1. Find a problem Brainstorming Activity (Student Guided Document) This interactive Google Slide assignment can be assigned to Google Classroom.  Students have to view it in editing/creating mode, not presentation mode.

2. Types of STEM EXPO Projects

   • Google Documents:

• Scientific Inquiry Project Steps, Google Document one-pager

• Engineering Design Project Steps, (Including Technology) Google Document one-pager

• Meta-Analysis (Statistical) Project Steps, Google Document  (Reserved for High School Students)

3. Step One: Identify a Testable Question/Problem for Scientific Inquiry and Engineering Design Projects (Student Guided Document) This interactive Google Slide assignment will ask students to identify their question or problem and what type of project it will be.  

• • • Step One Scientific Inquiry Projects, Google Document of the information in the student assignment.

    • Step One Engineering Design Projects, Google Document of the information in the student assignment.

 4. Discover Your Project Type : Complete this Google Form to help you determine what type of project you are doing.  Your response will be registered with our Science Department.  This will let us know you are working on a STEM project.

1. Topics That Require Ethical Consideration: Projects involving  humans, animals, hazardous chemicals or devices, biological agents, projects done at a university or industrial site, or continuations from a previously submitted project all require special considerations.  They have paperwork that must be filled out BEFORE the student starts the experiment or building of a prototype.  Meta-analysis projects will not have topics for ethical consideration due to the type of project this is.

• Ethics Videos  Use this Google Form to learn more about ethics in science. There are embedded  YouTube Videos that cover various ethical situations.  Use the reflection questions to assist you in this quest.

• Topics for Ethical Consideration 1st Round (Google Form)  This form will help you determine if your topic requires ethical considerations. Based on your responses, you will need additional information for your project that will be covered later.

2. At this point in the process, you know the type of STEM project you are doing and have done some background research.  You are now ready to dive into Step One - Step Three of the process.  Use the documents below to guide you through those steps.  Record your work in your digital logbook.  Remember to choose the documents according to your project type:

• Scientific Inquiry Projects

  • • Step One Scientific Inquiry Projects (Google Document)

    • Step Two Scientific Inquiry Projects  (Google Document)

    • Step Three: Scientific Inquiry Designing an Experiment (Google Document)

• Engineering Design Projects (Including Technology)

  • • Step One: Engineering Design Projects (Google Document) 

    • Step Two: Explore (Google Document)

    • Step Three: Designing a Prototype (Google Document)

3. Meta-Analysis projects should follow the projects step guidelines.

Before scientists can begin putting their plans into action, they must submit a research plan. The resources below will assist you in creating and submitting a research plan. The research plan is a required document to be used as the blueprint of project. No data is needed, just the process of how you will analyze your results. You will also need to revisit the topics for ethical consideration.  Our guidelines are generated annually from the International Science & Engineering Fairs (ISEF) organization. You will need to submit your plan!

1. What is a Research Plan?

• Scientific Inquiry Guidelines (Google Document)

• Engineering Design Guidelines Including Technology (Google Document)

• Meta-Analysis (Statistical) Guidelines (Google Document) - Reserved for High School Students

2.  Ethics is critical in Science. There are guidelines for what scientists can and cannot do when performing scientific research.  The guidelines are in place to protect living organisms, the environment, and the scientists performing experiments. There is even an International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) organization that monitors STEM EXPO projects .  Meta-analysis projects will not have topics for ethical consideration due to the type of project this is.

• Topics for Ethical Consideration 2nd Round (Google Form) The second round Google Form will have links to specific forms.  Forms must be submitted before experiments or prototypes are started and with Research Plans.   

• Additional Options:

1. 1. 1. 1. • Topics for Ethical Consideration (Google Document)  This has the same information as the Google Form but in a two pages for families to assist students in completing.  

            • Completion Tips for ISEF Forms (Google Document) This is a "cheat-sheet" for completing the forms. 

3. Creating a Research Plan Templates.  The following docs may be used as a template.  Choose the one for your project type.  Be sure to change the file name to include your first and last name and the words Research Plan. You will be able to copy and paste information from your logbook into the template.  

1. 1. 1. 1. • Scientific Inquiry Research Plan Template (Google Document)

            • Engineering Design Research Plan Template Including Technology (Google Document)

            • Meta-Analysis Research Plan Template (Google Document)

            • Ethical Consideration Topics must have additional information in their Research Plan.  This one-page Google Document contains information that needs to be included in their plans.

4. Approval of a Research Plan must be done by the classroom science teacher and the APS Science Department.  If there are any ethical consideration forms, those forms need to be submitted with the student's Research Plan.  No experiments or prototypes are to begin until approval has been granted.  Failure to do so may result in students not being eligible for the EXPO.

• • Share your plan and forms with BOTH your Science Teacher AND  science@apslearns.org

  • The APS Science Department will  respond within 3-5 days regarding approval of your project.