Dear Parents,
Your child will solve his or her own science investigation, conduct their own experiments and present their data and findings at our very own science fair!
Your child has the chance to pick his or her own scientific inquiry so that he or she can experience the joy of discovery.
When starting a science project, a student should, choose questions he or she would like to answer. Then he or she does a targeted library and web research to gain the background information needed to formulate a hypothesis and design an experimental procedure. After writing a report to summarize this background research, the student performs the experiment, draws conclusions, and communicates the results to teachers and classmates.
Through time management and project planning, your child will take on the responsibility of completing a project over at least 7 weeks. Your child will discover his or her creativity by brainstorming scientific questions and determining how to display the process and results.
We will provide your child with sufficient support to succeed, so that he or she develops enthusiasm for scientific discovery. First your child will accomplish each step of the project by doing assignments at home. We will review assignments and objectives during key checkpoints along the way so that you and your child won’t slip behind in the work and due dates won’t creep up on you. Second, we have included a basic guide of how to help without getting over involved.
To get started, read through all given information: a student log book (notebook), schedule and rubric. Supplemental information will be posted on my web page over the course of the next few weeks. This week, please start thinking about a science project idea. I will ask for your topic on Tuesday, February 12th.
If you have any questions please contact me.
Thank you for supporting science,
Mrs. Cooke
Week of Feb 4
Kick off the science fair projects by discussing topics and testable scientific questions.
Prepare a notebook to record each part of your project information/data.
Write a description of your proposed project idea. Turn it in to be approved by Mrs. Cooke on Tuesday, February 12th.
Week of Feb 11
After Mrs. Cooke approves your project idea:
Write the question, purpose and hypothesis of your science experiment. We will talk about these, in class, at the beginning of the week.
Week of Feb 18
Create variables, determine materials and explain procedures.
Week of Feb 25
Collect Data and take observational notes
Variables, materials and procedures
Week of Mar 4
Conduct experiments
Record data and observations
Week of Mar 11
Write conclusions and prepare a presentation
Completed log book
Week of Mar 18
Prepare presentation boards at home. Practice the presentation that you will make to the class. Science projects are due on Tuesday, March 26th.
Week of Mar 25
Projects turned in on Tuesday. Practice presentations for the class; Teacher evaluations
Completed project display and presentation at the Science Fair on Friday
Science Fair: March 29; Time: TBD