Science Fair Info!

As we begin the new year, Brogden Middle School's science classes will begin preparing for the 2008 Science Fair. Due to time constraints, the Science Fair will be optional, and a Science Night for students and parents will be held in the Brogden Gymnasium on February 19, 2008 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Science Night will be a time for parents and others to observe what students are learning in the science classroom and participate in lab activities. Student posters, PowerPoints, blogs, webpages, etc. will be on display. Visitors can put their science knowledge to the test and pay a middle school science quiz game. Come and play, “Are you smarter than a middle schooler?”.
Students who choose to participate in the Science Fair and meet all of the requirements will receive a catered lunch. A select few students who complete exceptional projects will be chosen to accompany their science teacher and other students to a Durham Bulls game during the school day.
This project has three parts: a scientific research paper (very detailed and specific; there will be more details in a packet your child will be receiving if they express interest), a display board (on a tri-fold board, see your child's science fair packet for more details), and a visual, which could be a PowerPoint presentation, a model, or any other visual representation of the student's project.
In addition to the optional Science Fair project, we need several students to volunteer to work as student helpers at Science Night on February 19th. These students will help demonstrate and explain labs and discuss what we are doing in the 6th grade science classes with visitors. These student volunteers must provide their own transportation to and from Brogden on that evening. They will get to enjoy the catered lunch as well.

Here is a list of Science Fair dates to keep in mind:
*Wednesday, January 23rd-Science Fair Topic and Parent Signature Due
*Thursday, January 31st-Visual Presentation Method Due (the visual presentation is not due on this date, only what kind of visual presentation the student is going to complete)
*Friday, February 8th-Rough Draft of research paper due
*Friday, February 15-Science Fair project due!!!
On this date, Students must have everything completed
1.) Final version of research paper
2.) Display Board
3.) Visual
*Tuesday, February 19th-Science Fair Night in Brogden's Gymnasium, 6:00-8:00 pm

The Project

Part 1:
The Written Research Paper
A guideline for students writing a scientific research paper

All students in 6th grade students must include a written paper as part of their science research project. The completed paper should be placed in a folder and typed.

The report should include the following in this order:

1. Title Page Center the title of your research paper and give your purpose if it is different from your title. Include your name, grade, and science teacher.

2. Table of Contents List the order and page numbers of each part of your research paper.

3. Research This is the bulk of your paper. This is where the information you found while researching your topic will be presented. The information in this part of the paper should come from encyclopedias, science books, magazines, interviews, and the internet. This part should be at least 3 pages, but no more than 5 pages long. The format of the paper is as follows:

Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Begin Body of Paper. This part must include the following subtopics in the following order:
1. History of Topic
2. Importance of Topic
3. Current Events of Topic
4. Thorough explanation of visual method
5. Student Choice Subtopic #5
6. Student Choice Subtopic #6

Each of the subtopics should be at least 1 paragraph long, maybe more. Keep in mind, in the Research section of the paper, you need at least 3 pages of typed, doubled spaced, 12” font.

Last Paragraph - Summary/Conclusion

4. Acknowledgements Acknowledge or thank any person (parents, guardians, family members, a teacher, a scientist, a doctor, a company) who helped you with your research.
5. Reference List List books, magazines, internet sites, etc, that you used in your research. There needs to be enough information for your science teacher to find the information you used. Include page numbers, dates of publications, full titles, etc.

Use this as a guideline to create the perfect research paper.

Topics Available to Research
Use this list as a guideline when choosing a research topic, although you can research anything that you would like as long as I have said that your topic is acceptable.

· Earthquakes and/or Volcanoes
· Plate Tectonics
· Forms of Energy
· Human Impact on Land
· Sound and/or Light
· Sun, Earth, Moon System
· Planets in our Solar System
· Space Exploration
· Living Things in Ecosystems
· Food Webs
· Population Control
· Adaptations and Natural Selection
For example, you could choose to research Pangaea, since it falls under Plate Tectonics.

Part 2: The Science Display Board
A guideline for properly arranging the layout of your display board

Title of your project-This should be in the top center of your board

List 10 interesting things you learned while researching this topic:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
_______________
Abstract
(1 paragraph summary of research)

Visually Appealing Design (Picture or graph)-In center

Part 3: The Visual-The visual is where you can get creative. You can make a PowerPoint presentation, create a model, or show a demonstration of your experiment.

The Science Research Project has three main parts, all of which are mandatory:
1. The Written Research Paper
2. The Display Board
3. The Visual

I hope this helps! Those of you who have turned in your parent signature and topic should have a paper copy of this information. If you do not have a paper copy, please ask me for one.