M3 Research Project Guidelines and Working Pages

Name:__________________________

Class:__________________________

As an M3 Whitney Science student… It is your turn to show your skills as a scientist in the Whitney Institute Science Fair.

Every student will display a comprehensive research project during the Whitney Institute Science Fair on Friday, June 10th. So get ready to investigate cool (and sometimes crazy) topics about your world.

Keep this handy research packet close over the next few weeks to help you track your work, organize your ideas, and create a fabulous project any scientist will be proud of.

Now Let’s Get Started….

Here is a list of all the Tasks you must complete:

Task Due Date St. Initials Tchr. Initials

Choose a Topic May 10th Internet Research May 11th Book Research May 13th Key Word List May 16th Bibliography May 19th Research Paper May 23rd Project Planner May 23rd Conduct Experiment June 3rd

Data Analysis and Conclusion June 6th Project Display Board June 9th

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Visit the website htttp://www.sciencebuddies.org. There you will find a test to help you choose a project that interests you. Write down the three projects that you find most interesting in the chart below. Then circle or highlight your final choice, and check with Ms. S. to sign off on your choice.

Research Topic Topic Level(3,4,5,6,7) This interests me because………

1.

2.

3.

Step 2: Internet Research

Do some beginning research to explore more about your chosen topic. Write down good websites on the list below (double check to make sure they are

correct). Copy and paste helpful information and or pictures into a word document to use

for later. Be sure to put a name for which website you got the information from. DO NOT print off entire pages from websites. This wastes paper. You must

check with Ms. S. before printing.

Good websites to go back to…

1._________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________________________

4.__________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Book Research

Librarys open windows to the world! You must choose information from at least two (2) book sources to include in your paper. Look for resources on your topic. Be sure to record information on each book chosen so that you can come back to it easily.

Title:________________________ Notes:

Author:______________________

Copyright Date:_______________

Publisher:____________________

City:________________________

Relevant Pages:_______________

Title:________________________ Notes:

Author:______________________

Copyright Date:_______________

Publisher:____________________

City:________________________

Relevant Pages:_______________

Title:________________________ Notes:

Author:______________________

Copyright Date:_______________

Publisher:____________________

City:________________________

Relevant Pages:_______________

Step 5: Key Word List

As always, you MUST KNOW your key words. Each project must include a minimum of five (5) relevant key words and their definitions. Use this chart to keep track. Check with Ms. S. to sign off when complete.

Key Word Definition1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Step 6 Bibliography:

All research must include a bibliography or works cited to show where you found your information. Use the resource packet from Ms. S. to complete your bibliography ONLY for the sources that you actually used information from in your final background paper. It must be checked by another student and then by Ms. S.

USE PENCIL so that errors can be erased easily.

Resource 1:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resource 2:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resource 3:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resource 4:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resource 5:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Author Check:___________________ Date:____________________

Peer Check: ____________________ Date:____________________

Ms. S. Check: ___________________ Date:____________________

Step 7: Research Paper Planner:

Topic and Main Idea:

SubTopic 1: _______________________________________________________

Supporting Information

SubTopic 2:________________________________________________________

Supporting Information

SubTopic 3: _______________________________________________________

Supporting Information

Conclusion Ideas:

Step 8: Project Planner

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance!Every excellent science project (big or small) follows the scientific method. Your job is to follow the method and think like a scientist.

Complete the project planner on the next page. Ms. S. must sign off before you begin your actual experiment.

Project Planner (Draft)

Research Question: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis 1:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Independent Variable: ______________________________________________

Dependent Variable:________________________________________________

Controls: 1.______________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________

How Will Data Be Collected?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Procedure:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Project Planner (Final)

Research Question: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis 1:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Independent Variable: ______________________________________________

Dependent Variable:________________________________________________

Controls: 1.______________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________

How Will Data Be Collected?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Procedure:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Required Materials list: Diagram::

_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

Data Table:

Step 9: Research Notes/Errors:

Notes:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Errors or Mistakes in the Experiment:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 10 Conclusion:

Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain in DETAIL using your data from your results. Be sure to include numbers and specific examples from your experiment results.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What could you do to improve this experiment?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 11 Project Display Requirements

Title Name of Researcher(s) Problem Hypothesis Experiment Procedure Data (in picture or chart form) Pictures (minimum of 3) of your experiment in action Results Conclusion Next Time Physical display of equipment, specimens, products, or other items used in

your experiment (minimum of 3).

Parent Pledge of Support

Good Day Parents/Guardians,

You will be pleased to know that your child will be participating in our annual M3 Science Fair. This is an exciting opportunity for your child to explore an area of science that they find personally interesting.

Please pay special attention to the following:

Participation in the Science Fair is mandatory. Grades for this project will serve as more than 50% of the Quarter 4 grade. All projects are due no later than June 9th. Projects will be judged by members

of the community, therefore late projects will not be accepted. The science fair will be held on June 10th. You are invited to attend! Students may need your assistance with basic household items to set up their

experiments.

Please complete, sign and return the form below. Students who do not have a form signed by a parent/guardian by May 10th (May 11th for Class2) will serve a lunchtime detention.

Yes, I am aware that my child _______________________has a major science project due on ________________. This project counts for more than _________ of my child’s Quarter 4 grade. While there will be time to work on the project in school, I will need to support my child working on the project at home as well.

Name:__________________ Signature:_________________ Date:___________