Information for students who have won a spot to NEFRSEF

Congratulations,


You have earned a spot on the JLCP Regional Science Fair Team. You are one of only 15 students who will be allowed to attend NEFRSRF. The dates and details are on www.nefrsef.org. You will miss one day of school, the trip is considered a fieldtrip so you will not be marked absent. You will spend the day, February 13, with chaperones from the school at NEFRSEF. Your parents must provide transportation to and from the Shrine Auditorium on St. Johns Bluff Road. Lunch will be provided.

To register your project you will need to obtain a password. Go to www.nefrsef.org and click the Student tab. Click on the word register in the sentence “Students please REGISTER here for your project.” You will get a place to enter your or your parents e-mail address and you pick a password.



Pick a password you can remember. Once you have done that to the User Login button and log in using your e-mail and password. Complete the registration information. Type carefully and proofread. Any typos will be your responsibility. Be sure to read the bottom of the screen so that you SAVE your registration.

Paperwork

Each project needs a complete 1, 1A, Research Plan, 1B, and Form 3. You probably already have most of these all filled out and signed in BLUE. Watch your dates. You must have had approval BEFORE you began experimentation. You must have a bibliography that shows sources you used to find information (not science project sites and not Wikipedia). You must also read and reference the rules. The reference is

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, (2011). International Rules and Guidelines 2012. Society for Science & the Public. Retrieved from http://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=311.

More Paperwork Your abstract must be typed onto the Florida State Science Fair form. You will need the original and 5 copies all of which you should sign in BLUE. Do not worry about putting a new copy on your board. NEFRSEF will certify one copy (with a stamp) and it will be returned to you when you go set up for the regional on Sunday, February 12.

Go online and fill out the electronic registration. Ask your teacher to look over your paperwork, THEN bring an original abstract with 5 copies all signed in blue and all of your forms including a COMPLETE research plan to Room 319.

You must have the entire packet to me, Mrs. Smith, in Room 319 as soon as possible on MONDAY, January 23. If your paperwork is not complete or is incorrect you will have to stand in a long line on Sunday, February 12. If you can’t answer the SRC so that they can certify your project then you may fail to qualify and may be disqualified. If I don’t turn paperwork in on time then projects will not be accepted. I will not wait for late paperwork. I must have all paperwork from you so that I can turn in all of the entries on time.

You don’t have school on Friday so you can get your paperwork finished then. I will be at school on Friday and you may call me or come to see me between 1 and 2 pm. I will be able to help you then. I am not able to make multiple copies for anyone. Please make all of your own copies. If you need to get in touch with me by e-mail you may send your questions to smithp8@duvalschools.org.

Again, congratulations,

Pamela L. Smith, NBCT

TED Talks

TED Talks are a chance to explore new topics and a way to share "ideas worth spreading".

If you get a chance watch
http://www.ted.com/talks/award_winning_teen_age_science_in_action.html

 It's an example of why you keep doing science research even if your 6th grade project didn't work out the way you expected - or even if it did.

Why do we use models in science? Check out http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_berry_animations_of_unseeable_biology.html.

Want to see inside of a cell (way above the level we study)? View this TED Talk.
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_bolinsky_animates_a_cell.html

GIZMO Update

Please finish your AQs on time. Several of you scored less than 100% so I have reset your score. You may take it over. I will not be taking paper scores  this time because we are almost to the end of the nine week grading period and I have only a limited amount of time to get my grades posted. So, read the questions carefully. Ask your parents to listen to your answers. Explain why you are choosing each answer. Listen to yourself and thing each question through.  Good luck.

JLCP SCIENCE FAIR

The date and time of the JLCP Science Fair has been set for Wednesday, January 18th during the school day. I have placed an invitation in my grade book for all of the students chosen to participate. I will post the names near my door tomorrow after 4th period. Congratulations to the students who were chosen.

PARENTS, I know that many of you are very busy every day, but if you are a scientist, mathematician, engineer, science enthusiast, teacher with spare time, advanced math or science student, or know someone who is PLEASE consider helping us judge the JLCP Science Fair. We are trying something new. We are holding it during the school day during Team Time. We will begin judging at 11:00 AM and we should be finished by 12:30. If you are available or interested please send me an e-mail at smithp8@duvalschools.org and let me know what your background is or which areas of science you will feel most comfortable judging. No, you won't have to judge your child's category. No your child does not have to be participating for you to be a judge. Yes we will "train" you in our judging criteria.
Thank you for supporting JLCP and Science.

A BONUS Opportunity!!! (these don't happen very often)

If you want to replace an x in ASSESSMENTS for Deposition, Erosion, or Weathering with a * or add one point to both of your science project grades (whichever is better for you) then have lead your family through an exploration  of salt while using a pinhole magnifier. You must summarize the activity and have a parent sign your summary (This can be just a paragraph or two). Turn it in on time.

Due date

A day = Wednesday, 01/18
B day = Thursday, 01/19

I don't often give bonus opportunities, so take advantage of this. You have either learned how to make one in class or you will learn tomorrow.

Reading Assignment

Use the on-line RED book (directions, log-in, and password on blog for 11/11/11). Read pp.76-78. Take notes either using your choice of an outline, a concept map, 2 column notes, or a foldable.

Due dates

A-day = Wednesday, 01/11
B day = Thursday, 01/12

GIZMO due dates

A day: SEG due in class complete as you walk in on FRIDAY, 01/13.
A day Assessment questions due on Wednesday, 1/18

B day: SEG due on Tuesday, 1/17. It must be complete as you walk in.
B day Assessment questions due on Thursday1/19.

Remember, Monday 01/16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the library will be closed.

NEW GIZMO assigned.

I have asigned a new GIZMO for everyone. Now, it may seem very difficult and it may be since none of this has really been taught yet in class. What's really important is for you to print out a copy of the student exploration guide for yourself. (You know if I print it will be microsized.) It's only 3 pages, but you will want full size pages when it comes to the cell picture.

No, there's no due date yet. However, the week of the 16th looks like a good target. I will post the due date next week. The content in this GIZMO is super important so it's imperative that you learn the info not just throw answers on the paper.

Have a good weekend.