West Elementary School

Mrs. Amy R. Flinn, Principal 1911 6th Street Rd. Wamego, KS 66547 8333 Fax: 785 456 7267 flinna@usd320.com www.usd320.com Ph: 785 456

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Dear Families,

We are discussing the Scientific Process in class. Each week, for the next five weeks, we will review a step of the Scientific Process and do examples together in class. The students will then have a week to work on an individual example for each step of the process. They will be expected to do this at home. This will allow students to have a complete science project at the end of February. A booklet will be provided for students to record their homework for each step of the process. This will be for a grade. To enter the Wamego Regional Science Fair, students need to create a display board of their work. We would highly encourage each student to enter the fair. This is optional, however, and will not be part of the class grade. You can find entry forms from: http://www.usd320.com/MiddleSchool/Activities/sciencefair.aspx. The first week we will discuss asking questions. We will then discuss hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, and conclusion over the next month. Students will be required to write their own projects for class focusing on one step each week. The student example of each step will be due the following week of discussion. Below is a timeline of this project. Scientific Process Step Covered In Class Student Example Due Question Week of January 23 January 30 Hypothesis Week of January 30 February 6 Materials Week of February 6 February 13 Science Fair Forms Due Optional February 10 Procedure Week of February 13 February 21 Results and Conclusion Week of February 21 February 27 Here are some websites for ideas and information about science fairs: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml Display Boards http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/ Science Fair Ideas http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html PBS Science Ideas http://www.sciencefair-projects.org/ Science Fair Projects Please feel free to contact your childs teacher if you have any questions. Thank you for your support of our learning. Fourth Grade Team

Once you find a general topic that interests you, write down the question that you want to answer. A scientific question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where. Your science fair project question should involve factors or traits that you can easily measure using a number. Or, factors or traits that are easily identified, like colors.
For a Good Science Fair Project Question, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question

What Makes a Good Science Fair Project Question?

Is the topic interesting enough to read about, and then work on for the next couple months?

Yes / No

Can you design a "fair test" to answer your question? In other words, can you change only one factor (variable) at a time, and control other factors that might influence your experiment, so that they do not interfere?

Yes / No

Can you measure changes in your factors (variables) using a number, %, weight, time, measurement, etc.?

Yes / No

Is your experiment safe to perform?

Yes / No

Is this something you can test with more than one trial? From: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_question.shtml

Yes / No

Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test, what's called a testable hypothesis. In other words, you need to be able to measure both "what you do" and "what will happen." The hypothesis must be worded so that it can be tested in your experiment. Do this by expressing the hypothesis using your independent variable (the variable you change during your experiment) and your dependent variable (the variable you observe-changes in the dependent variable depend on changes in the independent variable). In fact, many hypotheses are stated exactly like this: "If a particular independent variable is changed, then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because..."
What Makes a Good Hypothesis? For a Good Hypothesis, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question

Does the hypothesis include the independent (changing) variables?

Yes / No

Does the hypothesis include the dependent (observable) variables?

Yes / No

Have you worded the hypothesis so that it can be tested in the experiment?

Yes / No

Is your experiment safe to perform?

Yes / No

Is this something you can test with more than one trial? http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_hypothesis.shtml

Yes / No

What type of supplies and equipment will you need to complete your science fair project? Make the materials list as specific as possible, and be sure you can get everything you need before you start your science fair project.
What Makes a Good Materials List? For a Good Materials List, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

Have you listed all necessary materials? Have you described the materials in sufficient detail? Did you list the exact quantities for the items?

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_materials_list.shtml

Write the experimental procedure like a step-by-step recipe for your science experiment. A good procedure is so detailed and complete that it lets someone else duplicate your experiment exactly! For a typical experiment, you should plan to repeat it at least three times (more is better). If you are doing an experiment that involves testing or surveying different groups, you won't need to repeat the experiment three times, but you will need to test or survey a sufficient number of participants to insure that your results are reliable.
What Makes a Good Experimental Procedure? For a Good Experimental Procedure, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

Have you included a step-by-step list of all procedures? Did you list the procedural steps in a clear, logical order? Have you described how to the change independent (changing) variable and how to measure that change? Have you explained how to measure the resulting change in the dependent (observable) variable or variables? Have you explained how the controlled (not changing) variables will be maintained at a constant value? Have you included how many times you intend to repeat the experiment (should be at least three times)? Is the number of repetitions enough to get reliable data? The ultimate test: Can another individual duplicate the experiment based on the experimental procedures you have written?

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_experimental_procedure.shtml

Record you data in a chart or on a graph. Look at the results and ask yourself: Did I forget anything? Do I need more data? Did I make any mistakes? Could someone else read these results?
What Makes for a Good Data Analysis Chart? Is there sufficient data to know whether your hypothesis is correct? Is your data accurate? Does your chart have a title? Have you included (changing) the independent variable and the dependent (observable) variable? Does your chart specify units of measurement for all data? Have you verified that all calculations (if any) are correct? For a Good Chart, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

Your conclusion summarizes how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis. Summarize your science fair results. State whether your results support or contradict your hypothesis. Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure. Tell what worked and what did not work. Suggest changes you would make when doing the experiment again.
For Good Conclusions, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No

What Makes for Good Conclusions? Did you summarize your results? Did your conclusions state that you proved or disproved your hypothesis? Did you summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure, making comments about its success and effectiveness? Did you suggest changes in the experimental procedure and/or possibilities for further study?

Yes / No

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_conclusions.shtml