Ms. Teresa Divan--Science Department--7th Grade Science Research Project

                                                       

     Library Resources

     Gale Student Resource Center Junior

      Virtual Reference Collection

      eLibrary Science

      ProQuest K-12

      Online Catalog

      Academic Intergrity

      NoodleTools Citation System
      Citation Machine    

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Websites
Chem Matters Magazine

Science Awareness  Day:  April 30th (ACE) May 1st (BDF)

The due dates for all parts of the science experiment are in this

handout.   All parts of the experiment should be typed and will

be displayed on a  tri board in the library for your final presentation.

***Before you begin:  Be sure you know the difference between

a demonstration and an experiment.***

A SCIENCE DEMONSTRATION is a quick little science "show"

that explains a science concept like building a model volcano

and watching it erupt. It shows how something works, but it is not a
true experiment. A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT is usually more
involved and in most real experiments you compare results.
An example would be "Which concentration of potassium
chloride is the best conductor of electricity?" or "Will relaxation
prior to taking a test produce better grades?"
In these examples, you ask a question and then perform

experiments to get the answer. Sometimes a demonstration can

inspire you and can be turned into an experiment by manipulating

one variable.  Learning about the science behind a demonstration

is a necessary first step in creating an original experiment.
Deadlines for Science Experiment **Plan on these dates
unless told otherwise.
Deadlines will be no earlier than these listed!***

Experimental Design write-up
Due: 3/20 (ACE) 3/21 (BDF)

Please write up the following in a word document

·      Problem Question

·      Hypothesis (not in the form of a question. 

 It is a cause and effect statement)

·      Materials list

·      Identify Variables

·      Independent (variable that is changed or “manipulated “)

x-axis

·      Dependent (is what you are measuring, the data you are

collecting as a result of the change you are making in the independent

variable) y-axis

·      Is there a control group?

·      What conditions are being kept constant?

·      Write a step-by-step procedure (numbered steps) be thorough. 

 DO the best you can for now, you may find you have to modify your

 procedure as you start work on the project.

(NOTE:  All of the above components will be attached to your tri-board
when you project is complete

Please bring in a Blank Tri-Board. Due 3/22(ACE) 3/25(BDF). You will work
on the completed tri-board in class when your experiment is done.

SCIENCE AWARENESS DAY RESEARCH PAPER RUBRIC

NAME _________________________(ACE/BDF) DIvan

CATEGORY	POINTS
Paper turned in on time	5
work cited according to instructions	5
at least 2 articles turned in & properly highlighted	5
Title reflects topic chosen to investigate	5
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH:  answers why you are researching this topic and appropriately introduces it)	10
APPROPRIATE USE OF ARTICLES (highlighted sections match what is in body of paper, paper explains what is already known about the topic)	10
FINAL PARAGRAPH(s) Tie together what is already been investigated with what you are choosing to research)	10
TOTAL SCORE	/50

Background Research Paper –

(ACE) Tuesday 3/12/13 (BDF) Monday 3/11/13 (50 pts)

This is the paper that gives the background information on your

chosen topic. It must be one and one half to two typed pages.

Example: If your project is on the effects of listening to

different types of music on math accuracy, your background

research paper could be on music and how it affects people.  

Research using the methods listed in the Gelinas Library blogspot

under my name.  You will use a minimum of two article to research

an area that is of interest to you.  In your paper you should explain,

using your articles, what is already known about your chosen
subject. Depending on the topic you might be explaining the
scientific principle behind your topic
(ex. Explaining how soap works).

You should discuss how you will apply what you have
learned from your research to the formation of an experiment.
What variable will yoube manipulating in your experiment? 
Your research should direct you to the variable you will be
manipulating in the experiment

you will be doing in class.

Research Paper Requirements:

•         Neatly Typed

•         use size 12 font and 1 inch margins

•         use easy to read font (Times New Roman or Calibri)

•         Use complete sentences with good paragraph form.

•         Use correct punctuation.

•         Use correct spelling

Topic – (ACE) Tuesday 3/12/13 (BDF) Monday 3/11/13 (5 pts)

What are you interested in? What do you want to know? We will

discuss this together.

Problem –(ACE) Tuesday 3/12/13 (BDF) Monday 3/11/13  (5 pts)

What are you trying to find out in your project?

This may be one sentence in the form of a question.
Students are reruied to select at least one artIcle from
Proquest K-12 from the Virtual Reference collection and
 provide a citation foreach source used. Guide for
conducting a boolean keyword search in an online database
appears below.

Boolean Operators

Boolean Operators are used to connect and define the relationship
between your search terms. When searching electronic databases,
you can use Boolean operators to either narrow or broaden
 your record sets. The three Boolean operators are AND, OR and NOT.

AND
Use AND to narrow your search: all of your search terms
will present in the retrieved records.
The oval in the middle of the Venn diagram below represents
the result set for this search. It is the combination of these two
search terms.
Example: Online courses AND academic performance

OR
Use OR to broaden your search by connecting two or more synonyms.
Example: online courses OR Web-based instruction OR distance
 education. The database retrieves all the unique records containing
one term, the other, or both.

NOT
Use NOT to exclude term(s) from your search results.
Example: higher education NOT community colleges

Ms. Jaclyn Stiegert--Science Department--Planet Travel Brochure

  

NASA'S Mars Exploration Rover Spirit captured this westward view from atop a low plateau where Sprit spent the closing months of 2007.

http://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/focus-areas/

Library Resources

Gale Student Resource Center Junior

Virtual Reference Collection

eLibrary Science
ProQuest K12

Online Catalog

Academic Intergrity
NoodleTools Citations System
Citation Machine
Parenthetical Citations

Websites
Brainpop
Nasa-Solar System Exploration
National Geographic-Solar System
Windows to the Universe-Our Solar System

Date Due:     Wednesday February 13th

My assigned planet is ___________________________
Overview: You will write a travel brochure to inform potential visitors about your planet.

Project Requirements:

I will give you an 8x14 (legal) piece of paper.  Fold it into 4^ths (hot dog style.)  This will give you 8 sections (front and back.) 

Section 1:

Name of your planet, your name and a drawing of your planet’s appearance. (You may use a photograph or artists rendition, but remember to cite your source)

Section 2:

Position in the Solar System:  Where is your planet located (for example, Earth is the third planet from the Sun)?  How far from the Sun does it orbit? 

Orbit:  How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun?  (This is one year on Earth.)  Is its orbit unusual?

Rotation on its Axis:  How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis?  (This is one day on Earth.)

Appearance of your Planet:  What does your planet look like?  Are there any special things on your planet?

BE SPECIFIC!

Section 3:

Size:  How big is your planet?  How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the smallest)? Mass: What is your planet’s mass?  How does its mass rate in terms of the other planets (is it the biggest, the smallest)?

Moons:  If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe each of them and when they were discovered.

Rings:  If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.

BE SPECIFIC!

Section 4:

Composition of your Planet:  What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas planet)?  What is its internal composition?

Gravity:  What is the force of gravity at the surface your planet?  (For example, what would a 100-pound person weigh on your planet)?

Atmosphere:  What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet?  Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?

Temperature:  What is the temperature range on your planet?  How does this compare to the temperature on Earth? 

BE SPECIFIC!

Section 5:

Discovery of your Planet:

The planets that are not visible using the naked eye were discovered after the invention of the telescope (these are Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.)  Tell when your planet was discovered and by whom.  Is there anything interesting about how your planet was discovered?  BE SPECIFIC!

Section 6:

How would a Human Being live on your planet: 

On your planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else?  Be CREATIVE in how you describe this, but SPECIFIC, as well.

Section 7:

Something Special:

Is there anything special about your planet?  This can often be the best part of this brochure, taking you off on interesting topics.  For example, are there 100-year long storms on your planet?  Are there giant volcanoes?  Does your planet have a very titled axis (giving it extreme seasons)?  Have spacecraft visited your planet?  If so, what have they discovered?  Is you planet in an orbit with another solar body? 

 BE CREATIVE.

Section 8:

Cite your references (Bibliography). You must have at LEAST 5 REFERENCES!

List all of your references in appropriate format (see below.)

Formats for each type of publication follows (there are different formats for different types of media):

•           Internet:        Author(s) if appropriate.  Title of site or web page.  URL of site, date of publication (the earliest copyright year listed).

            ZoomAstronomy.com would be cited as follows:

            Col, Jeananda.  ZoomAstronomy.com.  http://www.ZoomAstronomy.com 1999.

•           Book:  Author(s). Title of book.  Location of publisher:  Name of Publisher, year of publication.

            Simon, Seymour.  Destination:  Jupiter.  New York:  Harper Trophy, 2000.

•           Encyclopedia:  Title of encyclopedia, volume of encyclopedia used.  Location of publisher:  Name of publisher, year of publication, pages where the article is located.

            Britannica Editors.  Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 1.  London, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc.,  pages 245-256.

•           Magazine or journal:  Author(s).  “Title of article.”  Name of magazine, Volume, Issue (date):  pages where the article is located.

Lemonick, Michael D.  “Souped Up Telescope.”  Time, Volume 170, October 8, 2007:  pages 25-28.

Author(s) are listed:  last name, first name or initials

A book cart is available for student use.

Bibliography Sorted by Title / Author. 523.5 KOP Koppes, Steven N. Killer rocks from outer space : asteroids, comets, and meteorites. Minneapolis, MN : Lerner Publications, c2004. Recognizing meteorites and impact craters -- Identifying impact scars -- Impact and the dinosaurs -- Impact and periodic mass extinctions -- Impact, the planets, and the origin of life on earth -- The continuing threat -- Defending planet earth. Describes the role that collisions with meteors, comets, and asteroids have played in the history of Earth and other planets in the solar system and examines what is being done to protect Earth from future collisions. SC LIF Life on Mars : tales from the new frontier : an original science fiction anthology. New York : Viking, 2011. Attlee and the long walk / by Kage Baker -- The old man and the Martian Sea / by Alastair Reynolds -- Wahala / by Nnedi Okorafor -- On Chryse Plain / by Stephen Baxter -- First principle / by Nancy Kress -- Martian chronicles / by Cory Doctorow -- Goodnight moons / by Ellen Klages -- The taste of promises / by Rachel Swirsky -- Digging / by Ian McDonald -- LARP on Mars / by Chris Roberson -- Martian heart / by John Barnes -- Untitled story / by Garth Nix -- Discovering life / by Kim Stanley Robinson. A collection of thirteen stories that explore the possibility of life on Mars. 576.8 DON Donald, Rhonda Lucas, 1962-. Life on other planets. New York : Franklin Watts, c2003. Is anybody out there? -- Extreme living -- Looking for "neighbors" -- Beyond our solar system -- Little green men?. A comprehensive look at the question of whether there is life on other planets, from the imaginative visions of fantasy novels and science fiction movies to the facts revealed by today's cutting-edge technology. 629.43 COL Cole, Michael D. Living on Mars : mission to the Red Planet. Springfield, NJ : Enslow, c1999. Describes the landing of Sojourner on Mars, summarizes the history of information gathering missions, and speculates about future plans for explorations of the Red Planet. 523.45 SPA Spangenburg, Ray, 1939-. A look at Jupiter. New York : F. Watts, c2001. Provides a description of Jupiter, and looks at what scientists have discovered about the planet and its moons. 523.43 SPA Spangenburg, Ray, 1939-. A look at Mars. New York : F. Watts, c2000. Discusses the history of human ideas about Mars, its geology and moons, missions to the Red Planet, and the possibility of life on Mars. 523.41 SPA Spangenburg, Ray, 1939-. A look at Mercury. New York : F. Watts, c2003. Describes the discovery and observation of the planet nearest the sun, Mercury, including the findings of the Mariner 10 fly-by mission of 1974-75. 523.48 TAB Tabak, John. A look at Neptune. New York : F. Watts, c2003. Describes the discovery and observation of the planet Neptune and what has been learned about it, particularly from the Voyager spacecraft mission. 523.46 SPA Spangenburg, Ray, 1939-. A look at Saturn. New York : F. Watts, c2001. Provides a description of Saturn, and looks at what scientists have learned from their study of the planet. 523.47 TOC Tocci, Salvatore. A look at Uranus. New York : F. Watts, c2003. Looks at the history and discovery of the planet Uranus. 523.42 SPA Spangenburg, Ray, 1939-. A look at Venus. New York : F. Watts, c2001. Provides a description of Venus, and looks at how scientists have studied the planet. 523.2 NEW New views of the solar system. Chicago : Encyclopedia Britannica, c2007. Explores scientists' evolving perception of the solar system, discussing the eight chief planets, dwarf planets, and Pluto and presenting photos and illustrations of planets, comets, asteroids, and other bodies in space, and includes a list of further resources. 523 WIT Wittenstein, Vicki O., 1954-. Planet hunter : Geoff Marcy and the search for other Earths. 1st ed. Honesdale, Pa. : Boyds Mills Press, c2010. Discusses the life and work of American astronomer Geoff Marcy, including his discovery of over seventy extrasolar planets, and covers how Marcy and other scientists continue to develop innovations to help in their quest, which may include finding a planet that could harbor life. 523.2 Chown, Marcus. Solar system : a visual exploration of the planets, moons, and other heavenly bodies that orbit our sun. New York : Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, c2011. Provides an overview of each planet, arranged by distance from the sun; looks at dwarf planets, the sun, moons, asteroids, and comets; and features a variety of related images. 520 STO Stott, Carole. Stars & planets. Boston : Kingfisher, 2005. Presents full-color illustrated photographs and drawings about the solar system and the mysteries of space and includes information on the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes, missions to Mars, space robots, and more.