Assignment # 4

Finalized title and hypothesis in log.
The title - the title catches people’s attention and lets them know what your project is about, it should be short (10 words or less) and easy to read.
The hypothesis – now that you have developed a question to explore and conducted some background research you are ready to formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess, a statement about how the scientist thinks the experiment will turn out. It is a prediction based on all the available information. The hypothesis will be your opinion deduced from the facts you researched. It should identify the subjects of the experiment (plants, mice) and state what is being measures (growth, weight), the conditions of the experiment (different-colored light sources, junk food versus regular food), and the results expected (light colors produce faster growth than dark colors; a nutritious diet produces higher weights than a junk food diet).
For example:

• Bean plants grown under dark-colored light will grow more slowly than bean plants grown under light-colored light because of a lack of sufficient ultra-violet light waves.


• Mice raised on a diet of junk food will show lower body weights after 6 weeks than mice raised on a regular diet because of a deficiency of necessary nutrients in the junk food.[1]

The hypothesis is very important, it will form the basis of your investigation.

[1] Examples taken from The Science Fair Handbook by Anthony Fredericks

Assignment # 3

Research – notes taken from at least 3 references with bibliography info.Summarize information relating to your topic taken from at least three resources: books, magazines, websites, DVD’s, conversations with experts, etc. This background information will help you formulate your experiment question and hypothesis, and appear in your final written report as Research. Be sure to rewrite the information in your own words, do not copy directly from the resource. After each summary include bibliography information from the resource that you used:


Here's how to write Bibliography information:
1. Write the author's last name, first name and middle name or initial.
2. Write the name of the article or chapter from your source in quotes.
3. Write the title of the book or source.
4. Write the place where your source was published followed by a colon.
5. Write the publisher name, date and volume followed by a colon and the page numbers.


Tips:
1. Here is an example for a book or magazine -- Smith, John B., 'Science Fair Fun' Experiment Time, New York: Sterling Pub. Co., May 1990, Vol. 2:10-25.
2. Here is an example for a Web site -- Bailey, Regina, About.com Biology Site, Mar. 9, 2000.
3. Here is an example for a conversation -- Martin, Clara, Telephone Conversation, Jan. 8, 2000.



Write your summaries and Bibliography info in your logbook.

Assignment # 2

Submit potential topic ideas or research questions.
Choose a topic that interests you. You could choose a project based on a topic you are learning about in homeschool, or perhaps a project related to one of the topics we have covered in Science Class: electronics, light, the electromagnetic spectrum, or earth science. Other fields include Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Psychology, Astronomy, and Physical Science. Your library should have some books that contain science fair project ideas, one popular author is Janice VanCleave. You can also search the web for ideas, I have included some links with project ideas in the sidebar of the Science Fair Blog.
In your log book write down a few topics or ideas that interest you. Your project should be a test or experiment so you want to come with a question to investigate relating to your topic. Be sure to date the entries in your log book, and if you are working with a partner and sharing a log book, sign your name after each entry you make.
Choosing a topic is one of the hardest parts of a Science Fair project, so be sure to devote some time to brainstorming ideas.

Assignment # 1

So you’ve decided to participate in the Science Fair. You will be doing more than learning science, you will be “doing” science by following the scientific method just like a real scientist! Here are the steps you will follow as you complete the twelve assignments:

1. Identify a problem



2. Refer to authoritative sources



3. Ask an appropriate question



4. Develop a hypothesis



5. Conduct experiments



6. Keep detailed records of methods and results.



7. Report the experiments



8. Analyze the results



9. Develop a conclusion

So let’s get started, already!

Purchase “marble” composition book to use as a log book. Write your first and last name and “Science Fair Log” on the cover. Print a copy of “Science Fair Timeline” document from the Science Fair Blog and tape or paste inside the front cover.

Now watch for assignment # 2.