Mandeville Middle School 2011 Science Fair Guide Page 4
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7 7. Identify Variables
EXAMPLE
In order to test your experiment, you must change
one (1) variable of your experiment and repeat the
Statement of Problem (from step#3):
I want to find out if the type of container will
entire procedure three (3) times while controlling
influence how fast ice will melt?
all the other variables.
Independent Variable (change): Container
1st Change: Styrofoam Container
Independent Variable is “What I changed”
2nd Change: Plastic Container
so that I can observe what happens.
3rd Change: Glass Container
Controlled Variables (kept the same):
Controlled Variables are “What I keep the same”
Same amount of ice, same room temperature,
in each of the 3 tests.
same size of container, same placement of
experiment while being conducted.
Dependant Variable is a measured Variable.
Dependent Variable (observed): Time it
It is “What I observed”
took the ice to melt in each container.
8. Write a Hypothesis
EXAMPLE
A prediction of what will happen in the experiment.
Testable Question (from step#3):
I want to find out if the type of container will
The success of your experiment does not depend
influence how fast ice will melt?
on whether your hypothesis is correct or not. A
Hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction of
Hypothesis Statement:
what will happen in the experiment. You should
If ice is placed in a Styrofoam container
(variable 1), it will take longer to melt than if
write your hypothesis based on what you have
the ice is place in a plastic (variable 2) or
read and written in your “Review of Literature.”
glass container (variable 3).
This should help you to make your prediction
based on facts rather then guessing.
ABSTRACT
Rewrite your Hypothesis in part I (
) of the Abstract.
9. Procedure
EXAMPLE
Your recipe for your experiment.
Materials:
Clock (to measure time)
A procedure is a step-by-step instruction on how
Paper and pencil to write start/end times
3- 5cm glass containers
you did your experiment. It is like a recipe for baking
3- 5cm plastic containers
a cake. A complete list of materials that you used in
3- 5cm Styrofoam containers
your experiment should appear prior to your procedure.
27 Ice cubes
Data Collection Sheet
Special Note: Your procedure needs to be
Procedure:
1. Place 3 ice cubes in the Styrofoam
detailed to enough so that if someone wanted to do
container (variable 1)
your experiment, exactly as you did it, they could.
2. Place the container on the end of the
Test and/or demonstrate your procedure to a family
kitchen counter
3. Write down the start time
member or friend. Edit your procedure with any steps
4. Check ice cubes every 2 minutes until
that you missed.
they have melted completely.
5. Write down the end time
6. Repeat steps 1- 5 changing the container
Rewrite your Procedure in
to variable 2 – plastic.
ABSTRACT
paragraph form for part II (
)
7. Repeat steps 1-5 changing the
container to variable 3 – glass.
of the Abstract.
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