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How to Make a Good Science Fair Project Idea into a Great Idea!
Science Fair
Science Fair: Student Peer Review
My students participate in a Writing Workshop and Peer Review Session before their last submission of their introduction. The purpose of this activity is to actively engage students in supporting each other by giving meaningful feedback. This activity is meant to model the peer-review process used by professional scientists. At this point in the class, … Continue reading Science Fair: Student Peer Review
Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Generating new ideas is hard. Students can choose from a seemingly unlimited number of topics - as long as they apply the scientific method or engineering principles. Giving students the most freedom possible is a good thing. I require students to stay away from projects that are a demonstration of a known idea or product … Continue reading Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Science Fair: stating your question
Student: "I'm thinking about doing ___________ for my project next year. Is that acceptable?" Firstly, there are some really easy followup questions to this. I always ask a couple of these before saying "yes" or "no" to a student's ideas. That seems like an interesting idea! Can you tell me more about it? Why does … Continue reading Science Fair: stating your question
Science Fair: Leading students in a literature search
Last fall I had the tremendous opportunity to participate in a conference for teachers who mentor students who do independent research. The weekend was sponsored by the Society for Science and the Public, and took place in Washington DC. (I strongly encourage you to apply for it if you see the opportunity. Everything about it … Continue reading Science Fair: Leading students in a literature search
Science Fair: Writing your Results
What should the results section include? The results is perhaps the most important part of the paper. In fact, when I was taught how to read a scientific paper, my professor encouraged me to start with the results and discussion. The results section should show the answer to the purpose and main question of the … Continue reading Science Fair: Writing your Results
Science Fair: Presenting Data
The development of student use of graphs and tables is a skill that takes practice, and many students do not have the opportunity to carefully consider their appropriate use. January is the time in my class when students working on independent research projects are finalizing their data and preparing it for their papers and displays. … Continue reading Science Fair: Presenting Data
Mentoring Many Independent Research Projects – aka, “Doing Science Fair”
Its the time of year where my weekends start to be taken up with Science Fair. But as a teacher - its really nearly a year-round endeavor. Science Fair for me starts in May. May is when I find out what students signed up for my course for the following year, the students who I … Continue reading Mentoring Many Independent Research Projects – aka, “Doing Science Fair”
Lab Notebooks: the grown up interactive notebook
In the last decade, interactive notebooks have exploded in popularity. I tried them with my students, and I loved them. The majority of my students did not.Why?I was doing all the work. The students were still just talking notes or doing worksheet style activities. Just in this thing called an "interactive notebook". The students pointed … Continue reading Lab Notebooks: the grown up interactive notebook
The start of the school year. But not really.
This is the first year I don't have a "big" thing to do. The last few years have been overshadowed by earning a degree, completing Ohio's RESA (I passed!) and just getting used to being a working mom. That's why I've been a little absent from my blog. Tomorrow is the start of my school … Continue reading The start of the school year. But not really.
Better Science Teaching 