Science+Night

Science Night

Do you have questions? click on the discussion tab want to know due dates? click here: science night due dates  March 10, 2010 Dear Parents and Guardians,

It’s time to start planning for the Science Night! Mark your calendars; our annual celebration of science is scheduled for May 7 from 6:30 – 8:00. This year we are using technology to present our projects – no boards required! Sixth grade students will be testing consumer products. This means students will apply the scientific method to test products used in our everyday lives. They many choose to test product effectiveness, advertising claims, durability, or efficiency. The choice of topic is up to your student. They will question, research and experiment to test common commercial products. Much of the work will be done in school. However, the experiment itself will need to be done at home during the weeks of March 29th and April 5th. Note this is only two weeks. Students need to plan for this when choosing a topic. The following is a brief outline of the requirements for student science night projects: 1. Start with a question. The students should choose a product of interest to them and then ask some questions about the product. **Choose a product that you have at home!** We are looking for quantitative (answers are numbers) questions. This question must lead to a testable experiment. For example: You can test which sneaker sole lasts longest, but you cannot survey to determine favorite brand of sneaker, etc. 2. These are individual projects. Students will not work in a group. Parents should make sure that students are planning their time wisely and working safely, but should not do the experiment for the student. 3. Students must keep a project checklist to check off each project step as it is completed. 4. Students will decide on what materials are needed to do their experiment. The project does not need to be expensive, try to limit your budget to no more than $20. Collect the materials that you need. One suggestion is to ask a neighbor for small amounts of brands you do not normally purchase. Generally, the projects do not require large amounts of the product. 5. Parents and teacher must approve the experiment design. 6. Find a place in your house where the student can work on the project where it will not be disturbed. 7. Students must plan to do more than one test of the experiment. Try to do the test 3 to 10 times. The more times it is performed, the more accurate the data. 8. Take pictures of the experiment in progress. 9. **Do not worry if the data does not support the hypothesis**. It is all right if the experiment does not work the way it was expected. Scientists can learn a great deal from an incorrect hypothesis. The student’s grade depends upon the completion of the work, not on the accuracy of the hypothesis. 10. Experimental results are due in class on **April 12th**. We need the results to analyze data and make graphs in class. 11. During class on May 5th we will present our projects. 12. Plan to attend science night May 7th.

Attached to this letter is a project timeline.

A word to the wise… You can not complete an eight week project in a weekend! Start early and work on your project a little every day and finish early. Happy Sciencing! Sincerely,

Mrs. Curtis Grade 6 Science


 * There will be extra help sessions on Wednesdays from 2:35 until 3:30. If your child will be staying please send a note to the office that day and plan to pick the student up at the back of the school at 3:30.**

Please return just the bottom portion

I have read and understand the requirements of the Science Night Project.

Student __date__

Parent signature _ __date__