Designing the Science Fair Experiment

 As you write up your Science Fair Experiment Procedure, please remember:

 Review the IJAS requirements before you show your  procedure to the teacher

·         All experiments need teacher approval before the scientists begin their first trial.

           6^TH  grade students  will begin by using the scientific method in lab experiments.

7/8^th -  RETURN Parent Safety and Supervision sheets BEFORE TESTING BEGINS at home

·         Have Adult Supervision and Review Safety before EACH experiment trial begins

·         Write a Chronological Step-by-Step Procedure (like a recipe for cooking) using the IJAS SCIENCE FAIR EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE CHECKLIST below: 

                   NOTE:  All pages are TYPED using a regular  size 12 font

Page 1:  Purpose and Hypothesis page

•  Full name at the top right hand corner of the page,  grade level on second line
•  Purpose statement says exactly what you want to learn.  Use precise words.
• Hypothesis statement is stated using precise words and written in 3^rd person. (It describes the predicted outcome for a specific problem that the scientist is testing.)   An "If, Then" statement

Page 2:  Safety  page  (This is an IJAS form)

• All safety concerns have been listed  (Every experiment has concerns)
• List disposal method for the experiment materials (State guidelines followed)
• The student has signed the form
• The sponsor (teacher) has signed the form

Page 3:  Materials page(s)

• Full name at the top right hand corner of the page,  grade level on second line
• All equipment being used in the experiment is listed
• All materials being used in the experiment are listed

Page 4: Methods of Procedure page(s)

• Drawings, pictures, diagrams are present if they help to clarify the procedure
• All measurements are listed as metric (SI System)
• Procedure is step-by-step, chronological procedure with numbers for each step
• Number of trials completed is adequate for the experiment (Usually 15 trials)
• The controls for the experiment are listed (on a separate page)

Page 5: Controls/Variables page

• List the CONTROLS for the experiment (items you are KEEPING THE SAME)
• List the INDEPENDENT (or manipulated) variable you will be testing
• List the DEPENDENT (or responding) variable from your testing 
• List the CONTROL GROUP used for comparision (when applicable)

Page 6:  TABLE of Results page (EMPTY table ready to fill in during the experiment)

•  Full name at the top right hand corner of the page, grade level on second line
•  Design a  TABLE  to record your experiment results (use EXCEL program)
•  Metric measurements (SI units) listed for measurments
• Table(s) have a TITLE and each column is labeled WITH UNITS 
• The table is easy to read  - information is spread out for easy interpretation