Science 10 Major Project

The major project is an opportunity for you to go deeper into an area of interest. There are 4
primary units this year Biology, Chemistry, Energy and the Universe and its formation.

Using these as a launching place you are undertake a project that interests you and allows you
to show you developing knowledge of the Scientific Method including research, the
development of an experiment to test your research and Error analysis.

Your major project will be graded on the following Core Areas;

 Scientific Thought (50%) – Experiment, Innovation and research

o Experiment original and significant variables identified and controlled.
o Data analysis is thorough and complete.
o Several different technologies, inventions, social/behavioral interventions
or the project has designed and constructed an innovative application
that will have human and/or commercial benefit.
 Originality and Creativity (30%)
o An innovative approached, resourcefulness, creativity in design as well as
the use of equipment, construction and/or the analysis.
 Communication (15%)
o The level is based on four elements: visual, oral, project report with
background research, and logbook.
o Meeting deadlines.

Stage ONE: You will be given some time in class this week to develop your idea. You will need
your idea signed off PRIOR to starting your project to ensure that you are on the right track and
are not wasting time researching an idea that doesn’t meet the course requirements.

Spring Break: You should be completing your initial research – log book commenced
You Will Hand In

 Log/journal
 Project report
 A video summarizing your project between 5 to 7 minutes. This is your formal
presentation.

Science Fair Project: Log Book

A science journal is a written record that evidences your work from the start of the project to
the finish.

It should include images (photo/sketches/video) during each step of the project.

Tips for Construction a Log Book / Journal

1. Usually completed by hand in a written document, we will use an online document such
as Google Docs. This can then be readily shared. Keep your document organized and
user-friendly. Images/sketches can be added into the document digitally.
2. Use Different Sections (labeled) to organize and separate different sections.
3. Date all entries and organize entries by date.
4. Include all research information.
a. Fact Finding Research– What others have discovered.
b. Exploratory Research- What you discover, ex. observations from your
experiments.
5. Record your references/sources using the APA citation method.
6. Include all project experimental observations in order by date, and time.
7. Record your thoughts and questions during the entire study. Think of this document as a
diary.
8. Ensure you have page numbers.
9. Have a title page.
10. Prepare a table of contents listing the page number of each section.

Hint – remember that we are looking for evidence of the Scientific Method. Your log/journal
should reflect this. Do some research to help you set up your log/journal.
Project Report:
Project Report of no more than five pages, including a title page, plus an appendix of no more
than two extra pages for the references and bibliography.

You report need not be part of your presentation, but it is an important component. It is
expected that both your project reports and logbook are informative, clearly written, and the
bibliography extends beyond web-based articles

Your report will summarise your project using a scientific writing style; aim to convey your ideas
and exactly what you did as concisely as possible, but with enough detail that it is
unambiguous. This can be difficult, so budget time for an editing phase: your first version
should not be the final version.

Most importantly DO NOT plagiarize. Use in text references as you write.

A complete Project Report includes the following subtitles and sections.

 Introduction: a description of the background to your experiment, innovation or study.

What measurements or inventions by other people have laid the groundwork for your
project? Where did you get the idea? What need are you addressing or what question
are you trying to answer? The Introduction should include the specific objectives of the
project. For example, if your project tested a hypothesis or if there were design criteria,
you would describe them here. If an earlier version of the project was submitted in a
previous year, you should describe it and highlight the changes and additional work
done.
 Procedure: a brief outline of the materials and methods used, which might include
methods of data/information gathering in a study or construction of prototypes in an
innovation, for example.
 Results or Observations: a summary of the results of the experiment, innovation or
study. Graphs, diagrams and charts may be included in your report, but not the raw data
or observations.
 Conclusions: an explanation of what can be concluded from the results of your project
and why it is important.
  Acknowledgements: recognition of those individuals, institutions and businesses that
provided significant assistance in the form of guidance, materials, financial support
and/or facilities for this work.
 References in APA format both in text and in the references section. Any use of
quotations from references must be clearly identified in the report as well as the source
being listed in the References appendix.
Format
Text must be 12-point Times, Arial or equivalent, double-spaced with margins of 2.5 cm (1 inch)
all around. Page 1 must have the project title and your name at the top.

Other considerations:
Système international (SI) units and the correct abbreviations for units must be used. Data is
expected to have the appropriate number of significant figures.
Graphs, charts and map captions must have labels and legends that are accurate and legible.
Errors: Data, etc. should be reviewed for errors and those errors should be discussed along with
your data analysis.

Video Summary
You are to create a 5 to 7-minute summary of your project. It will introduce your project,
identify your question, hypothesis, experiment, analysis and conclusion. This will take place of
you formally presenting your project. The time is purposefully short. The easiest way to
understand this video is review videos such as those created using the Tasty food videos. Ex.
https://tasty.co/recipe/raspberry-chocolate-greek-yogurt-cheesecake

This video will be focused on your experiment. Take video and photos. Do not agonize over this,
simply record your processes and edit it down to time then add voice over of titles / captions.