leave the first page blank. You will complete this once your project has been selected. 2. On the next three pages write at the top Table of Contents 3. After the table of contents, number all the pages of your logbook in the top right hand corner starting with number 1. 4. At the conclusion of your project, go back to the Table of Contents and write each part of your project that is in the logbook and the page numbers(s) where each section is found. Example: Project Question.1 Research.2-10 Purpose ..11 Hypothesis..12 Experiment .13 (If you complete any worksheets that help you complete this project those should be pasted in your logbook and also listed in your Table of Contents)
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Project Topic/Question/Problem
When selecting a science fair topic keep the following questions in mind.
Is my topic realistic? Is it something I can do with little or no help from parents, teachers or other adults? Am I really interested in this topic or do I just think it is easy? Can I investigate my topic by experimenting and collecting data? Can I afford what I will need to investigate my topic? Do I have enough time to successful complete this project by winter break? Is this project original, or has it been done before? Is the answer to my question already known? Will my investigation add to what is known about the topic? Do I have access to background research on my topic? Are there books in the library or age appropriate web pages that will help me with my project research?
Great science projects show that you have also asked yourself the following questions:
Log Book: Once your problem has been selected, you should record the, Problem, Test Subject, Independent Variable, and Dependent Variable on the front page of your log book. Your teacher must sign approving this page. Make sure to put the date on the page!
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For Clay County Library Hours use the following link: http://www.ccpl.lib.fl.us/locations.html LAJH Library Hours: Generally open in the mornings from 8:30-9:00 a.m. Occasionally it will be closed for faculty meetings. Please ask the media specialist ahead of time.
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Log Book: Background Research and Information Sources. Start each new source on its own page. You should write information about the source you are using and a list of facts you learned from this source. Once you have collected enough information from at least 5 sources, you will use your notes to write your research paper. Date you Sample Entry:
looked at source.
Page Number
Additional Information to Write Down Webpage Web address Copyright date or date page was last updated Author or publisher if given Books ISBN number Author Copyright date Publisher Location of publisher Pages used
Make sure you write the facts in your own words. Do NOT COPY information directly from the source
If information is copied word for word it must be written in quotation marks with a page number(s) noted. However, not all your notes can be put in quotations.
write a rough draft. The specifics will be determined by your science teacher. However, the planning page or rough draft must organize your background research according to how you will write your research paper (What information will be written in paragraph 1, 2, 3, etc...)
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Format
Title page- Problem/Question centered on the center of the page Lower right hand corner has Name Date and Period Typed 10 or 12 pt black print Font used is Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman or Calibri One inch margins on all four sides Double Spaced Written in third person (do not use I, we, you, etc.) Has at least 5 sources Does not use contractions (dont, wont, etc.) 1000-1500 words in the body of the paper (this does not include the title page or bibliography)
Content of paper
Defines all key words related to project topic Answers key questions about project topic and all levels of your independent variable such as what its made of, how it works, how its used, what it does, what it needs, what it interacts with, etc Includes a description of experiments that were similar in nature to yours and what the results of those experiments were. Provides a hypothesis written in the correct format Provides an explanation or rationale for hypothesis based on research Provides a purpose for the experiment and a real life application for the results Describes who would benefit from the results of this experiment and why they would benefit from the results.
Bibliography
Contains 5 sources of information, 2 of which are books or magazines Written in either MLA or APA style. For examples see website: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_bibliography.shtml. You may also use websites such as www.bibme.org or www.easybib.com to make your bibliography online.
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Research Plan
(This can also be called a procedural plan)
The research plan is the proposal for your experiment. It explains everything you plan to do for your project in great detail. Your Research Plan must be approved by your teacher before you begin to perform the actual experiment. Your research plan should be typed. Refer to the information below to complete your Research Plan. A) Problem/Question being addressed: What question or problem are you trying to solve? (Use the What effect or other approved format) B) Hypothesis: Example: If acidic water is placed on soil then the amount of nutrients in the soil will decrease. Remember a hypothesis is: 1. A prediction based on your research 2. Written as an If (I do this). then(this will happen) 3. Very detailed and specific; does not use words like best, bigger, etc. 4. Does not use the words I think or I predict 5. Written with your independent variable (what you are testing and purposely changing) placed between the If and the then, while the dependent variable is written after the then. C) Rationale for hypothesis: Give a reason based on your research for your hypothesis D) Independent Variable: Describe the factor you are purposely changing, the amount, the type etc. E) Dependent Variable: Explain what you will measure during the experiment in order to determine if your hypothesis is proven or not. Quantitative observations: Explain the measurements will you make to determine if your hypothesis is supported or not. Qualitative observations: Explain what other observations you will be making to determine if your hypothesis is supported or not. Such as color change or the presence or absence of something. F) Constants: Factors in the experiment which must be kept the same and cannot be changed. G) Control Group: Describe the group you are using to compare to your experimental groups. H) List of Materials: Describe what materials you will need, the quantity of each material, where you plan to get them, and the expected cost. Please remember, you have to provide all of the materials for your project. I) Location: Describe where you will complete the experiment, example: in your garage, back yard, etc. Make sure to include a physical address. J) Safety Precautions: Be sure to write down all safety precautions you will take when conducting your experiment. If your project uses potentially hazardous biological agents, humans or other vertebrate animals and/or hazardous chemicals, be sure to read the Intel ISEF rules and guidelines concerning your project at http://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=311 K) Experiment Procedures: Write down step by step detailed instructions of what you plan to do. The procedure must: 1. Be written as a list of numbered steps (1, 2, 3, 4.). 2. Begin by explaining exactly how you plan on setting up your experiment. 3. Include amounts of materials and metric measurements (centimeters, liters, grams, etc.) 4. Have at least five trials for the control group and each experimental group/testing group. Page 9 of 23
5. Test only one variable. (Example: If you are measuring the effect of Different types of soil on plant growth, you may not change the amount of light exposure for the plants. This would invalidate your test.) 6. Describe how and when you will make qualitative and quantitative observations (how and when you will measure changes in your control and experimental groups and what conditions will you record such as air temperature, lighting, etc.) 7. Describe the duration of your experiment. In other words, how long will it last? For example, if you are doing an experiment involving plant growth how long will you observe the growth of the plant 4 weeks, 8 weeks, etc? 8. Be detailed enough to enable another scientist to repeat your experiment exactly as you did. L) Data Analysis: Draw out the data table that you will use to record your results and describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data such as finding the mean of your trials. Explain the type of graph you will use (bar graphs for comparisons of averages from each level of the IV, line graphs for changes over time, and pie graphs to show how a part relates to the whole, and scatter plots to show relationships between variables) Science Project Approval Form: This form should be signed by both parent and student.
Note: Advanced students and students competing in Science Fair may also need to complete ISEF forms 1 and 1A. Some students may have to complete more forms depending on the nature of their project. You can download and save the forms from http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document
Log Book: Once the teacher has approved your research plan, go back and paste it in your logbook.
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Experiment
When your Research Plan and forms have been received and reviewed, your teacher will provide you with written permission to start your experiment by signing the Science Project Approval Form you turned in with your Research Plan. Do not start until your teacher has given you permission to start! On the first day that you set up your experiment have your research plan out and follow the experiment procedure you have made. If you need to make changes in the original plan dont be afraid to cross out and note the changes on your original procedure or rewrite your procedure with changes in your logbook.
Log Book: On the day that you start your experiment: 1. Make data table(s) in you logbook according to your Research Plan. 2. Make Initial observations: For example, if you are using plants, make sure to give each plant a label and describe each plant from day one (size, number of leaves, etc). The first day you start your experiment; there should be lots of writing. 3. Take pictures of how you set up the experiment. Try to avoid having peoples faces in the pictures. If you will be taking pictures with a person under the age of 18 in the pictures you must have written permission from his/her parents to be photographed.
Collecting Data
Log Book: Each time you make an entry in your logbook for your experiment you should: 1. Make sure to record all observations. Record changes that you see, hear, smell, feel, and measure in each sample of each level of your independent variable/experimental group. 2. Make notes of any changes, problems, mistakes or unexpected things that happen during your experiment. Write down the time you make observations. Anything you do during your experiment should be measured and recorded. For example, if you are watering plants on certain days, make sure to record when you water each plant and how much. Remember all data, both qualitative and quantitative, should be recorded in the logbook. 3. Take pictures .Every time you record an observation in your logbook you should take a picture of your experiment.
Analyzing Data
The purpose of analyzing data is to determine if your hypothesis can be supported by the data collected during your experiment. When analyzing data you organize data into graphs and charts and try to find relationships or patterns with the data you have collected.
Log Book: Once you have stopped your experiment you must analyze the data collected as specified in your Research Plan. Be sure to: 1. Find the mean for all the trials for each level of your independent variable 2. Graph the data 3. Write out the results of what your graph shows in paragraph form. Make sure to include the following in the paragraph. A. Each testing groups results as graphed B. The testing group or level of the independent variable that had the greatest change C. The testing group or Level of the independent variable that had the least amount of change.
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Log Book: In the conclusion the following questions should be answered using complete sentences: 1. What was the problem you were investigating or the purpose of your experiment? 2. What was your hypothesis for the experiment? 3. What were the average results for each level of the independent variable? 4. Was your hypothesis supported based on the results of your experiment? (Did the data collected match what you thought would happen?) 5. Why do you think the experiment results turned out the way they did? (Think back to all the research. What was different about each level of the independent variable that could account for the results of the experiment?) 6. Were there any problems that could have affected the results? Did you make any errors? 7. If you were to redo the experiment, how could it be improved in the future? 8. If you did another science project next year, how could you expand or extend this current
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Appendix
Appendix A: Fields of Science/ Science Fair Categories.....................................13-14 Appendix B: Selecting a Project Topic/Question/Problem..................................15-16 Appendix C: Experimental Design...............................................................................17 Appendix D: Setting up a controlled experiment ......................................................18 Appendix E: Worksheets and Forms ....................................................................19- 22
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MICROBIOLOGY* is the branch of biology concerned with the study of microorganisms. This would include the study of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, and protozoa, and even studies involving cells or tissues. PHYSICS is the science that deals with the laws concerning motion, matter, and energy. Topics found in the category of physics are force and pressure, gravity, Newton's Laws, relativity, kinetic theory, motion forces, work, energy, sound, light, and magnetism. ZOOLOGY and or Animal Science* is the science that deals with the study of animals. This could include the study the structures of animals, the functions of those structures, reproduction and heredity. *projects in these fields of science require special supervision and guidelines and have certain restrictions. The classroom teacher may choose to limit the number of projects allowed from these fields.
For a complete list of ISEF Categories and Subcategories refer to the following link: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/project_categories
Log book: Choose one of the fields of science from the list above that most interests you then after doing some research on that field, answer the following questions in your log book: 1. What does a person in this field of science study? 2. What is the general name of a scientist in this field called? 3. What careers would use a degree in this field of science? 4. What are three junior high or middle school projects that would be classified in this field of science? 5. Is there a topic that is studied in this field that I could do my project on, if so what? In order to answer question number four you can do a general search on the internet for school science projects in the field of science you have chosen or you can go to the two websites below for help. www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects.html and www.sciencebuddies.org
Dont forget to Write this page in your Table of Contents. Title it Science Field or Science Category
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Example Scenario: After looking over the list of science fields, Leslee decided that botany looked interesting. She found in her research that botany was the study of plants and decided plants would be a good project topic. She then completed Worksheet 1: Choosing a Science Project Problem/Question.
Write the materials from question #1. Choose only materials that will have an effect on the test subject. Notice Leslee did not choose the shovel or the measuring cups.
Write a list of all the possible ways that each of the materials can be changed.
(Worksheet 1 Page 16 of 23
continued)
Note: You will have more than three questions if you use all of your answers in #3 and #4 to make questions. Realize that some questions will be better than others and you should pick the three best.
Answering the Why? for the last two questions is just as important as the question itself. If you cant answer the why then you should not consider trying to investigate the problem for your project.
Log Book: Paste this worksheet in your logbook. Be sure to record it in your Table of Contents.
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Purpose: In one or two paragraphs describes the realworld reason for selecting this project problem. You may need to go back and read more about your topic to write a quality purpose statement.
Hypothesis: Shows the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. It is written as an If then statement and should be based on your background research Do not use words like I think or I predict. Include a reason for your hypothesis backed by information you found in your research.
The independent variable is the one factor in the experiment that you are purposely changing.
Levels of the IV are the testing groups or the experimental groups. Each is treated with a different amount or form of the independent variable.
Log Book: You should paste worksheet 2 in your log book once it has been reviewed by the teacher and returned. Be sure to record it in your Table of Contents.
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Cut out along dotted line to paste in your log book Page 20 of 23
Appendix E: Worksheets and Forms Clay County Schools Project approval form (to be completed by all students)
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