Free Get Ready for a Winning Science Project by Sandra Buczynski Page B

should not be too simple, either.
    â€¢Â Â Â UNCLEAR: how can snow stay frozen?
    â€¢Â Â Â CLEAR: Which type of material makes the best container to keep snow from melting?
    â€¢Â Â Â TOO SIMPLE: What color is an earthworm?
    â€¢Â Â Â RESEARCHABLE: how does an earthworm react to light and darkness?
    Different kinds of questions can get you thinking in different ways. For example, a measurement question often leads to an answer that is a single number. For this type of question, you might consider what tools would be needed to measure results. You might need a thermometer (for temperature), a meter stick (for distance), a cylinder (for volume), a watch (for time), or a scale (for weight). Measurement questions begin with “how.”
    A comparison question looks at similarities and differences in results. They let you see how two things are related.

    TRY THIS!
    List words related to your topic and then fill in the question blanks with the words!

    Type of
question
Possible question starters.
(You can think of others!)
Examples
Measurement
How many __________?
How often do
questions
How long is __________?
fireflies blink?
 
How often does __________?
 
 
How hot is __________?
 
 
How much does __________?
 
 
How strong is __________?
 
Comparison
How are __________ and
Which insulating
questions?
     __________ different?
material is the
 
Which __________ is the most
most effective?
 
     effective?
 
 
how much (longer, heavier,
 
 
     hotter, etc.) is
 
 
     than __________?
 

    Don’t ask questions that
    â€¢Â Â Â you already know the answer to
    â€¢Â Â Â can be answered with opinions, memories, or impressions (these answers are not factual)
    â€¢Â Â Â would require a dangerous experiment to answer
    If you can answer yes to these five questions, you probably have a good research question:
    â€¢Â Â Â Is the question testable?
    â€¢Â Â Â Is the question clear and straightforward?
    â€¢Â Â Â Will the question produce data needed to answer it?
    â€¢Â Â Â Can you answer this question in a reasonable period of time?
    â€¢Â Â Â Is the question safe to answer?
    DID YOU KNOW?
    Tools can help you take a closer look at something. Tools used by scientists to observe more closely include magnifying lenses, microscopes, and telescopes.
    In 1948, George de Mestral, a swiss mountaineer, took his dog for a walk. As the dog ran and played, plant seeds stuck to his fur. When he got home, Mestral used a microscope to look at these seeds. He found that they had sharp little hooks. This gave him an idea to create a fastener with hooks like these. Look around. You will probably see this invention on your shoes, backpack, or lunch bag. It is Velcro! It was invented because of one man’s curiosity and careful observations.

Demo version limitation

CHAPTER FIVE
Communicate Your Results
    Scientists are picky about what they write in their science reports. Only the most important information gets in! Organize the information that you have gathered by grouping related facts together. These groupings become the main headings as you outline your paper.

    Writing a science project report is like drawing in the basic features of a treasure map. You fill in your map with details from the explorations of others. This gives you the best idea of the route to follow for your own science research project.
    Start the paper with the purpose of your project. What is the mystery that you are going to try to solve? If you are planning an invention, explain why you think your invention would be useful.
    Explain any science terms you use. Describe the different parts of the project. For example, if you will be experimenting with fireflies, describe what a firefly is and explain how it lights up. If you are planning to invent a new version of