8th Grade Science Fair Student Handbook

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8th Grade Student Guide How to Complete a Science Fair Project

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Why Complete a Science Fair Project?

As a student at the STEM Academy at Bartlett, you are required to complete a Science Fair Project each year. Since it is required, you should utilize this opportunity to allow your strengths to shine and showcase what inspires you. 8th grade students are required to select a pathway that will guide your future decisions for high school, college, and careers. Science Fair is an opportunity to begin and successfully complete the first half of your 8th grade Capstone project, which can be perfected during the second semester.

Science Fair projects utilize skills and expertise that you have learned across the curriculum. These skills will be applied to the inquiry process that will guide your research throughout the school year. By conducting original research, you are applying knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that are integral and important throughout life. Curiosity about your world and your personal interests are your guiding forces. Allow your curiosity and interest to lead to actively evaluating today's problems in order to creatively and critically apply solutions. You are answering a question to which YOU want the answer! You may even be the one to solve one of our world's problems.

Getting Started

1. Select a pathway from your choices in the following fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math about which you are interested and curious.

2. Consider 21st Century problems that can be addressed using your selected pathway.

3. Ask at least three possible questions that pertain to the above problem and pathway.

~ Make sure that the questions can be tested multiple times using the Scientific Method or Engineering Design Process.

3. Collaborate with peers to refine or develop testable questions to present as project possibilities. (Guidelines to use during peer collaboration and consultations: - Determine if the project is feasible. - Can the project be completed within the amount of time allowed? Have you considered the time needed for retrials or repeats of the experiment? For example, in plant projects, you will need a large sample of plants ready to go in two- or three-week intervals.

- Are there environmental concerns? For example, is it the right time of year to make your observations or collect samples?

- Do you have adequate laboratory resources or natural resources, or both to carry out your investigation?

- What is the cost of completing the project? Is it within your budget? Do you need special equipment beyond what is available? How will you get it? Have you budgeted for retrials?

- Is the design of the experiment adequate? Are the effects measurable in an objective way? - Does the project conform to ALL state or federal laws pertaining to scientific research? (See

the current GSEF Manual, Forms, and Safety Regulations) 4. Consult with your teacher to narrow your topic and approve your chosen questions. 5. Select a single question and form a hypothesis or create a statement of purpose. ~ Make sure hypothesis follows guidelines in the Scientific Method or statement of purpose follows the guidelines in the Engineering Design Process. 6. Consult with teacher and discuss topic and hypothesis/engineering design question in order to gain final approval for your project. Next Steps After Project Approval

**Science Fair Projects that will utilize the Scientific Method 1. Get a bound notebook to use as a logbook and number the pages. 2. Select a topic. 3. Narrow the topic to a specific problem, stated as a research question, with a single variable. 4. Conduct a literature review of the topic and problem and write a draft of the research report. 5. Form a hypothesis or state the purpose of the research. 6. Develop a research plan/experimental design. 7. Apply for approval. Fill out appropriate forms and get signatures of approval. http:// georgiacenter.uga.edu/sites/default/files/gsef-2016-forms-checklist.pdf 8. Write the research report. 9. Collect materials and equipment. Make a lab schedule. 10. Conduct the experiment. Record the quantitative and qualitative data. 11. Analyze data, applying appropriate statistics. 12. Repeat your experiment, as necessary, to thoroughly explore the problem. 13. Form a conclusion. 14. Write the laboratory report. 15. Write the abstract. 16. Create the visual display.

17. Make an oral presentation of the project to teacher and/or classmates.

18. Review and polish presentation and display for the science fair.

***Complete the necessary documentation for your project.***

Some documentation will require paperwork completed both before and after experimentation for all projects.

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Next Steps After Project Approval

** Projects that will utilize the Engineering Design Process

Engineering or Computer Technology Projects differ from scientific research projects. For an engineering or computer technology project you still need to have a log and do a literature search. The engineering project goal is to build a device or design a system to solve a problem. The computer technology goal is to solve a problem by writing a computer program or designing a computer system.

The steps in the project are as follows:

1. Get a bound notebook to use as a logbook and number the pages.

2. Define a need.

3. Develop the design criteria.

4. Do a literature search to see what has already been accomplished.

5. Select a topic and narrow the topic to a specific problem stated as an engineering design question.

6. Conduct a literature review of the topic and problem and write a draft of the research report.

7. Form the engineering design question and state the purpose of the research.

8. Develop a research plan that follows the engineering design process.

9. Apply for approval. Fill out appropriate forms and get signatures of approval. http:// georgiacenter.uga.edu/sites/default/files/gsef-2016-forms-checklist.pdf

10. Write the research report. 11. Prepare preliminary designs or algorithm (flow chart). 12. Build a prototype or write program. 13. Test the prototype/program. 14. Retest multiple times and redesign, as necessary. 15. Record the results of each test and illustrate improvements to design. 16. Write the abstract. 17. Create the visual display. 18. Make an oral presentation of the project to teacher and/or classmates. 19. Review and polish presentation and display for the science fair. ***Complete the necessary documentation for your project.*** Some documentation will require paperwork completed both before and after testing for all projects. Before you begin, please review the following: If you chose to work with any of the materials or organisms listed below, you will need to obtain approval from the MSSEF Scientific Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins. n Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (microorganisms, rDNA, human and vertebrate animal tissue, blood, body fluids, etc.) n Vertebrate Animals n Human Subjects n Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices n Controlled Substances Obtaining approval involves additional certifications, permissions, and other paperwork. This work is necessary for your protection, the protection of the environment, and certifies that you have treated animals, including humans, properly, and have adhered to the laws of your local town, state and the nation. Are you willing to complete this additional paperwork in order to work in restricted areas?

o If you are continuing a project, document new and different research (e.g., testing a new variable requiring a new hypothesis). ? Repeating previous experiments or increasing sample sizes are not acceptable continuation projects.

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