Book Fair Information:

Dear Parents and Families:

Reading is the most important skill you can teach a child. Of all the skills children learn, it is the one you can influence the most.

We invite you to visit our Scholastic Book Fair and experience a celebration of reading that provides families the opportunity to get involved in a universal mission: encouraging kids to read every day so they can lead better lives.

Our Scholastic Book Fair theme – Book Fair Luau! It’s a Reading Celebration! – is part of an exciting reading event that brings to school a wonderful selection of fun, engaging, and affordable books kids want to read. Giving kids access to good books and the opportunity to choose their own books will motivate them to read more. And like most acquired skills, the more kids practice reading, the better they’ll get.

Reading is vital to every child’s success, and raising kids as readers means getting involved while they’re young. Now is the time. Since there will never be a substitute for a parent’s direct involvement in his/her child’s education, please make plans to visit our Book Fair. Hope to see you there!

Book Fair Dates: February 01- February 08, 2012

Shopping Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Special Events: Tuesday, February 7^th at 6:00 p.m.

Visit our homepage at

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/spanishsprings11

Sincerely,

Lola Pawliszyn

Librarian

Science Fair Information:

2012 Science Fair Information Packet

Spanish Springs Elementary

Dear Parents,

Thank you for taking the time to assist your child with the wonderful experience of bringing science into your home. The Spanish Springs Elementary Science Fair will be held on February 7, 2012. We are sure that you and your child are anxiously awaiting the moment to display his/her wonderful project. Students may enter individually or with a group. Each child entering the science fair will receive a ribbon. [Selected winners in each category will qualify to compete in the Western Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair which will take place March 29^th-31^st, 2012.]

Selection of a project should match your child’s interests and abilities. The Science Fair experience should be fun for your child, something they really want to do!

You will find project guidelines within this packet to use as a springboard for you and your child’s imagination. If you would like a list of ideas and resources, please contact your child’s teacher as he or she has a list of many resources. You can also find these resources on our school website at: http://www.washoecountyschools.org/spanishsprings/ or on the Western Nevada Regional Science & Engineering Fair web site at: http://www.nevadasciencefair.net/ .

Please do not use animals or humans in your investigation without having it approved through the science committee before conducting the experiment. Those projects without prior approval will not be considered for entry into the Regional Science Fair. Please fill out and submit the attached Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) Approval Form from if you plan to use animals or humans and submit to the school.

Here are some very important things to remember for our Science Fair.

• Projects will be dropped off in students’ classrooms by 9:30 am on February 7^th so that set up can be completed.

• Projects will be judged on Tuesday, February 7^th after school from 3 pm –6 pm. Judging areas will be closed to all but the judges during this time.

• Public viewing will be held on February 7^th from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm along with the Winterfest, Science and Book Fair.

If you decide to participate in the science fair please contact your teacher or go to the school website to get the Science Fair Packet. This packet contains information and expectations for the projects. Again, thank you for supporting your child in such a worthwhile event! We look forward to seeing your child’s project.

http://www.washoecountyschools.org/spanishsprings/

Science Fair Coordinators

What Judges are Looking for in a Science Fair Project

1. Communication of Ideas 15 points

In your opinion, will the average person understand what is displayed?
Are labels and descriptions neatly yet briefly presented?
Is there sensible progression of attention of the spectator across or through the display?
Is this a reasonable experiment for your child’s grade level?

2. Scientific thinking & Methodology 65 points

QUESTION (10 PTS), HYPOTHESIS (10 PTS), & PROCEDURE (20 PTS)

Does the project include the basic steps in the scientific method?
Is the question clear and understandable?
Does the exhibit have organized procedures?
Did the student plan well, observe and record data accurately, over time and maintain the basics of a controlled experiment?
Are the methods or procedures appropriate?
Did the designed experiment really test the hypothesis?
Did the student explain what and why they think it would happen?
How much of the work shows an original approach?
Does the project reflect original and creative research?
Was the research conducted properly?

RESULTS (10 PTS), AND CONCLUSION (15 PTS)

Did the student make appropriate calculations and comparisons?
Are the results presented as graphs, percentages, averages, etc?
Are data Calculations, and conclusions visibly evident?
Did the student reach a logical conclusion from the data gathered?
Did the student relate the conclusions back to their hypothesis?
Did the student consider alternate explanations or what to do differently?

3. Thoroughness of the Notebook 10 points

How complete and clear is the notebook or journal?
How much time did the student spend on the bibliography and references?

4. Display Board 10 points

Is the exhibit more attractive than others in the same field?
How skilled is the handling, preparation, mounting and presentation?
At the lower grade levels, good printing and penmanship is just as good as work done on a computer.

All projects will be judged on their scientific merit and not on computer skills. The higher the grade level, the more computer skills can and

should be incorporated into the project, but again the project will be judged on its scientific merit.

It is Perfectly Acceptable If a First Grader’s Project Looks Like a First Grader DID it!

Safety Considerations

Please do not use animals or humans in your investigation without having it approved through the Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) BEFORE conducting the experiment. Those projects without prior approval will not be considered for entry into the regional science fair. Please fill out and submit a Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) Approval Form if you plan to use animals or humans.

Display and Safety Regulations.

The most commonly forbidden display items follow:

Living organisms (including plants) brought in to display.
Liquids, including, water, brought in to display.

Display

Student names and school must appear on the back left panel of the display and on the inside of any notebooks.
Display must not exceed these measurements: 24 inches deep, 36 inches wide, and 9 feet tall.
Please see the attached Your Science Fair Project Display guidelines for more details.

The Scientific Method

Form a Question

Observe something. Why does it happen? How or why does it work?
Discuss and write what you know about the topic or find information and tell what you learned.
Design a question. The question should not be answered by a simple yes or no. For example, “How does salt affect the freezing point of water?” Is better than “Does salt affect the freezing point of water?”

Develop a Hypothesis

The hypothesis is an educated guess about the answer to your question or problem. The hypothesis is a general guide as to what to expect from the experiment and it does not have to be correct. The experiment you create will either support or disprove your hypothesis.

Design Experiment Procedures

Develop procedures to test your hypothesis.
Be sure the experiment will provide data to answer the question and write it down.
Make sure the procedures or directions are clear. Tell what you did first, second … etc.

Organize and display data and results

Conduct the experiment.
Collect and organize the data.
What happened? Display the results with graphs, tables, charts, pictures, etc...

Interpret results, and draw conclusions

Use the data to explain the results.
Determine if the Hypothesis was correct or not.
Tell about the possible errors in the procedure.
Tell how you might change/improve the investigation.
What other investigations on this topic would you like to explore?

Your Science Fair Project Display

Your Science Project Display should do two things:

Catch the viewer’s attention so they will want to look more closely at your display.

Explain to the viewer what you did and what you learned completing your project.

The only regulation in displaying your elementary Science Fair project is that the measurements cannot exceed 24 inches deep, 36 inches wide, and 9 feet tall measured from the floor.

Steps to follow to make your display:

Make sure that you have completed your investigation.
Start thinking about your display. Don’t wait until the night before to begin working on the display. A good display takes a good deal of time and effort.
Plan out your ideas on paper. Decide which things you will put on your board and in front of your board to make your display interesting and informative.

On your board you will want to use charts, graphs, photographs, or other illustrations, in addition to the basic information from your investigation. Your project notebook may be placed on the board if a pocket is constructed to hold it.

In front of the board you may want to display models, or the actual materials and equipment used in your investigation (make sure to check with your teacher for items that are not allowed for display at the fair). Consider taking lots of pictures while you

2012 Science Fair

Information Packet

Spanish Springs Elementary

Dear Parents,

Selection of a project should match your child’s interests and abilities. The Science Fair experience should be fun for your child, something they really want to do!

Please do not use animals or humans in your investigation without having it approved through the science committee before conducting the experiment. Those projects without prior approval will not be considered for entry into the Regional Science Fair. Please fill out and submit the attached Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) Approval Form from if you plan to use animals or humans and submit to the school.

Here are some very important things to remember for our Science Fair.

• Projects will be dropped off in students’ classrooms by 9:30 am on February 7^th so that set up can be completed.

• Projects will be judged on Tuesday, February 7^th after school from 3 pm –6 pm. Judging areas will be closed to all but the judges during this time.

• Public viewing will be held on February 7^th from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm along with the Winterfest, Science and Book Fair.

http://www.washoecountyschools.org/spanishsprings/

Science Fair Coordinators

What Judges are Looking for in

a Science Fair Project

1. Communication of Ideas 15 points

· In your opinion, will the average person understand what is displayed?

· Are labels and descriptions neatly yet briefly presented?

· Is there sensible progression of attention of the spectator across or through the display?

· Is this a reasonable experiment for your child’s grade level?

2. Scientific thinking & Methodology 65 points

QUESTION (10 PTS), HYPOTHESIS (10 PTS), & PROCEDURE (20 PTS)

· Does the project include the basic steps in the scientific method?

· Is the question clear and understandable?

· Does the exhibit have organized procedures?

· Did the student plan well, observe and record data accurately, over time and maintain the basics of a controlled experiment?

· Are the methods or procedures appropriate?

· Did the designed experiment really test the hypothesis?

· Did the student explain what and why they think it would happen?

· How much of the work shows an original approach?

· Does the project reflect original and creative research?

· Was the research conducted properly?

RESULTS (10 PTS), AND CONCLUSION (15 PTS)

· Did the student make appropriate calculations and comparisons?

· Are the results presented as graphs, percentages, averages, etc?

· Are data Calculations, and conclusions visibly evident?

· Did the student reach a logical conclusion from the data gathered?

· Did the student relate the conclusions back to their hypothesis?

· Did the student consider alternate explanations or what to do differently?

3. Thoroughness of the Notebook 10 points

· How complete and clear is the notebook or journal?

· How much time did the student spend on the bibliography and references?

4. Display Board 10 points

· Is the exhibit more attractive than others in the same field?

· How skilled is the handling, preparation, mounting and presentation?

· At the lower grade levels, good printing and penmanship is just as good as work done on a computer.

All projects will be judged on their scientific merit and not on computer skills. The higher the grade level, the more computer skills can and

should be incorporated into the project, but again the project will be judged on its scientific merit.

It is Perfectly Acceptable

If a First Grader’s Project

Looks

Like a First Grader DID it!

Safety Considerations

Please do not use animals or humans in your investigation without having it approved through the Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) BEFORE conducting the experiment. Those projects without prior approval will not be considered for entry into the regional science fair. Please fill out and submit a Local Scientific Review Committee (LSRC) Approval Form if you plan to use animals or humans.

Display and Safety Regulations.

The most commonly forbidden display items follow:

Living organisms (including plants) brought in to display.
Liquids, including, water, brought in to display.

Display

Student names and school must appear on the back left panel of the display and on the inside of any notebooks.
Display must not exceed these measurements: 24 inches deep, 36 inches wide, and 9 feet tall.
Please see the attached Your Science Fair Project Display guidelines for more details.

The Scientific Method

Form a Question

Observe something. Why does it happen? How or why does it work?
Discuss and write what you know about the topic or find information and tell what you learned.
Design a question. The question should not be answered by a simple yes or no. For example, “How does salt affect the freezing point of water?” Is better than “Does salt affect the freezing point of water?”

Develop a Hypothesis

The hypothesis is an educated guess about the answer to your question or problem. The hypothesis is a general guide as to what to expect from the experiment and it does not have to be correct. The experiment you create will either support or disprove your hypothesis.

Design Experiment Procedures

Develop procedures to test your hypothesis.
Be sure the experiment will provide data to answer the question and write it down.
Make sure the procedures or directions are clear. Tell what you did first, second … etc.

Organize and display data and results

Conduct the experiment.
Collect and organize the data.
What happened? Display the results with graphs, tables, charts, pictures, etc...

Interpret results, and draw conclusions

Use the data to explain the results.
Determine if the Hypothesis was correct or not.
Tell about the possible errors in the procedure.
Tell how you might change/improve the investigation.
What other investigations on this topic would you like to explore?

Your Science Fair Project Display

Your Science Project Display should do two things:

Catch the viewer’s attention so they will want to look more closely at your display.

Explain to the viewer what you did and what you learned completing your project.

The only regulation in displaying your elementary Science Fair project is that the measurements cannot exceed 24 inches deep, 36 inches wide, and 9 feet tall measured from the floor.

Steps to follow to make your display:

Make sure that you have completed your investigation.
Start thinking about your display. Don’t wait until the night before to begin working on the display. A good display takes a good deal of time and effort.
Plan out your ideas on paper. Decide which things you will put on your board and in front of your board to make your display interesting and informative.

4. Select the materials you want to use to make your display board; remember that it must be sturdy enough to stand alone on a table or stand all by itself on the floor. The materials should be easy to work with and easy to transport. Suggested materials are: cardboard, masonite, pegboard, and paneling. Panels should be hinged together or taped with a strong tape such as strapping or packing tape.

5. Select the materials you will be using for the title, main sections, and backgrounds of your display. Some materials you can use are yarn, rope, string, construction paper, metallic paper, burlap, carpet, wallpaper, poster board, foil, felt, flannel, etc.

Remember that your project will be surrounded by many other projects, so it should be attractive and have eye appeal. Follow the 4 C’s for exhibiting: Color appeal, Contrast, Clear, Concise statements, and appear Complete.

6. Prepare a background which is a pleasing color (paint or cover with paper) and use contrasting lettering.

7. Results, and Conclusion – on separate pieces of paper, tagboard, or other material.

Use a dark-colored pen for most of your lettering (after you have printed your letters lightly in pencil). Make sure your lettering is uncrowded and easy to read. Don’t use lined paper for your headings. Use light pencil lines that can be easily erased to keep your lettering straight. Lettering can be done using stencils or even stick-on or glue-on letters.

8. Assemble your display by first covering the board with the background material(s) you have selected. Do each panel individually. Remember that your display should tell the story of your investigation.

Arrange everything on your board, allowing room for your title, keeping in mind that nothing should be blocked from view. When you have everything “just the way you want them”, you can attach them permanently to the board.

Make your title easy to read form a distance. It should be larger than the other lettering – should never be more than 10 words. Look at billboards and magazines to get ideas on how make your title stand out.

Arrange the items that will go in front of your board and label them.

Please complete the following form if you would like to enter a project into the Science Fair. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Nesler (jnesler@washoeschools.net) or Carrie McDonald (clmcdonald@washoeschools.net).

Science Project Entry Form 2012

Entry form must be received by Mrs. McDonald or Mrs. Nesler by January 30, 2012. You can email them at
Science Fair February 7^th, 2012

Name(s)_______________________________________________________

Project Title___________________________________________________

Grade_______ Teacher________________________________

Parent Signature_______________________________________

Phone # __________________________

Individual Project __________ Group Project _________Class Project________

(Please check one of the above. For Group projects, all student names MUST be on this sheet.)

Only projects using the Scientific Method will be eligible for the Regional Science Fair. No demonstrations will be judged for entry.