CURRENT FOCUS





4th Grade 
Group Project Choices
3rd Grade
Class Science Fair Project: Egg Drop
Instructions
Synopsis
The third grade class Science Fair project is the classic egg drop. The objective is to build some form of barrier that will protect an uncooked chicken egg from breaking when dropped from various heights.
Requirements
Use everyday household supplies to build a protective barrier.
The total size of the barrier may not exceed one foot in diameter (width).
Suggestions
Place the egg in a shoe box carefully packed with one of the following:
Popcorn
Peanut butter
Bubble wrap
Styrofoam peanuts
Toilet paper
Feathers
Online Resources
The internet has a wide range of resources and suggestions. I recommend conducting an online search using the key words “egg drop project” for additional suggestions. We will discuss several potential types of barriers in class.
Sample websites:
http://daviscreek.cabe.k12.wv.us/eggdrop.html

http://college.cengage.com/education/pbl/project/project3.html
Timeline
The egg drop protective barrier should be constructed at home and brought to school on Tuesday, February 16th, for testing. Eggs will be provided on Tuesday.
Textbook Connection
Science Inquiry
page S14 and S16
(At the beginning of the book)
Energy
pages 277-283 and 287-293
Third Grade Science Standards
•
Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations.
•
Energy and matter have multiple forms and can be changed from one form to another.
Class Science Fair Project: Egg Drop
Scientific Method
Name
_________________________________________________
1.
Question
What type of barrier would best protect an uncooked chicken egg from breaking when the egg is dropped from various heights?
2.
Research
Please write down the research you did to prepare for this project.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3.
Hypothesis
Please describe the protective barrier you will make to protect your egg and explain why you believe your barrier will work.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4.
Procedures
Please write down the materials you will use to make your protective barrier and describe how you will assemble your barrier.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5.
Experiment
Please bring your protective barrier to school on Tuesday, February 16th, for testing. Do not bring an egg. Eggs will be provided at school.
Class Science Fair Project: Egg Drop
Scientific Method
6.
Results
Please write down what happened when your egg was dropped from one meter.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Please write down what happened when your egg was dropped from three meters.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
7.
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct? In other words, did your barrier prevent your egg from cracking? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What would you change if you had the opportunity to do your experiment over again? What did you learn?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
4th Grade
Baldwin Lane Elementary
Science Fair: Expectations and Rubric
Synopsis
The science fair is a long term project that focuses on answering a student-selected “Big Question” through student research and experimentation. The science project is an active approach to learning science… something you do rather than something you only read about or watch someone else do. All students are expected to research, prepare, and construct their project at home. The students will work in small groups.
Expectations
1.
Obtain parental approval and support
2.
Chose a “Big Question” that is specific, appropriate, and measurable
3.
Write a hypothesis- an educated guess about the results of your experiment
4.
Gather supplies to conduct all experiments
5.
All experiments must follow specific protocols (rules)
a.
Parent approved and supervised
b.
No harm to living creatures
c.
Only change one variable per experiment and maintain a control group
d.
Document all results
6.
Maintain a “Research Journal” on all experiments (procedures and results)
7.
Create a formal display to present your results
8.
Present the project during the Science Fair, Thursday, February 25th
Rubric (grading procedure)
Students working in groups will receive the same grade as their partner.
The report is worth 100 points. The specific grading categories are listed below.
Document all steps involved in experimentation (see handout)
Typed reports, illustrations/pictures, experimentation samples, etc. (see handout)
4.
Project Presentation

10%
Present project to class and during the Science Fair

Class Science Fair Project: 4th Grade
Scientific Method
Names
______________________________________________________________
1.
Question
What is your “Big Question?” (i.e. What do you want to investigate?)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2.
Research
Please write down the research you did to prepare for this project.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3.
Hypothesis
What is your hypothesis? (i.e. What do you think will happen?)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4.
Procedures
Please list the steps you followed to conduct your experiment.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Class Science Fair Project: 4th Grade
Scientific Method
6.
Results
Please write down what happened when you completed your experiment.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
7.
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct? Why or why not?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
What would you change if you had the opportunity to do your experiment over again?
What did you learn?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________