This lesson was created using the Nortel LearniT 6E + S template for integrating technology within the curriculum.
 

Overview:
 

Students in the class will demonstrate their knowledge and practical application of the Scientific Method by developing a science experiment for the Virtual Science Fair. All of the projects will be submitted online just as they would at a regular science fair. Students will work in pairs to find an answer to a question that has been approved by the teacher. They will use whatever technology they need to document the process. The documentation will be displayed on the Virtual Science Fair website for classmates and the judges to see.
 

Technology Integration:
 

Digital Video, Web Page Creation, Web Cams
 

Prerequisite Experience:
 

Experience with Internet research, use of a word processor, digital imaging, video production and web page creation.
 

Teacher Prep Time:
 

2 hours or more

Familiarize yourself with the links in the Explore section. Review the Video Production and web page creation materials from www.NortelLearnitT.org. Eventually you will need to ensure the availability of equipment and supplies for the student experiments and that there is block of web space set aside for uploading the projects.

Teachers can also review the following resource. http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/teacher_resources.htm
 

Estimated Time for Completion:
 

8 – 10 weeks (one class per week)
 

Materials:
 

Internet-ready computers with digital-video, image-processing, word-processing and web-creation software installed; digital video cameras.
 

Project:
 

The students will conduct the experiment using the Scientific method. They will assemble all of their documentation – text, photos, video and use it to create a web page entry to the Science Fair.
 

Time Management Tips:
 

Students must work in groups of at least two and no more than four.
 

Assessment:
 

An assessment rubric has been included as part of the Word-format version of this lesson plan, attached below.
 

Engage:
 

Have you ever had one of those questions that started – “I wonder what would happen to ______ if I did  ________ “ or “what would happen to ______if ________happened”.  How about, “why does this act this way? How would it act if I did this or took away that or added this?”  Scientists are constantly asking important questions and forming ideas about what will happen based on what they already know (hypothesis).  We tend to do that in some non-scientific ways from the time we are toddlers and constantly add to our personal knowledge base (i.e. if I pull the kitty’s tail what will happen).   

Fortunately, good science is conducted under controlled situations to ensure that experiments are conducted properly and that results can be validated, confirmed, and replicated by others.   The science community has over time, developed a standardized method for conducting experiments called the Scientific Method.  

Your assignment is to conduct an original experiment using the scientific method and to document your process and results using a variety of media.  You are encouraged to use digital imaging, text, video, and if appropriate, a web camera.   Your results and materials will be assembled and provide the content for a web page submission to the Virtual Science Fair.

The resources in the Explore section will help you with the procedures and technology you will be using.  There are some good ideas for how to put together a science fair project and some sample questions or topic areas.

Record your findings using a word processor.  You will want to ensure that you understand the scientific method, the steps to creating your science fair project, and some possible ideas for an experiment.

Enjoy!
 

Explore:
 

For this section you will need an Internet ready computer and a word processor.  This list is a by no means complete.  You should find some additional sites.   Be sure to document them for distribution to others. 

How to get started – finding a topic
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ideas.html


Science Fair Steps
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

Discovery.com
Ask a Question about Science Fairs
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/askjvc.html

Designing a science fair project
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/articles/designing-a-science-fair-project-teaching-tip.html|

Scientific Method
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/articles/scientific-method-teaching-tip.html

Project ideas
http://www.cdli.ca/sciencefairs/index.html

Web cams – you can monitor an experiment using a web cam.  Here is a recent example:

Michigan Fish Cam – live view of Salmon swimming in the St. Mary’s River
http://www.lssu.edu/arl/fishcam.php

Review materials dealing with video production, digital imaging and web page creation on www.Nortellearnit.org.
 

Explain:
 

You should have enough background information to get started.  Provide the detailed explanation about what occurs in each of the following steps.

• Choose a topic
• Conduct research about your topic.
• The Scientific Method – Outline the steps
• Conduct the experiment
• Record Data
• Report

• What is your topic?
• What did you find out about it during the research?
• What is your hypothesis?

• Will you videotape the actual experiment?
• Will you document the process using digital cameras?
• Is it the type of experiment that could be tracked from home by you or the students through the use of a web cam?

Elaborate:
 

Time to conduct your experiment.  Remember to document everything.  It is much easier to get rid of photos or video clips than it is to create them afterwards. 

When you have completed your experiment and tested your hypothesis, you will have to arrange all of your documentation for the web page.  Remember, it is also important that your science project is presented clearly and attractively on the web page.  Use your best footage, photos, and design concepts for your submission.  Check that your page links work and that you have accurately described (text or video) your process and results.  You may want to use graphs or charts as well. Be creative and use your imagination.

Present your findings to the class.  You can show them the web page and discuss the experiment and results.  You can make a presentation and point them to the web page (so they can vote for your project).

Provide a written report to your teacher and the web page citation to enter the Virtual Science Fair.

Good luck.

 

Evaluate:
 

An evaluation rubric has been included as part of the Word-format version of this lesson plan, attached below.
 

Extend:
 

Expand your Virtual Science Fair to other classes in the school.  What about all of the schools in the district?

Return to the Internet and see if you can find other schools in the world that hold online science fairs.  See if you can submit your project for evaluation.

Now that you are skilled at the process of investigating a variety of phenomena using the scientific method, why not conduct some additional experiments.  Just for fun!
 

Required Attachments:
 

virtualsciencefairimtbfinaldraft.doc