Digital Science Fair

Objectives:
The Practice of Science:
Define a problem from the science curriculum, use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigation of various types, such as systemic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.
Discuss, compare, and negotiate methods used, results obtained, and explanations among groups of students conducting the same investigation.
Technology:
Use the basic steps in algorithmic problem-solving to design solutions (e.g., problem
statement and exploration, examination of sample instances, design, implementing a
solution, testing, evaluation).
Describe and analyze a sequence of instructions being followed (e.g., describe a
character’s behavior in a video game as driven by rules and algorithms).
Represent data in a variety of ways including text, sounds, pictures, and numbers.
Use visual representations of problem states, structures, and data (e.g., graphs, charts,
network diagrams, flowcharts).
Interact with content-specific models and simulations (e.g., ecosystems, epidemics,
molecular dynamics) to support learning and research.
Select appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and
solve problems.
Use a variety of multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity and
learning throughout the curriculum.
Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., webpages, mobile applications,
animations) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate
curriculum concepts.

Activities:
1. Using class discussion, online text, Gizmo investigations and teacher demonstration, students will learn/review how to carry out a scientific investigation to be entered into the science fair.
2. Students will perform the scientific method to investigate a topic they have chosen. At each step of their investigation, they will upload products to the educational, safe social networking site, Edmodo.
3. Students will be learning how to use productivity software (especially presentation and spreadsheet applications) to collect data and create a data table and graph, present each part of their project on presentation software and share with other students in the school.
4. Students will use web tools to create blogs, wikis, and websites to advise other students in the school about how to create a successful science fair project.
5. Students will use Scratch and/or Pivot (after learning how to use them) to create an animation illustrating the process they went through to do their investigation.

Evaluation:
Teacher observation of discussions and products, use of rubrics for the presentation, animations, and invesigation parts, grading of worksheets from the Gizmo simulation investigations, and paper-and-pencil science quizzes relating to the scientific method.