Science Fair Experiment : Science Fair Projects

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Idea Independently Identified, with Identified, with Identified a question
identified a adult help, a adult help, a that could not be
question which question which question which tested/investigated
was interesting to was interesting to could be or one that did not
the student and the student and investigated. merit investigation.
which could be which could be
investigated. investigated.

Hypothesis Independently Independently Independently Needed adult

Development developed an developed an developed an assistance to
hypothesis well- hypothesis hypothesis develop an
substantiated by a somewhat somewhat hypothesis or to do a
literature review substantiated by a substantiated by a basic literature
and observation of literature review literature review or review.
similar and observation of observation of
phenomena. similar similar
phenomena. phenomena.

Variables Independently Independently With adult help, Adult help needed to

identified and identified which identified and identify and define
clearly defined variables were clearly defined almost all the
which variables going to be which variables variables.
were going to be changed were going to be
changed (independent changed
(independent variables) and (independent
variables) and which were going variables) and
which were going to be measured which were going
to be measured (dependent to be measured
(dependent variables). Some (dependent
variables). feedback was variables).
needed to clearly
define the
variables.
Diagrams Provided an Provided an Provided an easy- Did not provide a
accurate, easy-to- accurate diagram to-follow diagram diagram OR the
follow diagram with with labels to with labels to diagram was quite
labels to illustrate illustrate the illustrate the incomplete.
the procedure or procedure or the procedure or
the process being process being process, but one
studied. studied. key step was left
out.

Descripton of Procedures were Procedures were Procedures were Procedures that

Procedure outlined in a step- outlined in a step- outlined in a step- were outlined were
by-step fashion by-step fashion by-step fashion, seriously incomplete
that could be that could be but had 1 or 2 or not sequential,
followed by followed by gaps that require even after adult
anyone without anyone without explanation even feedback had been
additional additional after adult given.
explanations. No explanations. feedback had
adult help was Some adult help been given.
needed to was needed to
accomplish this. accomplish this.
Conclusion/Summary Student provided a Student provided a Student provided a No conclusion was
detailed conclusion somewhat detailed conclusion with apparent OR
clearly based on conclusion clearly some reference to important details
the data and based on the data the data and the were overlooked.
related to previous and related to the hypothesis
research findings hypothesis statement(s).
and the hypothesis statement(s).
statement(s).

Display Each element in Each element had Each element had The display seemed
the display had a a function and a function and incomplete or chaotic
function and clearly served to clearly served to with no clear plan.
clearly served to illustrate some illustrate some Many labels were
illustrate some aspect of the aspect of the missing or incorrect.
aspect of the experiment. Most experiment. Most
experiment. All items, 6, graphs items, 6, graphs
items, 6, graphs etc. were neatly etc. were correctly
etc. were neatly and correctly labeled.
and correctly labeled.
labeled.
Data Collection Data was collected Data was collected Data was collected Data was collected
several times. It more than one more than one only once and adult
was summarized, time. It was time. Adult assistance was
independently, in a summarized, assistance was needed to clearly
way that clearly independently, in a needed to clearly summarize what was
describes what way that clearly summarize what discovered.
was discovered. describes what was discovered.
was discovered.