Third Grade STEM Fair Lessons Power Point

1. Third Grade STEM Fair Lessons Power Point The following slides are an integral part of each weekly lesson.

2. Scientific Method Please click on the clipboard below to introduce the student to the Scientific Method.

3. Scientific Method Scientists do not always follow these steps in this order or even go through all of them every time, but for STEM Fair we will. • Ask a question and state a purpose. • Research • Hypothesis • Procedures(variables, materials, step by step directions.) • Collect data. • Create a graph. • Draw a conclusion.

4. Week 1 Introduction to STEM Fair: Logs, Questions and Topics

5. Essential Question • What is a STEM Fair Project? • What is a STEM Fair Log? • What is a testable STEM Fair Question?

6. Log • Projects without logs will be disqualified. • The log IS the project. The show board is just a commercial for the project. • Each entry should be dated. • Research notes, measurements, observations, and test results should be included.

7. Log • The first thing you need to do to begin a STEM Fair project is to begin writing in a log. • It is a record of everything you think and do as you work on your STEM Fair project.

8. Log • You should record in your log every time you do anything related to your project. • Your log is like a diary or journal of your progress in your investigation. • Keep everything you write in your log even if you change your mind or start over.

9. Example of log entry for question: August 20, 2011 I saw a picture of icebergs floating. They look really cool and pretty. Ice floats in a glass of water too. I wonder if ice is lighter than water. My question is: Does the mass of water change when it goes from a liquid to a solid. No, How does going from a liquid to a solid affect the mass of ice? is better. The boat in the picture floats too. Is the boat wood or metal? I think metal sinks, but metal boats float. I know wood will float..

10. You can investigate the question yourself. • Good: How do shade trees affect temperature of areas on our playground? • Bad: What are the temperatures on Venus? (though you can look it up, you cannot build a rocket, go to Venus and study this on your own and get back before the due date)

11. A good question is testable. • Good: How does changing the height of the roller coaster affect the distance of the marble? • Bad: Who invented roller coasters?

12. A good question cannot be answered yes or no. (There are exceptions to this rule) • Good: How does the type of water affect the growth rate of a plant? • Bad: Can plants grow in water?

13. A good question tells you what you need to measure. • Good: How does the species of the orange affect the amount of juice it has? • Bad: Are oranges juicy?

14. The answer is a fact, not an opinion. • Good: How does the brand of soap affect the amount of bubbles produced? • Bad: What kind of soap smells the best?

15. Brainstorming Topics(Grades 3-5) • Task: In your STEM fair log, create a list of as many testable questions that you may want use to design an experiment.

16. Think of as many questions as you can in a list. A list of questions might look like this one: Questions: • How does the shape of the wing affect how far a paper airplane glides? • Does a baseball roll farther on artificial grass? • Do most rocks erode in the rain? Can some rocks float? • What are good ways to cool off when you are hot?

17. What is a Good Question? A good science investigation question: • Can not be answered with one word such as yes, no, or purple. • Tells you what you need to measure. • Is something you can investigate yourself. • Is answered with a fact, not an opinion.

18. Choosing a Topic In your STEM fair log, choose a topic that you would like as your STEM fair project. Explain why you are choosing that question.

19. Choosing a Topic Task: In your notebook record in your log what you did today.

20. Research Involving Animals • Human/Animal Research form MUST be filled out prior to the beginning of the project. • No surgery or dissection may take place • Neither physiological or psychological harm to the animal can result • Must be supervised by an adult.

21. Week 2 How to Write Your Purpose & Conduct Research

22. Essential Question • What is a STEM Fair Purpose? • Where do scientists look to find information?

23. Purpose The purpose of the project should tell what you want to find out. “The purpose of my project is to find out…” It is really just restating the question.

24. Purpose So, let’s practice writing a purpose.

25. Purpose Task: Use your question to write your purpose in your STEM fair log.

26. Research • Before you can begin your project, you need to learn more about the topic. • Write down questions that you would need to know in order to help build knowledge about your topic. • You will write the information that you learned in your STEM Fair log. • You will use this information to make your hypothesis.

27. Research Task: • After you have recorded the information that you learned, take the opportunity to record in your log what you did today. • Don’t forget the date!!!

28. Week 3 Hypothesis

29. Essential Question How do you use research to form a hypothesis?

30. Hypothesis • The hypothesis is what you predict will happen when you perform the experiment based on your research. • It doesn’t matter whether you are right or wrong; in your conclusion, you will tell if your hypothesis was correct or not. • It is what you think the results of your experiment will be and WHY you think that.

31. Hypothesis In your log write what you think the results of your experiment will be and WHY you think that. Based on my research, I think… will happen because ... Remember to use the information from your research to explain why you think this will happen!

32. Hypothesis Task: In your notebook record in your log what you did today.

33. Week 4 . Materials

34. Essential Question How do you find and formulate a materials list?

35. Example of Materials List Materials • 2 – 16oz Office Depot clear plastic cups • 130ml tap water • 1 Thermometer • 16 oz of ice from cafeteria ice maker

36. Materials • This is a list of ALL the materials you need to perform your experiment. • You must also include how much. .

37. Materials HOW, WHEN, and WHERE will you get you materials? Explain in your log.

38. Materials Task: In your notebook record in your log what you did today.

39. Lesson5 Variables

40. Essential Question • What is a Manipulated variable? • What is a Responding variable? • What is a Constant variable?

41. Variables There are 3 kinds of variables. You will list the variables for your STEM Fair project today. • Manipulated What you are changing on purpose. 2. Responding The changes are you measuring. 3. Held Constant Everything that stays the same.

42. Examples of VARIABLES:

43. List your VARIABLES:

44. Variables Task: In your log, list your variables . Remember to label each variable.

45. Step by Step Directions Week 6

46. Essential Question What are Step by Step directions and how are they used in a STEM Fair project?

47. Step by Step Directions What are Step by Step directions and how are they used in a STEM Fair project?

48. Step by Step Directions – • Step-by-step directions are like a recipe. • Anyone who reads them will be able to duplicate the investigation and get the same results.

49. Step by Step Directions – • Direction steps need to be numbered. • The experiment needs to be done 5 or more times so they will have sufficient data to make an accurate conclusion. • Step number one is always, “Gather materials.”

50. Examples of Directions • Gather Materials • Fill cup to ½ way mark with ice. • Add 130 ml of tap water • Swirl cup for 1 minute. (hold by top edges of the cup) • Record water temperature. (Keep thermometer in water, look at eye level) • Add 2 more ice cubes. • Repeat steps 4 and 5