2008 Science Fair Handbook
Grades 4-6:
Dear Parents,
The 2008 Oak School Science Fair will take place on Thursday, April 3rd – 5th in the multi-use room. Projects can be dropped off in the multi-use room after school on Wednesday, April 2nd. Click here to print out a registration form. One form per project. Registration forms should be turned in to your teacher by Friday, March 7th.
Last year over one third of the students participated, with representation from all grades. We feel that this event is a valuable learning experience for our children and would like to encourage all to participate. Projects will need to be completed at home so it is important that your child have your support if he/she wishes to participate. Students may work alone, with a partner or in a group. Projects will not be judged (however some teachers may require students to do a project as part of their science curriculum). Everyone who completes a science fair project gains knowledge and thinking skills, and receives a certificate of accomplishment.
One important purpose of completing a science project is to help the students learn about the scientific process. Children learn science best and understand ideas better if they are able to investigate and experiment. Hands-on science can also help children to think critically and gain confidence in their own ability to solve problems.
Be aware of the following safety rules:
- Do not use poisons, dangerous chemicals or open flames for the project display at the Science Fair. These may be used in the project at home but will not be allowed at the fair.
- Electrical circuits in the project must be properly shielded so there is no danger of electric shock.
- The use of live animals is discouraged, unless closely supervised by an adult to ensure humane treatment of the animal. Animals will not be allowed at the fair.
We are looking forward to another fun Science Fair and hope your child will participate. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Debi Pressley, Carol Dockery and Pete Petersen
Science Fair Committee Chairs
E-mail
Science Fair Committee
Science Fair - Key Dates
| March 3 |
Parent and student information meeting in the multi-use room (watch Notes from Oak for exact day and time). |
| March 7 |
Registration forms are due. Turn forms in to the classroom teacher or place in Science Fair PTA drawer in office. |
| April 2 |
Set up projects in the multi-use room from 2:35 - 4:00 pm. |
| April 3-4 |
Scheduled classrooms tour displays in the multi-use room. |
| April 5 |
Science Fair Open to the Public, 10:00 – 4:00 in multi-use room (projects may be taken home after 4:00 pm). |
Science Fair Registration Form
Click here to print out a registration form. One form per project. Forms should be turned in to your teacher by Friday, March 7th, 2008.
NO LATE REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
The Project Display
How important is the look of the display? Quite important!
- Be neat
- Take time to make clear, simple and neat drawings, graphs and diagrams
- Avoid cluttering the display
- Add extra touches like lines of color, borders and so on, to make the display attractive
- Three-part project boards are sold at stationery stores such as Staples and Office Depot, or craft stores such as Michaels.
Most important! Your display must stand by itself on a tabletop (provided) and fit into a space no larger than 3 feet wide by 1 1/2 feet deep by 3 feet high.
Parent Information
The STUDENT is the PRIMARY RESEARCHER. His/her role is to:
- Choose the topic
- Do research
- Plan and conduct experiments/demonstrations
- Record data
- Prepare the report and do artwork or the display
The PARENT has three LESSER roles:
- LAB ASSISTANT-help gather materials, assist with construction, and supervise "dangerous" activities.
- CONSULTANT-ask questions, give advice, ask questions, make suggestions, ask questions. Ask student to explain his/her reasoning. Do not make decisions, encourage the student to work it out.
- CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD-may reject projects on the basis of high cost, lack of proper research facilities, and so on. Rule on safety issues.
Parental help will be credited in the project display along with other sources of assistance and references.
Choosing a Topic
Keep it simple! Help your child choose a topic that:
- Is interesting to them and relates to thier own experiences
- Is realistic for the time available
- Suits their ability to handle it
Other Ways to Help:
- Help your child understand that science is not just a subject, it is a way of looking at the world. Learning is foremost.
- Your child might not have been taught all the steps of an experiment yet. Give encouragement, support and guidance. Be positive. Make sure your child feels this is HIS/HER project.
- If he/she does a demonstration, encourage him to predict what will happen or what he will find. By predicting, the student will have more of himself invested in the project.
- Help your child stay on a timeline to avoid a last-minute scramble to complete the display.
- Realize that a good project doesn't have to be elaborate or cost a lot of money. A simple project that is finished and well executed is better than a complex one that was not completed.
Student Information
The Science Fair gives you an opportunity to share with others something you have learned about science. You will be able to display a special science project that you have been working on at home.
Choosing a topic can be difficult. Choose a topic that:
- Is interesting to you and relates to her own experiences
- Is realistic for the time available
- Suits your ability to handle it
Sources for Topics
- Your own curiosity of the everyday world
- Science books, magazines, TV shows and videos
- Museum exhibits
- School curriculum
- Lists in this handbook
TIPS for a Successful Project
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There are several types of projects to choose from:
- A Demonstration of a scientific principle where you show how something works.
- An Experiment where you ask a question and then try to answer it by planning and doing an experiment.
- An Invention that solves some problem.
Demonstrations
In a demonstration project, you show how something works, or you explain why something happens the way it does. Demonstration projects tend to have titles like "How ________ Works" (such as how volcanoes erupt or how the heart pumps blood). Other examples of demonstration projects are building a model of a geyser, creating a cloud in a bottle using compressed air, constructing an electric generator and measuring its voltage, and showing how the rudder of an airplane helps the airplane point forward.
Scientific Experiments
- Select a topic
- Select a question to be answered by the experiment. All experiments have variables. All things that can or will change are called variables. Variables can be divided into three groups: a manipulated variable, responding variables and controlled variables. An experiment must have a measurement. A measurement must be made to tell what effect a change in the manipulated variable has on the responding variable. The best measurements are objective: time, temperature, weight, length and so on.
- Form a hypothesis.
- Plan the experiment.
- Perform the experiment. Make changes in your plan as you do the experiment experiment to make a better experiment. It may be necessary to start over after making changes. So start your work early and then you will have time to make all necessary changes.
- Prepare the results. Review and organize the measurements to show what happened. Usually tables, graphs and charts are made to show the measurements in different ways.
- Explain the results. What does the resulting measurement mean? Are there other times or places when similar results would be expected to happen? Did the results turn out according to the hypothesis? If not, why did your hypothesis prove to be incorrect?
- Drawing the conclusions. Conclusions are general statements that can be made with confidence based on the results. They may include patterns, measured values, changes and so on. You should answer the experiment question at this time.
- Prepare your materials for the science fair. You need to include:
- The display of the project
- A brief written report about the project
- A brief talk about the project
Engineering Inventions
- Become a scout
- Become a wizard
- Become a critic
- What is the invention supposed to do?
- What are the positive things about how the invention solves the problem?
- What are some of the problems with the invention?
- What could be changed to make it better?
- Why do you think it would or would not be successful?
- Will this invention be worth while over time?
- How much would it cost to produce it?
- Is the invention durable?
- Have others try it out. What advice do they give?
While working as a scout it is important to keep a journal. Include the date, time and place you are making your entry. What should you invent? To answer this question, you need to practice looking, listening, brainstorming, and thinking. You need to be innovative. As a scout you can look for problems that need to be solved. Make a list of problems you encounter at home or at school that might be solved by inventing something.
Are you stuck? Try these activities to get you going. Find ten or more objects in your room and classify them into defined groups. Take two objects and compare them. How are they alike? How are they different? What is something useful that you could make by combining the two objects? Take an object and list all of its different uses. Try using the SCAMPER Technique. Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate a part of it. Reverse it or rearrange it.
Now pick one problem to solve and scout the market. Look for products that might already address the problem. Can you create something better? Something that solves the problem in a different, more efficient way?
While working as a wizard it is important to continue to write in your journal. Now that you have your problem, you have to find a way to solve it. Brainstorm a list of ways you could solve your problem. Make a list of materials needed for each of the solutions. List how each of your solutions will work. Make a list of the obstacles you might have to overcome. Now chose one of the solutions that make the most sense.
Now it's time to create a working model or prototype of your invention. Make sure you make diagrams and descriptions of materials in your journal.
While working as a critic make sure you make positive observations first, then work on the negative ones. There are questions you should ask yourself when evaluating an invention.
Make changes to your invention to make it better. Most inventions are evaluated and revised many times before they are put on the market.
Sample Projects and Ideas
Demonstrations
How heat is transmitted
An energy-efficient home
What makes a hot air balloon rise?
Expansion of solids, liquids & gases when heated
How a thermostat works
How a toaster works
The steam engine
The periscope
Kaleidoscopes
How binoculars work
How a microscope works
How a telescope works
What makes rainbows?
Different types of mirrors
Lenses and what they do
How a camera works
How polaroid glasses work
What causes light to bend?
How photocells work
How a prism works
The pinhole camera
The Doppler effect
What causes echoes
How a record player works
How an electric motor works
How a generator works
Batteries, how they work
The telegraph
What is a transformer?
What is a transistor?
Electronic components and their functions
Hydroelectric power
The series circuit and the parallel circuit
How airplanes fly
How a wing works
Hero's engine
How rockets fly
Looping rollercoasters - how they work
How a canal lock works
Primitive clocks
Distillation
Solar still
Water filtration
pH and how to measure it
Acids, bases and pH
How elements combine to make compounds
Capillary action
Radioactivity and Geiger counters
The sextant (or quadrant)
What is density?
What is surface tension?
Weather forecasting
How a barometer works
Cloud chamber
Effects of air pressure
Fermentation
Osmosis
Phases of the moon (working model)
Eclipses
How a geyser works
Harvesting the wind with windmills
How clouds form
Different types of earthquake faults
Sedimentation
How a sundial works
How does the human heart work? (model)
The circulatory system
The ear
Tooth decay
Why a fish has fins
Bird wings, how they work
Photosynthesis
Hydroponics
The action of yeast in bread
How yogurt is made
How cheese is made
Paper recycling
Aluminum recycling
Glass recycling
Oil wells - how they work
The submarine
Experiments
Physical Science
Which metals conduct heat best?
* Measuring the calories in a peanut
Which material makes the best heat insulator?
*The efficiency of airspace as an insulator
Which color of liquid absorbs the most heat?
Which color container absorbs the most heat?
Which color container cools off the quickest?
How temperature affects the height at which different balls bounce
*How heat affects recording tape
Do black bottom pools keep the water warmer?
How constant is the temperature in my refrigerator?
How accurate is the temperature knob on my oven?
The effects of temperature on the strength of dry cells
The effect of light on dyed materials
*Calculating liquid density using light refraction
Materials that absorb sound
String telephones: what materials work best in conducting sound
Conductivity of various liquids
*How temperature affects the amount of electricity given off by a solar cell
How increasing the number of batteries affects the speed of a motor
What is the voltage range of the GE-14 bulb?
*The strength of a magnet vs. distance
*Do magnetic fields affect the sound quality on a recording tape?
The effects of washing on dyed materials
* Which fabrics are most fire-resistant?
* Which toothpaste is most abrasive?
*The amount of dissolved salt in drinking water
Can saltwater be desalted by freezing?
Popcorn: A graphical analysis of pops per second
*Strength of different woods
Ink evaluation with paper chromatography
Splat - a study in droplet patterns
*Chlorine levels in our drinking water
The effects of swimming pool water (chlorine) on hair
*Testing sugar in soft drinks
*Comparison of vitamin A content in frozen, canned and fresh peas
*Which foods have starch (or sugar, fat, protein, etc.) ?
*Testing various orange drinks for vitamin C
*How fire affects roofing materials
How well do various fabrics absorb dye?
*Who has greater body density, boys or girls?
*How strong is a spider web thread?
Think up your own special project idea
*How does the tail affect the flight of a kite?
*What shutter speed is needed to photograph a moving fan?
The velocity of water through different tubes (same size, different material)
The velocity of water through different tubes (same material, different sizes)
The velocity of different liquids through the same size tube
*Density of various liquids
More Experiments
Engineering
*Do oil additives reduce friction on engine parts?Earth Science
*A frictionless magnetic bearing
*How many rotor blades give maximum lift for a helicopter?
Paper airplane performance
*Robots
*Using electromagnets to power a car
*Battle of the bridges
*"Computer projects
*Testing a car headlight as a satellite dish antenna
*Storing the sun's energy
*Power from rising air
*Power from the waves
*Testing different water turbine blades
*Charting the apparent motion of PolarisConsumer
Composition of Hawaiian sand
Water retention of different soils
Using a computer for mineral identification
How much dust falls on your lawn in a month?
How clean is our air?
How acid is our rain?
Speed of clouds using photography
The effect of wave action on different rocks (using a rock tumbler)
Wave barriers
Using feathers to clean up oil spills
Terracing and how it affects erosion
*The effects of water on different types of wood
Which firewood gives the most heat per dollar?
*Which solar panel is most efficient?
Can a roof overhang cut summer cooling costs?
A comparative study of various packing materials
How much money can a pool cover save?
Which candle is the best buy?
*Which light bulb is most efficient?
Are TV commercials louder than regular programming?
Think up your own special project
The frequency and length of TV commercials during a one-hour program
Which battery is the best buy?
How much does it really cost to run a refrigerator?
Which stain remover works best?
Which detergent removes grass stains best?
Which detergent cuts grease the best?
Which detergent has the longes-lasting suds?
The effectiveness of pre-wash products
Waterproofing agents - which is best?
The effects of deodorants on clothes
Which paint protects wood the best?
The effectiveness of different wood preservatives
*Shampoo evaluation
*Water solubility of suntan lotions
*Meat, fat and moisture content of hot dogs
*Do sausages vary in fat and water content?
Which popcorn pops the most?
Up to bat - wood or aluminum?
Fishing lines take the strength test
*Sole traction - which sole is best?
*Skateboard wheels - which are best?
Leaky faucets - how much do they cost us?
Which uses more water, a shower or a bath?
Which container (or wrapping) preserves food best?
Which paper towel is most absorbent?
Which diaper is best?
Which lighter has the most fuel?
Comparison of locks - which is best?
Which nails have the best holding power?
*The best air pressure for an A.T.C. (3-wheeler)
How long are yellow lights at various intersections?
Do parking meters give us the right time?
Even More Experiments
Life Science
Does a magnetic field affect the growth of beans?
Does electricity affect the growth of beans?
Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
How do plants react to different kinds of music?
*How detergents affect the growth of plants
Do plants grow better with tap water or distilled water?
The effects of rootbounding on plant growth
Do roots always grow down?
Do mirrors affect the way plants grow?
*Does leaf surface area affect plant growth?
Leaf size vs. location
Effects of artificial vs. natural light on plants
Under which color cellophane do plants grow best?
Can you give a plant too much fertilizer?
Testing different potting soils
Which mulch covering works best?
*Does the phase of the moon affect the germination of seeds?
Do seeds sprout better in cold or hot climates?
*How does gravity affect the growth of seeds?
*Does acid rain affect the germination of seeds?
Under which thickness of plastic do radishes grow best?
How the amount of light affects the growth of marigolds
Do avocados ripen more evenly with the stems left on?
*Which banana has the most sugar - green, yellow or brown?
"Comparing the moisture content of five varieties of apples
Effects of the environment on popcorn (heat, cold, moisture, time, etc.)
Does aspirin prolong the life of cut carnations?
*How detergents affect the growth of algae in pond water
*A study of marine growth on various surfaces
How fast does a mealworm (or snail) travel?
The speed of snails on different surfaces
*Horsepower of snails
The effect of different metals on snails
Effects of household pesticides on earthworms
Do earthworms help plants to grow?
*Can insects pull more than their own body weight?
*Ant control - natural vs. chemical repellants
Do goldfish grow larger in a larger tank?
Fish feeding - the effects of light
*Can mice see colors?
*Can mice distinguish shapes (squares, circles, triangles - associate one with food)
*Hamster activity and the phases of the moon
*Can the color of unborn rabbits be predicted?
How many grams of food does a rabbit eat per day?
Chickens and colored corn - which will they eat?
*Will a chicken lay more eggs with rock music playing?
Do pyramids preserve food?
*How does our vision affect our taste?
Light vs. vision - which color is best?
Night vision and the effects of colored objects
*The effect of color on depth perception
Does a blindfolded person walk in a circle?
The relationship between age and response time
*Can you recognize your own profile?
Left-hand, right-hand transference using a "mirror tracing"
Reading and remembering with different colored paper - which works best?
Flexibility: boys vs. girls
Do adults know U.S. geography? (or math skills, science concepts, etc.)
How do people react when seeing a teenager shoplift?
*How teeth react to different liquids
*Do taste buds grow weaker as you get older?
*Effects of coffee on a person's steady hand
*Effects of caffeine on blood pressure
Hot tubs and their effect on blood pressure
*Effects of foul smells on blood pressure
*Tar and nicotine in five brands of cigarettes
Smoking vs. lung capacity
Lung power of different age groups
Websites and More Project Ideas
Go to Science Resources for Science Fair related web sites and project ideas.
