TIMELINE: Dates for 2007-2008 are always under construction. Please check regularly for updates.
Topic Decisions and Beginning Research *Use library databases, your textbook, and internet sites to get IDEAS - YOU SHOULD NOT BE "LIFTING" a specific experiment. Think for yourself, make modifications to ideas you find and try to make that earth science/environmental connection. Choose a topic you find interesting!
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Library Research: October 11 and 15 reserved as class time for science fair research
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Topic Selection - this is a graded assignment. TYPE: 1. Tentative Title for your project. 2. What you plan to learn by conducting this research and experiment. What is the problem or question? What do you plan to do to help answer the question? Why do you find this to be an important problem or question? How will your research and experiment be useful to everyday society? Will you need any help with this experiment? 3. Type a list of materials you will need to conduct your experiment. 4. Type a step-by-step plan of how you plan to conduct your research and experiment.
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Topic Selection (4 parts) due date: 10/17/07 Science Fair Forms completed and signed due date:
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Topic Research - this is a graded assignment worth 60 points 1. Bibliography note cards - Complete bibliography/note cards from at least 5 different sources. No more than two sources from the internet. Be careful, many internet sites are not credible sources. Usually an address that includes .edu or .gov is credible. Use your textbook, science journals, interviews, books and magazines. Don't forget the library databases. Listed below are some sites that you may find helpful. 2. Research Proposal - This is a typed summary that details everything you learned in connection with your topic. The topic research is one of the most important parts of your project. It is difficult if not impossible to decide what you believe will happen, which materials you need, and how to conduct your experiment without background research. Include an annotated bibliography using changes made to your note cards. This should be a minimum of two typed double-spaced pages. |
THIS IS CLASS WORK / HOMEWORK / STUDY HALL WORK Bibliography/Note card due date: 10/29/07 Each card must contain bibliographic information in proper form (librarian has bibliography forms) on one side and page number(s) with information on other side. Connect cards with a ring or rubber band - no paper clips.
Research Proposal due date: 10/29/07 |
| Hypothesis(es): This is the point at which your research and how well you conducted it becomes crucial. Your hypothesis is neither a wild nor educated GUESS! You are basing your decision on research. Explain what you are testing, what you believe the outcome will be and why. Keep in mind, you must conduct many trials to make your experiment valid. Be sure this is possible with your experiment. Also, you must be able to identify the dependent and independent variables. | Hypothesis due date: 10/29/07
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Additional Forms: All science fair students must submit (typed) the appropriate ISEF forms to me. Don't forget necessary signatures. All students submit forms 1, 1A, 1B Website for Intel ISEF forms for 2008 www.sciserv.org/isef/document/index.asp Students participating in Lehigh and PJAS will need to submit a second set along with the Research Plan and other applicable forms depending on your project to be forwarded to the directors of Lehigh and PJAS competitions. PJAS Registration Form - click on PHS website, drop down to science department |
Submission of forms due date: November All are typed. Everyone needs forms 1,1A,1B. Your parents are signing indicating that they read your topic and research proposal Students going to Lehigh and/or PJAS see me ASAP about other forms.
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| Begin Experiment/Log all data - Create data charts to log all data. Data includes either quantitative data such as mass, temperature, velocity etc. This is anything measurable and MUST BE MEASURED in metric. Do not convert from English to metric!!!!!!! A second part of your data log is qualitative. This includes all observations and anecdotal notes and remarks. | This is an ongoing process. I will periodically ask for your data log to be sure your experiment is progressing and to see if you need help. Please see me at any time (you may have to make an appointment during or after school) for help with your experiment. The best projects are those started early and given enough time to complete them properly. |
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Type Data Charts / Graphs / Analysis Summary Include all data charts, appropriate graphs and a summary telling what happened in your experiment and why. Use the data you gathered to help support your conclusions. |
Data charts/graphs/analysis due typed: TBA Use suggestions made on the first papers you handed in to help you. |
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Your experiments should be completed by January 31st. |
After school help available to all students during the month of February. Sign up sheet in my room. |
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Abstract Writing - Your experiment must be completed before writing the abstract. First draft writing and peer reading and review will take place as an in class assignment. Final draft of the abstract must be typed and handed in before the next class. |
In class abstract writing, presentation, and review date:
mid February |
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Final draft of abstract - typed as a homework assignment. |
Final abstract due: |
| Final paper due typed | February TBA 2008 - hand in 3 copies of your paper, no covers or binders just the stapled papers. |
Science Fair Set-up (all students) |
February TBA 2008 - Students drop off projects in auxiliary gym prior to 1st period In the event of an absence from school, students are responsible for being sure their project gets dropped off. No late projects or papers. |
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Science Fair, presentations, and graduation project presentation |
February TBA 2008 Students who are participating in PJAS are required to spend time practicing their presentation after school. (Sign up sheets in my room) These students will be graded on their oral presentations at that time. Students not participating in PJAS may schedule an after school presentation, if time allows. All students are given the opportunity during the month of February to receive extra help with science fair (particularly the data analysis portion). Sign up in my room. |
Parent Night |
February TBA 2008 |
School Science Fair |
February TBA 2008 |
Project take down |
ALL PROJECTS MUST GO HOME ON February TBA 2008 |
Grading |
There are 3 parts to the science fair projects. Students will be graded on their final paper, oral presentation, and display board. Each part is worth 100 points and represents 1/3 of the 3rd marking period grade. Students received a grading sheet for each part. |
| PJAS - STUDENT REGISTRATION FORM DUE TO MRS. TAKACS | BY |
| PJAS COMPETITION IN EASTON | SATURDAY, February TBA 2008 |
| PJAS COMPETITION AT PENN STATE | MAY TBA 2008 |
HERE IS A LIST OF SOME TOPICS - YOUR PROJECT MUST BE RELATED TO CONCEPTS STUDIED THIS YEAR IN EARTH SCIENCE AND HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT
| pH reading of rainwater at the high school and a study of acid rain and its causes and effects | temperature and microclimate of a city vs. a rural area |
| pH of differing rock/soil types and their buffering abilities and/or affects on groundwater | The effects of cold / warm water ocean currents on regional temperatures |
| meteorological study - frontal systems and their effects on our weather and the earth systems | Spectral analysis using prisms. |
| correlation between atmospheric pressure and our weather | weathering of rock materials - what is weathering and what causes some rock materials to weather faster than others |
| mass wasting, the angle of repose and effects on the environment | impact craters - causes/sizes/relationships between... |
| pH of river water as it passes through different rock types and the effects on water quality | sources of our drinking water and the filtration and treatment of "city" water vs. well water |
| surface runoff vs. infiltration and the effects on water quality | crystals - the six basic crystal shapes, how to seed and grow them and what are the best solutions for crystal growing/distance of heat source etc. |
| cloud formation and rates of precipitation | rate of melting using various salts and other products and their effects on the environment |
| tsunamis and their causes and the effects on different shorelines | radon testing/half-life |
| comparison of plowing techniques and erosion control | specific heat and heat absorption |
| mass wasting (control) plants and soils | physical characteristics of ocean water and environmental concerns? |
| flood control | astronomical measurements |
SCIENCE BUDDIES - Click on this site for some ideas for your science fair project.
UNITED STREAMING - Click on this site to get streaming video or download the video to your home PC. Now you have your own videos at home, complete with sound to help you research your topic. The student passcode is 985E-FD10. Don't forget the username and password you created in school!
HERE IS A LIST OF SITES THAT WILL ASSIST WITH YOUR RESEARCH. THEY REQUIRE PASSWORDS!
HERE IS A LIST OF RESEARCH SITES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PASSWORDS.
| ACCESS PA | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC |
| ACCUNET/AP | SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES |
1. RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE
ABSTRACT - 1ST DRAFT INSTRUCTION AND WRITING - IN CLASS |
WHAT IS AN ABSTRACT? THE ABSTRACT IS A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF YOUR ENTIRE PROJECT. IF SOMEONE READS ONLY YOUR ABSTRACT, BUT NOT YOUR REPORT, THEY WILL HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT YOUR PROJECT WAS ABOUT, WHAT YOU LEARNED, HOW YOU CONDUCTED YOUR PROJECT, AND WHAT YOUR RESULTS WERE. |
WRITTEN REPORT AND DISPLAY BOARD DUE February 2008 |
THE WRITTEN REPORT MUST BE TYPED - DO NOT BIND IN A COVER -STAPLE THE PAGES ONLY! YOU NEED THREE COPIES - ONE FOR THE DISPLAY, ONE TO BE GRADED, ONE FOR GRADUATION PROJECT. THE FOLLOWING LIST GIVES ALL OF THE PARTS TO BE INCLUDED AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH. |
TITLE PAGE |
THIS MUST BE TYPED AND INCLUDES THE TITLE OF YOUR PROJECT, YOUR NAME, DATE, GRADE, AND SCHOOL |
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
LIST ALL SECTIONS OF YOUR PAPER AND THE PAGE NUMBER ON WHICH THAT PART BEGINS |
ABSTRACT KEEP IN MIND THE ACTIVITY COMPLETED IN CLASS FOR HELP ON CONTENTS AND FORMAT |
THE ABSTRACT IS A WRITTEN, DETAILED BUT CONCISE SUMMARY OF YOUR PROJECT. IT MUST INCLUDE 1. WHAT YOU LEARNED THROUGH YOUR RESEARCH 2. THE PURPOSE OF YOUR PROJECT 3. YOUR FINAL PROCEDURE 4. YOUR RESULTS. |
| HYPOTHESIS | STATE EXACTLY WHAT YOU EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AND WHY, PRIOR TO HAVING CONDUCTED THE EXPERIMENT |
PURPOSE |
2-3 SENTENCE STATEMENT EXPLAINING WHAT YOU INTENDED TO LEARN AND WHY YOU CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC TO INVESTIGATE |
BACKGROUND RESEARCH REVIEW, ADD TO, AND CORRECT ORIGINAL SCIENCE FAIR RESEARCH PROPOSALS |
SUMMARIZE WORK AND RESEARCH DONE BY OTHERS ON YOUR TOPIC. INCLUDE FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR TOPIC. REMEMBER THAT PLAGIARISM IS ILLEGAL AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO EARN A 0. |
MATERIALS |
LIST ALL MATERIALS AND QUANTITIES. REMEMBER, THIS NEEDS TO BE A LIST WITH EACH DIFFERENT MATERIAL ON A SEPARATE LINE. |
PROCEDURE |
LIST AND DESCRIBE THE STEPS YOU USED TO COMPLETE YOUR PROJECT. EACH PROCEDURE MUST BEGIN ON A NEW LINE AND IT MUST BE IN SEQUENCE. |
DATA AND OBSERVATIONS Be sure to use graphs appropriate to the type of data you are displaying |
INCLUDE ALL DATA. THIS INCLUDES GRAPHS, CHARTS, TABLES, SKETCHES, DIAGRAMS, ETC. TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, THESE SHOULD BE COMPUTER GENERATED. PHOTOGRAPHS NEED TO BE PLACED ON YOUR DISPLAY BOARD. REMEMBER, YOU NEEDED A BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPH, A DURING, AND A PHOTOGRAPH AT THE CONCLUSION. YOU MAY INCLUDE DUPLICATE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE PAPER. YOU MUST LIST ALL OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE ENTIRE COURSE AND CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT. |
VARIABLE AND CONTROLS |
DESCRIBE EACH OF YOUR VARIABLES AND CONTROL. TELL WHAT THE ROLE OF EACH WAS IN THE EXPERIMENT AND TELL ABOUT HOW YOU INSURED IT. |
DISCUSSION |
DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES AS YOU WORKED THROUGH THE PROJECT. WHY DID YOU DO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DID? WHAT PROBLEMS DID YOU ENCOUNTER AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU EMBARKED UPON THIS PROJECT AGAIN? WHAT WERE SOME OF THE ERRORS MADE AND WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO ELIMINATE THEM? WHAT POSSIBLE CONCLUSIONS DID YOU ARRIVE AT? |
CONCLUSION |
BEGIN BY RESTATING THE HYPOTHESIS. NEXT, COMPARE YOUR RESULTS TO YOUR HYPOTHESIS. YOU MAY HAVE DISCOVERED YOUR HYPOTHESIS WAS TRUE. IT ALSO MAY HAVE BEEN FALSE OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. IN ADDITION, THE RESULTS MAY BE INCONCLUSIVE. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH, THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO HELPED YOU WITH YOUR EXPERIMENT. THIS INCLUDES HELP GATHERING MATERIALS, HELP WITH EQUIPMENT, USE OF FACILITIES, AND HELP IN FINDING INFORMATION |
BIBLIOGRAPHY |
MLA FORMAT SITE - CLICK HERE FOR HELP |
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SOME POINTERS |
LINE GRAPHS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR DATA INDICATING CHANGE OVER
TIME . GENERALLY MORE APPROPRIATE DON'T CONVERT FROM ENGLISH TO METRIC!!!!!!!! MEASURE IN METRIC FROM THE START!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INCLUDE TYPED CAPTIONS FOR ALL PHOTOS |
2. DISPLAY BOARDS - THE BOARD MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
Science Fair Pics - click on this link for some sample display boards
(NEATNESS AND APPARENT TIME SPENT ON THIS COUNT! EVERYTHING IS TYPED OR COMPUTER GENERATED)
1. HYPOTHESIS
2. PROCEDURE
3. ABSTRACT
4. DATA CHARTS/GRAPHS/SKETCHES - MINIMUM OF 3 PHOTOGRAPHS WITH CAPTIONS
5. LIST OF OBSERVATIONS
6. CONCLUSION
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
8. THE TOP OF THE DISPLAY BOARD MUST INCLUDE YOUR TITLE. ON THE BACK YOUR NAME, GRADE, CLASS.
THE GOAL OF THE DISPLAY BOARD IS TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR
INFORMATION, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ACCURATELY DISPLAY YOUR RESEARCH. IT IS
UNPROFESSIONAL TO MAKE SPELLING ERRORS IN THE PAPER AND ON THE DISPLAY BOARD.
3. ORAL PRESENTATION - INFORMATION IS ON YOUR RUBRIC! - IF YOU ARE PREPARING FOR PJAS YOUR PRESENTATION IS LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES
LEHIGH SCIENCE FAIR - PAPERWORK DUE:
PJAS SCIENCE FAIR COMPETITION - PAPERWORK DUE: After school meetings to practice for PJAS and complete oral presentation portion of your grade begins after Christmas.
09/04/2007
