Pi Beta Phi Elementary School 125 Cherokee Orchard Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738 865-436-5076 Office      865-436-9494 fax Glenn Bogart          Scott Hensley       Principal          Assistant Principal

Pi Beta Phi Elementary
Science Fair Booklet

Research has shown that students who participate in science experiments and discovery develop a much better appreciation and interest in the study of science.  In order to encourage and recognize those students who want to pursue science academically and/or professionally, the Sevier County School System has established a County Science Fair, where students will be given the opportunity to display their talents and abilities.

There are several major parts of a science fair project that must be included:

 
Title of the project

• A "cathy" title is usually best!

 Purpose

• This should be stated in the form of a question.
• This is what you are trying to find out in the project.

Hypothesis

• This is your guess as to what the testing will show.
• This should be done before any testing takes place.
• It is perfectly okay if your guess proves to be wrong at the end of testing.  It just shows you have learned something.

• This is a simple list of everything you used when conducting the experiment.

• These are step by step directions of exactly what was done when conducting the experiment.
• These should be written in such a way that anyone else could do your experiment in exactly the same way.

• This is a visual display of the data. It should be in the form of pictures, graphs or charts.
• The only words used in this section should be titles and labels of your pictures, graphs and charts.

• This is where the data from the results section is explained in paragraph form.
  
• This is where you tell what you have found out and whether or not your hypothesis was correct.

• Idea books available at bookstores and the library. (Anna Porter Library and our Pi Beta Phi school library.
• The Internet.  Simply search "science fair projects" in a search engine such as "Google" for many helpful websites.
• Your classroom teacher
• Parks as Classroom coordinator

• All elements (purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions) should be included and clearly labeled on teh showboard.
• Display should be neat, organized, creative, and done to the best of the student's ability.
• All items included in teh display must follow safety guidelines and regulations. Check with the classroom teacher in you have any questions.
• Floor display projects are limited to 9 feet high from floor to top; 48 inches wide from side to side; and 30 inches deep from front to back. Table display projects are limited to 78 inches high from bottom to top; 48 inches wide from side to side; and 30 inches deep from front to back. (The showboards sold by the school fit these requirements.)
• The use of electricity is strongly discouraged during the Science Fair.  Pictures can depict all of the procedures that the student followed in conducting the experiment.
  

• Students will be introduced to the terms used in the science fair.
• Students will participate in a group project to be viewed at the school's science fair.
• Students will do each step with the class to see how the science method works
• Parents are encouraged to come and view the class' project at the public science fair viewing.
• Parents are encouraged to question their children on what was accomplished with the class project.
• Projects at this grade level are not included in Science Fair judging.

• Students will participate in many simple science demonstrations in the classroom, focusing on the understanding of simple scientific terms.
• One of the above demonstrations will be expanded to become the class project presented for display.
• Students are encouraged, but not required, to participate individually in the science fair. The goal at this point is to get children to think about why certain things happen the way they do.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.
• Projects at this grade level are not included in  the Science Fair judging.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project.
• Parents are encouraged to help, but ultimately, students need to be responsible for the project.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.
• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project.
• Parents should assist the students and not do the project for them.  Parent work turned in as student work is obvious.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.(purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions)
• Projects should now add the "Research" component. This should be no mroe than a one-page summary of teh background information. For example, if the project is on paper towels,  the research should be general information about paper towels. This is not included on the showboard but is a separate element.
• Citing sources for the research paper is not a must at this point, however, the student needs to be able to orally tell the teacher where the information was retrieved.
  
• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project.
• Parents should assist the students as needed, but should offer the student less assistance than was given in third grade.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.(purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions) Include the title.
  
• A research/written report component is to be included.
• Other elements to be added at this level should include:

• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project.
• Parents should assist the students as needed, but should offer the student less assistance than was given in fourth grade.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.(purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions) Include the title.
  
• A Review of Literature report is to be included. This should be 1/2 to 1 page long and utilize at least 2 different sources
• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project. Groups or pairs are permitted only at the teacher's discretion.
  
• Parents should assist the students as needed, but should offer the student less assistance than was given in fifth grade. Parents should provide time and materials to accomplish the task.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.(purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions) Include the title.
  
• Project topics must be selected based on one of teh state standards in science, math, or social studies (as long as teh scientific method applies). Teachers will provide further guidance with this as needed.
• Project counts for half of the six-week's science grade, with other daily grades in teh appropriate subjects.
• Students will complete a science notebook that includes a research paper, purpose, hypothesis, results, graphs, etc.
• The research paper should:

• A journal is required.
  
• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.
• Students should be prepared to explain their project to the judges in an oral presentation if asked to do so.

• Each student is expected to complete an individual science fair project.
  
• Partner projects are possible in eighth grade, but only at the teacher's discretion.
  
• Parents should provide time and materials to accomplish the task. The majority of the project (except for the experiment) will be done in class.
• Showboards should include all of the previously described elements of the scientific process.(purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedures, results, and conclusions) Include the title.
  
• Project counts for half of the six-week's science grade. Other subject areas help with the completion of various elements of teh project and will grade accordingly.

• Projects will be presented orally to the class.
  
• Projects at this grade level are included in  the Science Fair judging.
• Students should be prepared to explain their project to the judges in an oral presentation if asked to do so.

• 1st place (plaque and ribbon)
• 2nd place (ribbon)
• 3rd place (ribbon)
• 4th place (ribbon)
• Honorable Mention (ribbon)

• Best use of Humor, grades 6-8 (plaque)
• Most Creative Display, grades 6-8 (plaque)
• Best Use of Technology, grades 6-8 (plaque)
• Parks as Classrooms, grades 3-5 (plaque)
• Parks as Classroom, grades 6-8 (plaque)
  

A public viewing of all Science Fair projects will be scheduled.  Information as to the date and time of the public viewing will be communicated to parents as the date approaches.

 Projects that are identified as 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place in grades 3 through 8 will go on to the county science fair, usually in mid-winter, to compete against other winners in the county.