Parent Form

Parent Acknowledgement Form signed and returned.

9/14/07

Topic Selection

Start exploring topics.  Use the Topic Selection Wizard at www.sciencebuddies.org to help narrow down project ideas to specific categories.

9/28/07

Question

The specific question you will be investigating in the project.

10/09/07

Research and Bibliography

At least five sources must be identified that will help you understand the topic better.  Source requirement:

Five sources, at least three non-web site sources.  One of these may be an encyclopedia or a text book.  Journals accessed over the internet are not considered web sites if the content is the same as the printed version.

10/09/07

Variables and Hypothesis

An explanation of which factors will be changed while conducting the experiment and a hypothesis on the resulting impact of the change.

10/17/07

Introduction (Draft)

Based on your research, use note cards to outline the introduction to your project.  This section includes: The Theory behind the topic, including key concepts, terms and equations (if applicable), The Method (the best techniques for investigating the topic), a history of others who have investigated the topic and what they found, and the significance of your study.

10/25/07

Materials and Procedure

Everything you anticipate needing for your project, plus what you are going to do with those materials in a step by step format.

11/02/07

ISEF forms

Research Plan, Research Plan Attachment, Checklist for Adult Sponsor, Approval Plan

11/13/07

Introduction Draft #2

In paragraph form, with information about both independent and dependent variables, and a hypothesis.  Include previous draft.

11/21/07

Data, round one

By this time you should have run through your experiment once and recorded data.  This is an excellent time to modify experimental design to eliminate problems.

12/03/07

Introduction, final draft

A polished copy of your introduction paper (include previous drafts)

12/11/07

All data

Now you are done with your experiment!

1/14/08

Data Analysis and Graphs

The analysis of the experiential data and a summary of the findings of the experiment in graph form.

1/23/08

Draft Results section

An explanation of the data and trends in data.

2/1/08

Draft Conclusion section

An explanation of the results of the experiment, the conclusion considers the applications of the new information, possible sources of error in the experimental design, and proposes follow-up projects.

2/11/08

Research Paper due

A paper that collects all of the above written assignments in one place, plus an abstract of the project

2/21/07

Oral Presentation

5-10 minute oral presentation on your project to your classmates.

Week of Feb. 22-29.

Revise paper for competition.

Your paper is displayed with your project at the Science Fair.

Display Board

The final project board that will be displayed at the Science Fair is due.

2/29/08

The Science Fair

Judging of projects in the campus center.

March 5, 2008