Science Fair!

Friday, Jan 17th & Jan 31st:

I need one volunteer per class in charge of assembling their class tri-board.  I have the tri-boards for you to use, all you have to do is tape on the data, pictures, and write-ups the kids will do in lab.  You can either put the board together in class as a class activity, or take all the supplies home and assemble it there. 

Meghan Goodman 8:15
Station 1. Jack _____
Station 2. Amanda______
Station 3. _Morton__ 

Kelly Johnson 8:15
Station 1. Pilar____
Station 2.Mandy
Station 3._Vivian (Logan)____ 

Cheryl Kennedy 9:15
Station 1. Morton (Ross)______
Station 2. _Mandy
Station 3. Melissa ________ 

Emily Duerringer  9:15
Station 1. _Amanda & Jack ___
Station 2._Shannon - in charge of tri-fold_____
Station 3._Teresa (Sophia)_____
   
Teresa Welch - 10:15-11:15(We'll split each station into two groups if we have enough volunteers
Station 1. _______
Station 2._Emily - pictures for Welch_____
Station 3._ Jennifer (?)___

Jan 31st
Station one: data crunchingTake the data from last week, count it all up, and color histograms of the results.
What did they hypothesize last week?
Which is faster, eyes, ears, or touch?
Which is faster, 6yo's or 7yo's?
Look at the data - what was really faster?  Why do you think that is?
Station two: Creating a lab notebook, writing up procedure, materials list, hypothesis, and conclusions.

Station Three - Pictures!Get pictures of everyone dropping their rulers for the poster, and have them color pictures of what they did in their experiment. 

Jan 17th:
Intro - by teachers
What are science and engineering fairs?

Science and engineering Fairs are school events in which students design and test a project of their choosing using the scientific and engineering methods.

What is the scientific method?

• The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments.
• The steps of the scientific method are to:
  • Ask a Question
  • Do Background Research
  • Construct a Hypothesis
  • Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
  • Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
  • Communicate Your Results
• It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. A "fair test" occurs when you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same.
• While scientists study how nature works, engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences.
  • If your project involves creating or inventing something new, your project might better fit the steps of the Engineering Design Process.
  • If you are not sure if your project is a scientific or engineering project, you should read Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method.

What is "reaction time"?
Has anyone ever said, "Think fast!" and then thrown something at you? How quickly or slowly you react is called your reaction time. Your reaction time will be measured by how long it takes for your eyes, ears, or nerves to tell your brain that the ruler is falling and then for your brain to tell your fingers to catch it. The ruler falling is called a stimulus and this type of reaction is called a simple reaction. The simple reaction time is the time it takes to react to a simple stimuli — or small change in the environment.

Background info: https://backyardbrains.com/experiments/reactiontime

3 stations: Eyes, Ears, and Touch.

1. Have your friend sit at a table with their dominant hand over the edge.
2. First we will test visual response. Hold the ruler at the 30 cm mark so that the 0 cm end is just at your friend's index finger.
3. Tell your friend that when you release the ruler they are to grab it as fast as possible. Do not make any sounds or gestures that you are releasing the ruler. They have to react to the visual stimulus of seeing the ruler being released. Record the centimeter mark.
4. Repeat the experiment three more times. Then switch places with your partner and redo it.
5. Now you will record auditory reactions. Have your partner sit at the table as before, also be sure your partner puts on the eye shades.
6. Again testing the dominant hand, tell your partner that you will say the word "Release" as you release the ruler. Once they grab it record the centimeter mark and repeat 3 times. Switch places with your partner again.
7. For the last test, have your partner sit at the table wearing the eye shades again. This time you will test the tactile response. Tell your partner that you will touch the shoulder of their non dominant arm as you release the ruler.
8. Give you partner no auditory cue that you are releasing, just a simple touch. Record the measurement and like before, repeat three times, then switch places and redo.

 
Have students color worksheets while they wait to have their reflexes tested.

Eyes:




Ears

Touch





Repeatable results? 
Take each measurement 3 times.
Be sure the starting position of the ruler is the same (just above index finger) for each drop.

Each group will have a data sheet, data sheets will travel with students from station to station. 

Eye video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvozcv8pS3c

Ear Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-c5GpoD8wI

How nerve endings on your skin work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC3YTJNu0Ec