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I hope you are excited to become the scientist!
As part of the honors curriculum you will utilize The Scientific Method to design and conduct an experiment to test your hypothesis.
What is the Scientific Method?
Watch The Steps of the Scientific Method for Kids - Science for Children: FreeSchool
Based on scientific observations develop a RESEARCH QUESTION
Since it is 8th Grade HONORS you need a reason WHY this research is important to the scientific community or to society!
Conduct BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Explore background information as well as what previous researchers have already done.
State your HYPOTHESIS
What is a HYPOTHESIS?
A hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question.
Watch Hypothesis Song ("Love Yourself") - by Ben Leddy
Watch How to Write a Hypothesis
Explore Writing a Hypothesis for Your Science Fair Project (and refer back to the checklist you when you formulate your OWN hypothesis)
What must your hypothesis include?
One independent variable that you can purposely manipulate and a dependent variable that changes in response to what you do. These changes MUST BE MEASURABLE! All other variables must be controlled.
Watch Scientific Variables
Read Variables in Your Science Fair Project
Practice along with Dependent and Independent Variables
Watch INTERACTIVE: Part 1: Identify the Independent and Dependent Variables with the MythBusters!
What should you do first?
Begin to gather and explore multiple ideas in order to find one of interest.
Develop Research Question(s)
Conduct Basic Research
Based on your research State your Hypothesis
Remember it MUST be a predictive, testable statement that makes a claim about how two factors relate.
Use this checklist to see if it fits the criteria
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/variables#checklist
Choosing a topic of study can take some time. It is very possible that your first few ideas will not be approved.
Once your hypothesis is approved you will elaborate on your research and DESIGN AND CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT TO TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS.
Modeling a process is not an acceptable project.
NO product testing.
IF you are going to conduct a study make sure it is a controlled experiment with dozens of participants as well as multiple trials so that there is sufficient data to be analyzed.
Engineering projects are an acceptable alternative. This type of project involves developing a design to meet a specific need and then constructing a model or prototype capable of testing the feasibility and application of that design.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Project Proposal (September)
Research (September/October)
Experimental Design (October)
Perform Experiment (Experiments begin independently immediately following approval of experimental design)
Data Collection (log in your journal and submit weekly)
Data Analysis/Results
Charts/Graphs
Summarize your data
Discussion/Conclusions
Poster
Presentations
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