November 2018
Dear Parent(s) and Student(s),
Fifth Grade will soon begin working on their Science Fair Projects. Although there is not Fair this year, fifth graders need to prepare for writing reports, preparing boards and to meet with judges for Middle School. It is imperative that you begin to think about the experiment that you wish to complete.
Due dates for specific parts of the Science Fair Report/Project will be published. The grade earned on the report, presentation and presentation board will be a large part of your child’s 2nd trimester Science grade. As the report etc. is completed during science class, students will earn grades for the work they do throughout the process. The experiment/ project should be something that the student should be able to do with just a little help from Mom, Dad and the Teacher.
I will prepare fifth grade students by walking them through the guidelines and specific parts of the project. We will read about, discuss and look at sample pieces of each part of the science report. Class time will be spent covering this material. Students are strongly encouraged to turn the parts in as outlined in the published due dates.
Students should be able to complete these assignments with some help, but may need some help assembling the project itself. A Student may turn in pieces he/ she is working on for their project or may turn in pieces for a project topics simply to show he/ she understands how to complete that part of the report. Regardless which option a child chooses he/ she is expected to complete an entire report as outlined in the materials sent home.
I will provide feedback and make a suggestions for the materials I collect. Students are encouraged to make corrections and to plan the final report accordingly to earn the best grade possible. Should the child turn in the actual pieces he/ she is working on and make the necessary corrections, he/ she will be that much further along in completing the final report by assembling them into a final report and board.
Each student will be required to follow the Science Fair Guidelines outlined in class and handouts in completing a report, presentation board and a class presentation. Although class time will be provided to work on the specific parts of the project, a significant portion of the report/ project will be completed at home.
I encourage students to take the science book home to search for an appropriate topic to research at a public library. This will assist students prepare for the project. There are many great experiments in the Science book that are outlined in detail and coordinate with the guidelines of the St. Joseph School Science curriculum.
Consider the following in selecting a topic:
The project must be based on an experiment A topic that is not too broad/too narrow
Availability of information Interest and ability level of student
Level of difficulty/time required for experiment The format of experiments in the science book
The experiment must not involve animals Good Luck to all on the science fair project!
Please sign and return this letter that I may know that you have received the preliminary Science Fair Guidelines and instructions. Please contact me with questions and concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Cholette
It’s the time of year to begin exploring topics for the ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT. I’VE ATTACHED SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU TO READ WITH YOUR CHILD AS THEY BEGIN TO EXPLORE TOPICS. Please review them carefully to avoid heartache should you have to select another topic later.
The fifth grade project is based on the same expectations students will work under in middle school. I WILL PUBLISH A LIST OF ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES WHEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS PUBLISHED THEIRS. This year students need to begin working more independently on their projects that they have in the past. Students should begin exploring __WWW.Sciencebuddies.com to investigate science areas of study, and topics of interest. They may even ask the Wizard for guidance by completing the questionnaire to help them find a project that is grade level and interest level appropriate. Students wishing to be challenged may specify grade 6 or higher. Students needing a less challenging project can select a grade 4 project.
Students are encouraged to check out these websites for background information.
__WWW.sciencebuddies.org__
__WWW.elmers.com__
__WWW.science-fair-projects.com__
Students should check out materials in the classroom, school library and the public library. Students will be expected to use print sources in addition to the Internet. You may find your science text helpful, too.
Please remember that the project is to be your child’s own work and written in your child’s own words. Parents are encouraged to assist and support them in their efforts. Plagiarized work is not acceptable.
Contact me with questions. Good luck to one and all!
Sincerely,
Mr. Cholette