This document provides guidance and due dates for students completing a science fair project. It discusses finding an idea and formulating a research question, conducting background research, developing a hypothesis, writing an introduction and procedure, collecting and presenting data, analyzing results, and concluding. Key due dates include submitting research notes, draft sections, and the final paper throughout fall 2003 and winter 2004.

1. So You’re Gonna do a Science Fair Project? This will help you with due dates, ideas, methods and rules. Sit back, enjoy and feel free to print out a copy to save.

2. Getting Started! EEK! Where do you go for ideas? Who do you ask for help? How do you plan your time wisely? When are different parts of the project due to Mrs. Grimley?

3. Where do you go for ideas? Think of hobbies (paper airplanes, sports, rockets, roller blading,etc.) Use the Internet! Search “science fair” or “science projects” or check Web Ways and get many ideas. Talk to your parents Talk to your teachers Look at Mrs. Grimley’s idea books in the science room Watch TV commercials for product testing.

4. How do you know if your idea is good? Are you asking a question to solve a specific problem? Can you find plenty of research on the topic? Does your idea involve an actual experiment? Can you measure something and graph it later? Has your idea been done many times before at Rosemont?

5. Who do you ask for HELP!!? Mrs. Grimley Any of your teachers are willing to help with computers, grammar, ideas, etc. Parents Various companies On line experts Librarians

6. How do you plan your time wisely? Set aside a place in your house to work on your project that will not be disturbed over time. Work on your project at least every other day, if only for 10 minutes at a time. If you need supplies or outside help, DO IT EARLY! Put everything on the computer as you complete it to save you time on the final report. If you run into any problems, talk to Mrs. Grimley as soon as possible!

7. Finding a problem and putting it into a question… The problem is the scientific question to be solved. Be specific. “Which brand of paper towels is the best?” is too broad. “Which brand of paper towels absorbs and holds the most water?” is better.

8. How do you find background research? You will need to show that you researched the problem you are testing. You will have at least a 2 page section in your final paper that summarizes this information with a minimum of 3 different source types in your bibliography. Make sure the sources are RELIABLE!! Use the Library, Internet, Books in the Science room, and personal interviews. Write to companies for product information.

9. How do you write a hypothesis? After researching your chosen problem you should be able to come up with a question that you can attempt to answer. Examples are: “ Which paper towel is strongest when wet?” “ Does a cold basketball bounce higher or lower than a hot one?” Both of the questions above can have experiments set up to try to answer them. We can also try to predict what we think will be the outcome. That is called a hypothesis , or prediction . An Example: “ Basketballs will bounce less in cold weather because the air inside of them might contract” This is an educated guess as to the outcome of your experiment.

10. What’s in an Introduction? It sets the scene for your report. This is the ONLY place in the entire project you may use first person. It includes your hypothesis and an explanation of what prompted your research, and what you hope to achieve. It should be 1-2 paragraphs.

11. How do you write a procedure? This is a step-by-step, extremely detailed description of how the experiment will be done. Include photographs and diagrams. Assume your audience knows nothing about your topic. Examples from past years are available in the science room. Pretend you are writing the procedure for the fourth grade level.

12. Collecting Data All data should be carefully recorded during EVERY experiment. Use charts for organization. If the outcome of your experiment does not match your hypothesis, it is OKAY! You are still learning and it may make your project even more interesting!

13. Results Include all data taken. Organize data with charts and graphs so that the results are clear. Give only facts, not opinions. Be clear!

14. Conclusion and Analysis Consider the following questions: Was the hypothesis correct? How did your results compare to your research? Were results of repeated experiments similar? Did they vary? Discuss any possible errors. What would you do differently if you did it again?

15. September 2003 Due Dates 22nd– Hand in log book with Question stated that you will try to answer 26th – Hand in first set of note cards 29 th – Hand in second set of note cards

16. October 2003 Due Dates 3rd – Hand in third set of note cards 8th – Hand in fourth set of note cards 15th – Hand in 2 pages minimum of research typed with complete bibliography 22nd – Rough draft of hypothesis due in log book 27th – Final draft (typed) of problem and hypothesis, SIGNED BY PARENT

17. November 2003 Due Dates 3rd – Rough draft of introduction due in log book 6th - Final draft of introduction typed on computer 10th – Rough procedure due in log book- discuss ideas with your parents first (include dates) 14th – Final procedure TYPED with PARENT SIGNATURE (include start and end dates) 17 th – Rough list of materials due in log book 24 th - TYPED list of materials SIGNED by parents

18. December 2003 Due Dates NOTHING will be handed in during December. This DOES NOT MEAN you will not be working on your project. USE THIS TIME TO BEGIN COLLECTING DATA! DO NOT WAIT UNTIL CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!

19. January 2004 Due Dates 9th – Rough Draft of paper due typed including: title page, table of contents, problem, introduction, background research, procedure, results (charts and graphs), and bibliography NO CONCLUSIONS yet!! 14th – First draft of conclusions due 21 st - Abstract due 23 rd – FINAL PAPER due in Binder

20. February 3, 2004 Judging Day! No changes after noon today