- What effect does the addition of Miracle Grow, Peter’s Professional, and Nature’s Own fertilizer have on the average growth height of Big Boy Tomato plants over a period of two months?
- What effect does the addition of fertilizer (Miracle Grow, Peter’s Professional, and Nature’s Own) have on the (average number of fruit) of (Big Boy Tomato plants) over a period of (two months?)
- What effect does the addition of fertilizer (Miracle Grow, Peter’s Professional, and Nature’s Own) have on the (average health) of (Big Boy Tomato plants) over a period of (two months?)
- What effect does the addition of 0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, 2.5g, and 3.0g of fertilizer (Miracle Grow, Peter’s Professional, and Nature’s own) have on the (average health) of (Big Boy Tomato plants) over a period of (two months?)
Sample Hypothesis for the above Problem Statements:
1. If Big Boy Tomato Plants are fertilized with Miracle Grow fertilizer, then those plants will have an average growth height of 10 cm greater than those plants fertilized with Peter’s Professional or Nature’s Own fertilizers.
2. If Big Boy Tomato Plants are fertilized with Peter’s Professional fertilizer, then those plants will have an average fruit yield of 5 more fruit greater than the control group and than those plants fertilized with Miracle Grow or Nature’s Own fertilizers.
3. Using the subjective “Health Scale” created, the Big boy Tomato Plants fertilized with Nature’s Own fertilizer will have an average health rate greater than those plants fertilized with Miracle Grow or Peter’s Professional fertilizers.
Sample Null Hypothesis for the above Problem Statements
Adding Miracle Grow, Peter’s Professional, or Nature’s Own fertilizer to Big Boy Tomato plants will not have any effect on the: average height grown, or the number of fruit produced, or the average health rate of the plants.
Procedures
1. Found on the left side of the board
2. Located under the Hypothesis
3. List everything you will do
4. In numbered order
5. Step by step order
6. Explain the use of your materials
7. Using metric units
8. Written in future tense
9. You should have a minimum of forty (40) trials in your experiment
Abstract
Found in the lower right corner of the board (left if looking at the board)
Includes the Problem Statement, Hypothesis, Summary of Procedures, Results and Conclusions
250 words or less
Written in Past Tense / 3rd Person
Do Not include background information
Do Not include other individuals findings
Condensed Version of your project
Center section of the board
Title
Data / Data Tables (enough data to substantiate your results, between 20-40 trials)
Graphs
Photographs
Proof that you did the research
Upper Right Hand Corner of the Board
Variables
Manipulated Variable or (Independent Variable)
Responding Variable or (Dependent Variable)
All Variables held constant
Explain how held constant
Control
Lower Right Hand Corner of the board
Conclusion (This must be in paragraph form and must answer all seven questions)
1. What was investigated?
2. Was the hypothesis supported by the data?
3. What were the major findings?
4. How did your findings compare with other researchers?
5. What possible explanations can you offer for your findings?
6. What recommendations do you have for further study and for improving the experiment?
7. What are some possible applications of the experiment?
DO NOT’S
Do Not use Staples
Nothing on the board except paper
NO background information
NO work of other people
NO acknowledgements
NO bibliographies
No materials list
NO pictures cut out of a magazine
NO “stuff” to just “take up space”
NO samples on the board
No border over ½“
No “rainbow” coloring
Title no more than top 1/3
Fancy print
Small print
No “yellow” print
No ribbons, awards, recognitions
No research
No more than 2 colors (excluding black / white)
Don’t be artsy!
Nothing explicit
DO’S
Do put only your own work on the board
Color Scheme (2 colors)
Scientific Title
Large enough print to read easily
All print in black or dark ink
Pictures and proof of project
Color background around write-ups
Board size should be 36"x48"
½” border
NEAT and professional /appealing
Only mount paper on the board
Detailed Problem Statement
Title no more than top 1/3
Acknowledge person taking picture(s)
Show supportive Data
When is your science fair project due? November 6th, 2014
| Evaluation Criteria | 0 least – 3 most | Points |
| ProblemTo what degree is the problem new/and or different and how specific is it written – identifies data to be collected? | 0 no problem statement1 incomplete problem statement – not specific2 complete problem statement, specific and well written3 complete, well written problem statement, specific as to samples and identifies data to be collected. | |
| HypothesisTo what degree is this a testable Research and Null hypothesis present? | 0 no hypothesis present1 incomplete (not properly written) hypothesis, not completely testable2 hypothesis well written and testable3 both Research and Null Hypotheses present | |
| Experimental DesignHow well is the plan developed to evaluate the hypotheses? | 0 lacks overall plan to validate or confirm the hypotheses1 partial plan to validate the hypotheses – insufficient sample sizes2 sufficient plan/samples to validate or confirm both hypotheses3 exemplary plan/samples to validate or confirm both hypotheses | |
| Experimental ProceduresDoes the sequential experimental process connect the research hypothesis, data, and results and written in third person, future tense? | 0 experimental procedures not listed1 experimental procedures are incomplete and/or not listed step by step2 experimental procedures are complete and listed in a step by step manner3 experimental procedures are quantitatively/qualitatively listed, step by step, written in third person, future tense | |
| Variables and ControlsHow well are the variables/control identified and held constant? | 0 no variables/control identified; or identified incorrectly 1 Main variables/control identified, some improperly2 Main variables/control/constants identified and some are held constant3 All variables/control are carefully identified and most are held constant | |
| AbstractIs it present and complete, well written in past tense. | 0 no abstract present1 Abstract present but Incomplete or contains incorrect information; (more than 250 words) and/or not in lower left corner of the board2 Abstract complete, well written, but NOT in third person, past tense3 Abstract complete, well written in third person, past tense | |
| Data CollectionTo what degree are the method, number of trials, and quantity of data appropriate? | 0 no quantitative data collected1 insufficient data collected to validate hypothesis2 sufficient data collected to validate hypothesis3 proper data collection above expectation | |
| Data PresentationHow well do the graphs, tables, logs, pictures, charts, etc. present the data? | 0 no presentation of data1 data partially and/or not clearly presented2 data sufficiently and clearly presented3 data presentation above expectations | |
| Data AnalysisHow well are the results interpreted? How well have the possible errors been identified? | 0 no analysis/interpretation of data1 partial analysis/interpretation of data2 correct and appropriate analysis/interpretation of data3 comprehensive and significant interpretation of data with error analysis | |
| Outcomes/Conclusions (using the District’s 7 point conclusion or Power writing outline)How well are the conclusions and/or products identified and interpreted? | 0 no conclusions /or products identified1 incomplete conclusions /or products identified2 apparent conclusions /or products clearly identified3 inherent, significant conclusions /or products clearly identified | |
| Further InvestigationsHow well are new relationships, new ideas, and/or further investigations identified and presented? | 0 no new relationships or further research identified1 new relationships or further investigations vaguely identified2 new relationships or further investigation clearly identified3 significant, practical relationships and further research are identified & intended | |
| Visual DisplayHow well is the project constructed and organized? Are all parts present and in appealing style. | 0 poor display / construction / grammar / parts missing1 fair display / construction / grammar / all parts present but in wrong location2 good display / construction / grammar / all parts in proper locations / neat3 exemplary display / construction / grammar / all space filled appropriately ; appealing appearance | |
| TOTALS | Add all the points (Maximum 36 points) |
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| Checked by Grade Level Coordinator (initial) | Entered by Science Fair Coordinator(initial) |