What kind of experiment should we do?
There’s no limit on what makes for a good science fair project. To get started, you could ask the kids about what they’ve learned in science class. Maybe those lessons will spark ideas for a project. There are also good ideas online http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/ or see the list of last year's projects.
What is the board you mentioned?
The boards are white three panel poster boards with sides that fold in so that the projects stand up on their own. They are about 3 feet high and 4 feet wide. One board per registered team will be delivered to classrooms in early March.
What do we put on the board?
The boards should include: 1) a description of the question the kids asked, 2) a description, drawing or photos of how the kids carried out the experiment, 3) a description, drawing or photos of the results, and 4) a description of what the kids learned and 5) anything else the kids want to add that is relevant to the experiment. The boards should be assembled by the kids.
Do we have to work in pairs?
Working in pairs helps distribute the work of doing the project and it’s a fun way of getting to know classmates. That said, if three kids are best buddies they are welcome to work together. And if a child really wants to do a project alone, we’ll accept that too. What’s important is that as many kids as possible participate and ask questions about the world around them.
How are the presentations judged?
The science fair projects are all judged to be excellent by the admiring parents. There is no formal judging process.
If you have additional questions please email Amy Adams amya@nasw.org.
¿Qué tipo de experimento debemos hacer?
No hay límite en un proyecto de ciencia bueno. Para comenzar, usted podría preguntarle a los niños acerca de lo que han aprendido en la clase de ciencia. Tal vez de esas lecciones se generan ideas para un proyecto. También hay buenas ideas en línea: http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/,
http://www.sciencefairadventure.com/,
http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/
¿Cuál es el cartón que usted ha mencionado?
Los cartónes son de color blanco con tres paneles laterales que se pliegan en
modo que los proyectos se distinguen por su propia cuenta. Son cerca de 3 metros de altura
y 4 pies de ancho. Un cartón por equipo registrado será entregado al salón
a principios de marzo.
¿Qué es lo que ponemos en el cartón?
Los cartónes deben incluir: 1) una descripción de lo que preguntarón los niños
2) una descripción, dibujo o foto de cómo los niños llevarón a cabo
el experimento, 3) una descripción, dibujo o foto de los resultados, y
4) una descripción de lo que los niños aprendieron y 5) cualquier cosa que
los niños quieren añadir que es relevante para el experimento. Los cartónes deben
ser montados por los niños.
¿Tenemos que trabajar en parejas?
Trabajando en parejas ayuda a distribuir el trabajo del proyecto y
es una forma divertida de conocer a compañeros de clase. Dicho esto, si tres estudiantes
son mejores amigos son bienvenidos a trabajar juntos. Y si un niño
realmente quiere hacer un proyecto en solitario, vamos a aceptarlo también. Lo que es
importante es que todos los niños como sea posible participen y hagan
preguntas sobre el mundo que les rodea.
¿Cómo son juzgadas las presentaciones?
Los proyectos de ciencias están juzgados como excelentes por todos los padres admiradores. No existe un proceso formal de juicio.
Si usted tiene preguntas adicionales por favor escriba a Amy Adams amya@nasw.org.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Suggestions for putting together a cross-cultural team
Not all parents at Castro have the time or experience to help their kids put together a science fair project.
If you’re family is inclined to participate, consider involving other students from your child’s class. The
whole Science Fair experience can be more fun and more rewarding for all involved. Here is a suggested
outline to make the team project successful.
1. Plan your team at least one month in advance
a. Have a lead parent
b. Make a team. It is fun to work with the usual friends, but Castro promotes an all inclusive group work model in the class. Extend this to Science Fair. Consider students ideally at least two Spanish speakers and two English speakers (ask your teacher for help to select)
c. Confirm if the other parents can help (this science time can be in English, even if the other parents only speak Spanish they come and listen and help keep the kids engaged)
d. Sign up your team for the science fair, follow instructions in the science fair packet.
2. Have your team meet after class one day a week for ½ hour – 45 minutes (or as much as your team agrees to meet), use outside lunch tables or ask your teacher for the classroom (bringing snacks is a plus)
3. First meeting: introduce the kids to the scientific method and the fun of science fair
a. Simple scientific method is: Have a question, do research, make a guess on an answer (hypothesis), test with an experiment, check your results against your guess, and present your conclusion.
b. Or another way:
My science fair project is about__.
I wanted to find out __.
I guessed __.
I tested it by___.
My guess was___.
So I learned___.
c. Ask if there is anything they want to learn about or explore
4. Second meeting: bring the kids 3 – 4 experiments to vote on. These can be based on what they are interested in from the first meeting or your own suggestions. Explain each experiment and have the kids vote.
a. Google for grade level science fair projects, ask the teacher or see the list below for ideas from previous years.
5. Third meeting (or more): Do prep, research and experiments with the kids.
a. Have the kids participate and do as much of it themselves as they can. They can do drawings and write words about the stages. Bring materials or ask teachers for some. You can use photos. Think and talk about what you want on the final poster board for the fair.
b. If your experiments take time, plan them out over several of your meetings. (ie. plant plants one week, measure growth the next, more measuring and observation the third. If your project takes this kind of time, plan ahead and do your experiment pick the first week.)
c. If your project takes small observations along the way, you could have your team do them at drop off and do the bigger drawings at the afterschool time.
6. Last meeting: Have your team put all the information on the posterboard and turn in to your teacher for the fair. Use the kids creations, but feel free to add printed explanations if you need/want.
7. Go to the fair to see all the great projects!
Dara Tynefield
1. Plan your team at least one month in advance
a. Have a lead parent
b. Make a team. It is fun to work with the usual friends, but Castro promotes an all inclusive group work model in the class. Extend this to Science Fair. Consider students ideally at least two Spanish speakers and two English speakers (ask your teacher for help to select)
c. Confirm if the other parents can help (this science time can be in English, even if the other parents only speak Spanish they come and listen and help keep the kids engaged)
d. Sign up your team for the science fair, follow instructions in the science fair packet.
2. Have your team meet after class one day a week for ½ hour – 45 minutes (or as much as your team agrees to meet), use outside lunch tables or ask your teacher for the classroom (bringing snacks is a plus)
3. First meeting: introduce the kids to the scientific method and the fun of science fair
a. Simple scientific method is: Have a question, do research, make a guess on an answer (hypothesis), test with an experiment, check your results against your guess, and present your conclusion.
b. Or another way:
My science fair project is about__.
I wanted to find out __.
I guessed __.
I tested it by___.
My guess was___.
So I learned___.
c. Ask if there is anything they want to learn about or explore
4. Second meeting: bring the kids 3 – 4 experiments to vote on. These can be based on what they are interested in from the first meeting or your own suggestions. Explain each experiment and have the kids vote.
a. Google for grade level science fair projects, ask the teacher or see the list below for ideas from previous years.
5. Third meeting (or more): Do prep, research and experiments with the kids.
a. Have the kids participate and do as much of it themselves as they can. They can do drawings and write words about the stages. Bring materials or ask teachers for some. You can use photos. Think and talk about what you want on the final poster board for the fair.
b. If your experiments take time, plan them out over several of your meetings. (ie. plant plants one week, measure growth the next, more measuring and observation the third. If your project takes this kind of time, plan ahead and do your experiment pick the first week.)
c. If your project takes small observations along the way, you could have your team do them at drop off and do the bigger drawings at the afterschool time.
6. Last meeting: Have your team put all the information on the posterboard and turn in to your teacher for the fair. Use the kids creations, but feel free to add printed explanations if you need/want.
7. Go to the fair to see all the great projects!
Dara Tynefield
Past science fair projects
Here's a sample of projects that kids did last year.
Does food color change the taste of juice?
Does the kind of paper affect how a paper airplane flies?
What blades lift the most weight in a water turbine?
What bread molds fastest?
How much do my classmates know about sugar?
Which objects fall fastest?
Do bunnies like fruits or vegetables better?
Do different liquids mix?
What happens when I mix colors of paint?
What lego structures are strongest?
Which recipe of chocolate chip cookies tastes best?
Do you need to smell to taste?
What floats in different liquids?
What tin foil boat structure holds the most weight?
(Spanish translation coming)
Does food color change the taste of juice?
Does the kind of paper affect how a paper airplane flies?
What blades lift the most weight in a water turbine?
What bread molds fastest?
How much do my classmates know about sugar?
Which objects fall fastest?
Do bunnies like fruits or vegetables better?
Do different liquids mix?
What happens when I mix colors of paint?
What lego structures are strongest?
Which recipe of chocolate chip cookies tastes best?
Do you need to smell to taste?
What floats in different liquids?
What tin foil boat structure holds the most weight?
(Spanish translation coming)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Welcome to the Castro Science Fair
The Castro science fair is a fun way to explore the science ideas that our kids have been learning in school. We encourage all kids to team up and have fun working together to ask about the world around them.
Experiments don’t need to be complicated. In previous years, some kids repeated experiments from class, but with different materials. There are many books available at the library if you need help thinking up ideas. You might also find science project ideas online (the library has free internet access): http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/.
Groups of kids will submit a single registration form. In early March, one project board will be delivered to the classroom for each registered group.
It might take two sessions for kids to complete their experiment and put the board together. The final projects should include photos, drawings or recreations of the experiment, plus a description of what question the kids were asking. The board should also include drawings or graphs showing the results.
On April 4, bring your final projects in to school. Volunteers (stay tuned for that email!) will collect the projects and set them up in the MUR for the fair.
Please submit registration forms to the office or register online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8PNB8QD by February 27.
If you have questions or want to volunteer to help set up on April 4 or clean up the next day please email Amy Adams: amya@nasw.org.
La feria de ciencia en Castro es una forma divertida de explorar las ideas de la ciencia que nuestros niños han estado aprendiendo en las escuelas. Animamos a todos los niños que formen un equipo y se diviertan trabajando juntos para preguntar sobre el mundo que les rodea.
Los experimentos no tienen que ser complicados. En años anteriores, algunos niños repitieron los experimentos de la clase, pero con diferentes materiales. Hay muchos libros disponibles en la biblioteca si necesita pensar en ideas. También puede encontrar ideas para proyectos en línea (la biblioteca tiene acceso gratuito al internet): http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/.
Las parejas de niños van a presentar un formulario de registro. A principios de marzo, un cartón para proyectos será entregado a el salón de clases para cada par de niños. Padres, por favor, recuerden de llevaremos a su casa!
Puede tomar dos tardes para que los niños completen su experimento y ponerlo en su cartón. Los proyectos finales deben incluir fotos, dibujos o recreaciones de la experiencia, además de una descripción de la pregunta que los niños estaban pidiendo. El cartón también debe incluir dibujos o gráficos que muestran los resultados.
El 4 de Abril, traiga sus proyectos finales a la escuela. Voluntarios (permanezcan atentos a su correo electrónico!) recogerán los proyectos y los pondran en el MUR para la feria.
Los formularios de inscripción estarán disponibles en la oficina o http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8PNB8QD. Por favor, envíelas el 27 de febrero.
Si usted tiene preguntas o desea ser voluntario para ayudar a establecer el 4 de Abril o limpiar al día siguiente, por favor escribale a Amy Adams: amya@nasw.org.
Experiments don’t need to be complicated. In previous years, some kids repeated experiments from class, but with different materials. There are many books available at the library if you need help thinking up ideas. You might also find science project ideas online (the library has free internet access): http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/.
Groups of kids will submit a single registration form. In early March, one project board will be delivered to the classroom for each registered group.
It might take two sessions for kids to complete their experiment and put the board together. The final projects should include photos, drawings or recreations of the experiment, plus a description of what question the kids were asking. The board should also include drawings or graphs showing the results.
On April 4, bring your final projects in to school. Volunteers (stay tuned for that email!) will collect the projects and set them up in the MUR for the fair.
Please submit registration forms to the office or register online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8PNB8QD by February 27.
If you have questions or want to volunteer to help set up on April 4 or clean up the next day please email Amy Adams: amya@nasw.org.
La feria de ciencia en Castro es una forma divertida de explorar las ideas de la ciencia que nuestros niños han estado aprendiendo en las escuelas. Animamos a todos los niños que formen un equipo y se diviertan trabajando juntos para preguntar sobre el mundo que les rodea.
Los experimentos no tienen que ser complicados. En años anteriores, algunos niños repitieron los experimentos de la clase, pero con diferentes materiales. Hay muchos libros disponibles en la biblioteca si necesita pensar en ideas. También puede encontrar ideas para proyectos en línea (la biblioteca tiene acceso gratuito al internet): http://www.education.com/science-fair/elementary-school/.
Las parejas de niños van a presentar un formulario de registro. A principios de marzo, un cartón para proyectos será entregado a el salón de clases para cada par de niños. Padres, por favor, recuerden de llevaremos a su casa!
Puede tomar dos tardes para que los niños completen su experimento y ponerlo en su cartón. Los proyectos finales deben incluir fotos, dibujos o recreaciones de la experiencia, además de una descripción de la pregunta que los niños estaban pidiendo. El cartón también debe incluir dibujos o gráficos que muestran los resultados.
El 4 de Abril, traiga sus proyectos finales a la escuela. Voluntarios (permanezcan atentos a su correo electrónico!) recogerán los proyectos y los pondran en el MUR para la feria.
Los formularios de inscripción estarán disponibles en la oficina o http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8PNB8QD. Por favor, envíelas el 27 de febrero.
Si usted tiene preguntas o desea ser voluntario para ayudar a establecer el 4 de Abril o limpiar al día siguiente, por favor escribale a Amy Adams: amya@nasw.org.
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