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Year 10 Science - Assessment Task 1

Name…………………………………………………………….

Class……………………………………………………………..

Project Timeline: Teacher sign-off

Term 1 Week 3- 12th Feb Project handed to students

Term 1 Week 4

19th Feb/20th Feb

Investigation Planner and Oral presentation

due

Term 1 Week 6 -26th Feb Logbook due to teacher

Term 1 Week 8 -12th March Logbook due to teacher

Term 1 Week 10

4th April 2018 Period 5

Final Project Report and Logbook due.

Problem Solving -From observations ask a question or pose a problem

Questioning and Predicting- Find out

what is currently known Form a

hypothesis

Planning Investigations-Plan a procedure considering fair

testing

Conducting Investigations-

Collect Data

Processing and Analysing Data-Explain trends and patterns and draw

conclusions

Problem Solving-

Evaluate and propose

applications

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Outcomes reported on:

SC5-5WS- produces a plan to investigate identified questions, hypotheses or problem,

individually and collaboratively

SC5-6WS -undertakes first-hand investigations to collect valid and reliable data and information,

individually and collaboratively

SC5-7WS- processes, analyses and evaluates data from first-hand investigations and secondary

sources to develop evidence-based arguments and conclusions

Why should I complete a SRP?

NESA (formerly known as BOSTES) has indicated that every student must complete an individual

project during Stage 5. This must involve a ‘hands-on’ practical investigation.

The Student Research Project (SRP) has been designed so you can demonstrate to your teacher and to

your fellow students your skills in planning and carrying out investigations, solving problems,

communicating ideas and how you respond to constructive evaluation from your peers. Once you have

completed your project you will be an expert in your chosen area. By sharing your findings with the

rest of your class, you will be able to pass on the valuable information you have discovered.

Some project ideas have been provided, but there are many others. Don’t forget to use the Internet and

the library. Also, visit or contact local scientific or technological organisations as they may have

promotional material to guide you in your investigations. Most companies are only too happy to assist

with genuine enquiries related to their products. Start by talking to their public relations department,

but as your questions get more technical, you may need to speak to a research scientist, or a member

of the laboratory staff. Don’t forget to check the company websites first!

SAFETY AND ETHICS

Consider safety when choosing your project. You may have to carry out a risk assessment.

Remember . . .

Your project cannot involve explosions or poisonous or flammable substances.

You must not use domestic supply (240 Volt) electricity when constructing circuits.

You must not be cruel to animals. Studies of vertebrate animals need approval of the School’s

Animal Care and Ethics Committee (get details from your teacher) and; lastly

Do not damage the environment.

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Suggested Project Ideas

Do all cereals absorb the same amount of milk?

Do all plastic shopping bags carry the same weight without breaking?

How do different materials affect air resistance?

Citric acid levels in commercial and freshly squeezed lemon juice

Whether wing shape affects the distance a glider will fly

The volume of gas in cola bottles.

The elasticity of hair ties

Is copper the best metal conductor?

Do fallen, brown leaves still have chlorophyll?

Where are the most germs in your school?

What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest?

Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?

Changing the colour of flowers

Amount of water in fruits.

Recycled water and plant growth

Balloons and Charles law

Best solar cooker design

Does CO2 raise the temperature of the atmosphere

Does the type of liquid in a glass affect

The pitch of the note that results when a person rubs the rim of the glass?

Which type of container traps the most heat plastic wrap, or wax paper?

How do gas stations affect the soil around them?

How does the type of seed in a birdfeeder affect the types of birds that the feeder attracts?

Does gender affect lung capacity?

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How can you speed up the ripening of tomatoes?

What type of ground layers limit erosion most: sand, gravel, or soil?

What is the most efficient angle for windmill blades?

How does the viscosity of liquids affect the shape of droplets?

Does the shape of ice affect melting time

What is the best nose cone shape for a model rocket?

Average ratio of recyclable to non-recyclable waste- at home or school

Does magnetism affect the growth of plants?

How good is sunscreen in protecting different cloths from fading in sunlight?

Which vegetable dyes are best at resisting fading in sunlight

Does the shape of the outlet hole affect the rate at which water flows?

Compare the fat content of various sausages

How much water is in different fruits

Investigate the effect of microwaves on seeds

Investigate methods of noise control

Which type of fabric bets block’s the sun’s rays

Investigate ways to make a boat go across a pool quicker

How much water can different soils hold

Investigate the spacing between dominoes and the time taken for them to topple

How well do seedlings grow using different colours instead of white light

Investigate factors affecting the setting of jelly

Compare the efficiency of washing detergents containing enzymes with those without enzymes

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The Task

1. Make a written proposal on the investigation planning sheet.

2. Present this as an oral presentation on the day allocated and hand in your proposal sheet to the

teacher for marking. If you are absent on the day of the oral presentation, a medical certificate

must be provided on the next day.

3. Once approval is given, you may start conducting your investigation.

4. Buy a small exercise book to use as your logbook (diary) for recording the progress of your

project. Include receipts, ideas, photographs, research, library visits, plans, successes, failures

etc.

5. Submit your logbook on weeks 6 and 8 to your teacher for marking.

6. Submit your final report in an A4 plastic sleeve folder together with your logbook and marking

criteria on the date it is due. If you are absent on that day, a medical certificate must be provided.

The PENALTY for late submission of the logbook and the final report is ZERO.

PLEASE NOTE:

If the Final report is not typed in, it will not be accepted

The Final report must not be glued into your Logbook

If the SRP or Logbook does not show a serious attempt, it will not be accepted and will result

in N warnings.

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Investigation Planner

Creative Title

Aim: In this investigation, I am trying to find out

Hypothesis: What I predict will be the outcome.

Independent Variable: What will I change?

Dependent Variable: What will I measure? The measurements will be taken with…

Controlled variables: The variables that are kept the same throughout the experiment (because they

would change the result if they were allowed to change)

Control Group

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Materials: A list of equipment and quantity needed to conduct the experiment.

Risk Assessment

Procedure: An outline of the experiment that you intend to conduct by drawing a diagram of the set up

or listing the steps

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Your Final Report Must Have:

1. A creative title

2. Abstract- An abstract is a brief, written discussion of your project. Write one sentence

explanation of each:

Why you undertook the project?

The Hypothesis being studied

Overview / summary of the key points of your investigation- Include the variables you

selected.

State the key results that lead directly to the conclusions you have drawn. What

contribution did you make in completing this project? Were your objectives or design

criteria met?

Describe briefly conclusions that you derived from your investigation.

It may begin: During February 2015, an experiment was carried out at Thomas

Reddall High School in Ambarvale, NSW to determine the effect of……………

3. Introduction- This is where you supply background information, outline the reasons for your

scientific investigation, and define any terms in your report.

4. Aim- This is where you state the purpose of the experiment.

5. Hypothesis- This is where you state the predicted outcome for what you are testing. For

example: If the water temperature is increased, then the rate of corrosion will increase.

6. Materials- this section provides a list of the quantity and type of material used to conduct the

experiment.

7. Method- a set of numbered steps that anyone could follow and get the same results as you.

Variables must be included here.

8. Results- In this section, present all observations (qualitative) and measurements (quantitative).

Present results in written, full sentences as well as summary tables and graphs where possible.

Do not double up by presenting the same data in two different ways. Be sure to label all tables

and graphs with titles and label axes and units on graphs. You may state observations and

summarise any trends.

9. Discussion- This is where you discuss your results, so refer back to the data and trends and then

try to explain them. Interpret your results here. Discuss any problems that arose and suggest

possible improvements. You can tie in any background knowledge in here that you presented in

your introduction. Describe how your experimental findings can be applied in the real world.

What are the applications of your findings? What should future researchers explore? Is your

experiment valid and how do you know that your data collected is reliable?

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10. Conclusion-This should refer back to the Aim. Was your hypothesis proved correct? In the end

what did you find?

11. Bibliography- Acknowledge sources if applicable.

12. Appendix- A series of photographs to be included here.

How to write a bibliography

Internet sources

Author’s surname followed by their initials (if identified)

Last update (if identified) in brackets

Title of article in italics or underlined

Sponsor name

[Online]

<URL address>

For example: Ward, C. (2004) Australian bush fires burn on, Disaster Relief, [Online]

http://disasterrelief.org/Disasters/020104Austfires4 [accessed 10/1/2013]

Books

Author’s surname followed by their initials

Year of publication in brackets

Title in italics or underlined

Edition (if relevant)

Publisher and the place of publication

(If the author is unknown, put the book title first)

For example: Denning, A. (1994) The craft of woodcarving, Sandstone: London

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Marking Criteria for Year 10 Science Investigation Project

NAME: _______________________________________________________

Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-4WS

Hypothesis

formulated a testable hypothesis based on prior research/previous

observations 3

proposed a hypothesis based on prior research or previous observations 2

proposed a hypothesis either loosely or not related to the background

information collected 1

not attempted 0

TOTAL /3

Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-5WS

Planning

completed a valid and well planned scientific investigation over a period of

time 4

completed a well-planned scientific investigation over a period of time 3

completed a scientific investigation with moderate planning 2

submitted a project with limited planning 1

not attempted 0

SC5-5WS

Aim

has well defined aims and clearly expressed the subject of the investigation 3

had some tentative aims and adequately described the subject of the

investigation 2

had no clear aim and vaguely described the subject of the investigation 1

not attempted 0

SC5-5WS

Risk Assessment

identified procedures and performed a risk assessment prior to

experimentation 2

considered experimental risks but did not conduct a formal risk assessment 1

no attempted 0

SC5-5WS

Variables

identified independent and dependent variables and took deliberate steps to

keep controlled variables constant 3

controlled some variables 2

did not recognise or control variables 1

no attempted 0

TOTAL /12

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Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-6WS

Repetition

Replication

Observation

accurately made relevant observations in replicated trials using appropriate

technologies 3

gathered experimental data over a number of trials using appropriate

technologies 2

gathered some first-hand data without replication 1

no attempted 0

SC5-6WS

Logbook

Included a comprehensive logbook, detailing the investigative process, from

brainstorming, through data collection, to the final conclusion 3

included a logbook detailing the different stages of the investigative process 2

provided limited or disorganised documentation in the accompanying

logbook 1

not attempted 0

TOTAL /6

Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-7WS

Background

Research

Included a concise and comprehensive summary of relevant prior research

in the field and assessed its reliability 3

included a summary of current relevant background information and

checked its reliability 2

included some relevant background research 1

not attempted 0

SC5-7WS

Data Recording

recorded data in an organised, sequential and logical manner using correct

units 4

recorded data in a systematic manner using correct units 3

recorded data using incorrect or no units 2

did not present the data clearly 1

not attempted 0

SC5-7WS

Data Analysis

analysed and evaluated trends, patterns and relationships in the data

collected 4

analysed and explained trends, patterns and relationships in the data

collected 3

identified occasional trends, patterns and relationships in the data 2

loosely identified trends, patterns and relationships in the data 1

not attempted 0

TOTAL /11

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Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-8WS

Communication

exhibited deep understanding of related science concepts 4

demonstrated good understanding of the science concepts used in the

investigation 3

demonstrated minimal understanding of the science concepts used in the

investigation 2

demonstrated inadequate understanding of the science concepts used in the

investigation 1

not attempted 0

SC5-8WS

Discussion

suggested worthwhile directions for future research clearly 3

suggested modifications to procedures and ideas for future research 2

put forward some ideas for future improvements 1

not attempted 0

TOTAL /7

Outcome Criteria Marks

SC5-9WS

Creativity

was innovative and creative in approach, content, methodology or

communication to audience 2

had some innovative or creative ideas but did not develop them 1

not attempted 0

SC5-9WS

Conclusion

used critical thinking to synthesise information and argue the merits of

conclusions 4

used critical thinking to derive conclusions 3

formulated conclusions that were not fully supported by experimental data 2

manufactured conclusions lacking supporting information and scientific

accuracy 1

not attempted 0

SC5-9WS

Communication

used clear, concise, consistent and meaningful language, visuals and

sequencing to effectively communicate to the intended audience.

Bibliography using Harvard referencing style.

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communicated the report with effective use of language, visuals and

sequencing. Bibliography using Harvard referencing style 3

communicated the report with adequate use of language, visuals and

sequencing, appropriate to the intended audience. Bibliography 2

communicated the report with poor expression and inadequate use of

visuals. Bibliography 1

not attempted 0

SC5-9WS

Acknowledgment

acknowledged the source and type of any assistance given 3

acknowledged some assistance but did not provide details of the type of

assistance given 2

did not acknowledge assistance given 1

not attempted 0

TOTAL /13

Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales, Young Scientist Awards 2012

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Name of Student: ______________________ Teacher signature _________________________

A B C D E

52-44 43-36 35-21 20-11 10-0

MARK/

GRADE

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