JASPER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Science Fair/Invention Convention
February 15, 2017
Dear Parents,
Your child has submitted an entry for the Middle School Science Fair. The
fair will take place on Wednesday,
​
​ February 15, 2017. Judging will take place
during the school day . The awards ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm in the
auditorium
​
on Thursday, February
​ 16, 2017. Following the awards, the exhibits in
the gymnasium will be open to the public until 8:15pm. Please mark your
calendar to hold this date open for attendance.
This packet includes information that pertains to the format of the research
paper as well as steps used to perform a controlled experiment. There are forms
on the JMS web that must be submitted if your child will be using human or
animal participants in any form. These forms must be cleared by your child’s
science teacher
​
no later than January
​
16, 2017. Display boards may be
purchased during homeroom
January 17 – 24, 2017.
​
Important Dates to Remember:
January 16: Valid Survey, Human Subject, and Animal Subject Forms Due
January 17-24: Display Boards Sold during homeroom.
January 24: Official Title Forms Distributed
January 31: Title Forms Due
February 7: Final Reminder Packet Distributed
February 13: Students Receive Judging Times
February 12: Mandatory Meeting in Auditorium during Homeroom
February 15 Science Fair/Invention Convention Judging 8:00 am – 3:00pm
February 16: Science ​ Fair/Invention Convention
​
Awards Ceremony 6:30pm
*Please retain this packet for future reference.
Science Fair Report/Project
Abstract – ​First page not attached to the rest of the report. Must be no longer than ​250​ words
and is an overview of the ENTIRE project. (Typed after report/project is complete) The abstract
must address the following points:
This should be in paragraph form​.​ (not in numerical form)
·
Title –Brief and Descriptive; Remember that all major words in the title are capitalized.
·
Problem: Tell what questions you will answer. Identify the variables. Explain the
objectives of your research.
·
Purpose – Describe the usefulness of the study and explain why you did this project.
·
Hypothesis- Your prediction about what the results will be.
·
Procedure – Give a brief summary (not specific) of what was done.
·
Conclusions – Provide a concise statement of the outcomes of the investigations, your
most important conclusions based on your results. The conclusion identifies unsolved parts of
the original problem or new problems.
Title Page – ​Centered vertically and horizontally
Table of Contents – ​Parts of the report and what pages they can be found on (no page number at
the bottom of this page) and usually done when the report is finished). Set this up like your
science textbook table of contents.
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….…1
Methodology…………………………………………………………………...................... 3
Discussion……………………………………………………………………………….…..4
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………..6
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………...…..7
References………………………………………………………………………………..….8
Appendix (if necessary)………………………………………………………………….….9
Introduction – ​Page number 1 of the report; it should be 2 or more pages in length.
This sets the scene for your report. The introduction explains what prompted your research and
what you hoped to achieve. The first part of the introduction tells the reader your understanding
of the subject when you started your project. The next part tells how you became interested in
your project. You then ​describe some information that you found when you studied your
subject, for example: Historical and scientific background, similar experiments done by others,
and any contradictions or unanswered questions you may have found​. Finish the section with
statements that: (1) describe exactly what you want to prove or disprove, (2) tell why this proof
should be done, (3) detail the information that you want to obtain from your project and (4) tell
how this information could be used. The time to write a draft version of the introduction is while
you are planning your project.
·
Review of Literature (Research) – Must have at least five different sources! Do not use
Wiki’s or other unreliable sources. Search engines are helpful in finding information, but are not
to be used as the source. Be specific when writing the reference page. All online references
must include the date the source was used.
·
Hypothesis (refer back to the problem and base it on the research – What do you think
will happen?)
Methodology – ​This is the Procedure – include all materials used and the step by step process
used. Also include the variables and controls (constants). Describe in detail how you made your
observations and how you got your data. It should be so precise that another person could repeat
your work just by following your instructions. Photographs, sketches, and diagrams help to
make your ideas clear.
The methodology is in paragraph form.
Discussion – ​This is where you talk about your data. Include data/observations, graphs and
charts, and interpretation of data. The discussion of your project is the heart of the paper. It will
usually contain several sections. Start with your observations and data. This section is also
where you will discuss averages and specific data that do not follow the pattern you observed in
most of your data. Tables, charts, and graphs are very helpful. However, do not allow graphs to
replace discussion points in this narrative. Place graphs near the sections in which they are
discussed. Clearly label and identify all columns, axes, and data. Each graph or chart must have
its own title. Include a discussion of possible errors. How did the data vary between repeated
observations of similar events? What would you do differently if you repeated this project?
Conclusion – ​Briefly restates the findings and results. These will most likely be averages or
overall observations. Do not mention new speculations or topics.
·
Was the hypothesis correct or not (explain with data information)
·
What if’s (If this experiment were to be done again, what could be changed?)
Acknowledgments – ​Thank anyone that helped you do things to complete your project. Give
credit where credit is due. This last section of your paper gives credit to other people for their
assistance. ​This should be at least three sentences.​ Do not forget any family member that
assisted you.
References – ​This includes works cited in a bibliography. A bibliography recognizes the
information taken from the works and writings of other people. Use MLA style. Online
references must include the date the source was visited.
Appendix – ​If necessary additional information or papers added here. If used, don’t forget to add
this to the content page.
The entire report must be TYPED, and should follow standard requirements (Times New
Roman, 12 point font, 1 inch margins on all sides as well as top and bottom, double spaced with
the exception of the abstract).
·
NEVER​ use first person (I, we, us, me) or second person (you, your) or the
experimenter! The focus is on the data not the experimenter. Take yourself out of it.
·
The entire paper should be in paragraph form, ​even the methodology.
·
Watch your spelling and grammar. Poor spelling and grammar can ruin an otherwise
excellent paper. Proofread your paper, and have someone else read it as well. Do not rely on
spell check and grammar check alone. Use COPS!
·
All charts, graphs, and tables ​must be titled​ and numbered in consecutive order. These
should be referred to in the body of the report. Do not put a chart, graph or table in your report
without explaining or referring to it.
·
Charts, graphs and tables should have appropriate units, scales and axis/column labels.
** Remember to convert all measurements to metric.
·
The appendix can include items that are too lengthy or detailed to include in the main
body of the paper, but should still be included. This might include, but is not limited to
calculations, raw data, and graphs and charts for additional trials.
·
Discussion and Conclusion: This is where you show the judge what you learned, and the
part of your paper you will most likely be questioned about. Spend time working with this
section and really thinking about it. Address all parts mentioned in the overview/rubric.
·
Bibliography( Reference Page): Cite ALL sources. Information received from someone
else or another source must be fully referenced in the bibliography, and cited in the text.
Log Book - ​ This can be a notebook or a group of papers that you bind together. Do NOT put
your name on it or in it! The log should include ALL of the records of your experiment. This is
also one of the most important documents judges may ask to see during your interview. The log
should contain: Research information; data entries – every entry should be dated; the final plan
of the experiment; description of the procedure – give a detailed account of what was done in
setting up the experiment. Include the date when the experiment began, ideas and questions that
come up while performing your experiment, weak links in the experiment, if something doesn’t
work or something strange happens, you should record it. Bring your log to the fair as part of
your exhibit. Points will be deducted if there is no log book. Keep in mind that a log book is a
“sloppy” copy of what occurs during your planning and experimenting (not typed).
Display Materials:
You are required to have a display for your Science Fair project. You may purchase the
materials locally, or you may purchase at JMS. Students may purchase display boards and
headers during homeroom. If you purchase your display materials locally, the display board
must meet the size limitations (48 inches wide, 30 inches deep, 48 inches high). Display board
must stand on its own and contain all the information needed (see example and make sure you
include variable and controls). Your name may not be anywhere on the display, log book,
surveys, or report.
If recognizable photographs of people are used on your display board, you must have a signed
consent form. ​If you do not have a signed consent form, then all photographs of people on the display
board must be covered.
Credit must be given to the person(s) who took the photographs. If the student exhibitor took all
of the photographs, one statement (all photographs taken by John Doe) may be placed on the
board.
Surveys
Surveys must be cleared through the student’s science teacher ​before ​the survey is printed or
distributed. A “Valid Survey Form” must be completed by the student and signed by the science
teacher. If the form is not completed and submitted, points will be deducted from the final score.
A person (s) responds to questions or requests by oral or written response must have a
pre-approved survey. Surveys must be cleared before November 11 and completed by the end of
December. Surveys may be given during Science classroom times only with Science teacher
permission. Surveys may not be given during other times during the school day unless cleared
with your science teacher. Survey testing of food and drink products must have the permission
of the Science teacher and school Administrators.
Human or Animal Subject Forms
If humans or animals participate in any way in the experiment other than a survey or interview, a
HUMAN SUBJECT FORM or ANIMAL SUBJECT FORM must be cleared through your
science teacher ​before​ the experiment begins. Forms must be cleared before ​January 16.​ Failure
to comply with this rule will result in points being deducted from the final judging score.
Metric Measurements
All measurements that you take during your experiment ​MUST be in metric units​. Use the
conversion chart as needed.
Scientific Method
The experiment that you are conducting must follow the scientific method. Be sure that your
experiment is repeatable. In other words, your procedure must be so exact that someone else
could do the same experiment and get the same results (be very detailed in your procedure). Do
the measurements in the experiment several times and determine the mean (average).
The Competition– February 15, 2017
Students are expected to be at school on the day of the judging. We hope to complete the
judging during the school day, but students may be required to stay after school as needed.
Students will have access to telephones if needed to let their parents know if they are required to
stay after school.
AWARDS CEREMONY – FEBRUARY 16, 2017
**Good resources for developing a successful science fair project
include the following websites:
http://sciencebuddies.com/science-fair-projects/project_research_paper.shtml
http://www.usi.edu/science/fair