Deer Park ISD
6th Grade Science Fair
2015-2016
Student Name
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Teacher Name
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Class Period
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http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml
Stay Organized!
The information below will give you the details of when each assignment is due.
You must have your teacher sign off on the day it is due showing that you turned
it in. The late work policy will be in place.
Assignment
Dates
Handout folders
Explain
Brainstorm
Sept. 18
Question*
Sept. 18 – Oct 9
Work day: Sept. 25
Due: October 9th
Draft Hypothesis
“If…., then…. .”
Oct. 9 – Oct. 16
Due: October 16th
Background Research – additional
research
(with sources cited)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 23
Due: October 23rd
Plan It Out
Oct. 26 – Nov. 6
Due: November 6th
Materials*
Nov. 6 – Dec. 4
Work day: Nov. 6
Due: December 4th
Procedure*
Nov. 6 – Dec. 4
Work day: Nov. 6
Due: December 4th
Experiment
Dec. 7 – Jan. 22
Check Point: Jan 15th
Due: January 22nd
Data (pencil) (As you do your
experiment)
Dec. 7 – Jan. 22
Check Point: Jan 15th
Due: January 22nd
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Feedback
Assignment
Dates
Data Collection* - Table (typed)
Jan. 25 – Feb. 1
Work day: Jan 25th
Due Date: February 1st
Data Analysis* – Graph (Excel,
Create a Graph)
Jan. 25 – Feb. 1
Work day: Jan 25th
Due Date: February 1st
Conclusion*
Feb. 12 – Feb. 19
Work Day: February 12th
Due: February 19th
Discussion*
Feb. 12 – Feb. 19
Work Day: February 12th
Due: February 19th
Complete Folder Due
Due: March 4th
Prototype Display Due
Due: March 4th
Project Presentation (including
verbal explanation)
Due: March 10th
Campus Exhibit
April 4th
District Exhibit (if you advance)
@ ESC
May 19th
Feedback
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Think, Think, Think!
Look at the list of science categories and pick one that you are interested in. Then
think of a topic in that category that you want to research. Brainstorm all
different aspects of your topic that you might be interested in. Use your
experiences and think about current events to help pick a topic. When you have
decided, write your category and topic in the bubble!
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Projects involving microorganisms and
non-human vertebrates are not
permitted. If your project involves
humans, you must have special
permission (humans as test subjects or
surveys). Special forms must be
completed prior to beginning your
project; get these from your teacher.
Science Fair Categories
Physics and Astronomy - science of matter, energy, and forces and their interactions; Astronomy is the study
of anything in the universe beyond the earth
Chemistry – science of composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter
Earth Science – science related to planet Earth (geology, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, geography,
soil, etc.)
Life Science – science of living organisms (includes animal science, behavioral science, social science,
biochemistry, environmental, medicine, health science, and plant science)
Computer Science – study of information processes, structures, and procedures (includes systems analysis &
design, software design, programming, etc.)
Math – study of measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and
symbols
Engineering – chemical, electrical, mechanical, materials
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Narrow it down!
List three testable questions about your topic.
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Narrow down the three choices to your final question. Your teacher must
approve your final question and sign off.
What is the question my project will answer?
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Variables
Independent Variable – the one thing that you are CHANGING in your experiment
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Dependent Variable (Responding Variable) – the one thing that you are
MEASURING in your experiment
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When you graph your data (page 17) – the independent variable will go on the Xaxis and the dependent variable will go on the Y-axis.
More information:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_variables.shtml
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Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a prediction about how things work; it is what you think the
answer will be to the question you are asking.
It must be testable (you need to be able to measure both “what you do” and
“what you think will happen”).
Hypotheses are often written as cause and effect statements using your
independent and dependent variable.
Hypothesis format: If (rewrite your independent variable), then (rewrite your
dependent variable) because (write your reasoning/justification based on research
done).
Draft Hypothesis: (use this to guide your research – only If…, then… statement –
you will discover the because as you research your topic)
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Background Research
Research is an integral part of every science experiment. It helps people learn
what other scientists have discovered, so they can build on what they know. It
also helps explain and predict what will happen. Research attempts to answer the
who, what, where, when, why, and how in the scientific process.
Resource to help guide you:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_background_research_plan.shtml#keyinfo
Below, list the questions that you have asked and the answers to those questions.
Be sure to cite your sources as you answer the questions. On page 11, cite the full
resource. You should have at least one relevant who, what, where, when, why,
and how question – at least 6 total.
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Background Research
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Background Research
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Works Cited
List all the books and websites used while researching your topic. Use the
following formats to cite each source. Replace the bolded words with the
information for your source. If you used something besides a book or website, see
your teacher. For additional help, you can go to www.easybib.com. Make sure to
use APA format.
Book:
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle.
Location: Publisher’s city & state.
Website:
Author, F.M. (Year, Month Date of publication). Website or Article title.
Retrieved from URL.
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Plan It Out!
Final Independent Variable:
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Final Dependent Variable:
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Final Hypothesis: Make any revisions to your draft hypothesis, then ADD the
“because…” The justification should be supported by your research.
Remember your hypothesis should be written as ‘If (independent variable), then
(dependent variable) because (background research)’
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Plan It Out!
CONTROL GROUP - This is the group where the independent variable is not
changed from its natural state – sometimes it is calculated with a formula. You
should have found the formula during your research. (Example – I want to test
the effect Miracle Grow has on plant growth as measured by height. The group of
plants that do not get any Miracle Grow is the control group.)
What is your control group?
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CONSTANTS –When doing an experiment, you change only one thing
(independent variable) and measure its effect on the dependent variable. All
other variables must be kept constant (the same). The factors must all be the
same for the test to be fair. (Example – In the Miracle Grow experiment, using the
same amount of soil, type of soil, water, sunlight exposure, plant type, etc. keeps
the test fair.)
What are your constants?
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Materials
Create a list of materials, including the cost and quantity, you will need for this
experiment. Make sure to account for multiple trials of the experiment. If you
need to borrow lab equipment from your teacher, make sure you let him or her
know.
Quantity
Item
Cost
TOTAL COST
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Procedure
How will you test your hypothesis? What are you going to do?
Write the procedure for your experiment. Your procedure should be specific so
that another scientist can duplicate your experiment exactly. Each step is
numbered and begins with a verb (action word – cut, measure, pour, etc.). Be
sure to include how you will measure your independent variable and conduct
your repeated trials (Your last step should say repeat steps __ - __ (at least 3)
times.)
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Create a Data Table
Record your data for your experiment below. When you take measurements, be
as accurate as you can. Always record the units for all measurements. Write
down all of your data. Take pictures of your experiment (before, during, after,
etc.).
Mistakes and errors are okay to make when conducting an experiment, just make
sure to record those here. Keep your data in pencil and do not erase it; if you’ve
made a mistake in reading or calculating data, draw one line through the mistake.
TITLE:
Variations in IV
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Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Average
Data
Graph It! Data Analysis
Your data needs to be represented in multiple ways for your final presentation:
data table, graph, and pictures.
Neatly sketch a graph from the data you collected. You will need to label your Xaxis, Y-axis, have a key, and have a title (look at pg. 6). Be sure to use the
appropriate graph (bar graph, line graph, pie chart) for your data.
Your final graph will be made on Create – a – Graph
(http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/) or Excel.
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Conclusion
Answer all of the following questions. You can jot down your answers below and
then write it formally on the next page.
In this paragraph you report your results and conclusions. The first two
sentences in this paragraph need to say:
1. The data support (or fail to support) the hypothesis (which states …).
2. Therefore, it can be concluded that …
Also included in this paragraph are answers to these questions:
3. What was the control group?
4. What was the independent variable?
5. What did you hold constant to make sure you were testing only your
independent variable?
6. How was the independent variable tested?
7. What was the dependent variable (responding variable)?
8. How was the dependent variable (responding variable) measured?
9. How did you address sample size or repeated trials? Average data?
Outliers?
10.How would you improve your project if you were going to do it again?
What might have affected your results besides your independent
variable? These are known as sources of error.
11.Are there any trends (patterns) in the data? (Predictions? Inferences?
Generalizations?) If so, discuss.
12.Were there any limitations to the investigation?
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Conclusion
Write your conclusion below. It must be in complete sentences using correct
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
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Discussion
Answer all of the following questions. You can jot down/brainstorm your answers
below and then write it formally on the next page.
In this paragraph, answer the following three questions.
1. What was learned from your experiment?
2. How does your experiment apply to real life?
3. Are there any additional questions/curiosities you have after conducting
your experiment?
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Discussion
Write your discussion below. It must be in complete sentences using correct
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
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Prototype Setup
This display will be made out of two legal size manila folders (provided). It must
be able to fold flat. Information will be typed for this display. Glitter is
inappropriate. Include your name, class period, and teacher’s name on the tab.
Your display needs to include:
Title of Project (Be creative!)
Question
Hypothesis
Materials
Procedure
Pictures (of YOUR experiment)
Data Collection – Table
Data Analysis – Graph
Conclusion
Discuss
A sample is shown below.
Purpose
(Question)
Title
Conclusion
Pictures
Hypothesis
(If …, then …,
because.. )
Materials
Procedure
Data Collection
Discussion
(Table)
Data Analysis
(Graph)
References
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