Lavaland Science Fair
 November 18 - 20, 2002

Schedule of Events
Monday, Nov. 4:  Make & Take It Session- Getting ready for the fair!

Monday, Nov. 18:    Bring projects to school
Tuesday, Nov. 19:   Judging in classrooms
                               Display of projects in the cafeteria & gym
                               Viewing by classrooms
                               Science Fair Open House

Wednesday, Nov. 20:   Take home your projects

Requirements:
Teachers have different requirements for their students regarding participation in the Science Fair.  They will let you know what they expect as requirements for their classes.

 1.  Do I have to be in the Science Fair?
We would like to encourage everyone to enter.  It is a challenging  experience, but you will be proud of yourself for trying.

 2.  Does my project have to be an experiment?
When you are in middle school or high school, the project must be an experiment.  Therefore, especially for the older elementary students, your teacher may require an experiment.  Other science projects that will be accepted in the Science Fair will be demonstrations or research projects.  You can read about them on the following pages.

 3.  Do I need a display board and a written report?
A display board is important.  It helps to organize your project and to set it apart from projects exhibited around yours.  Your display board  should give information about what your purpose is and what you did.  Make it as neat as possible and have someone help you edit for spelling mistakes.  Appearance isn’t everything, but it can make a difference in a judge’s impression of you and your project.  A written report may not be necessary if your display board is complete enough, but it may be required by your teacher.

Judging Criteria
Our judges are MESA students from West Mesa High School.  Their academic program in high school focuses on a more advanced level of math and science.  The interviews will take place in the students’ classrooms.  We will also have judges from our Join A School Partners.

 The judges are intructed to look for the following qualities in each project:
  1.  Scientific Thought
   Good organization, accurate observation, data collection, etc.
  2.  Thoroughness
   Does the project serve its purpose?
  3.  Ability of the student to explain the project in the interview.
   Be sure you understand what you are doing!
  4.  Creativity
   Is the project original?  Is there something interesting or  unusual about it?
  5.  Visual Effectiveness
   Does the exhibit have an organized appearance, good workmanship, adequate labels and illustrations?
* * * * *
APS Regulations
Size:  Outside dimensions of the project must not exceed 48 inches side to side, 30 inches front to back, and 9 feet high, floor to top.

Animal Experiments:  Students doing experiments with, or on, live vertebrate animals will need a   signed statement by a teacher or veterinarian indicating that the animals have been treated in   a humane manner.  This statement must accompany the project.

 No live animals, preserved vertebrate animals or parts (including embryos) may be exhibited.  Research involving the use of animals may display photographs, drawings,   charts, or graphs to illustrate the methods and results of the investigations.

Safety:  Anything which could be hazardous to the public is prohibited in the display.  This includes:
  -microbial (bacteria, viruses) cultures and fungi, live or dead
  -any flames, open or concealed.
  -highly flammable materials
  -dangerous chemicals including caustics and acids
  -operation of class III or IV lasers

 The following precautions need to be taken:
  -exhibits producing high temperatures (above 100º C or 212º F) must be insulated.
  -batteries with open top cells are not permitted
  -high voltage equipment (above 12 volts) must be properly shielded.

Science Project Ideas
Use the Lavaland website for a complete listing of science fair ideas!
Go to http://www.aps.edu/aps/lavaland/index.html and click on parent information or go to http://www.aps.edu.

Are homemade weather instruments reliable?
When will water evaporate faster?
Why does an electric fan cool?
Why is ice lighter than water?
How do you measure air pressure?
How does sound reach your ears?
How is an echo produced?
What effect does heating and cooling have on materials?
What materials are magnetic?
How far does a meal worm or roly-poly crawl in one minute?
How do electric charges react?
How can you store electricity?
How does light bend?
How can a pulley increase your strength?
What are the effects of soaps and detergents on the strength of textile fabrics?
Are there germs on things around us?
How can levers make work easier?
Under what color lights do plants grow best?
What type of packaging will keep food cold?
What will make an electromagnet stronger?
Why do hot air balloons rise?
What forces determine how high playing cards can be stacked?
What things are biodegradable?
How is passive energy used to heat homes?
What does yeast do to sugar or starch?
How does rainfall cause erosion?
Why is ground water clear?
How do different activities affect body temperature?
Can evaporation of water be controlled?
What effect does sight have on balance?
Does light go through air and liquids in the same way?
How can you control light in an aquarium?
From what substances can you create soil?
What does color of soil have to do with quality?

PROJECT TYPES
Type I -- Experiment
           Examples:
What is the best way to clean water?
What are the best insulating materials?
What is the best design for a parachute that will lower an object at the slowest speed?

Your project will answer a question.  An experiment requires the use of the
scientific method:

 1.  State the purpose of the experiment.  What are you trying to find out?

 2.  Hypothesis.  What do you think will be the outcome?  Try to decide
  based on what you already know.  Make a statement.  Your project
  will try to find out if your hypothesis is true.

 3.  Procedure.
  a.  research -- find out as much information as you can.
   Be sure to list your sources of information.  You may use       books, magazines, interviews, and TV.  You may contact     business, utilities, government offices, etc.
  b.  experiment -- test your hypothesis with tests you design.  In your
   hypothesis, you stated what you thought the answer would be.
   What would be the best way to find out?
      **Remember to change only one important factor each time you test.  This way you will know the cause of different results that occur.

 4.  Results.  Tell what happened when you experimented.  List what    happened when you tested your hypothesis.  Use a notebook, graphs,    charts, pictures, or tapes.  Give the facts, not opinions, as clearly as    possible.

 5.  Conclusion.  What did you learn?  Did your results support your    hypothesis?  Even if your hypothesis was proven to not be true, you    learned something.  It can still be used as a science fair project.
 

TYPE II -- Demonstration
    Examples:
How the ear works.

Air expands or contracts with temperature changes.

 1.  Purpose.  You are teaching people about how something works.  State    this as a question  (Example:  How do the lungs work?)

 2.  Research.  Look for information about your subject.  Be sure to list your  information sources.

 3.  Describe, as simply as possible, what your demonstration illustrates.

 4.  Illustrate.  Most successful demonstrations include some kind of model or illustration.  Make it colorful and attractive.  Use charts, graphs,   photographs, or carefully drawn pictures.  Or you may make a model.

TYPE III -- Research
      Examples:
Why does the pupil of the eye react to different brightness of light?

Compare performance of a bicycle with gears. Which gear gives the greatest distance moved for one turn of the pedals.  Find out why this happens.

 1.  Purpose.  State your scientific investigation as a question.
  (Example:  How do birds know when----- it is time to migrate?)

 2.  Research.  Study books, encyclopedias, magazines, the internet, etc.     Talk to people who are experts.  Explain the results of your research   as simply as possible.

 3.  List the sources of your information.

 4.  Models or illustrations.  Most good research projects include either a    model or detailed, colorful illustrations.