Bringing (STEM)Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Home

Earle STEM School Bringing (STEM)Science, Technology, Engineering, & MathematicsHome Science Fair Projects 2013/2014 Parents/Student Handbook Fall 2013 Grades 4-8th Mrs. V Thompson, Middle School Science Mrs. D Moore, Middle School Science

Earle STEM Parents This year CPS Science Fair theme is “Bring (STEM) Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Home.” Earle STEM’s school-wide Science Fair will be held on December 3, 2013. and the teacher will be hosting thein-classroom fair by November 26, 2013. Parents please note that students in grades fourth through eighth will be required to do a Science Project this year. A Display Board is needed by the students to present an overview of his/her projects,. Tri-fold board are sold at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, CVS, Walgreens etc. Also, Earle school has a limited supply of tri-fold boards which the students can be purchase from the school. Sincerely, Middle School Science Teachers

Science Projects & IdeasGrades 4-5 • What ratio of vinegar to baking soda produces the best chemical volcano eruption? • What type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation the best? • What plastic wrap prevents oxidation the best? • What percentage of an orange is water? • Are night insects attracted to lamps because of heat or light? • Can you make Jell-O using fresh pineapples instead of canned pineapples? • Do white candles burn at a different rate than colored candles? • Does the presence of detergent in water affect plant growth? • Can a saturated solution of sodium chloride still dissolve Epsom salts? • Does magnetism affect the growth of plants? • How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts? • Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels? • How accurately do egg producers measure eggs? • How do differences in surfaces affect the adhesion of tape? • If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they • all spew the same amount? • Are all potato chips equally greasy? • Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread?

Science Topics Grades 5-6 • Does light effect the rate at which foods spoil? • Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids? • Does the power of a microwave affect how well it makes popcorn? • Do all brands of diapers absorb the same amount of liquid? Does it matter what the • LIQUID is (water as opposed to juice or... um.. urine)? • Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Clean the same number of dishes? • Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same? • How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results? • Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More? • Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does type of hair affect the results? • What effect do additives have on the crystals? You could add food coloring, flavorings, or other 'impurities'. • What steps can you take to maximize crystal size? You can affect vibration, humidity, temperature, rate of evaporation, purity of your growth medium, and time allowed for crystal growth.

Science TopicsGrade 7-12 • How do different factors affect seed germination? Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. You can look at the percentage of seeds that germinate or the rate at which seeds germinate. • Is a seed affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant? • How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, length of storage, temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity. • What conditions affect the ripening of fruit? Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces or fruit. • How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind or water and evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze and thaw cycles. • How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, add water, then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them?

Science Topics Continue • How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? light? wind?)? How much can you dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents? • Do different brands of orange juice contain different levels of vitamin C? • Does the level of vitamin C in orange juice change over time? • How effective are natural mosquito repellents? • Does magnetism affect the growth of plants? • Do oranges gain or lose vitamin C after being picked? • How does the sugar concentration vary in different brands of apple juices? • Does storage temperature affect the pH of juice? • Does the presence of cigarette smoke affect the growth rate of plants? • Does eating breakfast have an effect on school performance? Does it matter what you eat? • Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread? • Does light affect the rate at which foods spoil? • Do foods containing preservatives stay fresh longer than foods without them? • How does time or season of harvest affect the chemistry and nutritional content of food? • How long do home hair coloring products hold their color? Does brand matter? Does type of hair affect colorfastness? How does previous treatment (perming, previous coloring, straightening) affect initial color intensity and colorfastness? • Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Clean the same number of dishes? • Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas

Science Topics Continue • How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results? • Do plant-based insect repellents work as well as synthesized chemical repellents? • Do consumers prefer bleached paper products or natural-color paper products? Why? • Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More? • Is bottled water more pure than tap water? • How does the pH of juice change with time? How does temperature affect the rate of chemical changes? • Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does type of hair affect the results? • How does the rate of evaporation of the crystal-growing medium affect the final size of the crystals? • You will usually heat water or another liquid to dissolve a solid to grow your crystals. Does the rate at which this liquid is cooled affect the way the crystals grow? • What effect do additives have on the crystals? • How do different fertilizers affect the way plants grow? There are lots of different types of fertilizers, containing varying amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in addition to other ingredients. You can test different fertilizers and see how they affect the height of a plant, the number or size of its leaves, the number of flowers, time until blooming, branching of stems, root development, or other factors. • Does using colored mulch have an effect on a plant? You can look at its height, fruitfulness, number of flowers, overall plant size, rate of growth, or other factors. • How do different factors affect seed germination? Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. You can look at the percentage of seeds that germinate or the rate at which seeds germinate. • How are plants affected by the distance between them? Look into the concept of allelopathy. Sweet potatoes are plants that release chemicals (allelochemicals) that can inhibit the growth of plants near them. How close can another plant grow to a sweet potato? What effects does an allelochemical have on a plant?

Science Topics Continue • Is a seed affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant? • How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, length of storage, temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity. • What conditions affect the ripening of fruit? Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces or fruit. • How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind or water and evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze and thaw cycles. • How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, add water, then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them? • How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? light? wind?)? How much can you dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents? • What is the effect of a chemical on a plant? Factors that you can measure include rate of plant growth, leaf size, life/death of the plant, color of plant, and ability to flower/bear fruit. • Does the presence of detergent in water affect plant growth? In what ways? What is the implication regarding water pollution? • Does magnetism affect the growth of plants? In what way? • How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts? • Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread? Are certain preservatives better at inhibiting dangerous molds than others? • Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same? How much variation is there in any given product? • Do consumers prefer bleached paper products or natural-color paper products? What factors affect the preference? Age? Socio-economic status? Gender? • Is a seed affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant? • How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, length of storage, temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity. • How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? light? wind?)? How much can you dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents? • What is the effect of a chemical on a plant? You can look at natural pollutants (e.g., motor oil, runoff from a busy street) or unusual substances (e.g., orange juice, baking soda). Factors that you can measure include rate of plant growth, leaf size, life/death of the plant, color of plant, and ability to flower/bear fruit. • Solve a problem. For example, can you design a better type of street intersection?

Scientific Method • Ask a Question • Do Background Research • Construct a Hypothesis • Test Your Hypothesis by Doing the Experiment • Analyze Your Data & Draw a Conclusion • Communicate Your Results

Sample Science Display Board

Earle STEM Science Fair Night Grade 4th – 8th Tuesday, December 3, 2010 Room - TBA

Bringing (STEM)Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics Home