McCarty Elementary STEAM Fair
Friday April 21, 2017: 6pm-8pm
Congratulations! Thank you for deciding to participate in McCarty’s STEAM Fair
on April 21, 2017. This year you can choose from many different types of
projects. Read through the following pages and choose your way. All
registrants/groups will be provided a free tri-fold board on April 6, 2017 to their
classroom.
PROJECT IDEAS:
Science Fair Project
This is the classic Science Fair project. Think of a question that you could answer
by setting up an experiment. Make a hypothesis (informed guess/prediction) about
the answer to your question. Then use the scientific method to design and
implement an experiment that will attempt to answer your question.
Technology Project
This project will allow you to show off your interest in all things technological.
Would you like to explain how the internet or a computer works? Have you built a
robot or your own computer? Have you programmed a device, written a computer
program (coding), or designed your own computer game or smart-phone app?
Would you like to take apart an everyday household item and explain how all the
parts work together to do its function? Have you created something in Minecraft
that you could share? Whatever you have done, come share it with others.
Engineering Project
An engineering project involves creative problem solving. This project will most
likely showcase your building prowess. Perhaps you could build a catapult or a
bridge or invent/improve a useful object?
Art Project
There are various ways to participate in this category. You can create art using a
computer or other technology (Minecraft or otherwise). Or maybe you are part of a
group who creates a vlog, skit or song or rap about some scientific, technological
or mathematical topic, and you would like to perform it, or show a video of the
performance? (This type of project will require a preview to the fair committee
prior to the fair date.) Perhaps you can draw/photograph and label scientific
illustrations of nature or inventions? Or you can create sculptures using recycled.
Math Project
This project will show off your interest in all things related to numbers and their
uses. It could be creating a string art design based on equivalent fractions (almost
all are) using paper or straws or PVC piping, or showing number patterns visually
on a Pascal’s Triangle, or conducting a survey and displaying the results using a
graph or graphs. Maybe you would like to show how graphs can be used to
mislead or misinform, or display examples of mislabeled or incorrect graphs from
newspaper or internet sources? Your math teacher may be able to give you other
ideas.
Traditional Science Fair Project Guidelines:
(No project may use fire, vertebrate animals, mold, or any harmful substance/materials)
1. Pick Topic and Complete some Background Research- This is one of
the most important steps of your science fair project. Pick something that interests
you. Feel free to ask your teacher for guidance if have an idea. Collect information
about your topic. You can visit the library or search the internet. The information
will help you better understand the topic and help you prepare for the next step:
Asking a question.
2. Ask a question- Ask a question about your topic that can be answered by
completing an experiment. For example, “What is compost?” can be answered by
finding the definition of the word compost. However, “How does temperature
affect the time it takes for an apple to turn into compost?” or “Which food turns to
compost the quickest?” are questions that can be answered by experimentation.
3. Construct a Hypothesis/Prediction- After you have formed your question
and completed some research, you should write your hypothesis/prediction. This is
a statement that you think is the answer to your question. The data you collect
while working on your project will either support or refute your hypothesis. A
hypothesis is an “If... then” statement. A prediction states what you think will
happen.
4. Test Your Hypothesis by doing an Experiment- After you have a
question and a hypothesis, it is time to design and conduct your experiment.
Before you start your experiment, design a PLAN. Make sure the plan will answer
the question you asked and can provide data that is measurable. Keep a journal of
your observations and measurements. You must test/repeat your experiment at
least 3 times. If you get the same results, your conclusion is more valid. Take
photos or video of your testing.
5. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion-Now it is time to look at the
results of your experiment and analyze your findings. Ask yourself “What is the
data telling me about my experiment?” Make sure any conclusions are consistent
with the data you collected. If results support your hypothesis, make that
connection. However if the results do not support your hypothesis, do give
possible reasons for the difference between them. Never change your results.
Sometimes the greatest knowledge is discovered through what we think are
mistakes.
6. Communicate Your Results-This is your tri-fold board. Your display board
will tell others about your experiment. It should include a Title, your Hypothesis
or Prediction, your experimental Method and Materials (what you used and
what you did), the Data (graphs, tables, pictures, photographs, etc.), your
Conclusion (what your experiment showed), and a Discussion of changes you
might make if you were to do it again (try to figure out what went wrong and how
it could be fixed or discuss future experiments that could be done to follow up
your work). Your display board should be neatly and creatively done. Anyone
reading your display board should be able to go home and redo your experiment.
Technology Project Guidelines:
You will communicate what you have learned on a tri-fold board. For example,
you can show each step to explain how your chosen technology works, or how you
created a program or app. Your tri-fold board can also describe the process you
used to improve your project. If you built or created something or taken something
apart, please bring it to display and/or demonstrate. If you need to use an
electronic device or computer, you must bring your own, and be responsible
for it. If you have created something on Minecraft or another site/app and would
like to share up to 5 minutes of video, please upload it to YouTube and email the
link to: [email protected] (with project/student name) or provide a
flash drive via backpack mail by 4/14/17 so that we may review it ahead of the
fair.
Engineering Project Guidelines:
“I haven’t failed, I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” - Thomas Edison
1. Ask: What is the problem? How have others approached it? What are your
constraints?
2. Imagine: What are some solutions? Brainstorm ideas. Choose the best one.
3. Plan: Draw a diagram. Make a list of materials you will need.
4. Create: Follow your plan and create something. Test it out!
5. Improve: What works? What doesn’t? What could work better? Modify your
design to make it better? Test it out again. Provide final results/thoughts
An engineering project, can involve inventing and/or improving. For example, can
you design a better grabber to pick up trash without using your hands? Or can you
build the most buoyant boat to support the most weight (pennies) using only
aluminum foil or duct tape?
You will include an explanation of your project for each step of the engineering
design process on a tri-fold board. Photos can be used to show the testing. If you
built something, please bring it to display.
Art & Math Project Guidelines:
You can use a tri-fold poster to display and explain the process you used to create
your art or math project. This can be drawings/paintings, sculptures, photography
etc. If you have created a piece of artwork using a computer program, you can
display the piece and explain how it was created. If you need to use an electronic
device or computer, you must bring your own, and be responsible for it. If
you created a skit or song video, please upload to YouTube and send the link to
[email protected] (with project name and student first name) or
send a flash drive via backpack mail by 4/14/17 so that we may review it ahead of
time. Videos should be no longer than 5 minutes in length.
Just for Parents
This is your child’s opportunity to showcase their talents and interests in one of
the STEAM areas. Our hope is that they gain a useful and memorable experience
participating in this year’s STEAM Fair. There are numerous ways that you can
help your child get the most from this experience.
The STEAM Fair is an opportunity for your child to problem-solve & learn by
doing. We hope you will encourage & guide them through the process. But please
encourage your child to do most, if not all the work. The final project should be a
reflection of your child’s individual work and effort. Keep in mind that the main
goal of the STEAM Fair is to encourage creativity and curiosity in your child!
Researching online and at a library may help with ideas, as well as them talking to
their teacher. Discuss several of their ideas, figuring out which are more practical
to accomplish. Brainstorm questions that could be answered by an experiment.
Look at projects that they have already completed this year at home or in a club or
elsewhere that they might like to share. If needed, help them find the materials and
be organized. Monitor all safety aspects of their project. Help them keep in
mind how they will record their data, explain how their project works and display
their work in an interesting and clear way. Encourage & ask questions. Seek help
from friends and family. Success will be based on best effort which is a gift that
will last a lifetime.