Students have collected over 100 pieces of data for their science fair projects. Each project is unique, so each student needs one on one attention. All students used Excel to create data tables and graphs. Students had to think about what trends and patterns the data showed, and create tables that best reflected these trends. In addition, students had to choose the best graph, or graphs, to represent their data. I love this part of the science fair project because I get to talk to each student about their data. I love to see them thinking critically, struggling with their data. They have learned to appreciate the power of Excel, using it to calculate averages, and some students even used Excel to Sort their data. The Sorting tool was the tool that kids really were impressed with. It is difficult for me to post a lesson, but I have posted a portion of my Science Fair Project Handbook.

Hi MaryAnn

The students in our school are also involved in science fair projects. Students are required to make graphs and data tables. Since they were exposed to excel in the classroom, most students ended up using excel for their end results.

Diane

Hi MaryAnn,
Do all of the stduents at your school do a science fair project? How much time do you spend on helping them with their projects? When I taught in Florida, all of the kids were required to do projects and it was very difficult to help them, and cover all of the science standards. Do the kids do much of teh work on their own? How do the projects come out?
- Christine

MaryAnn,

I reposted my aiplane four forces leson plan with corrections and was really happy with the ability of Excel to bring many concepts concretely in the hands of students. They posted there raw data on a classroom Excel I had set up. When asked to anaysis the raw data they were at a lost then I demonstrated with a student taking step by step instructions how to use the chart wizard and they could suddenly understand the relationship of thrust and mass on distance flown by different planes.

I have to agree Excel increased the critical thinking and discussions. I have built the planes with out using and excel and I hae always felt I had been missing an oppurtuity. I look forward to next year and building on what I did this year.

Look forward to seeing you all on April 5.
The discussions drew on their math stands on interpreting outlier data and trends. It inabled the math teacher and I to work cooperatively.

Hello Christine,

Sorry about getting back to you so late. All of my seventh grade students complete a science fair project. I now teach in an independent school, and our school day goes to 3:30 p.m. This extended day gives me more time with kids outside of the formal classroom. I take advantage of these times to work one on one with kids.

Basically, we begin the project right after winter break, around Jan. 7 this year. The project is completed by March 3. This is my 9th year taking kids through the process, and
many of those years were at a public school, teaching over 100 students, all required to complete the project. Here is what I have learned: I begin the project in January because by this point, we have completed several labs and lab reports while studying earth science. They are used to stating problems, forming a hypothesis, identifying variables, collecting and analyzing data ... We use the same basic process for the science fair project, except kids now have to do their own research because they have each chosen their own topic. Between January and March, I would estimate that about 40% of my classroom time I use to support the project. I take them to the library to do research, I sign out laptops for research in the classroom, we discuss the timeline, I give feedback on their research, hypothesis, and experimental design, and we use the computers to analyze and organize the data using Excel. The other 60% of the time we continue to learn about earth processes. We completed two labs and lab reports and a major assesment on plate tectonics during this same time.

We celebrate all of this hard work with a science fair. The kids are amazing. Parents and siblings come to ask questions, and people always remark on how much the kids know about the science behind their projects, as well as how much data they collect. This year, our science fair was on March 13, so I am very content right now! Last year, we took 10 projects to the Worcester Regional Fair, and 8 of the students won an award. These 8 went on to the State Fair, and 3 won an award. So, I would say the projects are very well done. Most importantly, while I know that parents support the kids by purchasing materials ... I have had enough one on one conversations with each student to know that most of the work was done by the kids.

I apologize for the length of this response, but I love this project. It is the one time a kid can choose whatever they want to investigate. The rest of the time, they have to study earth science with me!

See you soon,

MaryAnn