Science Fair

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MHS Science Fair Expectations

  • All students MUST submit a Science Fair board.

  • You can work with ONE other Year 9 Student at MHS. You may team up with a Yr 9 student from another class.

  • The school can provide some basic materials and equipment, but if you require special materials, you will have to purchase this yourself.

  • You do NOT need to purchase your own board. It will be provided by the school, for free.

  • Your planning sheet is due on Friday 8th April 2022.

    • Aim

    • Rationale/Importance to Society

    • Hypothesis

    • Variables

    • Materials & Methods

    • Results

  • You will get feedback on your planning sheet by Thursday 14th of April.

Step 1: Look at and evaluate previous Science Fair boards.

In class, a number of Science Fair boards from previous students will be displayed around the classroom. Read through a few of them, and select 4 boards to evaluate.

Use the template document to the right to evaluate 4 boards.

Remember that:

  • Independent variable is the variable that is changed.

  • Dependent variable is the variable that is measured.

Evaluating Science Fair projects
Y9_MRGS_Adalia Lobo.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Amie Mao and Zoe Chen.pdf
Y10_MRGS_Tessa Bolland.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Baraa Zara.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Sumayyah Parker and Jessica Huang.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Jashraj Khatri.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Jacob Wrack and Anurag Bobbili.pdf
Oliver Brown - ACGP_Y08_Kylie Koh_MAT.pdf
Y9_MRGS_Raina Singh and Prithi Sharma.pdf
MRGS_Y9_Nathan Kestle.pdf
Jessica McGuinness - SKBS_Y8_George Hill_MAT not FDS.pdf
SCC_78_Grace Thomson_Charlie Bamford_MAT.pdf
MRGS_Y9_Farah Ikram And Maia Collins.pdf
Science Fair Project PDF.pdf
ScienceFairTeaWaipara (2)(1).pdf
Wisdom Iyekekpolo - FINAL PROJECT HAND IN.pptx
MRGS_Y9_Martia Adato(1).pdf
MRGS_Y9_Aaran Kumar.pdf

Step 2: Research what makes a project good or bad.

These slides gives ideas on good science fair questions, and has links to videos related to that question.

Inspiration for Science Fair Projects

The following website by NIWA gives you the list of categories you could enter into. Notice that the "Earth & Space" and "Technology" categories are the least-entered, meaning you're more likely to receive a prize in these categories.

Last-minute Science Fair ideas

sciencefairideas.pdf

The following website goes through the types of Science Fair projects to avoid and reasons behind this. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/science-fair-project-question#topics-avoid

Step 3: Planning & Conducting the Experiment

If your experiment requires you to grow plants, you MUST start during the Term 1 holidays so your plant has enough time to grow.

Follow these links to check out the NIWA page on how to plan and execute the practical. There is also a link on how to present your Science Fair board.

This is a template you will use to plan your experiment.

Science Fair Planning Sheet
903 Science Fair

Step 4: Presenting Your Research on a Board

Aim and Hypothesis - Success Criteria:

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • Outline my science fair aim.

  • Describe my science fair hypothesis.

In your colour groups, check the Aim:

  1. Does it go along the lines of “To test/find/investigate ….”

  2. Does it contain the independent variable and dependent variable?

In your colour groups, check the Hypothesis:

  1. Does it go along the lines of “I think .... because …”

  2. Does it contain the independent variable and dependent variable?

Method and Proof of Concept - Success Criteria:

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • List my method step-by-step, including all of my variables (independent, dependent, and controlled).

  • Describe how I will go about finding out if I can actually measure my dependent variable.

In your colour groups, check the Method:

  1. Is it in list form? List in numbered order.

  2. Does it contain their controlled variables?

  3. Does it contain their independent variable and dependent variable?

In your colour groups, show your Proof of Concept:

  1. How do you know you can actually measure your dependent variable?

  2. The only way you can know is to actually try it out.

Method and Proof of Concept - Success Criteria:

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • List my method step-by-step, including all of my variables (independent, dependent, and controlled).

  • Describe how I will go about finding out if I can actually measure my dependent variable.

Hei Mahi

Write an aim and conclusion for each of the results graphs below: