Planning Projects Lesson Plan: Science Fair

Submitted by: Angela Watson

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, K-3

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades K-12, students use BrainPOP and/or BrainPOP Jr. resources to learn about planning projects when they create a science fair exhibit. They will select their topic, explore the criteria for planning, and design a compelling and realistic experiment based on their topic.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.3

Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.3

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7

Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of “how-to” books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).

Grade: 01

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

Grade: 11-12

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8

Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7

Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).

Grade: 02

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7

Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7

Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

Grade: 06

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.

Grade: 06

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.8

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.

Grade: 07

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

Grade: 07

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.8

Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Grade: 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

Grade: 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.8

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.7

Grade: 09, 10

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.8

Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.7

Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).

Grade: K

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.8

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Students will:

Understand the criteria that determines a strong science fair project.
Select a project topic that they are interested in.
Design and implement a compelling and realistic experiment based on their selected topic.

Materials:

Computers with internet access for BrainPOP
Interactive whiteboard (or just an LCD projector)
Science fair project guidelines

Vocabulary:

experiment, hypothesis, scientific method, demonstration, research, topic, purpose, variable, procedure, result, conclusion

Preparation:

This lesson plan is designed to introduce the basics of a science fair project to students. Preview the BrainPOP and/or BrainPOP Jr. science and health movie topics so that you are familiar with them. Be sure to have all science fair project guidelines determined and available for students in digital or print form.

Lesson Procedure:

Play either the BrainPOP Science Projects Movie or the BrainPOP Jr. Science Projects Movie for the class.
Talk with students about what makes a good science project. Guide students to understand that the best projects are those that the project's creator is highly interested in. Students should select a topic they are passionate about and an experiment that they would enjoy conducting.
Provide time for students to peruse the list of science and health topics covered on BrainPOP (geared for grades 3-12) and/or BrainPOP Jr. (geared for grades K-3). Allow students to complete this activity collaboratively and facilitate discussion.
As they look through the science topics and talk about them with their peers, have students jot down 10-20 topics that they personally find interesting. You may want students to make a two column list with their favorite topics on one side and "maybe" topics on the other side.
Talk about what makes a good science fair experiment. Expose students to key vocabulary terms and specific project guidelines.
Have students work with a partner to narrow down their topic choices. They should circle 5 topics that they believe they could develop a compelling and realistic experiment around. On the back of their papers, have students write out the questions they could possibly address through their projects. Ensure that students understand that these must include "question words" (who, what, when where, why, how). Examples of strong science fair project questions include: How does ___ affect ___?, What is the effect of ___ on ___?, Which ___ is most/least ___?, and Which ___ does/makes ___ the best/the strongest/the weakest?
Confer with students individually to help them narrow down their options and select the best question to research for their projects.
Allow students to individually watch and take notes on the BrainPOP and/or BrainPOP Jr. movie topics associated with their project focus. To help them gain more background knowledge, encourage students to explore the additional features that are associated with the movie. Students may want to revise their questions or experiment approach at this point, so provide time for them to discuss this with one another, with a family member/parent, and/or with you.
Guide students through the remainder of the science fair project planning and implementation process. Ensure that students know how to cite BrainPOP as one of their sources.
Allow students to present their projects to the class. Assist students in making connections between their own project topics and other students' topics. As new questions arise, you may want to play related BrainPOP movie topics to extend student understanding.