6th Grade Academic Fair Project

 

Step 1: Science- Choose your element

 

You will be choosing an element for your academic fair project to research, write a report, and create a model/display. Mr. Bernstein will help guide you with a list of elements to choose from.

 

The element I chose for my report is ______________________________________.

 

What do you already know about this element? List a few things you know:

 

 

 

 

What would you like to learn about your element? List a few things:

 

 

 

 

Important Due Dates to Remember for this project:

 

1.      Noodle notes due to Mr. Bernstein: January 29, 2008 (Tuesday)

2.      Rough Draft of report finished: February 11, 2008 (Monday)

3.      Final typed report due to Mrs. Pizii or Mrs. Barrett: February 22, 2008 (Friday)

4.      Display and model due: March 10, 2008 (Monday)

 

** Academic Fair is the week of March 10-14. During this week, you will be presenting your report and display in the Middle School. You will also be making a presentation in Science class.

 

 

Step 2: Outline of information to follow for researching and report writing

 

*This outline will help you keep your information organized when finding information and writing your report. It is important that you stick to this outline as you research and use it as a tool when you write your report.

 

I.                    Introduction- (6-10 sent.)

A.        Information to Include:

1.      Element name (this should be named in your topic sentence)

2.      Symbol of element

3.      Who discovered the element, date/year?( 2-3 facts about its discovery)

II.                  Body of Report

A.        Paragraph 2- Physical/ Chemical Properties (7-10 sent.)

1.      Give examples of both physical and chemical properties of your element (5-10 examples)

2.      Explain each example in this paragraph.

B.        Paragraph 3- Location of Element (5-10 sent.)

1.      Where is your element found?

2.      How is it obtained by man?

3.      Are there special tools used to obtain your element? Explain.

C.       Paragraph 4- Past and Current Uses for Element (7-10 sentences)

1.      What ways is your element used by man?

2.      Give and explain at least 3-5 important ways of its use.

3.      Explain some common substances/compounds that contain

your element.

III.                Conclusion Paragraph (6-10 sentences)

A.        Information to include:

1.      Restate your element name; explain if your element is essential or not essential for life? If it is, state good reasons. If it is not, also state your reasons.

2.      Final concluding sentence- Should be a strong ending to your report!

IV.                Bibliography- Last page of your report!

1.      Noodle will help you create this page in MLA format.

 

 

 

Step 3: Find Resources on Your Element (Science/English)

 

            During this step, you will be required to find information on your element from various sources. One source will be a non-fiction book on your element from our Middle School library. You will be given this book in English class to use. The other sources will be from the websites and database listed below.

 

http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/index.html

 

http://periodic.lanl.gov/default.htm

 

http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/pertable_j.htm

Encyclopedias like World Book, Grolier (Includes the New Book of Popular Science), and Britannica Online Premier are all sources on our database that you may use.

 **Each student will be required to use one print source (book) and two website/database sources.

 

Once you find your information from the websites, print a copy to read. A great way to find information quickly to Noodle from these articles is to use a highlighter and highlight only the information you will use to Noodle and paraphrase.

 

 

Step 4: Noodle Your Information (English and Science)

 

            Once you have your sources, we will be using Noodle to record the information you selected from your sources. In both Science and English class, we will be working on your Noodle notes.

 

Remember: When you are typing your notes on Noodle, you must paraphrase the information (put it into your own words) to avoid plagiarism.

 

Here is an example of how you will be setting up your notes in Noodle. This is an example of how you will copy the information and paraphrase your notes; the source is also listed in correct format. The topic of “dinosaurs” is used in this example.

 

 

Source:

Weishampel, David B. “Dinosaur.” World Book Online Reference Center. 2007. World Book. 11 Dec. 2007 <http://www.worldbookonline.com/>.

 

URL:

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/article?id=ar159320&st=dinosaur&sc=1#h12

 

Quote:

Dinosaur is the name of a group of prehistoric reptiles that ruled Earth for about 160 million years. The name dinosaur comes from the term Dinosauria, which means terribly great lizards. But dinosaurs were not lizards, only distantly related to them, and most were not very terrible. The largest dinosaurs may have grown as long as 130 feet (40 meters) and weighed as much as 85 tons (77 metric tons). Such giants would have been more than 10 times as heavy as a full-grown elephant. The only animals that grow to this size today are a few kinds of whales, and they live only in the water. The first dinosaurs appeared on Earth about 230 million years ago. They lived in nearly all natural settings, from open plains to forests to the edges of swamps, lakes, and oceans. Then about 65 million years ago, the dinosaurs died out.

 

Paraphrase:

Dinosaurs are thought to have first lived on the Earth about 230 million years ago.  According to scientists they are thought to have ruled the world for about 160 million years.  The word dinosaur comes from dinosaurian which means terribly great lizards.  The biggest dinosaur is thought to have been 130 feet long and weigh about 85 tons.  It was not until approximately 65 million years ago that dinosaurs became extinct.

 

 

 

** Your Noodle notes will be collected and reviewed by Mr. Bernstein when they are completed. This step must be completely done before you begin your rough draft.

 

 

Step 5: Write your Rough Draft (English)

 

            Once your notes are completed on Noodle, you will be ready to begin writing your rough draft in English class. It is important that you stick to the information in your Noodle notes and adhere to the outline.

 

Things to remember when writing:

 

  1. Create good topic and concluding sentences for each paragraph. Avoid these phrase:
    1. “Now I am going to tell you about ________________”.
    2. “_____________has a lot of information that is interesting.”
    3. “That is all about the element _________________.”
  2. Do not use first person (“I”) when you write your report.
  3. Conjunctions should not start sentences! (and, or, but, so)
  4. Watch that you don’t use pronouns to start every sentence.
  5. Use word variety to begin each sentence. Stay away from “the” for every sentence.
  6. Elaborate on your ideas with good adjectives in your writing. Try to stay away from adjectives such as “pretty, nice, cute, fun, super, interesting”. Using a thesaurus is helpful when improving your adjective usage in writing.
  7. Try to use transition words between paragraphs. You will have a list of these transitional phrases to refer to when writing.

 

** When our rough drafts are done, you will be peer editing with a classmate in English.

 

Step 6: Final Draft (Completed at home)

 

            This is the most important part of this project. All reports need to be typed and follow these guidelines:

 

1.      The report must be double spaced, and typed with 12 font in Times New Roman.

2.      Page numbers need to appear at the bottom of each page.

3.      Final report should match the outline with information in correct paragraphs.

4.      Cover page on the front of report with the title, your name, date, and Mr. Bernstein’s name centered. (no pictures should appear on the title page!)

5.      Bibliography page completed in correct format.

6.      Absolutely no spelling, writing, or grammar errors!!!!! Parents may help you proofread your report; however they may not rewrite the report for you. Don’t only rely on spell check!

 

 

Step 7: Create Your Model and Display

 

The display for your project will consist of two parts, the display board and a model of the element.  Please follow all guidelines for your display. Mr. Bernstein will also be showing you a model in class, so you have a good idea of what he is expecting.

 

Display Board Guidelines:

  1. 1 Tri-fold board (can be bought at craft stores)
  2. Element’s name and symbol
  3. Brief history of element
  4. Chart of Physical and Chemical properties
  5. Past  and Current Uses and Common Substances – list/chart and pictures
  6. A Bohr Model Drawing of an atom of your element
  7. Key for the 3-D model
  8. Your name

(Hint: Display boards look best when the information is typed, not written!)

 

Model Guidelines:

  1. You will build a Bohr (solar system) model for one atom of your element
  2. You will need to have the correct number of protons, neutrons, and electrons
  3. The electrons need to be in the correct electron configuration
  4. You may use any supplies that you want for the protons, neutrons, electrons, nucleus, and energy levels. Be as creative as you want!
  5. A key explaining everything that will appear on the poster board
    1. Element name and symbol
    2. Atomic Number
    3. Atomic Mass
    4. Electron Configuration
    5. Number of protons and object or color which represents protons
    6. Number of neutrons and object or color which represents neutrons
    7. Number of electrons and object or color which represents electrons