Young Scientist Week is an annual event provided for by the Somerset Elementary PTSA. This program encourages all Somerset students to get excited about learning and actively participating in science and engineering activities. Activities leading up to and during Young Scientist Week include a Pacific Science Center demonstration, student science projects, in-class science activities, and culminating in the Family Science Night Carnival.

One important purpose of completing a science project is to help the students learn about the scientific process. Children learn science best and understand ideas better if they are able to investigate and experiment. Hands-on science can also help children to think critically and gain confidence in their own ability to solve problems. A science project is required for all 4th and 5th graders. K-3 is optional.

Be aware of the following safety rules:

1. Do not use poisons, dangerous chemicals or open flames for the project display at the Science Fair. These may be used in the project at home at the parents' discretion but will not be allowed at the fair.
2. The use of live animals is discouraged, unless closely supervised by an adult to ensure humane treatment of the animal. Animals will not be allowed at the fair.

We are looking forward to another fun Science Fair and hope your child will participate. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Projects: K-3

K-3rd graders, either individually or in pairs, can create projects of any of the following:

A Collection. A collection might be of seashells, rocks or seeds.
A Model. A model of the solar system or a clay model of an ant.
A Demonstration. You could demonstrate how a simple machine like a lever or pulley works.

A demonstration or model shows how something works, either an object such as the heart or a scientific principle such as osmosis. It lacks a hypothesis and analysis and is easier for the lower grade student to accomplish.

A collection/observation is another simple project. In a collection, groups of objects such as shells or rocks are displayed in ways that allow easy comparisons. An observation might include groupings of leaf rubbings or fingerprints.

Project Ideas

Observations
Fingerprints
How animals hide and defend
Animals tracks
Crystals
Properties of solids, liquids and gases
Objects that block and pass light
Shapes of magnetic fields
Parts of a flame (candle observation)
Rocks and minerals
Spider webs
The moon
Planets you can see
Our sun
Living things in my yard
Leaf prints
How to read a weather map
Parts of a flower
Clouds
Roots of different plants
All about horses (or dogs, frogs, fish, birds, etc.)
Inside the egg

Collections
Chemical elements (carbon, lead, iron, sulfur, etc.)
Solids, liquids and gases
Rocks
Rocks from two beaches (or areas)
Different varieties of sand
Different types of soil
Fossils
Bones
Seashells
Leaves (indoor or outdoor plants)
Seeds
Bark rubbings

Models and Demonstrations
How a bicycle works
Evaporation
How a generator (or motor) works
How are sounds produced?
Simple machines
Why things float
Levers
Why elevators have counterweights
Pulleys
Open and closed circuits
How things move on movie film
How a switch works
Why the wind blows
How fuses work
What makes hail?
How a flashlight works
How light reflects
Inside our earth (model)
Mixing colors
How magnets work
An electromagnet
Friction
Our solar system (model)
Newton's 3rd law
Galaxies and our milky way (model)
How thermometers work
Optical illusions
Heat and air (convection mobile)
How the ear works (model)
Does fire give off water?
How seeds travel
Does air have weight?
Do plants give off water?
Does air exert pressure?
Tree rings

Projects: 4-5

4th and 5th graders are required to do either an individual engineering invention or a scientific experiment.

A scientific experiment uses the scientific method to answer a question or solve a problem. It involves formulating a hypothesis and analyzing data.

An engineering invention is the design of a new device, machine, tool or process--or the improvement of one that already exists - that performs a practical function including, but not limited to, tools that mend, make life easier or safer in some way, entertain or solve everyday problems.

Before you start the experimentation part of your project, do some research about your topic and then use questions like those below to develop your own hypothesis - what you think will happen in your experiment, based on what you know or want to find out. It's okay if your experiment doesn't turn out like you predicted - that's part of the scientific method as well!

Experiments

You might decide to do an experiment for your science fair project. If you do, be sure to state a problem that you plan to solve by doing your experiment. The problem should be in the form of a question. Some examples are: Which materials are magnetic and non-magnetic? What does a plant need to grow? You must state a hypothesis (scientific guess) as to the possible solution of your problem. Next you must include a list of all the materials you used to solve your problem. This is followed by a list of the procedures or steps you followed to solve your problem. The most important part of your display for an experiment are the observations. You must write down or draw everything you saw and measured during the experiment. Finally, you must write a conclusion, or report of what you found. This is where you state whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. You should answer the original question stated as the problem. Explain how you arrived at your conclusion.

1. Select a topic
2. Select a question to be answered by the experiment. All experiments have variables. All things that can or will change are called variables. Variables can be divided into three groups: a manipulated variable, responding variables and controlled variables. An experiment must have a measurement. A measurement must be made to tell what effect a change in the manipulated variable has on the responding variable. The best measurements are objective: time, temperature, weight, length and so on.
3. Form a hypothesis.
4. Plan the experiment.
5. Perform the experiment. Make changes in your plan as you do the experiment experiment to make a better experiment. It may be necessary to start over after making changes. So start your work early and then you will have time to make all necessary changes.
6. Prepare the results. Review and organize the measurements to show what happened. Usually tables, graphs and charts are made to show the measurements in different ways.
7. Explain the results. What does the resulting measurement mean? Are there other times or places when similar results would be expected to happen? Did the results turn out according to the hypothesis? If not, why did your hypothesis prove to be incorrect?
8. Drawing the conclusions. Conclusions are general statements that can be made with confidence based on the results. They may include patterns, measured values, changes and so on. You should answer the experiment question at this time.
9. Prepare your materials for the science fair. You need to include:
        The display of the project
        A brief written report about the project

Inventions

You might decide to invent something for your science fair project. Inventions help make our lives better by solving problems, making us safer or entertaining us. Begin by thinking about problems in your everyday life that could be solved by an invention. Ask other family members if they have any problems. Make a list of problems and how you could solve them. What materials would you need for each one? What obstacles might you have to overcome? How will the invention work? Choose one problem to work on. Now it's time to build a prototype of your invention. Make sure you draw pictures or diagrams of how it's supposed to work and include them in your project display. Try out your invention. Can you find ways to make it better? Most inventions are changed many times before they are sold in stores.

There are questions you should ask yourself when evaluating an invention.

        What is the invention supposed to do?
        What are the positive things about how the invention solves the problem?
        What are some of the problems with the invention?
        What could be changed to make it better?
        Why do you think it would or would not be successful?
        Will this invention be worth while over time?
        How much would it cost to produce it?
        Is the invention durable?
        Have others try it out. What advice do they give?

Make changes to your invention to make it better. Most inventions are evaluated and revised many times before they are put on the market.

Project Ideas

Documents

 2012 Science Fair Guidebook

 2012 Entry & Proposal Form

Key Dates

Date	Description
13 Feb 2012	Decide on your question and project
13-24 Feb 2012	Research your project
27 Feb 2012	Complete your project proposal and submit to your teacher
27-29 Feb 2012	Proposals reviewed by teacher
2 March 2012	Proposals reviewed by YSW Committee (5th grade only)
5 March 2012	Proposals returned to students
5-13 March 2012	Plan & work your project
14-20 March 2012	Finish up project and create project board
22 March 2012	Bring project to your class and gymnasium (scheduled)
23 March 2012	View projects by class
23 March 2012	Science Carnival, 5:30 - 8 PM

www.cosmos4kids.com
www.fossweb.com
www.kidsclick.org
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.scienceclub.org