Science and Engineering Fair

HandbookA.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School

2019-2020

Table of ContentsSection Page

Welcome to the Student Handbook & Safety First 3

Information About Science Fair Projects 4

Project Categories 5

Getting Started 6

Sample Project 7

Variables & Logbook 8

Formal Report & Display 9

Sample Project Display Poster 10

Comparing Engineering Design Process & Scientific Method 11

Helpful Hints & Recommended Websites 12

How Parents Can Help 13

Project Rubric 14

Regional Science Fair 15

Minor Release Form 18

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Welcome to the ARJ Student Science and Engineering Fair Handbook!

Please read this carefully as you decide upon your topic and prepare your science fair project.

Purpose of the Science/Engineering Fair

The fair is conducted for many reasons:• To focus attention on STEM related experiences in school.• To stimulate interest in scientific investigation beyond routine class work.• To recognize and commend youthful scientific and engineering talent and

hobby pursuits.• To offer an opportunity for display of scientific talent through exhibit and

demonstration.• To stimulate public interest in the scientific and engineering abilities of students

Safety FirstSafety considerations:

Hazardous activities are those that involve a level of risk above and beyond that encountered in the student’s everyday life.Does the project involve hazardous chemicals, devices, DEA-controlled substances, prescription drugs, alcohol & tobacco, firearms and explosives, radiation, lasers, potentially hazardous microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites), human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood, or body fluids?? If so, speak to your teacher before you proceed with your project!

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A.R. Johnson Health Science and EngineeringMagnet School

Projects involving animals must complete additional paperwork. We strongly encourage the use of non-animal research projects!

Information About Science/Engineering Fair ProjectsA Successful Project:• Represents your work--not that of an expert or your parents• Indicates an understanding of the science area chosen• Shows careful planning that would eliminate a “rush” project• Has a notebook/logbook showing a complete record of all your work• Includes photographs, charts, pictures, graphs, etc., that might be necessary to explain your work• Has accurate, valid, and correct observations and conclusions• Tells a complete story--Problem and Solution; Question and Conclusion• Is original in approach and presentation• Is self-explanatory • Is attractive and organized with a title• Does not have to cost much money• Is one that gives credit to those who assisted you

A Science/Engineering Fair Project Is Not:• Only a report• Necessarily a new discovery or an original piece of research• Constructing a plastic model from a hobby kit• An enlarged model or drawing• A weekend chore• Just a poster• Something done by your parents or teachers

Steps in Making a Project: Choose a topic and discuss it with your teacher. Ask your teacher for help and

suggestions. Once you have chosen your topic, find out as much about the topic as possible. Keep a science project notebook/logbook and record all of your thoughts,

preparations, and ideas. Keep a record of your sources of information to create your bibliography. Set up a work area somewhere around your house where you can work on your

project. Make sure the area is off limits to your pets or younger brothers and sisters.

Work on your project a little each day. Don’t wait until the last minute. Collect the materials needed for the project.

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Complete your experimentation and record all of observations and data in your logbook.

Type your formal report using your logbook as a rough draft. Create your poster using the ARJ Template found at https://www.rcboe.org/Page/6959 Edit and Upload your pictures, graphs, charts, etc. Present your science project to your parents, classmates, and judges. Have fun and enjoy the pride and satisfaction of a job well done!

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Examples of Project CategoriesAnimal Science

Behavioral and Social SciencesBiochemistry

ChemistryComputer Science

Earth and Planetary ScienceElectricity and Magnetism

EngineeringEnvironmental Sciences

Food Chemistry/Food ScienceMaterials Science

Mathematical SciencesMedicine and Health

MicrobiologyPhysics

Plant SciencesThermal Sciences

The following are NOT acceptable projects to submit. Please challenge yourself to something new!

Models (Solar System, Volcano, etc.)Which diaper holds the most liquid?Which paper towel is the strongest?

Which popcorn pops the most kernels?

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Moldy food

Scientific research tries to solve a problem or answer a question. When choosing a topic, give careful thought to how your research might enhance the world and its inhabitants.Pick Your Topic. Choose something that interests you. Ideas might come from hobbies or problems you see that need solutions. Be curious!Research Your Topic. Find out as much about it as you can. Go to the library and/or search the web. Observe related events. Gather existing information and talk to professionals in the field.Organize and Theorize. Organize everything you have learned about your topic. At this point you should create your research question and determine your hypotheses, or focus on a particular engineering problem/idea.Make a Timetable. Choose a project that can be completed in the amount of time you have. Use a calendar to identify important dates. Allow plenty of time to experiment and collect data. You may have to repeat the experiment several times. Leave time to write a report and create your poster.Plan Your Experiment. Once you have a project idea, write a research plan. This plan should explain how you will do your experiment.Consult Your Teacher or Adult Sponsor. Make sure your project adheres to all Rules and Guidelines and ensures the safe and humane treatment of humans and animals. At a minimum, your teacher must approve your project.Conduct Your Experiments. During experimentation, keep detailed notes in your logbook. Do not rely on your memory! Remember to change only one variable at a time and include control groups in which none of the variables change.Examine Your Results. When you complete your experiment, examine and organize your findings. Did your experiment give you the expected results? Why or why not? Statistically analyze your data.Draw conclusions. Which variables are important? Did you collect enough data? Do you need to conduct more experimentation? Keep an open mind. Even if your results do

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not support your original hypothesis, you still have accomplished successful scientific research.Further Questions: What further questions do you have about your experiment? What else would you like to know about this topic? Did anything go wrong in your experiment? If you were to do this experiment again, what would you do differently?

SAMPLE PROJECT Effects of Surface Types Upon the Spinning Time

of an Upside-Down Top

QuestionWill an upside-down top spin longer on a wooden floor or on a tile floor?

HypothesisIf an upside-down top is spun on a wooden floor and a tile floor, then on average the upside-down top will spin longer on a wooden floor than on the tile floor becausethe wood is smoother and would create less friction to slow the movement of the top.

VariablesControlled Variables: Vibrations, health of spinner, condition of top, spinning effort, surface flatness, wind, humidity, spinning force, dropping height, obstructions, type of top.

Independent Variable :(what is being changed/manipulated): type of floor surface

Dependent Variable: (result of the test) : Amount of time the top spins.

Data:

ResultsOn average, the upside-down top spun longer on the tile floor (19 sec) than on the wooden floor (17 sec).ConclusionAn upside-down top will spin longer on a wooden floor than on a tile floor. The average time the top spun on tile floor (19 seconds) was 2 seconds longer than the average time it spun on the wooden floor (17 seconds). The tile floor was better for spinning. The data does not support my

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hypothesis because I thought the wooden floor would be better for getting the top to spin the best.I think the tile floor produced better results because it was smoother than the wooden floor. Therefore, there was less friction between the tile floor and the top than there was between the wooden floor and the top. When the force of friction was greater, the top slowed and stopped sooner. I wonder if my data would have been different if I had better controlled how I released the upside-down top each time. I also wonder if there is a better surface than tile for getting the top to spin the most.

All About Variables Independent Variable (also called the manipulated variable) - What you change

on purpose in the course of your experiment. Dependent Variable (also called the responding or outcome variable) - What

you do not change directly, but rather changes in response to changes in the manipulated variable during the course of your experiment.

Controls: - The factors you keep constant or hold fixed. A control is held fixed so that it doesn’t affect the outcome of the experiment.

Students must only change one variable at a time, conduct repeated trials, and note theirresults. If they change more than one variable at a time, they will not know what affectstheir results.

EXAMPLES OF VARIABLESLet’s say that the following hypothesis had been selected:The cheaper the paper towel, the less water it will absorb.Independent Variable (manipulated Variable): price (Brand) of paper towelDependent Variable (responding Variable): amount of water that is absorbedControl(s): size of paper towel, amount of water poured on each towel, temperature of the water used, container in which towels are placed, method of pouring

Your Project Logbook/Notebook

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This is an important part of your project. All the data gathered during your experiment should be recorded in a notebook. This includes the data gathered as a result of the experimentitself and much more. This is a handwritten “journal” of all of your steps, observations, data, and reflections throughout the project.

Your notebook should have dates for each entry and should include:• a list of all the materials used.• notes on all the preparations you made prior to starting your experiment.• information about the resources you use (books, people, libraries, Internet, etc.).• detailed day-by-day notes on the progress of the project.• what you are actually doing.• problems you encounter with the experiment.• things you would change if you were doing this investigation again.• any drawings that might help explain your work.• data that was gathered during the course of the experiment (notes, charts, tables, graphs).

Your notebook will be displayed with your project.

Formal Report and DisplayPossibly the most important and, at the same time, the most neglected phase of the scientificmethod is the compilation of a complete report. If scientists as a group fail to report their results, then each of us must wake up in a whole new world every day, doomed to repeat the failures of the past or else to waste time and effort in the rediscovery of old knowledge.

Your typed formal report should include:1. An Abstract: An abstract is a summary of your science fair project final report. It should be less than 250 words. The science fair project abstract appears at the beginning of the report. It may also be placed on your poster display.2. Your question or problem.3. Your hypothesis, along with your reasoning for why you arrived at that hypothesis. (What did you think will happen? Why did you think so?) Your hypothesis should be written in the “If ____then_____because _______” format. Ex.: If one rose plant is given water and another rose plant is given Coca-Cola for a month, then the rose plant with water will grow taller because the acid in the Coke might damage enzymes in the plant.4. Your research design:

List of variables: (What things may change or influence the outcome of your experiment?) Be sure to include your controlled, your independent/manipulated, and your dependent/responding variables.

Comparison groups: How did you set up your experiment so that you could test your independent variable? For example, “I divided 30 plants into 3 equal comparison groups. I hydrated the control group with water, the second group with Coca-Cola, and the third group with Diet Coke.”

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6. Materials: (List all materials you used.)7. Procedures: (List every step in detail.) 8. Data/Results: (What did you observe?) The data may be qualitative or quantitative depending on your project. Data are usually best displayed in a table, chart, or graph. 9. Conclusions: This section should include:

What did you learn from your results? Provide a concise summary of your observations and results from the experiment. Explain the scientific reason for what happened. State whether or not the data gathered in your experiment supported your original hypothesis.

How do your results compare with other experiments related to this topic? What makes your results important? How do your results impact the world around us?

What went wrong? How would you change the experiment if you could? Do you have any further questions you would like to investigate? What changes

you would recommend for next time, and what further experiments might need to be done to fully answer the question?

10. Acknowledgments. You should always credit those who assisted you, includingindividuals, businesses, and institutions.11. Bibliography. (Cite all sources you used.)

If this information looks familiar to you, it should. The report is simply a summary of all your work. That’s why people tend to neglect it -- they are eager to move on to the next part.

Remember, however, it’s the most important part of real-world science!

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Sample Project Display Poster*Poster template is available at https://www.rcboe.org/Page/6959.

Project displays should include these components:1. Title of project2. Student name under the title on poster.3. Statement of problem/question and purpose of project4. Hypothesis5. Variables (manipulating variable, responding variable, variables held constant)6. Materials7. Procedures8. Results/Observations/Data: represented in graphic form9. Conclusions

Be sure to include with the poster:* Typed Research Report in a cover.* Science Project Logbook (Handwritten in a spiral notebook or a composition book)

Display of material or a model is optional.

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Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method(Adapted from Sciencebuddies.org)

While scientists study how nature works, engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences. Because engineers and scientists have different objectives, they follow different processes in their work. Scientists perform experiments using the scientific method; whereas, engineers follow the creativity-based engineering design process.

Both processes can be broken down into a series of steps, as seen in the diagram and table.

 

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Helpful Tips

A Good TitleYour title is an extremely important attention-grabber. A good title should simply present yourresearch and should make the casual observer want to know more.

Take Photographs and/or videosMany projects involve elements that may not be safely exhibited at the Fair but are an important part of the project. Photographs of these phases of experimentation can be used in the display. Photographs included in your display should not show faces.

Videos of the experimentation may be recorded and then accessed through the use of a QR Code displayed on the poster.

Be OrganizedMake sure your display is logically presented and easy to read.

Eye-CatchingMake your display stand out. Use neat, colorful headings, charts and graphs.

2019-2020 Recommended Websiteshttp://www.societyforscience.org/https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/blog/eureka-labhttps://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/http://www.successwithscience.org/http://www.madsci.org/https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

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How Parents Can HelpThings a parent may do:1. Give encouragement, support, and guidance. Be positive!2. Make sure your child feels it is his or her project. Make sure the project is primarily thework of the child.3. Realize that the main purpose of a science fair project is to help your child use andstrengthen the basic skills he or she has learned in order to develop higher-level skills.4. Realize your child will need help in understanding, acquiring, and using the major scienceprocess skills (researching, organizing, measuring, calculating, reporting, demonstrating,experimenting, collecting, constructing, presenting).5. Help your child plan a mutually agreed upon schedule and location to work, to prevent a last minute project and a disrupted household. A 4 to 8 week plan that uses a check-off sheet is best. 6. Help your child design a safe project that is not hazardous in any way.7. Provide transportation to such places as libraries, nature centers, universities, etc. to helpfind project information.8. Help the child develop the necessary technical skills and/or help the child do the technicalwork such as building the exhibit and doing the photography.9. Look over the project to check for good grammar, neatness, spelling and accuracy. Makesuggestions on how it can be corrected.10. Buy or help find the necessary materials to complete the project.11. Realize that a good project doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Often a simpleproject that is well displayed and explained is the best.12. Help the child think of a project that is unique, solves a problem, is relevant, and is of interest to him/her. 13. Remind your child to keep a record (science project logbook) of all he or she does and a list of references used.

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14. Help transport child and the science fair project to and from the school/regional science fairs.15. Be positive and supportive if your child doesn’t win a prize at the science fair. The skills the child has gained are worth all the effort. Help your child to begin to plan for next year.16. Do not do the project for your child. Guide and facilitate.

Science/Engineering Fair Project RubricProject Title:__________________________________ Project #:_______

Student Name: ________________________________Teacher: ______________________

Important Elements of a Project Poor Average

Excellent

Points Earned

Question/Problem (original - not copied from a book or the Internet)

0-4 5 6-8

Investigation/Experiment (active investigation/experiment – not amodel, kit, demonstration, or collection

0-5 6-9 10-12

Purpose (understands and explains problem) 0-5 6-8 9-10Problem (posed as a testable question - not Yes or No 0-2 3 4Hypothesis (posed scientifically – If …… then statement)

0-2 3 4

Experimental Plan (develops a fair test using adequate number of trialsand/or uses a large enough sample)

0-2 3 4

Variables (defined & documented) 0-1 2-3 4Procedure (step-by-step procedure carefully followed) 0-1 2-3 4Results/Conclusion (conclusion supported by results, accurate datapresented in graphs, tables, pictures, etc.)

0-1 2-3 4

Research (student’s explanation in their own words of current research & a planfor further study)

0 1 2

Practicality (real world application – valid generalizations, notes limitations)

0-2 3 4

Difficulty Level (appropriate – not too easy or too difficult for age)

0-5 6-7 8-9

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Range of Points

Appearance (logical flow and neatly executed) 0-1 2 3Thoroughness (adequate number of repeated trials; testing and data;evidence of student work)

0-3 4-5 6

Lab Notebook (notebook/journal: a daily written record of project)

0-3 4-5 6

Conclusion (supported by data and connected to hypothesis)

0-2 3-4 6

Display (descriptions & labels guide you through the project)

0-2 3 4

Written Responses (clear & well organized) 0-3 4-5 6Total Points

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Regional Science and Engineering FairA.R. Johnson classroom teachers will select the top class projects in each category to compete at the school fair in February. Volunteer judges will evaluate the school science and engineering projects and advance the first place winners to the Central Savannah River Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Projects advancing to the Regional Fair will need to create a tri-fold display board to submit rather than the poster used at A.R.J.

The CSRA Science and Engineering Fair will be held on March 13-14, 2020, at the Student Activity Center, USC Aiken.Projects will be accepted from schools in three divisions: Elementary 4th-5th grade, Middle 6th-8th grade, and High 9th-12th grade.

If you qualify for CSRA Science and Engineering Fair:Projects must be brought to the Student Activity Center (SAC) at USC Aiken for final registration March 13, 2020 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. or March 14, 8:00-9:30 a.m. Only high school students are required to be interviewed! Interviews will be held on March 14, 2020 by appointment. For final registration, students will need to bring their science fair board (tri-fold display board), final research report, log book and required division forms. For safety, do not bring: living organisms, soil, food, plant materials, chemicals, hazardous substances, dry ice, sharp items, flammable materials, batteries with open-top cells, glass, or any dangerous apparatus.A link will be provided at registration that list all winners by 4:00 p.m. All participants are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony but winners are especially encouraged to attend.

Regional Awards-The awards given out include 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention in each category as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Overall Best in Show. In addition to place awards, Special Awards are available.Forms- Be aware that projects involving humans, vertebrate animals or hazards may require permission from the Regional Science Fair prior to experimentation.

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At the High School level, additional information and forms are necessary and will be provided by the ARJ Science Fair Coordinator.Middle School forms are only required for projects that involve humans, vertebrate animals and hazards. We strongly recommend that students do not work in these areas. Minor Media Release (attached) – All students at regional level must bring the Release Form to USCA during project registration.

CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair 2020 Special AwardsThe following awards have been offered by past sponsors and may be awarded at the 2020 fair.- The American Meteorological Society - best weather or climate related project (middle school, high school)- The American Psychological Association -best project involving behavioral or social sciences (high school)- The Association for Women Geoscientists award is presented to the female student with the best project involving geological and earth sciences (all levels eligible)- ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives- projects presenting sustainable solutions to complex problems involving social justice, the environment, and economic prosperity (high school)- Broadcom MASTERS- Top overall 10% of middle school projects receive this award and are invited to complete the online application to compete at the national level (middle school only)- The Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, - outstanding science or engineering project (high school)- The Genius Olympiad, sponsored by SUNY-Oswego, best project focusing on environment issues including ecology and biodiversity, environmental quality, resources and energy, and human ecology (high school)- Intel Excellence in Computer Science- first place in computer science category (high school)- The Mu Alpha Theta Award- best use of mathematics in a project (high school)- NASA Earth System Science- project best highlighting earth's interconnected systems (high school)

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- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -best project involving atmospheric, marine, climate, or ecosystem science (all levels eligible)- The Ricoh Corporation -best project addressing environmental responsibility and sustainable development (high school)- Ruth Patrick Award, USCA – project that best displays exemplary pioneering effort in scientific discovery in memory of Dr. Ruth Patrick (middle school, high school)- The Society for In Vitro Biology -outstanding project exhibiting in the areas of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture (11th grade only)- The South Carolina American Water Works Association, Water Drop Award - best project involving water quality and safety (high school)- The South Carolina American Water Works Association, Water Drop Award -best project involving water quality and safety (middle school)- The Stockholm Junior Water Prize - most outstanding school project involving the water environment (high school)- The United States Air Force - outstanding science or engineering project (high school)- The United States Department of the Army- outstanding science or engineering project (high school)- The U.S. Metric Association -project displaying the best use of the S.I. units (all levels eligible)- U.S. National Security Agency STEM Award- top projects (middle and high school)- The Yale Science & Engineering Association presents best project involving computer science, engineering, physics, or chemistry (11th grade only)

Regional Judging CriteriaScientific Thought 30 PointsCreative Ability 30 PointsThoroughness 15 PointsSkill 15 PointsClarity 10 PointsTotal 100 Points

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