Reminder: other than the recommendation section,
there are to be NO YOUs/ Mes/ we etc written!!

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This is a statement of what you hope to discover. What you have learned through your research, and what problem you hope to solve.
example: How does changing the concentration of aspirin administered to developing plants affect their growth. This is what my experiment hopes to determine.
example: Does 2 pound test fishing line REALLY hold 2 pounds of fish. I want to be sure and use fishing line that won’t break! Which 2 pound test fishing line holds 2 pounds?

PURPOSE

This is a statement of why you hope to discover the answer to your project's question. Why is your discovery important?
example: Does 2 pound test fishing line REALLY hold 2 pounds of fish. I want to be sure and buy the line that won't break because I'm tired of wasting money on a product that won't work.

HYPOTHESIS

- A HYPOTHESIS is an EDUCATED GUESS about the outcome (results) of your experiment. It is what you think might happen when you do your experiments... what effects or results do YOU expect, based upon your BACKGROUND RESEARCH?
- The hypothesis usually is in the form of a brief statement.
- Hypothesis usually include a number or percentage.
example:
Plants grown in green light will be 15% taller than plants grown in other colors.
Bubbles made with Factor X will have an average diameter of 5 cm greater than bubbles made with Factor Y
- NOTE: A hypothesis does NOT have to be RIGHT or WRONG... your grade does NOT depend on your guess... just collect experimental evidence to determine if your guess is correct... report the results honestly!!! Sometimes the greatest knowledge COMES from “wrong” hypothesis!
- Record your hypothesis in your Science Project Log. You will also need a TYPED copy for your notebook.

PROCEDURES & DESIGN

Procedures are the step by step recipe of how you will perform you experiment! Be very complete. Could someone in another state perform you lab EXACTLY as you did?
Your procedure is one of the most important parts of your project! The way you plan and design your experiment will make or break your project. Judges look closely at procedures to see if EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN really answered the QUESTION that was set out to be solved.
In complete sentences, written in past tense, write a minimum of a 15 step procedure. Be specific, use diagrams, sketches, or photos if necessary. Do not include steps involving library research, obtaining materials, writing reports, etc. Start with the experiment itself. Tell how often and what you will be measuring. BE DETAILED!! The procedures are so detailed that anyone reading them could perform your experiments EXACTLY as you did them with EXACTLY the same size, quantity, brands of equipment, subjects, etc.
-Make sure you use a LARGE number of subjects/test runs in your experimentation or the results will not be believable leaving the experiment useless.

VARIABLES AND CONTROLS:

Type in outline form, not sentence form :
I) VARIABLE TO BE CHANGED:
example: The amount of aspirin to plants: 0 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg; amounts administered twice each day at the same time, after dissolving in 25 ml of water.
II)VARIABLE TO BE MEASURED:
example: Resulting average growth following aspirin administration and 3 weeks of growth time.
III) CONTROLS:
example: a) Type of plants are all the same. 5 plants for each category.
b) Age of plants: all started at the same time
b) Same water and amount administered at the same time of day
c) Room temperature, amount of light, and soil the same for all plants
The control group would be : The group which never receives aspirin
-A VARIABLE is either one factor YOU CHANGE in an experiment or is one factor you are trying TO MEASURE in an experiment which results from that change.
-A CONTROL GROUP is a separate experimental group which is in a "normal" condition in which you do NOT apply the VARIABLE YOU ARE CHANGING IN THE OTHER EXPERIMENTAL GROUPS.

-Most experiments need a CONTROL GROUP, A SINGLE CHANGED VARIABLE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.

(be as specific as possible-- list everything you will change including amounts, intervals, conditions,-- everything!)
-the VARIABLE you are studying and the one item you are CHANGING in your experimental to find it's effect on your subjects.
example: In our experiment with plants the ONE VARIABLE you would CHANGE could be different amounts of aspirin your different plants are given in water. All the plants would receive the same amount of water and light. However, you would list the actual aspirin concentrations to be given to the different plants
-Write down the VARIABLE you are MEASURING, the specific effect you are trying to determine as a result of changing the VARIABLE . The MEASURED VARIABLE would be the growth rate of the plants.
-Write down HOW you will establish a CONTROL GROUP... a group of subjects under "normal" conditions. The CONTROL group is used for a standard, for comparison with the experimental subjects. Our plant experiment would have to contain 1 group of plants given NO ASPIRIN... this group would be our CONTROL GROUP.
-Write down a list of all those factors which must NOT BE ALLOWED TO CHANGE... factors which must remain the same in ALL GROUPS during the experiment... these factors are known as VARIABLES TO BE CONTROLLED, or simply, "CONTROLS"
-Don't get "CONTROLS" mixed up with the term "CONTROL GROUP". In our plant experiment, we would make sure ALL PLANT GROUPS were given the same type and amounts of water at the same time of day; they would be exposed to the same controlled temperatures, provided identical environments, lighting would remain the same, etc.

MATERIALS

In a numbered list, describe every item you will need to run this experiment. Include quantities, sizes, brands, colors, shapes, tools, volumes. Use metrics when possible. Use diagrams or sketches if needed.

THE EXPERIMENT

KEEP A SCIENTIFIC LOG OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH YOUR EXPERIMENT!! This will be a composition book that will be placed in the back pocket of your science notebook.

A log is like a diary- it is your day-to-day notes on how things are going. It includes your observations, measurements, ideas learned from books, how your procedures change, ideas you've learned from talking to various people, tables and charts, sketches, and photographs. DATE every entry in your log. EXAMPLE: 10/01: Received permission from teacher to test all 8th grade students in her science classes... she has 80 girls and 75 boys... how convenient! Also, I was able to obtain the 150 50 mI beakers needed for the experiment..." This will be placed in the appendix sections of your science fair notebook. Here's the specifics:

First, get a notebook
o Before you begin, you need to get a journal or notebook to record everything.
o This will be your log or diary
o Include the date in the top corner, and record everything you did that day, as it relates to your SF experiment.
o This may be retroactive, meaning, what things you have already done (ie, purchased equipment….)
o Example: 10/30 Today I received permission from my teacher to survey every student in her class.
This includes 75 boy and 80 girls, which should provide me with roughly 155 students.

Second, make a to-do list
o Make yourself a check off list of everything you need to do BEFORE starting the experiment
o Maybe you need permission from an adult/coach/teacher
o This includes obtaining all of your supplies and materials!

Third, Collect Materials
o This could be tricky!
o Obtain ALL of your materials
o Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need before starting the experiment.
o Perhaps you need a video camera, ball machine, digital camera, etc.
o For each day in your “diary”, be clear about what materials you got.
o Example: 11/4 Today I borrowed 100 50mL beakers from school.
I will use these for my samples, but I still need to get 50 more.

Fourth, prepare to collect data
There are two types of data to record:
o Quantitative Data - using numbers! this is data you can count and measure.
example: the growth of the plant in cm
o Qualitative Data - using adjectives! this is description of your observations such as the color and shape of things, what they look like, what changes you saw. example: the color of the flower petal

Quantitative: Create Data Tables
o Based on your variables, prepare charts and/or data tables to use during the experiment.
o Create one for each variable you are changing, paired with the variable you are measuring.
o This will help you stay organized during the experiment, when things may get hectic and you don't have time to make a cool little chart.

Qualitative: Take Pictures
o Use a camera and take pictures of everything
o Paste copies into your composition book
o Make extra copies to use in your results section and to put onto your backboard
o Also, describe EVERYTHING that occurs during your experiment - conditions, observations,
problems, solutions, back up plans, etc.

Sample Notebook Entry

Day 4, October 18, 2007
Weather: cloudy, cool, slight sprinkles…
Observations: day went as normal, plants appear to be growing fully, still bright green….

Plant Growth (cm)
	7:00 AM	7:00 PM
Plant A
Plant B
Plant C

Attach pictures???

Fifth, obtain permission
o This is VERY important
o If you are doing an expt. involving people (surveys)
o Create a permission slip form where you get their name, age, signature, and parent signatures to
participate in your survey/experiment
o Keep these - you will need them in your SF notebook appendix
o If you are doing an expt involving bacteria:
o Get a Hazardous Materials form and complete it as much as possible prior to work

Ok, are you finally ready?
o You have all of your materials
o You've received permission from all necessary participants/adults
o Your procedures have been approved
o You made data tables and put them in your notebook…
o Sounds good to me! Begin the experiment!

Recording Data
Quantitative Data -record this in your previously-made data tables
o be exact!!!
o record to the nearest hundredth if possible (5.87 mL)
o use units
o always double-check your measurements, and what you've written down
Qualitative Data - record EVERYTHING! - taking pictures/videos makes this part extra good

Further Tips
o Also, make sure to record the conditions of your experiment and changes that you are making.
o Did you skip a step? Add a step?
o What is the weather like? Does this matter or could it affect your results?
o You need to record EVERYTHING! Be honest, you can explain mistakes or negative results later.
o Tip: It is always better to write as much as you possibly can, than to be “short” of info later.
o All of this info will end up in your final notebook under the “observations” and “results” sections… make it neat and professional.
o In the results sections, you will include all of your observations, data, tables, charts, pictures, diagrams, sketches, statistical analysis, and general descriptions.
o This part will be at least 2 pages long, without even adding your pics and diagrams.

RESULTS

In this section of your Science Project Notebook, you will write out what happened during your experiment. Tables, graphs, charts, photographs, sketches, statistical analyses, and general descriptions of observations are included. This written description of the outcome to your experiments will require at least two pages. DO NOT MAKE CONCLUSIONS! Simply present the results that occured.

RECORD ALL MEASUREMENT DATA in TABLES AND CHARTS. Never lose this information - it must be included in the final paper! Include EVERYTHING in your log -- all data, even if the experiment does not come out the way you expected! Be honest please -- even negative results are useful! Make accurate measurements! Take photos as you perform your experiment!

Results Overview -
In this section of your Science Project Notebook, you will show and write out what happened during your experiment. Tables, graphs, charts, photographs, sketches, statistical analyses, and general descriptions of observations are included. Do not include the actual math, that part comes in your log or rough draft work. This written description of the outcome to your experiments will require at least two pages.

Results - The Goal
o The goal of the results section is to show AND explain what happened during the experiment.
o Realize, as of now, you are the only one who knows what happened, what went right and what
went wrong.
o In this section - you explain EVERYTHING and SHOW it through graphs/tables/pictures as
needed.
o HOWEVER, do not make conclusions!!!

Results Part A: Data Table
o Record your information from your experiment onto a data table (s).
o Make it a final draft, typed on computer - I find making a Table on Word is pretty easy.
o Be sure to include all variables, trials and controls.
o Don't forget to include the units.
o Round every number to the same decimal spot, in other words - everything should be at the
hundredth or thousandths place. If you couldn't get that specific - round to the nearest
tenth.
o Calculate and include averages.
o LABEL EVERYTHING!!! Titles, tables, columns, rows, everything!

Results Part B: Graphs
o Create graphs using results from the data table.
o Typically, you will be graphing measured variable vs. changed variable.
o With surveys, you might use bar graphs with percentages.
o Use Excel to produce your graphs - no “hand drawn graph paper” graphs will be accepted.
o Choose the right intervals for your graph. If you're measuring to the nearest hundredth,
don't make a graph with intervals of 50.
o LABEL EVERYTHING!!! Titles, tables, columns, rows, axis's, everything!
o Using the appropriate graph for your particular data is very important.
If the graph doesn't show you anything, change graph type.

Results Part C: Sketches, Photographs…
o Include all photographs taken throughout experiment.
o Assign a number to each one - figure 1, figure 2
o Include a brief caption or title for each one
o Sketches may also be included - but must be professional looking.

Results Part D: Summarizing the Experiment
o After you have produced your data, tables and graphs, you type a 100-500 words,
analysis of the data.
o Your results section should describe WHAT happened when you tested each of your
variables.
o You need to write down all of your experimental observations in detail.
o Describe which variable did the "best" and which did the "worst".
o You should refer to your hypothesis and describe how your ending results differed from
your hypothesized predictions.
o Describe any problems or changes you made in your experimental procedures.
o Did everything work the way you thought it should?
o Did you have to start over or use different materials?
o Describe your various trials; how were they the same? How were they different?
o Did any unplanned variables affect your results?

CONCLUSIONS

In this section, you will draw your conclusions based upon the experimental collected data in your log and analyzes the results. In this section, you will draw conclusions based upon the experimental collected data in your log and after analyzing the results.
o Conclusions are usually at least two double-spaced pages in the Science Fair Notebook - its
basically an essay.
o Start with a powerful opener and continue it with topic sentences until the end.
o Use scientific writing and no Is and yous.
o First, discuss DATA!
o Be positive, look at any possible patterns, explanations of data (own theories as to why it
turned out the way it did).
o Restate the original hypothesis and continue with what conclusions were discovered through
the experimentation.
o Here comes the science - what did you learn “scientifically”?
o How can you explain your results, using science?
o At the end of the conclusion, refer back to the purpose and statement of problem of your
experiment.
o Did you answer the big question?
o End with the bigger picture, what use the experiment might be to humankind.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations analyze strengths and weaknesses of the experimental design, gives possible explanations as to why the results occurred, and suggests future improvements on the experimental design. This section should be 1/2 -1 page in writing.
o Look at what went wrong and explain why.
o Make suggestions or explanations for inaccurate or unexpected results.
o Suggest future improvement on the design of your experiment, what should you have done.
o How can you make this experiment better?