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Richmond County School System Elementary

STUDENT GUIDE

2017-2018

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Dear Richmond County Students,

This packet contains all the information you will need to successfully complete your Science and

Engineering Fair project. Guidelines, forms, rules, hints and other useful information are included.

Review each section of this handbook to ensure you have followed the directions and have worked

to your greatest potential.

This is a fun and exciting learning experience that you will remember for years to come. This is

your opportunity to think and act like a scientist or engineer. Your family members and teachers are

here to provide support, safety and guidance. The work and the learning is for you to do. Challenge

yourself to think outside the box, explore things you have always wondered about and challenge

your abilities to awaken the scientist and engineer inside of you!

The Richmond County School System’s Science Curriculum Department look forward to visiting

your school’s Science and Engineering Fair to see your projects!

Scientifically yours,

RCSS Science Curriculum Department

Mission:

Building a world-class school system through education, collaboration and innovation.

Vision:

RCSS will create a world-class, globally competitive school system where all students will graduate

and are college/career ready.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tips for Parents/ Acknowledgement Form………….………………………………..…………….4

Getting Started ……………………………………………………………………………………..5

Science and Engineering Safety Guidelines………………………………………………………..6

Science and Engineering Project Timeline ......………………………………………………… ....7

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Part One: Choosing a Category ...……………………………………………………………….….8

Scientific Method Journal ………… ………………………………………………………….… ...9

Scientific Method Outline………………………………… ………………………………………10

Scientific Method Display Board …………………………………………………………….........12

Research Question/Purpose Planning Sheet …………………………………………………….…13

Background Research/Bibliography …………………………………………………………….…14

Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………………….……15

Materials/Procedures ………………………………………………………………………………16

Results …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19

ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

Part Two: Choosing a Category ...……………………………………………………………..… 20

Engineering Design Journal ………… ……………………………………………………….……21

Engineering Process Outline………………………………… ………………………………..… 22

Engineering Process Display Board and Interview ……………………………………………… 25

Need or Problem to Solve or Construct …………………………………………………… …… 26

Background Research/Bibliography ………………………………………………… …………..27

Prototype Requirements/Expectations/Materials………………………………………………… 28

Prototype Beginning Design ……………………………………………………………………….29

Engineering Step-by-Step Procedure ………………………………………………………………30

Engineering Design Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………31

Part Three: (OPTIONAL) Oral Presentation ……………………………………………………….32

(Rough Draft Sheets)

(Rough Draft Sheets)

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Dear Families, Date:

Your child is about to begin his/her Science or Engineering project! It should be a fun learning opportunity for

your child. This guide may be helpful during the next several weeks. Please remember:

æ Be positive about your child’s work. æ This is an opportunity for your child to think and act like a scientist, and to create and discover his or her

very own science project! æ Please allow your child plenty of time to make mistakes. He/she might even need to start the

experiment again. Remember, real scientists constantly refine their studies and start over again.

æ Assist as needed, but let your student do the work

æ For safety reasons, please be available to assist your child with research and any portions of the

experiment that may pose a safety risk.

æ Please make time to visit the public library and use the Internet to assist your child with project

research. æ Help your child collect and save materials. Inexpensive materials found around the home often work the

best. æ Help your student keep a daily log of their research activities æ Remember, this is a multipart project. Your child must complete the science journal, research

paper, display board, and presentation in order to receive full credit.

Thank you for your continued support!

Teacher Signature

-------------------------------------------------- CUT AND RETURN -------------------------------------------------- My child and I have read the Science Fair Student Guide in its entirety. We know when each section is

due and that the project display board, science journal, and research paper must be completed and

brought to school by .

My child understands that he/she is responsible for presenting his/her project to the class on

.

Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature

Parent/Guardian phone number:

Parent/Guardian email address:

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GETTING STARTED

Students may choose to do an experiment-based or an engineering-based project.

Comparison of the Scientific Method and the Engineering Design Process

Keep in mind that although the steps are listed in sequential order, it is likely to return to previous steps

multiple times throughout a project. It is often necessary to revisit stages or steps in order to improve

that aspect of a project. In real life, the distinction between the two processes is not always clear.

Scientists often do some engineering work, and engineers frequently apply scientific principles,

including the scientific process.

The Scientific The Enginneering Design Process

State your question

• What is the problem you want to solve? Do

background research

Formulate a hypothesis and identify variables

• What do you think will happen?

Design experiment, establish procedure

• Define your variables

• Determine data to be collected

• What materials are needed?

Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment

• Observe

• Collect data

• Organize data

Analyze the results and draw conclusions

• What did you learn?

Ask:

• What’s the problem?

• What are the constraints

Imagine:

• Do background research and search the

literature to see what already has been

done

• Brainstorm possible solutions and

choose the best one

Plan:

• Draw a diagram and make a list of

materials needed

Create:

• Follow the plan and test it

Improve:

• Make the design better and test it

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Science & Engineering Safety Guidelines

▪ Number one rule. . . think safety first before you start. Make sure you have recruited your adults to help

you.

▪ Never eat or drink during an experiment and always keep your work area clean.

▪ Wear protective goggles when doing any experiment that could lead to eye injury.

▪ Do not touch, taste, or inhale chemicals or chemical solutions.

▪ Respect all life forms. Animals are not allowed to be used in experiments. Do not perform an

experiment that will harm a person.

▪ Students should include photographs on projects rather than displaying breakable, valuable or

potentially harmful objects.

▪ No materials or equipment used to conduct the experiment may be displayed with or attached to the

project board. You may attach pictures or drawings to show the progress of the experiment.

▪ Eye Protection: Safety glasses should be used for any experiments with chemicals or if any kind of

splash may come in contact with your eyes.

▪ Allergies: Remember human subjects may be allergic to different substances. Always ask about

allergies before you test.

▪ Fire: Projects are not allowed that involve fire or burning of objects.

▪ Bacteria: Due to the potential for inhaling or coming in contact with harmful bacteria, students should

avoid projects where they collect bacteria and then grow bacteria cultures. While this can be done

safely, the potential exists for a very harmful pathogen to be inhaled or come in contact with the student.

▪ Other: NO experiments should be done using firearms. Experiments cannot include prescription drugs,

solid or liquid waste, illegal drugs or alcohol.

▪ NO living organisms, including plants

▪ Dry ice or other sublimating solids

▪ Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives)

▪ Flames or highly flammable materials

▪ Batteries with open-top cells

▪ Awards, medals, business cards, flags, logos, endorsements, and/or acknowledgments (graphic or

written) unless the item(s) are an integral part of the project.

▪ Use safety on the Internet! NEVER write to anyone without an adult knowing about it. Be sure to let

an adult know about what websites you will be visiting, or have them help you search.

▪ If there are dangerous aspects of your experiment, like using a sharp tool or experimenting with

electricity, please have an adult help you or have them do the dangerous parts. That’s what adults are

for so use them correctly. (Besides, it makes them feel important!)

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Science & Engineering Project Timeline

The following is a list of due dates for each section of the project. Careful—falling behind makes everything

more difficult! It is better to work ahead of the due dates in case problems arise.

Remember, sometimes scientists need to redo a part of their experiment or even the whole thing!

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE (To be assigned by teacher)

Science Method: Select a Research Question and Purpose Engineering Design: Select Topic and Need for Engineering design

Science Method: Conduct Background Research and write the Bibliography.

Change the Research Question and Purpose if necessary.

Engineering Design: Conduct Research the topic by finding at least three sources

and Write detailed paragraphs in the journal of specific details of what was learned.

Science Method: Write a Hypothesis.

Engineering Design: Begin the preliminary designs and narrows it down to the design desired.

Science Method: Write the Materials List. Engineering Design: Write the Materials List

Science Method: Write the Procedures. Engineering Design: Write Step-by-Step Procedure of the

Prototype in the journal. Acquire materials needed to build the prototype.

Science Method: Conduct the Experiment. Engineering Design: Build prototype according to design requirements. Plan to test the prototype. Gather data and write the data in the journal. Analyze the data if

it worked or not according to the design requirements.

Science Method: Complete the Results section, including any graphs or tables.

Engineering Design: If the prototype doesn’t work according to the design requirements, then redesigning and retesting is necessary. Data is gathered and analyzed again.

Science Method: Write the Conclusion, which may include Reflection and

Application Engineering Design: A conclusion is written up.

Science Method: Display Board, Research Paper, Science Journal Engineering Design: Displays all parts of the engineering design (except the research). Writes a brief explanation under each design step on the board.

Science Method: Oral Presentation Engineering Design: Interview

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Part One: Scientific Method- Choosing a Category that interests you...

All Great Projects start with great questions but before you get started on a great question you need

to pick a subject or topic that you like. There are three different categories of the Science Fair to

choose from. They are:

Life science: This category deals with all animal, plant and human body questions that you might

have and want to do an experiment about. Remember that it is against Science Fair Rules to

intentionally hurt an animal during an experiment. If you are dealing with animals, please let an

adult assist you. Life science also includes studying behaviors, so it’s a perfect category to try taste

tests, opinion surveys, animal behavior training (or even training behavior in humans...like baby

brothers or sisters...)

Physical Science: If you like trying to figure out how things work, then this is the category for you!

It includes topics about matter and structure, as well as electricity, magnetism, sound, light or any-

thing else that you might question, “How does it work and what if I do this to it, will it still work?” But remember, you always need to ask an adult first (and always make sure there is one of those

adult guys with you when you try it.) Physical Science also includes the composition of matter and

how it reacts to each other. These are the science experiments that may have bubbling and oozing

going on, like figuring out what is an acid and what is a base. It is a perfect category to try to mix

things together to see what will happen. Again, if you are experimenting with possibly dangerous things, you need to ask an adult to help you out.

Earth and Space Sciences: This category is really awesome because it covers all sorts of topics that

deal with the Earth or objects in space. This includes studying weather, Geology (which is the study

of everything that makes up the Earth, like rocks, fossils, volcanoes, etc..), and the study of all that is in space, including the stars, our sun and our planets. Unfortunately this topic is also where most

kids mess up and do a collection or model project instead of an “Experiment,” so be careful!!!

Now it’s Your Turn:

Write down your favorite Science Fair Category and what it is you want to learn more about:

My favorite Category was _______________________________________________________

(Life Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science) I want to do an experiment involving

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Scientific Method Journal

The Science Journal is one of four parts of a successful science

fair project. This is where ALL ideas, thoughts, notes, drawings

or sketches, research, information, results, and data are written. Everything that happens during your Science project should be

recorded here—the more detail, the better! Your Laboratory

Notebook should have daily and/or weekly descriptions of your

project, including all data collected. The project journal will be

placed in front of your display board for the judges to read

during the science fair.

The Science Journal may be a spiral or composition

notebook. Once started, please do not remove any pages

from your Science Journal or use it for other things. This

notebook should be completely dedicated to your

project. Students wanting to be considered for the District Science and Engineering Fair must complete a successful

Laboratory Journal.

The journal consists of four main parts:

▪ Title page

▪ Table of Contents page

▪ The Scientific Method pages

▪ The Bibliography page

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Scientific Method of Investigation Outline

The research paper may be typed or neatly handwritten. Each step must be explained

thoroughly and clearly. Some of the steps require a rough draft that will be turned in to

your teacher; others you will need to complete on your own. Rough draft worksheets are

included at the end of this guide. Attach more pages if necessary.

Bring each of the rough draft pages to school for your teacher to review with you on the due date. After

your teacher has reviewed and returned each page of your rough draft, you may write the final copy of

your research paper, to be turned in with your project.

Step 1: State the Problem/Research Question

What question are you trying to answer? Ask a question that you can answer through observation or

experimentation.

Step 2: State the Purpose

What is your reason for asking this question? What are you trying to discover?

Step 3: Background Research

The background research section may be optional for students in grades K-3. Check with your teacher.

Following your teacher’s directions, write a background research section. This section should be used to

help you make a hypothesis. For grades 4-5 cite three to five sources.

Step 4: Write a Bibliography

Make a list of the sources you used to collect your background research. Your teacher can help guide you

in using the proper format.

Step 5: Make a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a statement that predicts the outcome of your experiment, based on what you already

know, and proposes an explanation that can be tested. What do you think that the answer to your research

question will be? Remember, hypotheses don’t need to be correct— they just need to be informed guesses!

Never go back and change your hypothesis once your experiment is complete. You will learn something

important whether your hypothesis is proven or disproven! If you have researched the topic of your project,

then your research should help you make a good hypothesis. Hypotheses are often written using an “If…,

then…, because….” format.

Step 6: List the Materials

Every item that you will use to do the experiment should be listed in the materials section. A

common format is to list items in the order in which you will use them.

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Step 7: Describe the Procedure

The procedure describes the experiment in a step-by-step sequence. It may help to think of the

procedure as a recipe, in which every step is clearly explained. How will your materials be used, and

how and when will they be measured? Another person should be able to follow the procedure of your

experiment and get the same, or similar, results.

Step 8: Perform the Experiment

Following the procedures from Step 7, conduct your experiment. If you realize that new steps or

materials are needed, you may go back and revise those sections. But remember not to revise your

original hypothesis.

Step 9: Record the Results

Record detailed records of the results of your tests and observations. Results should always be explained in

a written format first, followed by graphs, charts, and/or tables.

Step 10: Make a Conclusion

After getting the results in Step 8, make a conclusion. According to your results, was your hypothesis

proven or disproven? (Remember, it is okay for your hypothesis to be disproven!) Was there anything in

the experiment that you would change if the hypothesis were retested? How could you change or expand

this experiment if you were going to do it again? What did you learn from the experiment? How could

this information be used to help people or to make the world a better place?

Step 11: Write an Abstract (recommended for grades 4-5)

An abstract is a one-page summary of your project. It should state your research question, purpose,

and hypothesis. It should include your procedures, but you do not need to be as precise as you were

in the procedures section; describe your

steps more generally. Your results and conclusion should also be

included. The abstract is meant to give a quick explanation of your

project to someone before they start to read your paper and examine

your display.

Step 12: Acknowledgments (optional)

Thank the people who helped you with your project.

Step 13: Create a Title Page and Table of Contents (optional)

The title page should include a title for the project. (It is okay to

restate the research question if you can’t think of a good title.) Also

include your full name, your grade, your teacher’s name, your

school’s name, and the school year. After placing each section of

your paper in order, number your pages, and then write a table of

contents.

Step 14: Proofread Everything Carefully!

The Final Order Of Your

Title page Table of Contents Acknowledgments Abstract Research Question Purpose Background Research Hypothesis Materials

Procedures Results Conclusion Bibliography

Sample: Scientific Method Display Board

Display boards should be easy to read and appealing to look at.

For privacy reasons, and to make sure that the judges are fair, do not allow your name or any faces

to be displayed on the front of your board or anywhere else in your displayed materials.

Text size should be large enough to easily read

Standard display boards

Before you glue everything onto your board, place each section where you think it would look

best.

If you use border, you should not use staples or tape- use glue.

Information on your display board should be typed or hand written neat and carefully proofread.

Your board should include the following: Title, Research Question, Hypothesis, Materials,

Procedure, Results (including any graphs, tables, charts, and pictures), and Conclusion.

Below is a common way to set up your display board:

How do I display my experiment?

Your experiment should be placed on a display board that stands by itself, such as on a three sided display, as

shown below

Scientific Method Research Planning Sheet:

Research Question/Purpose

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature

Results

On Time? Yes/No

What question are you trying to answer? Ask a question that you can answer through observation or

experimentation.

State the Purpose

What is your reason for asking this question? What are you trying to discover?

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Rough Draft:

Background Research/Bibliography Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Background Research

Write a background research section. This section will be used to help you make a hypothesis. To start,

collect facts that are related to your research question. Remember to put the facts in your own words! On

the back of each fact card or under each fact in the list, write down all of the information about where

you got the fact. This information will be used to write your bibliography. Once you have gathered your

facts, organize them in an order that makes sense and write a background research section about your

topic. Remember to break your writing into paragraphs, and include topic and closing sentences for each

group of new ideas.

Bibliography (3 to 5 sources)

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Research Paper Rough Draft:

Hypothesis Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature

Make a Hypothesis

On Time? Yes/No

A hypothesis is a statement that predicts how an experiment will turn out, and why it will happen that way,

based on what you already know. What do you think that the answer to your research question will be?

Remember, hypotheses don’t need to be correct—they just need to be informed guesses. If you have

researched the topic of your project, then your research should help you make a good hypothesis. Hypotheses

are often written using an “If…, then…, because….” format.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Research Paper Rough Draft:

Materials/Procedure

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

List the Materials

Every item that you will use to do the experiment should be listed in this section.

Describe the Procedure

The procedure describes the experiment in a step-by-step sequence. It may help to think of the procedure as

a recipe, in which every step is clearly explained. How will your materials be used, and how and when will

they be measured? If each step is carefully explained, another person should be able to follow the procedure

of the experiment and get the same, or similar, results. Use the back of the paper or separate sheets if you

need more space.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Research Paper Rough Draft:

Results Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Results

Write down the results of the experiment. These should be detailed records of the results of your tests and

observations. Attach notes, charts, tables, and graphs to this paper. Do not analyze the results here; just

record what happened.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Research Paper Rough Draft:

Conclusion

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Make a Conclusion

According to your results, was your hypothesis proven or disproven? (Remember, it is okay for your

hypothesis to be disproven!) Was there anything in the experiment that you would change if the hypothesis

were retested? How could you change or expand this experiment if you were going to do it again? What did

you learn from the experiment? How could this information be used to help people or to make the world a

better place? Write your conclusion below.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Scientific Method Research Paper Rough Draft:

Abstract

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Write an Abstract (recommended for grades 4-5)

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

An abstract is a one-page summary of your project. It should state your research question, purpose, and

hypothesis. It should include your procedures, but you do not need to be as precise as you were in the

procedures section; describe your steps more generally. Your results and conclusion should also be

included. The abstract is meant to give a quick explanation of your project to someone before they start

to read your paper and examine your display.

Part Two: Engineering Design-Choosing a Category that interests you... Engineering Design Engineering is the designing, building, and testing of a made-at home product. It is the

invention category of the science fair. A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the

student. After the prototype is built, it needs to be tested to see if it works. The data is analyzed. It is to be

compared to the design requirements. If it doesn’t perform according to the design requirements, the student

needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper. Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested.

This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design

requirements.

The engineering design results have to be useful and apply to real world situations, issues, or ideas.

The prototype cannot be made from a kit. It has to be created by the student.

Engineering Design Journal

All Engineering design projects must have a journal (log). The journal is the literacy that

connects the writing, thinking, research, planning, building, testing, and conclusion to

engineering design project. The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal.

The journal consists of four main parts:

▪ Title page

▪ Table of Contents page

▪ The Engineering Design pages

▪ The Bibliography page

1. Title Page

The title page consists of the project title, student name, school, and date.

2. Table of Contents

Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps

are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found.

▪ Define a need • Building, Testing and Recording,

▪ Research and Analyzing the Prototype

▪ Design Requirements • Redesigning, Retesting and Recording,

▪ Project Prototype Designs and Analyzing the Prototype

• Beginning Prototype Designs • Conclusion

• Final Prototype Designs

• List of Materials

• Step-by-Step Procedure

3. The Engineering Design

In this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the

Engineering Design process.

*Define a Need page *Building the Prototype page

*Research page *Testing and Recording page

*Design Requirement page *Analysis page

*Project Designs *Redesigning, Retesting and Recording, Analyzing

Beginning Designs page the Prototype

Final Designs page *Redesigning page

List of Materials page *Retesting and Recording page

Step-by-Step Procedure page *Analysis page

*Building, Testing and Recording, *Conclusion page

and Analyzing the Prototype

4. Bibliography

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source,

title, and page numbers (if applicable).

Engineering Design Outline:

Engineers use the Engineering Design Process to create solutions to problems. An engineer identifies a

specific need: Who need(s) what because why? And then, creates a solution that meets the need.

When using the Engineering Design process while doing a science fair project, all of these steps listed

below are required in the order shown. During the process of completing each step, needs to be written in

your journal and later put on your display board. A judge will ask you about the Engineering Design

process in your interview.

▪ Define a Need

▪ Research

▪ Design Requirements

▪ Preliminary and Final Designs

▪ Materials Needed

▪ Step-by-step Procedure

▪ Build and Test the Prototype

o Build the Prototype

o Test the Prototype

o Record the Data

o Analyze the Data

o If it doesn’t work according to the “Design Requirements” then…

▪ Redesign and Retest as Necessary

▪ Conclusion

The Engineering Design process outline. The major objective is to understand the process of designing

something and building a prototype (model of the product). The engineering project should be one that

is a novice idea. It cannot be a purchased kit. The materials are to be raw materials found around the

house and/or purchased at a store.

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering

Design process described below. As students follow the Engineering Design Process, they must write

about each of the following steps in a journal. The interviewer can question anything that is in the

journal.

Begin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose. It could

be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement. Write it so the

need is clearly understood. The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a

prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function. Example: “The goal of this project is to

design, build, and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the city.”

2. Research: You need to research your topic using library materials, Internet sites, magazines, textbooks,

encyclopedias, experts, and other available and reliable sources. At least three sources must be

used for the research. A fairly lengthy paragraph should be written telling what you learned

from your three research sources. Be sure the paragraph goes deep into the content learned and

you are not just telling knowledge that is already known. Copying a page from a book or Internet

and placing it in the journal is not research. The research needs to be hand or type written.

The interviewer can question anything that is written in the journal.

3. Design Requirements: Next, you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to

decide how it will be built. Typical requirements relate to shape, size, weight, appearance,

physical features, performance, use, cost, time and money. Another part of the design

requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired

expectations.

4. Preliminary and Final Designs: Beginning designs

Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts. They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideas. Final designs

As you focus into one type of design, you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype. The changed designs need to

show progress from design to design.

List of materials Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototype. Using

descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important. Any materials that

are measured should have the measurements listed. (Ex. wooden board 2” x 4” x 8”) Step-by-step procedure

Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype. Write it in the order you

want to follow. Be very descriptive in your writing.

5. Build, Test and Record, and Analyze the Results of the Prototype Building the prototype

Build a prototype according to the design requirements, drawn designs, list of supplies and

equipment, and the step-by-step procedure. You need to write about the experience building

the prototype. Testing and data recording

After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the testing

procedure stated in the design requirements. You need to write down what is actually

happening during the testing. You should be as descriptive as possible. Testing the prototype

two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate.

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessary Analyze the data. See if the results match the design requirements. If not, redesigning is

necessary.

6. Redesign, Retest, Record, and Analyze As Necessary

After the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype

that need adjusting. You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling. Keeping

accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering project.

Retesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred. When you are retesting, you

need to write down data as to what is happening.

Analyze the data. See if the results match the design requirements. If not, redesigning is

necessary.

(Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project. Keeping notes of the changes and

the results are very important. You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and

what happened when these changes are retested. You need to be able to recall the changes and results if

needed.)

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design

requirements, you can then go on to the conclusion. If you feel that more designing and testing

is needed, then you need to continue to redesign and retest, writing down the data until you feel

the prototype is finished. The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements.

7. Conclusion:

When writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned. The

conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions: How do the results

validate what was expected to happen? What was learned from building the prototype? In

what ways is this prototype important? Are there more things that could be done to improve the

prototype? How does this prototype help people understand the world better? How can this

information be applied to real life? What new insights were discovered? What knowledge was

gained by designing and building to prototype?

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply

to life and/or the real world. Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits, originality,

and usefulness.

Sample: Engineering Design Display Board

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair. It is a summary of your project and

reflects your journal. This is your showcase. Make it creative and colorful. Below are ideas for a good

display board.

Physically sound and durably constructed, able to stand by itself.

Title of your project at the top.

Show all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief

explanation of each: the need, design criteria, preliminary and final designs, building, testing

results and the analysis, redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed, and the

conclusion. The research will be in the journal.

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the next.

Neat, edited, and without scribbles and misspelled words.

Creative, pleasing to look at, colorful, with different font sizes to show emphasis.

Photos of the developing experiment.

Drawn pictures, artwork, and icons that bring out the ideas of the experiment.

The journal should be in front of the display. (Only the student doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board. Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age.)

Sample: Engineering Design Interview Questions

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them. Their interest lies in your knowledge of

the Engineering Design process, the display board, the results, and the knowledge you acquired.

The judge’s interview gives you the opportunity to explain your project. The judge wants

to know how much you know about your project.

• How you received the idea?

• How you personalized it to make it unique?

• How you prepared it?

• How you set it up?

• What information you discovered?

• What the information means?

• What your conclusion

Engineering Design Research Planning Sheet:

Need or Problem to Solve or Construct

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature

Define a Need/Problem

On Time? Yes/No

What is the problem or need you want to solve or construct?

State the Goal

What is your goal for this engineering design process?

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Engineering Design Draft:

Background Research/Bibliography Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Background Research

What do you know about the problem? Find out as much about the problem as you can. What are the

criteria (conditions that the design must satisfy—its overall size or weight, etc.) and constraints (limitations

with material, time, size of team, etc.) of this problem?

Bibliography (3 to 5 sources)

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Design Requirement Page:

Project Prototype Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature

Prototype Requirements/Expectations/Materials

(Planning a design to construct a prototype to solve a problem or need).

On Time? Yes/No

Establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built.

Typical requirements relate to shape, size, weight, appearance, physical features, performance, use, cost, time

and money. List of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototype. Another part of

the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired

expectations.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Prototype Beginning Design:

Design with Parts

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Brainstorming Designs

Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Engineering Step-by-Step :

Order Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Step-by-Step Descriptive Writing

Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype. Write it in the order you want to

follow. Be very descriptive in your writing.

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Engineering Design:

Conclusion

Name Due Date

Parent/Guardian Signature On Time? Yes/No

Make a Conclusion When writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned. The conclusion

summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions: How do the results validate what was

expected to happen? What was learned from building the prototype? In what ways is this prototype

important? Are there more things that could be done to improve the prototype? How does this prototype help

people understand the world better? How can this information be applied to real life? What new insights

were discovered? What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype?

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life and/or

the real world. Write about the final prototype by looking at its facts, originality, and usefulness.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teacher Comments/Suggestions:

Part Three: Oral Presentation (Optional)

Your teacher may assign you a date on which you will present your science fair project to the class. Some

schools also ask you to present your project to the science fair judges; if this is the case, then the class

presentation will be excellent practice.

Tips for a great oral presentation:

æ Make sure that your science journal, research paper, and display board are complete, neat, and

proofread.

æ Be prepared. Practice your presentation as many times as possible. Use index cards to write down

your main points. Your index cards should not be read aloud; by practicing your presentation enough

times, you should know what to say without even looking at your cards. They are to be used only if

you need a reminder as you are presenting.

æ Point to your board when explaining graphs or pictures, but do not read off your board.

æ Practice in front of friends and relatives. Give them an opportunity to ask questions or provide

feedback, and remember that it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” Remember, it is always better to

say that you don’t know the answer than to make one up!

æ In case you are asked, make sure that you can clearly explain how your results were measured.

For example, if you used a scale to measure weight, know what type of scale you used. Be able

to show how to balance the scale and what weights you used.

æ Be enthusiastic, and smile during your presentation. Stand straight and speak clearly and loudly

enough to be heard by everyone in your audience. Make sure that your audience knows how proud

you are of your project.

æ Dress well. Wearing nice clothes shows that you are proud of your project and want to represent

it in the best way possible.

æ Stay within the length of time your teacher has provided for your presentation.

You may be expected to present your entire study, including your research question, purpose, background

research, hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, and conclusion. Make sure that you share any special

challenges or unexpected outcomes. Be prepared to answer questions at the end of your presentation.