2016-2017 HSCS Science Fair Schedule & Due Dates
September 12 Problem and Hypothesis Statement Due DG ______
October 17 Draft Research Due DG ______
October 24 Draft Materials List Due DG ______
October 31 Draft Procedure Due DG ______
November 7 “Empty” Data Table(s) and Graph(s) Due DG ______
November 21 Folder with Problem, Hypothesis,
Research, Materials list, Procedure,
“Empty” Data Table(s) and Graph(s)
Due (must include all graded drafts) TG ______
TBA Campus Science Fair Day - Final Project Report
and Final Display Board Both Due
(Each is a test grade.) TG ______
TG______
Feb. 20 - 21 San Antonio Archdiocesan Science Fair
This is an outline/timeline for completion of the required science fair project in Honor’s Science 2016/2017 (optional for all other Middle School Students).This timeline is a tool for both you and your student to ensure major sections of the project are completed in an orderly and timely fashion. Please encourage students to not wait until the last minute to prepare their projects. While some class time will be dedicated to the development of certain aspects of the program, students will need to conduct the investigation and data collection portion of the project at home or at an approved research facility. Assistance from parents and other adults is encouraged, however, the idea for the project should be the student’s in order for them to be excited and invested in the work involved. Honor’s students must submit individual projects.
As you can see from the timeline, the project will be counted for a total of 5 daily grades and 3 major test grades. Failure to complete the project will have a profound impact on the student’s class average.
*DG Daily Grade *TG Test Grade
September 12 Problem and Hypothesis Statement Due DG ______
October 17 Draft Research Due DG ______
October 24 Draft Materials List Due DG ______
October 31 Draft Procedure Due DG ______
November 7 “Empty” Data Table(s) and Graph(s) Due DG ______
November 21 Folder with Problem, Hypothesis,
Research, Materials list, Procedure,
“Empty” Data Table(s) and Graph(s)
Due (must include all graded drafts) TG ______
TBA Campus Science Fair Day - Final Project Report
and Final Display Board Both Due
(Each is a test grade.) TG ______
TG______
Feb. 20 - 21 San Antonio Archdiocesan Science Fair
This is an outline/timeline for completion of the required science fair project in Honor’s Science 2016/2017 (optional for all other Middle School Students).This timeline is a tool for both you and your student to ensure major sections of the project are completed in an orderly and timely fashion. Please encourage students to not wait until the last minute to prepare their projects. While some class time will be dedicated to the development of certain aspects of the program, students will need to conduct the investigation and data collection portion of the project at home or at an approved research facility. Assistance from parents and other adults is encouraged, however, the idea for the project should be the student’s in order for them to be excited and invested in the work involved. Honor’s students must submit individual projects.
As you can see from the timeline, the project will be counted for a total of 5 daily grades and 3 major test grades. Failure to complete the project will have a profound impact on the student’s class average.
*DG Daily Grade *TG Test Grade
Science Fair: Introduction Research Helpful Hints
- This section,titled “Introduction” is only one part of the “Science Fair Project Report”. (Other parts include “Materials”, “Procedure”, “Data and Results”, “Discussion of Results”, “Conclusion”, “Future Expansion”, “Practical Application”, “Acknowledgements”, and “Bibliography”.)
- Written in paragraphs with proper sentences.
- Intended to be completed before active experimentation is started. As a result of this student research, the student may decide to modify whatever plans/ideas previously conceived to make the experiment more valid and worthwhile.
- Include the following:
- a brief background of the student’s idea and its importance to the student and to the betterment of the world in general
- the purpose (We’ve recently been referring to this as the “Problem”; previously turned in to Mr. Willis already, it should be written as a question.)
- the hypothesis (written as a statement)
- a description of the variables (i.e., the “things” the student will measure or count in order to get some “numbers” for graphs and data tables); these “things” to measure or count should have been evident to Mr. Willis in your hypothesis. the student should ask Mr.Willis if needed.
- a report of the student’s findings from researching journals (online and/or paper), “legitimate” news media, personal interviews, Internet websites/databases; This portion of the Introduction should be the longest.
- the Introduction can easily be more than one page.
- Keep a good, detailed record of References used to produce this Introduction. These references will be properly cited later, in the Project Report section called the “Bibliography” using an acceptable format.
- a brief background of the student’s idea and its importance to the student and to the betterment of the world in general
- A bibliography is required:
- at least five major reliable references. NOTE: Wikipedia is never acceptable as one of these references.
- Acceptable: books, journal articles, news media articles, personal interviews,
- Also acceptable: Internet resources; they should have -
- the author if given
- the title of the article
- the website URL
- the date the article was posted on the website OR the date the article was retrieved by the student from the website
- How to cite the student’s references may be found on “Guidelines for Citing References on Science Project” on this same page.
- the author if given
- at least five major reliable references. NOTE: Wikipedia is never acceptable as one of these references.
Science Fair Research Paper:
Guidelines on Citing References on Science Project
- URL's for:
Guidelines on Citing References on Science Project
Sample research portion of Project Report's Introduction:
Grading Criteria for Science Fair Project Report and Its Parts:
1. Problem present?
2. Problem in question form?
3. Hypothesis present?
4. Hypothesis in statement form?
5. Variable(s) to be measured/ counted?
6. Variable metric units (where applicable)?
7. Background Research at least 2 pages double-spaced in size 12 font?
8. Background research adequate in quality and breadth?
9. Book Reference present?
10. Journal/ magazine Reference present?
11. 3rd Reference Present?
12. 4th Reference Present?
13. 5th Reference Present?
14. Text written in sentences with paragraphs?
15. Text written in grammatically appropriate paragraphs?
16. First citation attempted?
17. Second citation attempted?
18. Third correct citation attempted?
19. Fourth correct citation attempted?
20. Fifth correct citation attempted?
1. Problem present?
2. Problem in question form?
3. Hypothesis present?
4. Hypothesis in statement form?
5. Variable(s) to be measured/ counted?
6. Variable metric units (where applicable)?
7. Background Research at least 2 pages double-spaced in size 12 font?
8. Background research adequate in quality and breadth?
9. Book Reference present?
10. Journal/ magazine Reference present?
11. 3rd Reference Present?
12. 4th Reference Present?
13. 5th Reference Present?
14. Text written in sentences with paragraphs?
15. Text written in grammatically appropriate paragraphs?
16. First citation attempted?
17. Second citation attempted?
18. Third correct citation attempted?
19. Fourth correct citation attempted?
20. Fifth correct citation attempted?