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STEM Projects: Required for all 7th grade students:
Due Friday, 1/8/2010
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) showcase. This showcase is similar to what
we have called a Science Fair in the past. But we are trying
to encourage more projects in technology, engineering, math,
robotics, experimental designs, etc which is the reason we have
renamed it STEM instead of going with the traditional Science Fair
name. For the showcase students will complete inquiry
projects that will help them gain a better understanding of
scientific research methods. Our showcase is open to all CJH
students. But is not a requirement for all students. Students
who complete a project will get credit in the grade book for the
project. Students can work alone or in pairs. The partner can
come from any 7th grade science student regardless of the teacher.
We are hoping that we will have kids move on to present at the
Regional STEM showcase at PLU in March and beyond, as well as
having our top projects represented at the Bethel Art and Tech fair
in February.
While the project is meant to be an at home independent project, I
am available to help guide students through the process, as are
Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Penner, Mr. Mooney, and Mr. Samujh.
In addition I showed a great website in class, "Science
Buddies". (You can access the site under "Links".) This site
has over 800 project ideas and explanations. Some projects
are just ideas where the students develop a plan for completion of
the project and others are a complete project with a material list
and procedure included. This site has a "Topic Selection
Wizard" (top right hand corner of the site under the title "Science
Fair Project Ideas") which asks students 29 standard questions
about likes and dislikes concerning science; then it generates a
second set of questions based on the answers to the first 29
questions, which then generates a list of potential projects
(Generally more than a 100 ideas will come up with the
search.) It is a great tool for students to help them get an
idea for a project.
Projects are to be an inquiry based project that allows them to
explore the answer(s) to a question. Projects are NOT to be
models of the solar system, volcanoes, etc. Please have your
student check his/her idea with me first if you have any questions
about whether it will fit the criteria.
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