Science

CURRENT FOCUS

Science Fair Projects

3rd Grade

Egg Drop

http://daviscreek.cabe.k12.wv.us/eggdrop.html

http://college.cengage.com/education/pbl/project/project3.html

4th Grade

Group Project Choices

www.all-science-fair-projects.com

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml

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

_________________________________________________

Question

What type of barrier would best protect an uncooked chicken egg from breaking when the egg is dropped from various heights?

Research

Please write down the research you did to prepare for this project.

______________________________________________________________

Hypothesis

Please describe the protective barrier you will make to protect your egg and explain why you believe your barrier will work.

______________________________________________________________

Procedures

Please write down the materials you will use to make your protective barrier and describe how you will assemble your barrier.

______________________________________________________________

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

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.

______________________________________________________________

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

Obtain parental approval and support

Chose a “Big Question” that is specific, appropriate, and measurable

Write a hypothesis- an educated guess about the results of your experiment

Gather supplies to conduct all experiments

All experiments must follow specific protocols (rules)

Parent approved and supervised

No harm to living creatures

Only change one variable per experiment and maintain a control group

Document all results

Maintain a “Research Journal” on all experiments (procedures and results)

Create a formal display to present your results

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.

Commitment Form

10 %

Science Journal

30%

Document all steps involved in experimentation (see handout)

Project Display

50%

Typed reports, illustrations/pictures, experimentation samples, etc. (see handout)

Project Presentation

10%

Present project to class and during the Science Fair

Class Science Fair Project: 4th Grade

Scientific Method

Names

______________________________________________________________

Question

What is your “Big Question?” (i.e. What do you want to investigate?)

_______________________________________________________________________

Research

Please write down the research you did to prepare for this project.

_______________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis

What is your hypothesis? (i.e. What do you think will happen?)

_______________________________________________________________________

Procedures

Please list the steps you followed to conduct your experiment.

_______________________________________________________________________

Class Science Fair Project: 4th Grade

Scientific Method

Results

Please write down what happened when you completed your experiment.

_______________________________________________________________________

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?

_______________________________________________________________________