I.        Picking a topic

a.   Creative

b.   Feasible

c.   Age appropriate

d.   Sources

                                         i.    Old Regional and State Books

                                        ii.    Lab Books

1.   modify experiment

2.   be careful of Vernier lab books

                                       iii.    Student generated idea

                                      iv.    Internet

   II.        Setting up experiments

a.   Where?

                                         i.    grades 7-8

1.   in school

2.   at home, possibly

                                        ii.    grades 9-12

1.   in school

2.   at home

3.   at an industrial or hospital lab-questionable

b.   Criteria needed

                                         i.    Control group

                                        ii.    One or more variable groups

                                       iii.    Sample size

1.   minimum of 10 organisms for Bio, Botany, Behavioral Psych, and Zoology

2.   minimum of 3 Petri dishes for Micro

3.   minimum of 2 trials for Chemistry and Physics

4.   Math, Computer, Biochemistry, and Ecology # of trials depends on experiment

                                      iv.    SI units ONLY!!!!!!!!

                                       v.    Observations at regular intervals

                                      vi.    ISEF forms

1.   International Science and Engineering Fair

2.   Found at www.sciserv.org

3.   turned in with student registration

  III.        Presentations

a.   No 3 dimensional objects to pass around the room

b.   Slides are OK. Child must provide own projector and extension cord.

c.   No PowerPoint presentations

d.   Transparencies

                                         i.    Clear and concise

                                        ii.    able to read from the back of the room (axis of graphs, in particular)

e.   Maximum of 10 minute speaking time

                                         i.    any presentation over 10 minutes will not be eligible for a 1st place award

                                        ii.    maximum of 5 minutes question time by judges

f.     Speech format

                                         i.    follow scientific method

                                        ii.    problem/rationale

                                       iii.    hypothesis

                                      iv.    materials (optional)

                                       v.    definitions

                                      vi.    procedure

                                     vii.    results

                                   viii.    analysis of results

                                      ix.    conclusions

1.   minimum of 2

2.   must valid, i.e. related to the hypothesis

                                       x.    future implications

 IV.        Transparences needed for results and conclusions. Any others are optional

  V.        Technicians

a.   acknowledge cards that held up

                                         i.    5 minutes to go

                                        ii.    2 minutes to go

                                       iii.    Stop and conclude

b.   Practice in your building with the students