Fourth Grade Science Fair

Kelly Hudson
Fourth-grade students took on the role of scientists as they investigated the aerodynamics of paper airplanes. Students followed scientific methods. After building and throwing paper airplanes, students made observations and brainstormed possible variables to test. Once groups identified a testable question, they worked in collaborative groups to research motion, forces, energy, and aerodynamics. To plan their experiment, students identified variables, visualized their project, listed materials, wrote step-by-step procedures, and created a data table. To conduct their experiment, students controlled their variables, measured with metric units, and recorded data. Students learned how to analyze their data by averaging their results, making a bar graph, and drawing a conclusion. Students learned the importance of keeping a detailed logbook, measuring with precision and accuracy, and documenting their experiments. You can click on this link to see the science fair process in action. 
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