Mattituck-Cutchogue PTA
Forms & Applications
CALLING ALL YOUNG SCIENTISTS! Dear Cutchogue East Families: The PTA is happy to announce its 9th annual science fair to be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 1-3pm in the Cutchogue East cafeteria. All Cutchogue East elementary students are invited to participate. Any project of scientific merit is welcome. Students can work alone or in groups. Attached to this letter you will find the application form, which must be returned to Ms. Maine by March 20, 2012. Questions can be brought to Ms. Maine at the school or Mary Grace Finora at mgfinora@hotmail.com. Students may be able to present their projects in their class for extra credit. Please check with his/her teacher. To encourage the students to think like true working scientists we are suggesting that all participants write their presentation using the scientific method: Question, Introduction, Hypothesis, Materials & Procedures, Results, Conclusions. Each of these is a separate heading for their report. The students can create experiments, models or demonstrations. You can attach their report and any pictures to a cardboard box that is cut open and can be made to stand. We are encouraging the use of cardboard boxes to promote recycling of materials. We are limiting the size to no more than 3 ft. wide, 3 ft high and 2 ft. deep due to space constraints. The children should be familiar with the scientific method, as it has been introduced throughout the grades. Ms. Maine, the science lab teacher will be working with them in class. For your information, here are brief definitions of each heading. Each heading is written or typed on a separate page or index card. • Question: This is one question that will title your project. What is the experiment, model or demonstration trying to show or answer? • Introduction: A brief background on your topic. Depending on the age and ability of the child it can be anywhere from one sentence or a picture to 1 full typed page. • Hypothesis (Expectations): What do you think will happen in your project? Can be from one sentence to a paragraph. • Materials & Procedures: A recipe-like list of materials and procedures used to create the experiment, model or demonstration. • Results: What actually happened in your experiment, model or demonstration? Can be one sentence to a couple of paragraphs. • Conclusions: Did your results match your hypothesis? Why or why not? Can be from one sentence or a picture to several paragraphs. SAMPLE: This is a simple guideline. It can be longer or shorter in length as needed. Question: How does a circuit work? Introduction: Student would write about electricity and describe a circuit and any other important background information. Hypothesis: I (We) expect that when the circuit is closed (the wires are all connected and there is power source), the light bulb will light. Materials & Procedure: a list of materials used and the procedure followed to create the experiment, demonstration or model. Results: When the circuit was closed (the wires were all connected), the light bulb lit up. Or, the light bulb did not light because… Conclusions: Based on what I (we) learned about electricity, a closed circuit allows electrons to flow from a source through wires to a light bulb, so that it will light. SCIENCE FAIR SATURDAY, March 31, 2012, CUTCHOGUE EAST CAFETERIA Set up: 12:00 to 1pm, Presentation: 1-3pm Bring your project to the CE cafeteria, set up your project for display and be prepared to discuss it with visitors and volunteers. (This program is non-competitive, however, if you wish to be considered for Brookhaven National Lab science fair, click here for their judging criteria.) For grades 4 and up, group projects are not allowed in Brookhaven's science fair. This year it will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012. For more info, click here. Registration will be done by the chairperson for those selected. Science Fair Forms Click here Early Science Studies Generate Student Payoff "A recent report urges science educators to encourage their elementary and high school students to engage in hands-on activities as they learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Researchers concluded that such students, when they enter two- or four year colleges, will likely take part in hands-on research and pursue advanced degrees in the STEM disciplines. The National Science Foundation underwrote a series of surveys to determine undergraduates’ interest and experience. Students reported that their experiences in performing actual research projects not only produced positive learning but also stimulated their desire to pursue graduate work. For more information, visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=108939"Just another way we encourage science in our school! Be a part of our science fair! Click here for Reflections Information |
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