This is just a quick reminder that the Sheffield Science Fair is approaching fast. 

Classroom Projects: Classroom projects start in late September.  The class selects a meaningful question that can be researched.  The meaningful question should also require an experiment including data collection as a means to practice the Scientific Method. 

Individual Projects: Students will begin their projects in October, 2011 and are due on December 9, 2011.  Packets regarding projects were sent home from your child's teacher.   Students will be required to present and explain their projects to their classmates. 

The best 3 projects from each homeroom will be selected to participate in the school wide Science Fair .  Projects will be selected according to the judging criteria in the child's Science Fair packet.

Official judging of the Science Fair will take place sometime in December with winners announced at a later time.  The official judges for the science fair include elementary, middle and high school teachers, USI Science experts, and community members.

Remember, all students in grades 3-5 are REQUIRED to complete a Science Project.  This includes an experiment with a backboard, data, and an oral presentation.  This is not to be confused with a research project.  Students must answer a question by doing an experiment (using the Scientific Method). 

Criteria for a good Science Project:  A good Science Project consists of the following:

• A meaningful question that is answered through the collection of data over time.  Repeat trials are done to confirm the data collected is accurate.
• A hypothesis (educated guess) as to the answer to the meaningful question.
• The Scientific Method  needs to be followed.

Projects NOT meeting the criteria for a good Science Project:

• A consumer advice project does not meet the criteria for a good project.  For example, "Which paper towel is the best?"  This project main seem as if it follows the Scientific Method but the question is not aimed at gaining a deeper understanding. 
• Reports do not meet the criteria for a good project because they lack data collected over time.  For example, creating a volcano is not a Science project.
• A demonstration also does not meet the criteria for a good science project.  For example, demonstrating how a prism works or how power moves in a circuit are not good science projects.

Links

Science Buddies

Science Projects

Science Fair Projects

The Scientific Method