They Are Finished!!

Thank you all for the amazing projects and the hard work it took to get them there. I hope everyone had fun doing them, and if you came to Math & Science Night, I hope you had fun then, too!

There are 14 projects from our fair that are eligible to continue to the Regional Science Fest. I am pleased and proud that FIVE of the seven fourth grade projects advancing are from our trio! Congratuations to:

• Lawson Bowers "How Air Pressure Affects the Bounce"
• Hannah Hobbs "Seeing the Power of Light"
• Aziza Otallah "Will it Grow Faster If ..."
• Musa Shamsi "Why is a Limnic Eruption Lethal"
• Gabriella Zulfker "Which Popcorn Pops the Best"

Presentations to the class will continue. Unfortunately, they will be delayed until later this week because I am off campus. In the meantime, I will still accept any late projects, or parts of projects/checkpoints. Please contact me with questions or concerns.

Background Information

The research should be a few paragraphs (bare minimum: one) on the basics of the science concept covered by the experiment. An experiment on popcorn should have some references to pressure, steam, etc. A greater depth of an explanation is great, but I am expecting fourth grade level, not collegiate quality - other students should be able to understand it.

Additional information that is optional to include is an explanation of how the student came up with the idea, or how the science connects to a real world application.

I am attaching another board example, along with a zoom in of the background information. This was a third grade project that won first place in the FCE Science Fair, and went on to win first at the Austin Area Regional Science Fest. There are very minor issues with grammar, but the writing is authentic and useful to the project.

I hope this helps! Please don't hesitate to email me with questions and concerns. Everyone has been really patient with my response time, which has improved throughout the week. Thank you all for your support with these projects. The kiddos are completing great work!

Plagiarism

Students have been reminded of the concept of plagiarism, and they know that it will result in a failing grade. There will be an option to redo, and I understand that sometimes students plagiarize accidentally, but there should be an effort to phrase everything in the students' own words.

The following BrainPop video is a great refresher on the basics.

https://www.brainpop.com/technology/digitalcitizenship/plagiarism/

Project Boards

Some of you have asked for an idea of what a finished board should look like. Students will vary in the precision they use in putting together a display, but all projects should have each component of the checkpoints. These components can also be found on the rubric/criteria for the science fair (in the green packet).

The final project board will count as an assessment grade, and the presentations will count as an assessment grade. If an item is not included on the board, that item will receive zero points on the rubric, even if it was previously submitted in a checkpoint. Students should double check the criteria list when they put together their boards.

Science Project Checkpoints

Happy new year! I have received several emails regarding projects, and I will continue to try and respond to everyone today. In the meantime, here is some important info:

• Checkpoint #3, originally due 1/4 (tomorrow) will be extended to 1/6 (Friday). 
• All remaining checkpoints (including #3) will be on PAPER, not on a Google form. 
• Students will receive a form tomorrow with info on checkpoints #1 & #2, however, grades for these were returned via Google Classroom. 
• Students reviewed deadlines and expectations for checkpoints with me today in class; have your kiddos show you their agendas if it can help. 
• I was able to conference with a few students today and provide them with the papers for Checkpoint #3, but will finish with everyone tomorrow. 

I understand that many families had technical difficulties, and so I am adjusting back to the paper format. If students wish, they may continue to type responses and attach them to forms they receive from me from here forward.

Thank you for everything you are all doing on these projects. I know they can be overwhelming, but students really do benefit tremendously from the experience.

Please continue to email me with questions; and I appreciate your patience -- I am responding as quickly as I can!