Display
1.
Displays must be durably constructed and
self supporting. 100 cm tall, 122 cm wide,
and 40 cm deep.
2. Student or school names may not appear on
the board or papers.
Rules/Restrictions
3. No chemicals, liquids, soils, foods, or
explosives on the board.
4. Projects involving human blood, bacteria,
mold, or fungus are prohibited.
5. Students who intend to conduct research
involving animals (including humans) must
have teacher approval and a completed
Human/Animal Research Form.
6. Animals, animal parts, or dissected animals
may not be displayed. Plants or plant
parts may not be displayed
7. Human parts are prohibited on the board.
8. Any item that can be easily pulled off and
swallowed must be removed or secured
firmly to the project.
9. Displays of glass items and plastic
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10. Straight pins, tacks, or staples are not to
be used to secure materials onto display
boards.
Ideas
www.sciencenewsforkids.org
www.sciencebuddies.org
Judging Criteria
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
THOROUGHNESS
SKILL
CREATIVE ABILITY/ORIGINALITY
CLARITY/NEATNESS
4O points
20 points
15 points
15 points
10 points
______________________
How to select an experiment?
Is my topic realistic? Is it something I can do?
Is my topic interesting to me?
Is my topic measurable?
Can I investigate my topic by experimenting and
collecting data?
Can I afford what I will need to investigate my
topic?
Do I have enough time to complete the experiment?
____________________________
What is expected from the teacher?
Instructions for the selection of a topic and every
other phase of the project will be provided. Time
will be provided to work on the project.
What is expected from the student?
The student will be expected to work on their
project in class. They will keep a science log book.
Data could be collected at home.
What is expected from the parent?
Talk to your child about their science project and
encourage them. The parent may help collect data
and help with the design of the presentation.
All projects must have a detailed Science Log
documenting the progress of the experiment.
2014
STEM Fair
Helpful Tips
Purpose
One to three sentences that explains why you
are doing this experiment. The purpose can be
stated like this:
The purpose of this experiment is to find out
if the manipulated/independent variable affects
the responding/dependent variable.
Hypothesis
Before formulating your hypothesis you need to do
some research.
Graph
P i c t u r e s / D r aw i n g s
Pictures or drawings to support/show how and
what you did in your experiment.
DDMDD
The data collected during the course of your experiment needs to be quantifiable (measurable). We encourage you to measure using metric units if you have used them in math. Record your data in a data table. Use a bar graph or line graph to display data.
A bar graph ² shows unrelated data
A line graph ² shows data over time (like growing
plants) or continuous data (like a relation between
increasing power and speed)
Title (same as data title)
A hypothesis states what you think is going to
happen and why? (because)
Volume: Milliliter (mL) 1000mL = 1L Length: Millimeter (mm) 10mm = 1cm D
E
Procedure
Ma t e ri a l s
Centimeter (cm) 100 cm = 1m p
L i s t al l m at e ri als u s e d i n y o u r e xpe ri m e n t .
I n c lu de h o w m u c h , an d w h at k i n ds o f m at e ri a ls y o u u s e d.
Va r ia bl e s
Manipulated/Independent Variable ² What you change
(test) on purpose in an experiment.
Responding/Dependent Variable ² What changes by
itself because you changed something in your experiment. It is measured.
Variables Held Constant ² What is done the same in
each trial? There should be several!
St e p B y S te p Di r ec ti o n s
1 . G at h e r Mat e ri als
E
Meter (m) 1000 m = 1km N
Kilometer (km) D
E
Mass Milligram (mg) 10mg = 1cg N
Centigram (cg) 100cg = 1g T
Gram (g) 1000g = 1kg Independent Variable
Kilogram (kg)
The data collected during the course of your experiment needs to be quantifiable (measurable).
Make a data table as shown below.
Trials
3.
Condition
1
2
3
4
5
1
4.
5.
Condition
6. Repeat steps ____ to ___ at least 4
more times.
7. Repeat steps __ to __ with _______
The conclusion should include:
1. Statement of support or non-­support of the original hypothesis.
2. Reflect on hypothesis (if data did not support the original hypothesis).
Title (will be the same title as graph)
2.
Conclusion
2
The Log Book will be displayed separately
and placed in front of the project display.
3. Description of any problems or unusual events that occurred during the investigation.
4. What could be done differently to the experi-­
ment next time.
5. Compare the results with your background in-­
formation.
6. Why is the experiment important? What are the real world connections?