1. science

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It!is!time!once!again!for!the!ANNUAL!ORLA!PTA!SCIENCE!FAIR!!
Montessori!and!H@Connect:!April!30,!2015!2:30pm!@!6:30pm!
We!will!have!the!pleasure!of!enjoying!some!incredible!
!scientific!demonstrations!prepared!by!the!students.!
!An!Egg!Drop!Contest.!
And!then!a!visit!from!the!Reptile!Man.!
We!invite!all!to!participate.!This!will!be!a!fun!afternoon!of!activities!!
This year’s Science Fair has four different types of opportunities for students to participate in. Students may
choose whether they would like to have their entry judged and enter the competition for first, second, and third
place, or they may choose to not be judged and just have their entry on display. For those entries entering the
competition, each category below will be judged using different criteria. Below is an example of each:
Science Experiment Project
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This is an experiment based project where a student poses a question, develops a hypothesis,
and runs a controlled experiment to test whether the hypothesis is correct or incorrect. An
example would be setting up a test to see whether a particular plant grows better in salt water or
fresh water. The student makes a hypothesis such as "I think the plant will grow better in fresh
water." The student then sets up a controlled experiment by watering several plants of the same
type with either fresh water or salt water and analyzing the results.
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Science Demonstration with Research Project
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This is a model or demonstration of a scientific concept. Examples include a model of a volcano, a
model of our solar system, or demonstrating how a magnet works.
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Science Challenge Booth Project
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This is an interactive project where the student sets up an activity that demonstrates some science
or engineering challenge for patrons of the Science Fair to attempt along with explanations of the
challenge (think Hands-On Children's Museum).
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Egg Drop
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This is a classic! Students are challenged to design and build a contraption that will allow a raw
chicken egg to be dropped from the balcony of our building and land on concrete without the egg
breaking.
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Rules for this event are included in this packet.
Students may participate in any or all of these events.
In the spirit of fairness, we request that parental involvement be kept at a minimum. It is certainly understood that
parental guidance is important for student learning and parents will and should assist their child, but please
appropriately balance this with the idea that this is a student project and should reflect the work of the student, not
the parent.
If you have any questions, contact Steve Youngs at [email protected]
And most importantly, HAVE FUN and LEARN! The ORLA PTA thank you for your participation!
Points of discussion for each type of project.
Science Experiment Project:
• What question did you raise in order to answer with an experiment?
• What is your hypothesis that identifies the different variables?
• What procedure did you develop to test these variables?
• How did you observe and collect data?
• What kind of research, scientific concepts, and/ or mathematical principles was used?
• What is your conclusion and how does it relate to the hypothesis?
• Did you include key components in your presentation to show process?
• Is your presentation neat, organized and visually appealing?
• How unique is your experiment?
Science Demonstration Project:
• Developed an accurate scientific demonstration.
• What kind of research was done to gain accurate knowledge?
• Identify and explain key scientific concepts related to demonstration.
• Were scientific principles or mathematical formulas used correctly?
• Are key components used or displayed as part of the presentation?
• Is presentation neat, well organized and visually appealing?
• How unique or creative is the project?
Science Challenge Booth Project:
• Developed an accurate scientific challenge.
• What kind of research was done.
• Identify or explain scientific concepts or methods.
• Are key components used or displayed?
• Is presentation neat, well organized, and visually appealing?
• How creative and challenging is project?
Egg Drop Challenge:
• This contest us just a challenge to see if you can design something to keep your egg
from breaking.
• Rules for this event are included on the next page:
There is an entry form enclosed with this packet. There are a few different ways to turn one in.
The preferred method is email them Mike Bronson at [email protected]
You can also email them to Kim Johnson at [email protected]
or to Steve Youngs at [email protected].
These are the preferred means. You can also turn it in to the office
ORLA%PTA%5th%Annual%Science%Fair%Egg%Drop%Contest%Rules%
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Goal:!!Invent!a!device!that!will!protect!a!raw!egg!from!breaking!when!dropped!from!the!roof!!
Rules:!
• The!device!must!have!an!area!of!no!more!than!1!cubic!foot!(1’!x!1’!x!1’).!
• Participants!must!bring!their!own!uncooked!chicken!egg.!!The!egg!can!be!loaded!into!the!
device!prior!to!handing!over!for!the!drop!.!
• Put!your!name!on!your!device.!
• You!may!build!your!device!on!your!own,!or!work!in!a!group.!
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The!following!materials!are!allowed:!
• Plastics,!balsa!wood,!straws,!cotton,!cardboard,!tape,!string,!toothpicks,!glue,!etc.!
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The!following!materials!are!NOT%allowed:!
• Any!type!of!parachute!contraption!(devices!must!be!able!to!free!fall).!
• Packing!peanuts.!
• Metals,!glass,!chemical!containers,!Styrofoam,!and!thick!wood!(such!as!2X4).!
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The!contest!will!be!held!once!in!the!afternoon!starting!at!2:30!and!going!until!4:30!unless!
completed!early.!We!know!that!some!of!you!will!be!participating!in!the!egg!drop!as!well!as!the!
science!fair.!If!that!is!the!case!you!will!have!priority!and!have!admission!to!the!front!of!the!line!
to!do!the!egg!drop!so!you!can!be!done!in!time!to!demonstrate!your!project!from!3:15@4:30.!
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STUDENT%ENTRY%FORM%
Student!Name:!__________________________!Grade:!_____!Teacher!(if!applicable):!___________________!
Parent!Permission!Signature:!______________________________!
Please!Check!One:!Montessori_____!!!H@Connect_____!
What!Type!of!Project!will!you!be!participating!in?!!!(Check!all!that!apply)!
____!Science!Experiment!Project!
____!Science!Demonstration!Project!
____!Science!Challenge!Booth!Project!
____!Egg!Drop!
Project!title:!____________________________________!
Will!there!be!a!need!for!anything!specific!for!the!project?!(Access!to!an!electrical!outlet!for!example)!
___________________________________________________________________!
We!are!also!looking!for!parent!volunteers!to!help!with!the!Science!Fair.!
There%is%a%need%for%help%in%set%up%along%with%judging.!!We#are#in#desperate#need#of#judges.!!You!will!be!trained!
prior!to!judging!and!no!prior!experience!is!required.!!Without!enough!judges,!this!event!cannot!take!place!!!
We!need!your!help!!!Please!fill!in!the!information!if!you!are!able!to!do!either!one!or!both.!!We!will!team!you!
up!with!other!volunteers!so!you!won’t!be!on!your!own!!!Please#help#us#make#this#important#event#possible#by#
contributing#your#time!#
___!Set!up!
___!Judge!
Name:_______________________Phone#:______________________Email:____________________________!
Schedule!of!events:!
Set!Up@!12:00!pm!
Egg!Drop@!2:30–4:30!
Science!Fair!Presentation!3:15@4:30!!
Reptile!Man!4:30@6:00!
Award!Presentation!6:00@6:30!
Judges!will!need!to!be!available!from!2:30!until!all!tallying!has!been!completed.!