Name(s):_________________________________
5th Grade Science Fair Log Book
What is the Title (or Question you want to solve) for your project? (This WILL BE on the final board
presentation.)
Fri. Dec. 5_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Your title normally appears on the top panel of your science fair board. It should be catchy and also
contain the independent and dependent variables.
Variables: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
Fri. Dec. 5
Independent Variable: The only part of the experiment that is changed.
Example: In the tomato experiment, the soil was the independent variable.
Dependent Variable: The part of the experiment that results from changing the independent
variable.
Example: In the tomato experiment, the wilting and death is the dependent variable.
Control: All the parts of the experiment that are kept the same.
Example: In the tomato experiment, the tomato seeds, the amount of water and the
amount of sunlight were all controls.
Independent Variable:___________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable:____________________________________________________________________
Control(s):____________________________________________________________________________
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Hypothesis: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
This is your guess or prediction of what will happen in your experiment. You complete your hypothesis
BEFORE doing the experiment. It needs to be in the form of an “If…then…” statement.
Wed. Dec. 10
If_______________________________________________________________then_________________
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Example: If a tomato plant is grown in sand, then it will not produce the most tomatoes.
Introduction: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
Your introduction must include background information and research on your topic, which also
means you need to cite those resources.
Wed. Dec. 10
In another paragraph, you must also include your reason for doing the project and/or what you
hope to learn.
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REFERENCES/SOURCES (This will ALSO need to be ON the board!)
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If you need more space, add more information on a separate piece of paper.
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Materials List: (This will NOT be on the final board presentation.)
On the lines below, list the materials that you will need in order to complete your science fair
Fri. Dec. 12
project.
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Procedure: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
Your procedure must be logical and sequential. If someone else were to read your directions, they
should be able to conduct your experiment EXACTLY the same way you did.
****You need to do your experiment several times in order to get results for multiple trials.
It would be a good idea to list your steps in order, similar to a recipe.
For example:
Fri. Dec. 12
1.) Place seed 1 inch deep into the soil.
2.) Cover with soil.
3.) Water seed with ½ cup of water and pot of soil on the windowsill.
4.) Continue to water the plant with ½ cup of water every day throughout the test.
5.) (You’ll continue on with your steps until you’ve completed the experiment.)
6.) Repeat all steps 2 more times.
**Note: While you’re actually doing the experiment, you will need to keep track of your results and
observations in the “Complete the Experiment” section (next page) of this log book.
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If you need more room, continue writing your steps on a separate piece of paper.
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Complete the experiment: (This will NOT be on the final board presentation.)
Record the data and observations you recorded from your experiment here (or if you need more
CHRISTMAS
room, on the backside).
BREAK
Data Table: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation)
Put the data you observed during the experiment in an understandable table.
At the top of your data table, record the title of your experiment. Your table must be neat.
Label your independent variable with units (if applicable).
Label your dependent variable with units (if applicable).
For example:
Title: Which type of soil produces the most tomatoes on a tomato plant?
Independent Variable: Soil
Dependent Variable: Amount of Tomatoes on the Plant
Type of Soil
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three
Sand
3 tomatoes
2 tomatoes
3 tomatoes
Clay
5 tomatoes
3 tomatoes
4 tomatoes
Loam
7 tomatoes
5 tomatoes
8 tomatoes
Wed. Jan. 7
Create your table here:
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Graph: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
Use your data table to help you create an understandable graph that helps others understand the
outcome of your experiment.
Your graph needs to have the title of your experiment at the top.
The X axis will be your independent variable and it must include the unit of measure.
The Y axis will be your dependent variable and it must include the unit of measure.
If your graph needs to be created using a scale, please create a scale.
Make sure your graph is neat!
*If your experiment cannot contain a graph, you must explain in words what your results were.
*Ask your teacher for graph paper if you need some or ask your teacher if you can create a graph using
the chart wizard in Microsoft Word.
For example:
Number of Tomatoes
Wed. Jan. 7
10
Which type of soil produces the most tomatoes on a tomato plant?
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6
Trial One
4
Trial Two
2
Trial Three
0
Sand
Clay
Type of Soil
Create your graph here:
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Loam
Conclusion: (This WILL BE on the final board presentation.)
Restate the purpose of your hypothesis and then state the findings of your experiment.
Then you’ll want to say if your results supported your hypothesis or rejected your hypothesis and then
the possible explanations for why this happened.
Also include your ideas for how to improve your experiment and how you could take this experiment
further in the future for further study.
Tues. Jan.13
For example: The experimenter wanted to find out if the type of soil affected the amount of
tomatoes that the plant would grow. The experimenter’s hypothesis was “If a tomato plant is
grown in sand, then it will not grow the most tomatoes.” The findings of this experiment
include that the average amount of tomatoes grown by the plants in sand was 2.7. The average
amount of tomatoes grown by the plants in clay was 4 and the average amount of tomatoes
grown by the plants in loam was 6.7. The results supported my hypothesis that tomato plants
grown in sand would not produce the most tomatoes. The reason why this happened was
because in the sand, any water that is added filters through the soil and does not soak the soil
around the roots of the plant. Soil that is loam is a mixture of a variety of soils, therefore has
the ability to soak up water and hold it near the roots where it is needed for the proper growth
of the plant.
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Overall Requirements: PLEASE REVIEW ATTACHED SCORING GUIDE FOR COMPLETE REQUIREMENTS.
____Your project needs to be completed neatly.
____Your project needs to be completed in ink with neat handwriting or typed on the computer.
____Your project needs to be written in third person.
Example: The experimenter will place the tomato seeds into the soil and water them with ½ cup
water.
____Your project needs to be free of spelling errors.
____Your project needs to be grammatically correct.
Final Project Due Date:
Friday, January 23, 2015
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