Design an Experiment: Project Instructions

Must be done in a group of three.  The experiment must have a connection to chemistry.  Do not divided and conquer. All members of the team must participate in all phase of the project to grasp the significance of their work.

Plan and Design your Experiment:

1.  Gather Background Information

Gather information about your topic from books, magazines, the Internet, people and companies.  Take notes on your background research. Keep notes about where you got your information.

2.  Show that you used the Scientific Method.

State the Purpose of your experiment - What are you trying to find out? Select a variable (something you will change/vary) that will help you find your answer. Indentify your independent and dependent variables. State your Hypothesis . Decide on and describe how you will measure your results and what materials you will need.

3.  Run Controlled Experiment and Record Data

Do the experiment as described above. Keep notes in one place. Write down everything you can think of, you might need it later.

Data must be displayed on your display board.  Graphs and charts and data tables are a good way to organize and display data. Take pictures of your experiment that include all members of your group.

4.  Construct an Exhibit or Display

It has to be neat, and should be typed. Make it fun, but be sure people can understand what you did.

Exhibit or Display: ( use a science fair display board)

Title - The project title, names of group members

Introduction and Background information - This is the research paper part.  What are you doing?  Why did you choose this?  What background information do you need to present for the project understandable?  What research did you do?  All references MUST be properly cited.

Hypothesis/Objective - This is the beginning of the lab report part: it is what you intend to do or find out or test.  This may be as short as two sentences.  You should have either a hypothesis or an objective.

Procedure - What you actually did in the lab.  Describe everything, but don’t include too many details - you’re writing this for chemists, so saying “titrate with 1.0 M NaOH solution” is fine - don’t describe how to make the solution unless its unusual.  If you used or adapted a procedure from a manual, make sure it is referenced

Data - Be VERY complete here.  Include all relevant information, with the proper number of sig figs and labels, and be sure not to write ANY derived information (mass and volume are measurements, but density is a result).  This should be in data table, charts or graph.

Pictures - Included pictures that either illustrates the experimental procedure or the results of your experiment.

Calculations/Results – Title and label all calculations.  You only need to show one set of calculations if you performed more than one trial.  These should be VERY easy to follow (use as much room as you need).  The results should also be listed in table form.

Conclusions - Discuss your results and their implications.  Did you accomplish what you expected to?  What would you do next?  What may have gone a bit wrong?

Bibliography - The bibliography must include ALL references used - even e-mail, personal communications, and on-line services.

Summary/Abstract - Include a summary of your background information as an introduction.   Summarize your hypothesis, experiment, data and results.  Tell the story of your project - tell what you did and exactly how you did it

Project Evaluation Form of Team Members Print and fill out the Evaluation Form of Team Members. Turn in your evaluations in a sealed envelope with your project. Each member must participate in each aspect of the project cooperatively with the team. Do not try and divided and conquer this must be a team effort. You will not receive credit for the project without satisfactory evaluations from all team members.

RUBRICS BOARD DISPLAY	POINTS
Title - The project title, names of group members	5
Introduction and Background information – Appropriate and Accurate background information.  Includes a bibliography.  All references MUST be cited.	20
Hypothesis/Objective - You should have either a hypothesis or an objective.	15
Procedure - What you actually did in the experiment. If you used or adapted a procedure from a manual, make sure it is referenced.	20
Data - Be VERY complete here.  Include all relevant information, with the proper number of sig figs and units  This should be in data table, charts or graph.	20
Pictures - Included pictures that either illustrates the experimental procedure or the results of your experiment.	15
Calculations/Results – Title and label all calculations.  You only need to show one set of calculations if you performed more than one trial.  These should be VERY easy to follow (use as much room as you need).  The results should also be listed in table form.	10
Conclusions - Discuss your results and their implications.  Did you accomplish what you expected to?  What would you do next?  What may have gone a bit wrong?	10
Summary/Abstract - Include a summary of your background information as an introduction.   Summarize your hypothesis, experiment, data and results.  Tell the story of your project - tell what you did and exactly how you did it	20
Bibliography - The bibliography must include ALL references used - even e-mail, personal communications, and on-line services.	10
Group Evaluation Form	5