Finishing up SCIENCE PROJECTS

As you know, science projects are due either December 2 for A day or December 3 for B day. On the day your project is due you will turn in one copy of your abstract. On the day that you are scheduled to present, you will bring your SCIENCE PROJECT LOG/JOURNAL, your DISPLAY BOARD, and a practiced presentation.

RESULTS vs. CONCLUSIONS

Results and conclusions are two different sections. For your results you analyze your data. Some descriptive statistics that you should use are the mean, median, mode, and range of your data. Graph your analyzed data. Look for trends. Really look at your data and determine if it is meaningful or not. Do you see more than a 5% difference in your means?  Is it more or less? The greater the differences between your groups, the more meaningful your results are. What do the results indicate? What may have affected your results positively or negatively?

The CONCLUSION is developed from the results. Use the correct terminology: The results support the hypothesis or The results do not support the hypothesis.  Do not for any reason claim that your hypothesis was right or true. Don’t claim your hypothesis was wrong or not correct. It can’t be. It is either supported by results or it is not supported by the results. Remember, you are not PROVING anything. However, you may include how the conclusion may help you go deeper into your question if you continue this experiment. You will find more info at www.nefrsef.org, but be careful of not totally correct wording (they use prove and disproved).

ABSTRACTS should be prepared by referring to www.nefrsef.org. Go to the main page. You will see

Select Abstract Completion Instructions (FSSEF) and follow them for what to include in your abstract.

Use the ABSTRACT Form (FSSEF). It is better to prepare your abstract body in WORD and then copy and paste it into the ABSTRACT form. Once you have completed your abstract form you should print 2 copies. One will be turned in on the day the project is due and one will be placed on your board in the lower left hand corner as you hold it.

To review how a display board is organized please select the student tab. You should see

Look at # 7 and click on backboard. That will take you to the complete page on display boards. Remember, the title and abstract have assigned places.

When you prepare your oral presentation remember that you are talking to your classmates. You will have 5 minutes for both your presentation and to answer any questions your classmates may have. Here are the questions you should include in your presentation.

• What was your problem?
• What was your question?
• What did you do?
• Why did you do it?
• What are your results?
• What is your conclusion?
• How can you use the conclusion to ask a further question?

 

Is there a rubric for all of this? We are working at the 8^th grade level to finalize one for the abstract, the board, the SPL/J and the presentation. They should be published early next week.