2023 ACMS Science and Engineering Fair

Monday, November 6th, 2023  

This presentation will walk you through the completion of your project

• Consult this document often.
• When get overwhelmed – open it to reassure yourself!
• Most of your answers are right here waiting for you.
• Focus on what is right in front of you:

Planning, Experimenting, or Presenting

Mr. White’s and Mr. Fuller’s responsibilities

• To help and support students and adult sponsors as they navigate the requirements.  
• Present the workings of science and the correct way to conduct investigations. 
• Construct a website to guide adult sponsors and students.
• Proof projects and forms.  Make suggestions for correcting scientific procedure and correct completion of forms.  
• Approve or deny the project focus.  (nothing too dangerous or  repetitive)
• Provide a timeline.  
• Set up all committees and get paperwork to the correct people.  
• Set up and oversee our Aaron Cohn Middle School Science Fair. 

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Our website: Science Fair Canvas Page

https://mcsd.instructure.com/courses/112038

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or Go to the school website:

http://sites.muscogee.k12.ga.us/aaroncohn/

1. Hover over “Our School” in the upper navigation bar 
2. Select “Teacher Webpages“; scroll down to Mr. Fuller.  
3. You should see “Science Fair” as an option.  
4. Select and use this Canvas class during your project.

Can students work as partners?  

• Yes.  Students are allowed to work with one other person as long as the project they choose is an advanced idea that needs two minds or two sets of hands!  

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• However, do this at your own peril. You should pick a partner carefully.  If you are a hard worker, you do not want to pair with someone who will leave most of the work to you!  

Stages of the Science Project

• Planning Stage – the most complicated.
• Experimental Stage – the fun part.
• Presentation Stage – tri-board prep and abstract composition.

Other Valuable Resources!

A GREAT place to find information and links to ALL forms is here:

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Georgia Science and Engineering Fair

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Society for Science and the Public

(International host for ISEF competitions)

Stage 1 – Planning Stage Overview: 10 Steps�(more details on following pages)

1. Buy a log book and begin recording what you do.  
2. Select a Sponsor (usually your parent).
3. Read the rules.
4. Select a Topic or Project idea - Devise a question or problem that you would like to solve. What is your purpose?
5. Submit to Mr. White or Mr. Fuller for feedback and approval.
6. Research – Learn what you need to know about your project.
7. Make a hypothesis: If (independent variable), then (dependent variable), because (logical reasoning)
8. Plan the steps of your experiment, the materials you will need, and what you will measure.
9. Submit your final preliminary proposal form to Mr. White and Mr. Fuller for feedback and approval to begin experimenting. 
10. Complete and submit all official forms.   

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Student Checklist and Judge’s Checklist

• Attached is a link to a Judging Rubric.
• This rubric can be used to help you with each aspect of the science fair.
• Check off your work as you go along.
• Keep them folded in the back of your log book for easy access.

Step 1. Keeping a Log Book – Start it NOW!

• Use a black or blue PEN!  No pencils. No erasures. No whiteout! (Mistakes are expected. Just draw a line through them. Cross out large mistakes.  This is what scientists do!) 
• Set up your logbook with a title page.  Include your name and a title (2023 Science and Engineering Fair).  
• Number your pages.  
• Date everything! 
• As you plan, think, discuss with your sponsor, and research a topic; record everything in your log book.  It is like a SCIENCE DIARY!  "Dear diary....today I thought about eating my crickets....."

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PLANNING STAGE

Step 2: Selecting an Adult Sponsor

• According to the rules an Adult Sponsor may be a teacher, parent, professor, and/or other professional scientist.

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• Ideally, a parent is the sponsor!

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• (Mr. White is available to help, but the sponsor needs to be where the investigation is occurring.)   

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PLANNING STAGE

Adult Sponsor’s Responsibilities

• Read the ISEF rules and guidelines.  
• Be knowledgeable in the area of the student’s research.
• Have close contact with the student throughout the timeline of the project.
• Oversee safety issues and make sure the student understands them as well.  
• Sign forms and see they are submitted on time. 
• Maintain the ethics of the project. (Honesty, integrity) 
• Keep it legal and ecologically safe.  

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PLANNING STAGE

The Student Researcher Responsibilities

• Enlist an Adult Sponsor.
• Be familiar with and following all rules and ethical issues related to their “research”.
• Reading the Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs. (It is linked on our site.)
• Comply with all laws including ecological standards.
• Complete all documentation and submitting the correct forms for approval.
• Perform the project with limited adult assistance.
• Abide by the ethics statement on form 1B.

PLANNING STAGE  

Step 3. Read the “Guidelines” and the “ISEF  - International Science and Engineering Fair Rules and Regulations”.  

• The following attachment is a great introduction to what you will be doing. It explains terminology and suggests ways of completing steps. I suggest reading it before reading the rules. It is much more reader friendly.

Student Research Projects Guidelines and Information

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• Adult sponsor and student researcher reads the Rules together – paying attention to sections that relate to the student’s project.

Official ISEF Science Fair Rules and Guidlines

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PLANNING STAGE  

Confusing terminology - Research project/plan

• “Research project, research plan, etc.” – Refers to the whole science fair project including gathering information prior to experimentation, experimentation, analyzing the results, and reaching a conclusion or the building and testing of an engineering project.

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• It does NOT refer to any type of typical research resulting in a college type “Research Paper”.

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• A typical research paper will NOT be required. However 5 sources of information used prior to experimentation are needed with a bulleted summary of what you learned.

PLANNING STAGE  

Step 4: Selecting a Question or Problem that leads to an Experiment/Investigation  

1. Ask a question or discover a problem. Select a topic with a question or problem you would like answered.
• The best projects involve topics and questions that are self created from what the student observes in the world around them. Find the phenomenon that makes you wonder..... 
• Avoid common projects such as mold on cheese or the amount of fertilizer on a plant.  
• Avoid projects you know were completed at ACMS in the past 2 years.  They will not be approved.  

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PLANNING STAGE  

Thinking about a topic:

• Look around you. Just about everything we use or see could be the topic of a science fair project.
• Consider your interests.  
• Be curious and ask yourself questions about things around you. Could you create an experiment to answer the question?
• Take your time. Talk about it with others.
• Think about products that are new. Can they be tested and compared with the older ones?
• Don’t forget to record your thoughts and conversations in your log book!  Date each entry!

PLANNING STAGE  

Narrowing down a topic

Talk with your sponsor about your ideas.

Ask yourself:

• Am I capable of testing my idea? 
• How hard will it be to obtain the supplies needed?
• How much will it cost to do the experiment - you will need 10 -12 of each item you are testing? 
• Do I have enough time to complete my experiment? 
• Is it safe for me to do this? 
• Is the answer common knowledge - like fertilizer helping plants grow?  Avoid these types of projects.
• Can the results be measured objectively?  (Not just by opinion.)  

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PLANNING STAGE

What about projects with:�Human participants? Vertebrate animals?

• These types of projects require many extra forms and extra work for everyone.
• A professional such as a doctor, psychologist, or veterinarian must review and approve the project.
• Forms must be submitted earlier for this type of project.
• I only approve a few human/vertebrate projects that meet these criteria:  
• Unique.
• Detailed in planning.
• Have a large sample size/ many trials.  
• Are submitted early for approval and processing. 
• Have the potential for proceeding to the state level.  
• Email Mr. Fuller for approval before expending your mental energy!

PLANNING STAGE  

Step 5: Preliminary Proposal Form �1^st Submission – due Thursday, Sept. 14!

You are now ready to submit your idea and get it approved.

Complete the top of your Preliminary Proposal Form with :

• Your personal information
• Purpose of your project.
• Question or Problem you wish to investigate.

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The Preliminary Proposal Form can be completed by hand, but all other science fair documents required to be in your binder that you submit will need to be typed.  

PLANNING STAGE  

Step 6: Gathering Information

PLANNING STAGE  

• List
• List what you want and need to know about your topic and materials you will use.

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• Begin
• Begin looking for answers. Use the internet & media center.

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• Talk
• Talk to someone who is an expert.

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• Keep
• Keep all this activity in your log book. Date each entry.

Step 7: Make a Hypothesis

• Make a hypothesis by turning your question into an ‘If….then….because….’ statement.
• Examples:
• If I use miracle gro potting soil, then my plants will grow taller and be a darker green due to the added nitrogen.
• If ant beds are treated with a solution of Dawn dishwashing liquid, the ants will die due to the soap blocking their air holes.
• Record your hypothesis ideas/attempts in your logbook.  You can always scratch through your first thoughts, and work until you get it the way you want it.   

PLANNING STAGE  

You did not fail if your hypothesis proves incorrect!

•  NOTE: If your results do not support your hypothesis, this does not mean you have failed.  As long as something is learned from an experiment, the experiment is valid and the results are valuable.  You’ll address this in your analysis and conclusion!
• If we test a drug against a disease we may be disappointed it did not work but, the experiment was successful because it answered our question: Will this drug cure this disease?  

PLANNING STAGE

STEP 8: Designing your Experiment  

• I highly suggest you watch the PowerPoint posted on the website titled  "Good Experiments!   

Step 8: Designing your experiment

Record your plans in your log book. (Remember it is ok to scratch through a mistake or change of idea. But do not erase. Always use a pen.)

1. Create a list of all the materials you will need. (Leave space to add more.)
2. Write the steps you will take to perform your experiment. (Skip lines to allow space to add things you forgot.)
• Remember to include:
• 2 groups: experimental and control
• Independent variable – the one difference between the two groups.
• Dependent variable and what data you will collect.
• It is important that at least one type of data is quantitative (measurable in numbers)
• Constants you will maintain between the two groups. You can list them.
• Every tiny little detail needed for someone to repeat your experiment and get the same results.

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PLANNING STAGE  

Step 9: Final Submission of Your “Preliminary Proposal”  Due Thursday, September 21st!

Share with your sponsor all you have written in planning your experiment.  Ask for any suggestions.  Make any changes. Record in your log book.  

• Complete the “Preliminary Proposal” using the info you have written in you log book.
• Submit the Preliminary Proposal in Canvas.

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Mr. White and/or Mr. Fuller will review it and leave you comments.  

PLANNING STAGE  

Frequent difficulties in the planning stage:

• Failure to do enough research on the topic to know how to design the experiment.
• Lack of details throughout the plan.
• Not wording clearly what you mean. Avoid the use of pronouns (it, they) if the noun is not clear.
• Failure to design the experiment correctly with an experimental and control group.
• Leaving out important controlled variables.
• Access to printer fails or lacks ink.
• All of these happen when you wait until the night before to complete the form! Don’t do it!

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PLANNING STAGE  

Step 10: TYPE the 5 Official Forms 

1. Type the 5 official forms that are required for all participants. 
• The Canvas module has examples and a link to each form. You must type the forms.  
• See next page for printing suggestions.  
2. Research Plan - Form1A gives instructions for completing this.
• It is one of the 5 forms to be submitted. 
• Students often skip this.  Don’t! 
• Use your Preliminary Proposal to help you complete it.   
3. Save all forms on your computer.  You will submit these saved files.
4. Print and place forms in order:  1, 1A, Research Plan, 1B, 1C in a folder with clasps or in 1/2inch binder.  Page protectors are suggested. Set aside in a safe place.  

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PLANNING STAGE  

FORMS! Due by Thursday, October 5th

• Forms must be TYPED and submitted before beginning experimentation.  
• Some forms must be approved before beginning experimentation.  
• An incorrectly timed project that does not have approval will not be eligible to move on to Regions!!!

PLANNING STAGE

Printing forms, research plan, abstract, charts and graphs.

It is the responsibility of the student and parent to plan ahead how these forms will be printed.  

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• Printer troubles will not be an excuse for not submitting them.  

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Suggestions:

• Make sure ink and paper is on hand a week prior, if you intend to print at home.
• Test your printer in time to fix issues you may have.
• If you do not have a printer at home, talk to the media specialist a week ahead and find out a time you can go there and print your items.  Save your files in the cloud or on a flash drive.  
• Save your files to a flash drive and use the printing capabilities at print shops or Office Depot/Staples.
• Check with the local public library for printing capabilities.

PLANNING STAGE

Experimental Stage

• Set up the experiment referring to your Log Book and Preliminary Form that was approved.
• Pay special attention to suggestions given by Mr. White.
• Keep your Log Book – use a great deal of detail.
• Write everything in INK!
• Explain how the experiment is set up.
• Date each day’s work.
• Date each day’s observations. Use a data chart.
• Make practice graphs.
• Draw diagrams and illustrations.
• Color code it. Number it. Keep it organized.
• This is the judge’s way to see into your research.

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EXPERIMENTAL STAGE

Experimental Stage Suggestions

1. Begin early in case you run into problems.
2. Do not try to make your results align with your hypothesis. Let what happens, happen. Think about “Myth Busters”. They prove ideas wrong all the time.
3. Use the metric system – this is science!
4. Test many times. Some awesome ideas have failed to win because they only tested one time.
5. Take lots of pictures. Not only does it prove you did the experiment but it adds interest to the triboard.
6. Date and record in your log book frequently. Details, details, details.

EXPERIMENTAL STAGE

Experiment Time.

Design and conduct your experiment.  

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• Include notes/plans/data in your log book. 
• Turn in details on your preliminary proposal.
• Include plans in your “Research Plan Form”
• Conduct experiment with time to spare.
• Summarize experiment in your Abstract
• Summarize experiment on your tri-board.

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EXPERIMENTAL STAGE

Presentation Stage – Your abstract.

• Write your Abstract using the form online. (contents next page.)
• It must be typed in the form online to be admissible.
• This is the most important communication between you and the judge! If you did it in your experiment, report it in the abstract.
• Use scientific vocabulary.
• Be precise with your wording. (Do not ramble or use flowery language. This is not a novel.)
• Check your grammar, spelling, and typos.
• Print two copies.- One goes in your Forms Notebook at the back. - Second one you display in a page protector in front of your project.

PRESENTATION STAGE

Presentation Stage – Your abstract.

• Contents of Abstract – 200 to 250 words
• Purpose – explain why you chose this topic.
• Hypothesis – this explains what you thought you will see.
• Procedures – as much detail as you can fit in 250 words.
• Data summarized -
• Data analyzed – What did you learn from the data. What did your graph show?
• Conclusion –
• Do you accept your hypothesis or reject it. Did you experiment support it?
• Importance and use of your results. Refer back to your purpose
• How could you further test your question.

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PRESENTATION STAGE

Difference in Research Plan and Abstract

• Your research plan is done prior to experimenting.
• Much is written in the future tense telling what you will do.
• It tells what you will do.
• It predicts your results.
• Your abstract is written after you experiment.
• Much of it is written in the past tense.
• It tells what you did.
• It analyzes your results.

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EXTRA INFO

Human participants, Vertebrate animals, and Biological agents

The next slides address specially approved projects and are not needed for most students.

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Projects That Require Prior Approval and Extra Forms

• Human Participants – projects in which people provide data or samples.
• Physical activity studies. Those that use surveys, questionaires, & tests.
• Studies in which the researcher is the one studied.
• Testing of an invention by the engineering student.

EXTRA INFO

Projects That Require Prior Approval and Extra Forms

• Use of Vertebrate Animals as Participants – projects in which mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, or fish are used.

Projects That Require Prior Approval and Extra Forms

• Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
• Bacteria, viruses, fungi that cause disease.
• Human or animal tissues, blood, or body fluid.
• Studies of mold on food unless discarded when mold is first detected.

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• At the middle school level these types of projects will probably not be approved without a qualified scientist from a higher level institution involved.

Projects That Require Prior Approval and Extra Forms

• Hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices
• Prescription drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
• Explosives (rockets) and guns (potato guns, paint guns, pellet guns)
• At the middle school level research involving high powered explosives will not be approved.

Completed Project Turn in

Monday, November 6th, 2023

• Completed Projects Due Nov 6th
• Complete Triboard
• Science Fair Logbook
• Binder with…
• All Required forms
• Abstract