KEEP IN MIND!
1. You must have 5 sources for your research and it must be cited in MLA format.
2. We do not use animals (includes insects).
3. You must discuss all chemicals you plan on using BEFORE you start the project.
4. You MUST have Quantitative data.
5. ALL MEASUREMENTS MUST BE IN METRIC AND HAVE A UNIT OF MEASURE!
6. Your project must measure something. Your project should validate or disprove your hypothesis.
7. Your project cannot "compare" products.
8.You shouldn't procrastinate.

Your Science Fair Info page!!!



Choosing a project tips!
1. No animals (includes worms, insects and humans)
2. Keep it simple! Start with a basic concept and work from that.
3. Pick something you are interested in!
4. When researching your project, use books, reference books and websites
produced by valid organizations.
5. Be organized! Have a plan from the beginning!
6. Use your time wisely! Don't wait till the last minute.
7. If you need help, ask me! If you are stuck or confused ask me or another
teacher.
8. Have a notebook. Get a notebook that will hold all of your paper work.
9. Make sure your experiment allows your to collect data.
10. Have fun! Science is very exciting and fun! Enjoy your project!



Hypothesis:
What do you think will happen? Keep your hypothesis clear and concise.



Variables:
In your project, you will have 2 types of variables-Independent and dependent.

Independent variable is how you test the hypothesis.
Dependent variable is how you measure your independent variables.

Research:
In order to do your project, you need to know why you are doing the
experiment. You will need to record your research and cite your sources. You
will cite your sources using MLA format. See the links page for a link
explaining MLA citation. You will be required to write a research paper. Your
paper should include:
# Title page (with the title of your project, your name, and the date)
# Your report
# Bibliography
Within the report, you will need to include:
* Your science fair project question or topic
* Definitions of all important words, concepts, and equations that
describe your experiment
* The history of similar experiments
* Answers to your background research questions
For more info on the research papers, see the links page.

Setting up your experiment:
You should be aware of the conditions of your experiment before you start.
For example, if you are testing different liquids and their affect on plant
growth, you will need to identify the amount (use metric) to be applied to the
plant and the time of day that they will be applied. You would also need to
keep the plants in the same conditions through out the experiment(same location).
You will need to keep a record of the data you collect. Create a chart/table
to record the measurements and observations.

Do not forget to include the unit of measure.

Your final project will include:
Display board including pictures, charts and a graph (see worksheet)
Research paper

Be prepared to explain your project to judges. You may want to create some
note cards with the main ideas you want to discuss.

Ideas!
1. How does recycling cut down on household waste?
2. Create antibacterial cleaners from natural products and test their effectiveness.
3. How does temperature affect mold?
4. How do pollutants effect plant growth?

School Fair

There will be two fairs at school. First, is the class fair. If your project is done according to guidelines, it will make it to the school wide fair. At the school wide fair, they will be judged according to category (Physical and Biological). The top 5 from each category will go onto the Knoxville Fair. If you make it to the Knoxville Fair, you will be gone that day until around 6:30 pm.

How it is graded

HINTS!

Here are some helpful hints to completing your project.
1. Do not procrastinate. As soon as you decide on a project and it is approved, start working on it. You will have around 6 months to complete it.
2. Do not choose a project that involves a lot of expense. Be aware of the cost of the items you need. Speak to your family about your budget. Your project should not cost more than $30.00.
3. Use time wisely. When you know you will be in the computer lab to type, make sure you have stuff ready to type before you go in the lab.
4. Use equipment at school. If you need a piece of equipment, you can talk to me about borrowing it or using it in the lab.
5. If you are using any kind of chemical, you need to see me first. Also, you should always have an adult present.
6. If you have questions, ask me. I am always available.

Available Equipment List:

Bunsen Burners
Beakers
Flasks
Incubator (bacteria)
Thermometers
Test Tubes
Goggles
Microscopes
Hands lens
Metric Rulers
And much more...just ask.