SCIENCE FAIR!SCIENCE FAIR!SCIENCE FAIR!SCIENCE FAIR!

What Parents Can Do to HelpWhat Parents Can Do to Help

AN OVERVIEW!• An optional project (except 4th & 5th)• Done entirely at home• Time frame: now and due Monday,

Feb. 1, 2011• Teachers available for advice• Process modeled for this evening

WHERE TO START!• Explore your child’s natural

interests• Keep track of natural inquiry• Search internet for suggested

projects that relate to your child’s interests/questions

• Project is a way to “answer” those questions!

SCIENTIFIC METHOD• Help your child follow the scientific

method• Asking a question is the first step• The question must be about

something that can be measured, preferably with a number

RESEARCH• Help your child look for information that

will provide background• Will help the child learn more

vocabulary and increase understanding of what is being tested

• Use 3 sources• Help with reading and note taking

where grade level appropriate

HYPOTHESIS• An educated (following research)

guess about what might happen.• Usually stated in an “If…..then…

way• Should be stated in a way that can

be measured

EXPERIMENT• Test the hypothesis• Help to isolate the tested variable• Monitor safety• Help journal• Take pictures• LET THEM DO IT!!!!!

VARIABLES• Difficult for students to understand• Example: If you are testing the efficacy

of a certain fertilizer on plants, then an equal amount of plants would not have fertilizer as would have; same containers, same light, same amount of water, same seeds, planted same day.

• Only difference would be fertilizer!

ANALYZE/CONCLUDE• Help understand how to measure• Help understand how to analyze

results• Help create a graph or chart to

display measured data• Help write a narrative conclusion

DISPLAY BOARD• Use trifold board (any store with a

good amount of school supplies)• Help with arrangement• Help with neatness/color scheme• Help with word processing

THE CONTEST• Grade level winner• 2 school winners: K-2, 3-5 • Both display at SciWorks for

county fair • Only 3-5 entry will be judged at

that fair for possible advancement

WHY DO THIS?• Required for all 4th & 5th graders• Helps teach problem solving skills

that follow logic/steps• Enriches learning• College applications ask for

academic experiences/highly regarded!

• It is FUN!

WHAT IS REQUIRED?• If entering, 2 forms signed by

parents/child as you BEGIN• Get forms from teacher or school

website• Display board, journal, notes from

research, pictures• Don’t bring in foods, plants, soils,

etc.

HELPFUL SITEShttp://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

www.sciencebuddies.org