Inquiry & Nature of Science Events

Division B

Awesome Aquifer

Resources Groundwater Foundation Virginia Groundwater

Event Format - Station #1 (25%): Written test on groundwater concepts

and vocabulary Station #2 (25%): Written test utilizing resources

(provided by event supervisor) such as maps, charts, graphs, models or scientific publications

Stations 3 & 4 (50%): Explanation and demonstration of required concepts using aquifer model.

Aquifer Model

Building & Presentation Students must bring all materials for Aquifer Model At Station #3, students will build model to explain

and demonstrate concepts chosen by event supervisor and selected from list on soinc.org. Teams may make notes at this time for presentation.

At Station #4, students will present required concepts to judges. Judges may ask clarifying questions only if team has completed presentation

Teams earn points for comprehensiveness, accuracy, and clarity (NOT artistic appeal.)

Compute This – Weather & Storms

Resources http://www.noaa.gov Team created, publicly accessible websites to organize URL

links

Event Format Teams will use one internet connected computer to capture

quantitative information Teams will use an Open Office, MS-compatible word

processor and spreadsheet to present data and complete short answer questions

No external communication, calculators (including those found online), or information other than that available on www.noaa.gov

Experimental Design

Resources http://www.soinc.org Wright Center (Tufts)

Event Format Up to 3 students allowed Students may bring a timepiece, a ruler and a calculator All students will be given identical ‘kits’ and instructions for general nature of

the experiment to conduct Items provided must allow students to conduct an experiment involving the

relationship between independent and dependent variables Students will be given an outline to follow when conducting their experiment

with additional paper to record data, graphs, and procedures

Use Experimental Design Rubric for 2011 for practice

Write It / Do It (WIDI)

Event Format One ‘writer’ and one ‘do-er’ from each team, split into 2 rooms All ‘writers’ are given identical abstract models made from a variety

of items such as household materials, science materials, office or commercial kits (no limits!)

‘Writers’ are given 25 minutes to describe model and how to build it using only characters found on standard keyboard using single keys or single keys with SHIFT.

‘Do-ers’ are 20 minutes to utilize instructions to rebuild model. They will be given a kit containing parts not limited to those required to build model.

Scoring Team that builds the object nearest to the original and has properly

written instructions will be declared the winner.