Science Experiment Information

What is a Science Experiment?

The goal of an science experiment is to conduct an experiment to answer a question. During this project you will determine a testable question on a topic of interest, design and conduct an experiment, collect data, analyze your results, and share your findings. 

 

Science Experiment vs A Demonstration

It is important that you conduct an experiment for your project versus doing a demonstration on how something works or a report on a topic.  A science experiment will always center around a question that is answered by collecting data, NOT a question that is answered by a simple yes or no, or can be answered by searching the internet.

Science Experiment A science experiment has variables, tests different materials, and generates data.	Science Demonstration: A science demonstration shows how something works. Do not do a demonstration.
Examples: Which brand of batteries lasts the longest when connected to a lightbulb using a simple circuit?	Examples: Create a circuit to show how electricity lights a light bulb.
How do the amounts of baking soda and vinegar affect the volume of gas (bubbles) created?	Build a model volcano that uses baking soda and vinegar “lava”.
What slime recipe will create slime that can stretch the furthest?	Show how to make slime.
How does rocket shape affect flight height?	Create a report on the Artemis mission.

 

 

 

 

Setting Up Your Research Notebook

The first thing is to set up your research notebook.  It will need the following sections:

• Your name and Research Notebook on the front cover
• Starting on page 1 you will need a Table of Contents.  Include a table that has the headings Date, Title, and Page.  Save 3-4 pages for this section.
• The remainder of the notebook will be used for all your information, notes, data, for each section of this project.
• Number these pages beginning with 1.  For now, 20 - 30 pages should be enough.  Remember, you can always continue numbering if you run out.
• You might want to consider adding section tabs to help you flip through the notebook quickly.

 

The Scientific Inquiry Process

 

In the Ask step, you will select a topic for your science experiment and develop a question that is testable.  A testable question is one that you answer through conducting an investigation where your observations provide evidence. 

Brainstorming

The first thing is to come up with a topic that your project will be about.

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Topic Selection and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Topic Selection.
• Now it is time to start brainstorming things that interest you.  These could be hobbies, sports, things you wish you knew more about, etc. 
• If you are having a hard time coming up with ideas, talk with your family or friends.  The Science Buddies website has a Topic Selection Wizard that may help you find project ideas.  The energy KIDS website also has science projects ideas. If you use one of these sites to help generate ideas, do not pick a specific project.  Instead, write down several ideas that interest you.
• Write these ideas down in your notebook.  You want to come up with at least 5 or 6 ideas.

 

 

Selecting A Topic

Narrow down your list to the 2 or 3 ideas that you think are the best.

• Keep ideas that:
  • you can answer with a science experiment
  • have not already been answered
  • are approved by adults and your teacher 
• Exclude ideas that:
  • violate any of the Pikes Peak Elementary STEM Fair or ISEF rules
  • are unsafe or dangerous
  • cannot be solved in the designated time frame
  • are too expensive
  • are too large
  • require large teams of people
  • are outside your skill set
  • use tools and materials you do not have or can easily get

 

Creating A Testable Question

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Testable Question and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Testable Question.
• Now it is time to develop a question that you want to answer for each of your 2 or 3 topics. This is one of the most important steps in the project.  When done correctly, it will save you many headaches during your project. 
  • A scientific question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where. 
  • Testable questions do not lead to a simple yes or no answer.

 

• Using the same criteria as before, select the question that you want to investigate.

 

 

Creating A Research Plan

• Create an entry in your Table of Contents titled Research and the page number where you will begin.
• Go to that page in your notebook and title the page Research. Write your research and requirements on this page.
• Background research is critical to your project as it will help you develop a good hypothesis, design an experiment to answer your question, and determine what materials you will need for your experiment.  

• Begin by listing key words, phrases, things that you do not know about your topic.
• Next, use these key words to generate research questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) to gather information.  
  • How do you measure ______?
  • Why does ____ happen?
  • Where would you find _____?
  • When does _____ cause _____?
  • What causes _____?
  • Who uses _____?
• You should also plan to do background research on similar experiments.  This includes gathering definitions of important words and formulas for any math equations you might use in your experiment or to analyze your data.
• As you start your research, you may need to add additional questions, since there may be new vocabulary or topics that you need to have more information about. 

 

In the Predict stage, you use your past knowledge and research to suggest an answer to your question.  

Developing a Hypothesis / Prediction

A hypothesis / prediction is an educated guess based on your background research that tells what you think the results will be based on the experiment you do.

• Create an entry in your Table of Contents titled Hypothesis / Prediction and the page number where you will begin.
• Go to that page in your notebook and title the page Hypothesis / Prediction. Write your hypothesis on this page.
• In most experiments, a hypothesis or prediction is written as an if / then statement:

"If...I do this... Then... this will happen, Because...based on information I researched and observed."

• Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test.  This is what's called a testable hypothesis. In other words, you need to be able to measure both "what you do" and "what will happen."  

 

 

 

In the investigate phase you need to set up your experiment to test your question.  You need to consider what materials you should use and how you will measure and collect data.

Variables

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Variables and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Variables. Write your variables on this page.
• It is important for an experiment to be a fair test. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor while keeping all other conditions the same.
• Scientists call the changing factors in an experiment variables.  A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.

• The Independent Variable is the one you change as part of your experiment (ex. the type of soil your plant will grow in). 
• The Dependent Variable is the one you are recording the data on to determine which of the independent variables worked best (ex. height of the plant).
• The Controlled Variable are those things you need to keep the same in the experiment to not affect the independent variable (ex. amount of soil, size of pot, amount of water, amount of light, temperature, etc.)

 

 

 

Procedure

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Procedure and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Procedure. Write your procedure on this page.
• You need to develop an experimental procedure for testing whether it is true or false.
• The experimental procedure is like a step-by-step recipe for your science experiment.
• A good procedure is so detailed and complete that it lets someone else duplicate your experiment exactly!
• Repeating a science experiment is a necessary step to verify that your results are consistent and not just an accident.
  • For a typical experiment, you should plan to repeat it at least three times (more is better).
  • If you are doing something like growing plants, then you should do the experiment on at least three plants in separate pots (that's the same as doing the experiment three times).
• All steps that require measuring must be done in metric units (example: millimeters, centimeters, meters, grams, kilograms, milliliters, liters, etc.)
• If you are doing an experiment that involves testing or surveying different groups, you won't need to repeat the experiment three times, but you will need to test or survey a sufficient number of participants to insure that your results are reliable. You will almost always need many more than three participants, usually more than 100!
  • Example:

1. Gather all the materials.

2. Travel to the soccer field.

3. Starting at the goal line, stretch the measuring tape out the full 100 m distance.  Make sure that the zero starting mark is on the goal line.

4. Place the meter stick in the opposite direction from the goal line.

5. Place the two orange cones 1 meter apart at the end of the meter stick. This will be your starting point.

6. Put on soccer cleats.

7. Place the soccer ball on the goal line.

8. Stand at the starting point between the cones.

9. Run and kick the soccer ball.

10. Measure the distance it traveled using the measuring tape you stretched out on the field.

11. Record the distance the ball traveled in your data table in your science journal to the nearest cm.

12. Repeat steps 7 through 11 at least 2 more times.

13. Put on running shoes

14. Stand at the starting point between the cones.

15. Run and kick the soccer ball.

16. Measure the distance it traveled using the measuring tape you stretched out on the field.

17. Record the distance the ball traveled in your data table in your science journal to the nearest cm.

18. Repeat steps 7 through 11 at least 2 more times.

19. Put on Crocs

20. Stand at the starting point between the cones.

21. Run and kick the soccer ball.

22. Measure the distance it traveled using the measuring tape you stretched out on the field.

23. Record the distance the ball traveled in your data table in your science journal to the nearest cm.

24. Repeat steps 7 through 11 at least 2 more times.

 

Materials

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Materials and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Materials. Write your materials on this page.
• It is important that your materials list be very specific so that another scientist could repeat your experiment exactly as you.  This includes everything you used, no matter how small.
• Make sure you also list the:
  • total quantity needed for the experiment
  • size
  • amount
  • specific type etc. 

• Example:

1 - size 4 (66 cm) soccer ball filled to 10 PSI

1 - pair size 5 Nike soccer cleats (weight: 269 grams)

1 - pair size 5 Nike running shoes (weight 198 grams)

1 - pair of Crocs (weight 109 grams)

2 - 18 cm orange cones

1 - natural grass youth soccer field 

1 - 100 meter measuring tape

1 - meter stick

1 - 1 liter water bottle

1 - science notebook

1 - pencil

Data Table

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Data and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Data. Create your data table on this page(s) that you will use to record your observations.
• A data table will ensure that you are consistent in recording your data and will make it easier to analyze your results once you have finished your experiment. 
• Remember that the data table needs to be detailed enough to collect all your dependent variable information.
• Create one column for each test.  There should be at least 3 columns for results.  The more columns, the more tests and the more accurate your results.
• You will need a space to average the results of your trials. (Average = sum of each result divided by the number of results)

Example Data Table

 

 

Observe

In the observe step, you conduct your investigation, make observations about what is happening in your experiment, and record your findings or data.

 

Conducting the Experiment

• Be as exact as possible about the way you conduct your experiment, especially in following your experimental procedure, taking your measurements (remember these must be in metric units).
• It is very important to take very detailed notes as you conduct your experiments. In addition to your data you put in the data table, record your observations as you perform the experiment.
• Remember to use numerical measurements as much as possible.  
• Write down any problems that occur, anything you do that is different than planned, ideas that come to mind, or interesting occurrences. Be on the lookout for the unexpected. Your observations will be useful when you analyze your data and draw conclusions.
• If possible, take pictures of your experiment along the way. These will later help you explain what you did and enhance your display.  They can also help you document your data and observations.
• If your experiment also has qualitative data (not numerical), then take a photo or draw a picture of what happens.

 

Explain

The last step is to share what you have learned.  Be sure to explain the data and observations you recorded earlier.

 

Data Analysis

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Data Analysis and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Data Analysis. As you analyze your data, write your findings on this page.
• Really think about what you have discovered and use your data to help you explain why you think certain things happened.
• The use of charts and graphs can help you analyze the data and patterns.  Ask the following questions:
  • What did I find out from my experiment?
  • Did I get the results I expected?
  • Why do I think that I got the results that I did?
  • What data supports this assumption?

 

Summarizing The Data

• Often, you will need to perform calculations on your raw data in order to get the results from which you will generate a conclusion.  
• You should have performed at least 3 trials of your experiment. Think about the best way to summarize your data. In many cases, you will want to calculate the mean or average for each group of trials. (Mean/Average = sum of each result divided by the number of results) 

Example: (sum 1 + sum 2 + sum 3) ÷ 3 = mean / average

• It may be necessary to summarize the results in some other way, such as ratios or percentages or as individual data points.
• Make sure all formulas used for calculations are listed as part of your procedure.
• All of the units for a measurement should be of the same scale– (keep Liters with Liters and milliliters with milliliters, do not mix Liters with milliliters!)

 

Graphs

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Graphs and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Graphs. Draw your graphs on this page.  It is helpful to use graph paper to make the graphs and then attach them to the page.
• For any type of graph:
  • Generally, you should place your independent variable on the x-axis of your graph and the dependent variable on the y-axis.
  • Be sure to include a title and label the x and y axis of your graph. Don't forget to include the units of measurement (grams, centimeters, liters, etc.).
  • If you have more than one set of data, show each series in a different color or symbol and include a legend with clear labels.
• Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments. It is important that you use the correct graph!  These are the most common types of graphs used for elementary projects, and examples of when each should be used:
  • A bar graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups. It also may be a good choice if your independent variable is not numerical.
  • A line graph is most appropriate if your dependent variable is numerical and your independent variable is time.

 

Conclusion

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Conclusion and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page conclusion. Write your conclusion on this page.
• Your conclusion summarizes if your results support or contradict your hypothesis.  It is usually one paragraph in length.
• It is written as a Claim - Evidence statement
  • First write a claim statement to support or contradict your hypothesis.
    • example - Kicking a soccer ball with cleats compared to running shoes will increase the distance it travels.
  • Second support your claim with evidence by summarizing your project results in one or two sentences. Make sure it includes numbers from your data table.
    • example - My experiment showed that a soccer ball traveled an average of 78.50 m when kicked by soccer cleats, but only 59.75 m when kicked by running shoes.
• Include key facts from your background research to help explain your results as needed.
• Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure, making comments about its success and effectiveness.
• Suggest changes in the experimental procedure and/or possibilities for further study.

NOTE: If the results of your science experiment did not support your hypothesis, don't change or manipulate your results to fit your original hypothesis. Simply explain why things did not go as expected. Professional scientists commonly find that results do not support their hypothesis, and they use those unexpected results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis for future experiments. If you think you need additional experimentation, describe what you think should happen next.

 

Application

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Application and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Application. Write your application on this page.
• The application section is where you explain how your research results apply to the real world.  In other words, how will what you found out in your experiment help the world now or in the future?​
• Applications are usually one to two paragraphs in length.

 

Creating A Display Board

You are now ready to share your final product and the results of your testing with other scientists. You will be creating a poster to display your project.  Since this will represent you as a scientist, it should look professional.  It is recommended that all text is word processed and data tables and graphs are created with a spreadsheet program.  You will also present your project orally. 

Creating The Boards Content

• Using word processing software (Microsoft Word, Google Docs), type the following sections using information from your notebook:
  • Title
  • Testable Question
  • Hypothesis 
  • Variables
  • Materials
  • Procedure
  • Data
  • Analysis
  • Conclusion
  • Application
• Using a spreadsheet program (ex Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets) create the following:
  • Data Tables
  • Graphs

Producing a tri-fold board

• Draw a plan for your tri-fold poster using the example below.
• The information must be placed in specific locations on the board, make sure you match your plan to the example.

• Add creative elements like colors, fonts, borders, etc. if desired

• Print your sections 

Keep in mind that it needs to be easily readable from about 3 feet away, so you should use at least a 24 point font.

Make sure your printed sections will fit on the tri-fold according to your plan.

• Attach the printed sections, project pictures, and creative details to your board

Example Completed Display Boards

 

 

Sample Final Science Project

Testable Question

Which water bottle will keep drinks cold the longest?

Hypothesis

If I keep ice water in a Yeti cup, then it will have the lowest temperature over time because it has double walled vacuum insulation and is the most expensive.

Materials

• 1 – Science Notebook
• 1 – Pencil
• 1 – Timer
• 1 – Thermometer
• 1 – Yeti bottle
• 1 – Klean Kanteen bottle
• 1 – Hydro Flask bottle
• 1 – Plastic water bottle
• 1 – Measuring cup
• 1 – Scale
• 1000 grams ice cubes
• 5500 grams room temperature water

Procedure

1. Gather supplies
2. Place empty Yeti, Klean Kanteen, Hyrdo Flask, and plastic water bottles on a table inside
3. Weigh 100 grams of ice and add to each water bottle
4. Weigh 450 grams of room temperature water in a measuring cup and add to each water bottle
5. Measure and record the temperature of the water inside each water bottle
6. Screw the lids onto the water bottles
7. Measure and record the temperature of the water inside the water bottles 4, 8, and 24 hours after the first measurement
8. Repeat steps 1-6 at least 2 more times

Data

Analysis

The starting temperature in all 4 water bottles was similar. However, between trials the starting temperature was different. This may be because I did the trials on different days and the room I was testing in might have been at a different temperature on different days. Over time, the water inside all 4 water bottles increased in temperature. This makes sense because the room was warmer than the water inside the bottles. The plastic water bottle increased in temperature the fastest and had the highest temperature after 24 hours. This is likely because the plastic water bottle only has one thin layer of plastic for insulation. The water inside 3 insulated bottles (Yeti, Klean Kanteen, and Hydro Flask) dropped in temperature after 4 hours. This might be because I did not mix the water and the ice before the first measurement or because the ice began to melt. The Yeti water bottle had the lowest temperature at the 4, 8, and 24 hour timepoints. However, the Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask water bottles were only 1-2 °C warmer than the Yeti water bottle. This means that all three insulated bottles worked well to keep the water inside cold. The insulated bottles all use the same style of double wall vacuum insulation, which might be why they had similar temperatures at all time points.

Conclusion

My hypothesis was correct. I predicted that the Yeti water bottle would keep water at the lowest temperature over time. At 4, 8, and 24 hours after adding the water, the water inside the Yeti cup had the lowest temperature.

Application

Reusable water bottles are a popular item to purchase and can help reduce waste from plastic water bottles. People are more likely to use a reusable water bottle if it has better features than a disposable water bottle. One popular feature is the ability to keep drinks cold. If drinks stay cold people will be more likely to drink all the water in the bottle, reducing water waste. In addition, less energy will be used to create ice cubes if they don’t melt in the water bottle.

 

Presenting Your Findings

• Write a 3-5 minute speech summarizing your project. Remember to include:
  • Your Name
  • Project Title
  • Your Testable Question
  • A summary of the Background Research
  • Hypothesis or Prediction
  • Materials used
  • Procedure for conducting the experiment
  • A summary of your data analysis and the results
  • Conclusion
  • Application
• Practice your presentation in front of your tri-fold board 
  • Make sure you can present your speech without reading from your board
  • Practice until you feel and sound confident 
  • Make sure you are speaking loudly and clearly
• Think about questions someone might have about your project 
  • Practice answers to these questions
• Give your presentation to fellow scientists 
  • Make eye contact with your audience 
  • Answer questions - it is okay to say "I don't know"
  • Write down ideas that your audience suggests for future improvement 

 

 

Example Timeline

Week of	Goal
9-14-26	9/15/26 STEM Project Information Meeting – Scott Library 6:00 pm Project Overview, Project Resources, Notebook Setup
9-28-26	Ask Brainstorm possible project topics and problems Get Parent / Guardian Signature
10-5-26	Ask Select final topic and create your testable question to solve.
10-12-26	Predict Gather information on the topic. Generate a prediction to answer the testable question.
10-26-26	Investigate Identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables for the experiment.
11-2-26	Investigate Create the procedure that will be used to conduct the experiment.  REMEMBER - you need a minimum of 3 trials.
11-9-26	Investigate Develop the list of materials needed for the experiment.
11-16-26 through 12-11-26	Observe Gather materials and conduct the experiment based on the procedure. Gather data and record findings.  REMEMBER - you need a minimum of 3 trials! NOTE:  If you are measuring plant growth or conducting other experiments over time you may need to start earlier.
12-14-26	Explain Finalize data analysis.  Use a spreadsheet program to create data tables and graphs to present information.
1-4-27	Explain Use Claim – Evidence Based writing to create your conclusion.
1-11-27	Explain Develop materials for your display board using a word processor.  Print pictures and graphs.
1-18-27	Explain Assemble the display board. Practice a 3-4 minute presentation.
1-22-27	STEM Fair at Scott Elementary during school hours.   Required for 5th Grade
February	Pikes Peak Elementary Regional STEM fair - Invitation Only Tesla Center 2560 International Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80909

 

All projects are evaluated on a scale of 0 through 5 where 0 equals the criteria is not present and a 5 equals superior quality.  All projects will be scored by a minimum of 3 judges.  The average of the scores will be used to determine the project's final score.

Science Project Criteria

• Scientific Process
  • Testable Question
  • Hypothesis
  • Variables
  • Materials
  • Procedure
  • Data
  • Analysis
  • Conclusion
  • Application
• Presentation
  • Display - organized and attractive to audience
  • Display - student uses notebook and images to discuss findings and data
  • Oral Presentation Quality
• Time and Effort
• Thoroughness
• Effort

Engineering / Mathematics / Technology

Project Information

What is a Engineering, Mathematics, or Technology Project?

The goal of these projects is to solve a problem. During this project you will identify a problem, design and optimize a solution, and share your results with others.  In the case of engineering and technology projects this is creating a working prototype for the solution.  Mathematics projects use math to analyze information and develop a solution.

 

Engineering / Mathematics / Technology Project vs A Demonstration

Students that choose an engineering or technology project will design a new, or modify an existing product, NOT demonstrate how a product works.  An engineering or technology project will always center around solving a problem by creating a product to solve the problem.

 

 

 

 

Setting Up Your Research Notebook

The first thing is to set up your research notebook.  It will need the following sections:

• Your name and Research Notebook on the front cover
• Starting on page 1 you will need a Table of Contents.  Include a table that has the headings Date, Title, and Page.  Save 3-4 pages for this section.
• The remainder of the notebook will be used for all your information, notes, data, for each section of this project.
• Number these pages beginning with 1.  For now, 20 - 30 pages should be enough.  Remember, you can always continue numbering if you run out.
• You might want to consider adding section tabs to help you flip through the notebook quickly.

 

The Engineering Design Process

This process is used for both engineering and technology projects.

 

In the Ask step, you will select a problem in your life that you want to solve.  Remember, when selecting your problem it must be something that you can design and build a working object or product that can be tested to see if it solves the problem.

 

Brainstorming

The first thing is to come up with a topic that your project will be about.

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Topic Selection and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Topic Selection.
• Now it is time to start brainstorming things that interest you.  These could be hobbies, sports, things you have a problem that could potentially be solved by designing an object or product as a solution. 
• If you are having a hard time coming up with ideas, talk with your family or friends.  The Science Buddies website has a Topic Selection Wizard that may help you find project ideas.  The energy KIDS website also has science projects ideas. If you use one of these sites to help generate ideas, do not pick a specific project.  Instead, write down several ideas that interest you.
• Write these ideas down in your notebook.  You want to come up with at least 5 or 6 ideas.

Selecting A Topic

Narrow down your list to the 2 or 3 ideas that you think are the best.

• Keep ideas that:
  • have a problem that you could solve
  • have an existing solution, but you can improve on this solution
  • are approved by adults and your teacher 
• Exclude ideas that:
  • are unsafe or dangerous
  • cannot be solved in the designated time frame
  • are too expensive
  • are too large
  • require large teams of people
  • are outside your skill set
  • use tools and materials you do not have or can easily get

 

Creating A Research Plan

• Create an entry in your Table of Contents titled Research and the page number where you will begin.
• Go to that page in your notebook and title the page Research. Write your research and requirements on this page.
• Begin by researching your problem and existing solutions:
  • Look for products being sold that solve your problem
  • Interview friends or adults about the problem or possible solutions
• Define the requirements for your solution
  • What functions must your product perform
  • What materials can be used for the product
  • What size should the product be
  • What things are not necessary, but would be nice to include

 

In this step you will come up with several different product designs that will solve the problems selected in the Ask step. 

 

Generating Possible Solutions

• Sketch multiple ideas for your product
• Make sure your sketches show the product from different angles (top, left side, right side, bottom)
  • List or draw materials that you could build with to create the product
  • Draw improvements to existing products  

 

Model

This is where you will build a working prototype of your best product design. 

 

Selecting Your Best Design

• Create an entry in your Table of Contents titled Model and the page number where you will begin.
• Go to that page in your notebook and title the page Model. Create your model on this page.
• Choose your best idea and create a detailed drawing that meets your requirements. Include:
  • The types of materials you will use
  • The dimensions of each piece and the overall size of the product
  • How it is assembled
• Create an exploded drawing of your product
  • An exploded drawing shows each piece of the product before assembly 
  • Label the exploded drawing with measurements, dimensions, and assembly instructions 

 

Build

• Use your detailed drawing and exploded drawing to build a prototype
  • Make sure to use safety equipment and ask for adult help when needed 
• Record your building process and steps in your notebook
  • Take pictures during the construction process
• If you make any modifications to your plan, list these in your notebook
• Take pictures of the final build from multiple angles

 

Evaluate

It is now time to evaluate the effectiveness of your product.

 

Test Your Product

• Create an entry in your Table of Contents titled Evaluate and the page number where you will begin.
• Go to that page in your notebook and title the page Evaluate. 
• Write how you will test the product and evaluation criteria 
  • Use your requirements to define evaluation criteria
  • Consider what makes the product good or bad 
  • Think about multiple situations that could cause your product to fail
• Use your product to solve the problem you selected
  • Conduct several tests to determine how well your prototype meets the evaluation criteria
  • Try your product in multiple situations 
  • Record your observations in your notebook

Example Evaluation Grid (It uses a 0 to 5 scale to determine how well it meets each requirement)

Requirement	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3
First Requirement	3	5	2
Second Requirement	4	4	4
Third Requirement	2	5	5

 

 

Iterate

• If the prototype did not solve all the requirements then it needs changes.  Go back to the Explore step and look at your other ideas.  Can you use these to improve or modify your prototype. Record these changes in your notebook. Number each version of your prototypes and record which prototype is used in each test.
• Test your new prototype using the same evaluation criteria and record observations.
• Repeat this process until you have a product that solves all the requirements and the problem. 
• Draw and take a picture of the product that best solves the problem.

 

Explain

You are now ready to share your final product and the results of your testing with other engineers. You will be creating a poster to display your project.  Since this will represent you as an engineer, it should look professional.  It is recommended that all text is word processed and data tables and graphs are created with a spreadsheet program.  You will also present your project orally. 

 

Product Effectiveness

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Product Effectiveness and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Product Effectiveness. Write your conclusion on this page.
• In this step explain how well your product solved the problem.  It is usually one paragraph in length.
• It is written as a Claim - Evidence statement
  • First write a claim statement to tell how well your product solved the problem.
    • example - The Cell Jogger held my phone while jogging for most users.
  • Second support your claim with evidence by summarizing your project results in one or two sentences. Make sure it includes numbers from your data table.
    • example - Results from testing the Cell Jogger on 12 different people showed that it met the requirement of staying in place while jogging earned an average score of 4 out of 5.  However, when looking at its effectiveness at different speeds of jogging, the faster the user jogged the more difficult it was to view the screen clearly.
• Include key facts from your background research to help explain your results as needed.
• Summarize and evaluate your evaluation procedure, making comments about its success and effectiveness.
• Suggest changes in the product and/or possibilities for further study.

 

Future Ideas

• Begin by creating an entry in your Table of Contents titled Future Ideas and the page number where you will begin.
• Next, go to that page in your notebook and title the page Future Ideas. Write your application on this page.
• The Future Ideas section is where you explain what future versions of your product needs to perform even better.  It could also include additional features that could be added the product.
• Future Ideas are usually one to two paragraphs in length.

 

Creating A Display Board

You are now ready to share your final product and the results of your testing with other engineers. You will be creating a poster to display your project.  Since this will represent you as an engineer, it should look professional.  It is recommended that all text is word processed and data tables and graphs are created with a spreadsheet program.  You will also present your project orally. 

Poster

• Using word processing software, type the following sections using information from your notebook:
  • Title
  • Problem
  • Background research
  • Requirements 
  • Materials
  • Construction process
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Evaluation results
  • Future ideas
• Draw a plan for your tri-fold poster using the example below

• The information must be placed in specific locations on the board, match your plan to the example
• Add creative elements like colors, fonts, borders, etc. if desired

Obtain a tri-fold board

• Print your sections 
  • Keep in mind that it needs to be easily readable from about 3 feet away, so you should use at least a 24 point font.
  • Make sure your printed sections will fit on the tri-fold according to your plan
• Attach the printed sections, project pictures, and creative details to your board

Engineering Board Examples

 

Sample Completed Engineering Project 

Desk Buddy

Problem

My water bottle keeps falling off my desk and my backpack falls off my chair or pulls my chair over when it is full.

Background Research

Many elementary classrooms do not have storage cubbies for each child in the room.  Therefore, students need to hang their backpack on the back of their chair.  Water bottles are also a problem as they fall off the desk or get kicked over and spill the water.

From my research online Really Good Stuff, Seat Sack, and Hydro Holdr companies make clip cup holders that go on the chair or desk leg that can hold small disposable water bottle holders that cost between $12 and $19.  Most of the solutions online, however, require teachers to make their own by modifying bicycle water bottle holders, cup holders, plastic cups, pencil cups, tin cans, or socks and are attached to the desk or chair leg with zip ties.  The problem with most of these designs is that a heavy reusable water bottle will cause the holder to slide down the leg of the chair or desk.  There are some 3D printable files as well but most also use zip ties to attach them.

I did not locate any designs that held both a water bottle and a backpack.

Requirements

My holder needs to be able to:

• hold both disposable and heavy reusable water bottles like the popular 30 oz Stanley
• hold a backpack both empty and full with Chromebook, notebooks, and other take home school materials
• be easy to attach and remove from desk/table
• have an attractive design

Prototype Sketches

Materials

• TINKERCAD 3D design website
• FlashForge Adventurer 5M Pro 3D printer
• FlashPrint 5 slicing software
• Overture PLA 3D printing filament
• Plastic paint

 

Construction Process

1. Using TINKERCAD, create a 3D digital project for the holder based on selected design sketch.
2. Save the finished digital project as a .stl file.
3. Load the .stl file into FlashPrint software.
4. Add tree supports, if necessary, based on the design.
5. Send file to FlashForge 3D printer.
6. When file has completed printing, remove pieces from 3D printer and clean up tree pieces or rough parts.
7. Paint holder (optional).

 

Evaluation Criteria 

1. Hold a disposable or reusable water bottle
2.  Hold an empty and full backpack
3. Be easy to attach and remove from desk/table
4. Have an attractive design

 

Evaluation Results

(Test results are on a 0-5 scale where 0 = did not meet criteria and 5 = met criteria very well)  

Criteria	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3
Hold disposable water bottle	5	5	5
Hold reusable water bottle	4	5	0 did not fit
Hold an empty backpack	5	5	5
Hold a full backpack	3	4	3
Be easy to attach and remove from desk/table	5	3	5
Have an attractive design	5	5	5

The testing conducted with the prototype indicated that this design worked well in most situations.  In Test 1 the holder had difficulty holding the full backpack as it was very heavy from a laptop and several books.  While it did not fall off, the prototype made cracking sounds which indicated that it could possibly break.  The desk in Test 2 had a small lip that the holder attaches to and required several different placements until it attached firmly.  In Test 3 the water bottles did not fit into the holder opening.  Further research is needed in the sizes of water bottles that are popular among the majority of students.

Future Ideas

Future ideas include:

• designing the holder in different animal shapes
• printing in different colors
• creating different sizes for specific water bottle brands and sizes
• Have different length attachment screws for different desk thicknesses

 

Presenting Your Findings

• Write a 3-5 minute speech summarizing your project. Remember to include:
  • Your Name
  • Project Title
  • Your Problem
  • A summary of the Background Research and Requirements
  • A description of how you designed and built your product.  Make sure to include the materials you used.
  • A summary of your evaluation process and the results
  • Your future ideas
• Practice your presentation in front of your tri-fold board 
  • Make sure you can present your speech without reading from your board
  • Practice until you feel and sound confident 
  • Make sure you are speaking loudly and clearly
• Think about questions someone might have about your project 
  • Practice answers to these questions
• Give your presentation to fellow engineers 
  • Make eye contact with your audience 
  • Answer questions - it is okay to say "I don't know"
  • Write down ideas that your audience suggests for future improvement 

 

 

Example Timeline

Week of	Goal
9-14-26	9/15/26 STEM Project Information Meeting – Scott Library 6:00 pm, Project Overview, Project Resources, Notebook Setup
9-28-26	Ask Brainstorm possible project topics and problems. Get Parent / Guardian Signature.
10-5-26	Ask Select final topic and problem to solve.
10-12-26	Explore Gather information on topic.  Create sketches of possible products to solve the problem.
10-26-26	Model Choose your best possible product and create a detailed drawing of the product.
11-2-26	Model Develop assembly instructions for building the product.   REMEMBER - your prototype must function and be testable.
11-9-26	Model Develop the list of materials needed to build a prototype of the product.   REMEMBER - your prototype must function and be testable.
11-16-26 through 12-11-26	Model Gather materials and build the prototype of your product. Evaluate Test your prototype against the requirements to determine how well it solves the problem.  Make any needed modifications or improvements.
12-14-26	Explain Finalize data analysis from your product testing.  Use a spreadsheet program to create data tables and graphs to present information.
1-4-27	Explain Use Claim - Evidence Based writing to explain how the product solves the problem.  Develop an explanation of how the product works.
1-11-27	Explain Develop materials for your display board using a word processor.  Print pictures and graphs.
1-18-27	Explain Assemble the display board. Practice a 3-4 minute presentation.
1-22-27	STEM Fair at Scott Elementary during school hours.   Required for 5th Grade
February	Pikes Peak Elementary Regional STEM fair - Invitation Only Tesla Center 2560 International Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80909

All projects are evaluated on a scale of 0 through 5 where 0 equals the criteria is not present and a 5 equals superior quality.  All projects will be scored by a minimum of 3 judges.  The average of the scores will be used to determine the project's final score.

Engineering, Math, and Technology Project Criteria

• Design Process
  • Problem addresses a real and specific need
  • Research is present
  • Requirements specified
  • Materials
  • Construction process
  • Prototype Sketches
  • Construction Drawings
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Evaluation results
  • Future ideas
• Presentation
  • Display - organized & attractive to audience
  • Display - student uses notebook and images to discuss findings and data
  • Oral Presentation Quality
• Time and Effort
• Thoroughness
• Effort