Research Plan 

Directions: Research information related to the topic of your science fair project.  Find five sources of information about your topic.  Write the source of information down in your log notebook.  In a log book it should look like an example.  (It will be part of the final grade, be sure to follow the proper order and give each entry a date and title)

Example: 

        11/20  Brainstorm - I’m interested in physics, so I’d like to do something with hot wheels. I’ve noticed some race faster on my hot wheels track than others and I wonder what makes the fastest hot wheel.

             11/22 My topic is: Physics

           My question is: What makes the fastest hot wheel car?

          I’d like to learn more about the science behind moving objects and speed.

               11/30  Research

 Source 1: https://makezine.com/article/craft/physics-latest-record-breaking-hot-wheels-loop/#:~:text=The%20terminal%20velocity%20of%20a,rolling%20friction%2C%20and%20air%20resistance. 

 Summary of Source 1: This article was about the largest hot wheels track loop, the trick to getting a car to make the full loop was to have a special aluminum track leading into the loop made of traditional orange track. This experiment was also set outdoors in July in the hot sun which impacted the orange track, as the aluminum track was more ”thermally stable”.  Terminal velocity is the term for speed when the hot wheel car reaches the end of the loop.  It mentions terms like weight, rolling friction and air resistance impacting car speed and g-force friction in the context of the loop shape.

Source 2: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15128597/in-the-minds-of-hot-wheels-collectors/ 

 Summary of Source 2:  This article was about hot wheels as collectibles and what makes them valuable.  The cost of making hot wheel cars changed over time because of the materials and labor to produce them resulted in changes to the product itself.  This impacted the wheels, paint, metal used and cast style used for models, something to take into consideration for my project.

Source 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXWESR_ccoY 

 Summary of Source 3:  This expert races hot wheels and makes them run more smoothly and quickly.  His main tips for out of the package cars, is to examine places the wheels to make sure they are free-spinning and straight.  Some times for comparison were given for a 72 g car a time of 1.630 would be a decent time by his standards whereas his fastest car runs about 1.588 speed.  The year of production and castings used might be a variable to be controlled.  Additionally, a too slick track can cause cars to go all over the track and changes in direction result in a less clean slower run.  Contact points on the side of the car where it touches the track can slow it down too.

 Source 4: https://www.as.wvu.edu/phys/rotter/phys201/5_Energy/How_Hot_Are_Your_Hot_Wheels.htm 

 Summary of Source 4:  This lab experiment procedure lesson from West Virginia University, outlined three different methods for racing hot wheels with science considerations.  Principles that might be relevant to my experiment include: the principle of conservation of energy, friction, potential energy, efficiency, acceleration, velocity, and elevations of the track. Wheels touching the track seem to be a concern that is calculated for in these experiments.  It also notes calculations for rotational energy, linear kinetic energy as it relates to the loop-the-loop.  

Source 5: https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/entertainment/a33851290/the-science-of-hot-wheels-building-the-perfect-loop/ 

 Summary of Source 5:  Ted Wu, Global Head of Vehicle Design at Hot Wheels weighs in on the three factors car designers think about: mass, wheel type, and shape of the car.  Mass and gravity impact the speed of the car. There are different wheel sizes depending on type of vehicle, medium wheels are best for track competition.  Shape of the car considerations include the height of the bumpers and spoilers.  

Writing the Research Plan

Directions: an example is below : )

1. Write the rationale - Reread all the information gathered from your five required sources that have been recorded in a log book.  In the space below, write a summary of all that you learned about the topic.  Explain how this information relates to the research question you will be exploring. If applicable, explain how the findings of your project might impact society.  Keep this to a paragraph 7-10 sentences. 
2. Write the question that you will be answering with your experiment.  
3. Write a strong hypothesis statement 
4. Write expected outcomes.  What do you think will happen? 
5. Write your list of materials 
6. Write your procedures
7. Write your risk and safety information – there should not be many. Consult adult sponsors and rule packets if this might be a concern. 
8. Write your data analysis - how will you compare data points to draw conclusions about your hypothesis?
9. Write a bibliography - at this stage, list the sources of information (science journal articles, books, websites) so that they could be accessed again if necessary.  There are no stipulations about APA/MLA citation or annotated bibliography on the international rules. 

Example: 

Rationale: 

          As anyone who has ever watched a hot wheel race down a track or speed through a loop-the-loop wonders, what is it that makes some hot wheels faster or loop better than others?  The ability to complete the loop-the-loop has many moving factors impacting the car including g-force friction, height of loop, and elevation of the loop.  These elements would require calculation formulas beyond my expertise.  Instead this experiment will investigate the impact of friction, air resistance, efficiency and velocity by placing cars fresh from the pack in direct competition on a two-lane track.  The three key components for examining and selecting cars will be about mass, wheel type and shape of the car.  Selecting cars made in the same era should eliminate differences in weight caused by different materials used to make cars. Shape of the car considers the height of the bumpers and spoilers as well as choosing comparable wheel types, noting that medium sized wheels are best for racing cars. One Hot Wheel racing expert indicated the wheelbase must be straight, free spinning, one expert indicated for a 72 gram car 's time of 1.630 was decent and a speed of 1.588 was that of an elite racer.  In the quest to find and possibly predict the fastest hot wheel car, the experiment will demonstrate understanding of the principle of conservation of energy which is applicable to other real-world scenarios. 

Research Question/Title: What makes the fastest hot wheel fast?

Hypothesis: If I race cars against each other, then the car with the most streamlined body style will complete the track in the shortest time.

Expected Outcomes: Based on research the mass of the car, straightness of the wheelbase and shape of the car will impact the speed of the Hot Wheel.  Cars with spoilers or low bumpers will have greater air resistance and should record slower times than cars with a streamlined body style.  Cars with greater mass on an elevated track will likely go faster than cars with less mass.  

Materials:

• Four hot wheels cars - fresh from the pack- 
• Four feet of standard orange hot wheels track 
• C-clamp 
• Countertop
• Postage scale
• Stopwatch
• Pencil
• Log book

Procedures:

1. Remove hot wheels from the new package.
2. Weigh each of the four hot wheels cars individually on a postage scale.
3. Record the weight of each car in a log book.
4. Assess the body style of each of the four hot wheels. 
5. Record any low bumpers, spoilers or other features that might create air resistance.
6. Affix four feet of standard orange hot wheel track to countertop with c-clamp.  
7. Use a stopwatch to time the car racing from the starting line to the finish line.
8. Record the car, trial #, and time of each car in the log book.
9. Repeat steps seven and eight for each of the four hot wheels cars. This will complete one full trial.
10. Repeat steps seven, eight, and nine three additional times.  This will complete four full trials.

Risk and Safety: (none - this project does not include knives, animals, chemicals or other potentially hazardous materials)

Data Analysis: Comparing the weight, the body style and times of the cars will verify if these factors impacted the speed of the car.  Analysis will also explore the impact of friction, air resistance, efficiency and velocity potentially played in determining the fastest hot wheel.

Bibliography: 

https://makezine.com/article/craft/physics-latest-record-breaking-hot-wheels-loop/#:~:text=The%20terminal%20velocity%20of%20a,rolling%20friction%2C%20and%20air%20resistance. 

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15128597/in-the-minds-of-hot-wheels-collectors/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXWESR_ccoY 

https://www.as.wvu.edu/phys/rotter/phys201/5_Energy/How_Hot_Are_Your_Hot_Wheels.htm 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/entertainment/a33851290/the-science-of-hot-wheels-building-the-perfect-loop/ )

Template:

Rationale

Research Question/Title: 

Hypothesis: If…then…

Expected Outcomes: 

Materials:

Procedures:

Risk and Safety: (using any knives? Chemicals, potential dangers?  Note those here and how you keep safe during the experiment)

Data Analysis:

Bibliography:

NOTES Properties of Minerals

What is a mineral?

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid that can form by inorganic processes and that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.  

For a substance to be a mineral it must 

How are minerals identified?

Minerals are identified by their characteristic Properties 

How do minerals form?

In general, minerals form in 3 ways

Research

for Paper Towel Absorbency Science Project 

• Paper absorbs water
• Paper is made of cellulose which water clings to
• Cellulose fibers are similar to cotton
• Cotton can absorb 25 times its weight 
• Ply Count: The number of layers of paper used to make the complete paper towel. 
• The higher the ply count, the more absorbent, thick, soft and strong the paper towel will be.
• Bounty is 2 ply 
  1. are not recycled
• Kirkland is 2 ply 
  1. Blend of recycled and not recycled material
• Generic is 2 ply
  1. Some Made of recycled paper
  2. Some made of ½ recycled and ½ virgin paper
• School is 1 ply – 
  1. Made from recycled material
• Recycled fibers are shorter than virgin fibers making recycled fibers less absorbent.
• The absorbency of a paper towel is determined by its fibers and structure, which create small spaces that water can fill in.  
• This process relies on two forces:
  1. Adhesion (water molecules sticking to the fibers)
  2. Cohesion (water molecules sticking to each other
• As the water fills these spaces, it gets trapped, allowing the towel to absorb liquid
• This process is driven by capillary action – the movement of liquid through small spaces.
• Towels with more fibers or layers have a greater surface area, allowing them to absorb more water 

Rubric for Science Lab

Name ____________________________                               Date_______________

9/18/25 finish paper airplane lab - finish Data and results, Conclusion and Question for next time.

Back to School Night 2025

Mrs. Miscioscia

lmiscioscia@myholyfamilyschool.org

6^th grade Science

The topics we will cover in 6^th grade science are:

• Scientific Method
  1. How to conduct an experiment, how to do research, how to gather data and organize it
  2. How to write a lab

*ALL students will be required to participate in the Montgomery County Science Fair*

*The Science Fair Experiment will be done at HOME*

*I have last year’s science fair information packet for you to look over – to get an idea of what is expected.   I will update and hand out this year’s science fair packet at the end of September

*The Science Fair project is due in January

6^th grade science has three workbooks

• Earth’s Structure
  1. Introducing Earth
  2. Minerals and Rocks
  3. Plate Tectonics
  4. Earthquakes 
  5. Volcanoes 
• Earth’s Surface
  1. Weathering and Soil
  2. Erosion and Deposition
  3. A trip through Geologic Time
• Astronomy and Space Science
  1. Earth, Moon and Sun
  2. Exploring Space
  3. The Solar System
  4. Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe 

I will be teaching using videos, experiments and the workbook. 

For supplies for experiments – I will be reaching out to you for things the students need for their experiments.   

Students will need to study the vocabulary, their workbook, their worksheets, and their notes.

Science grades will be from quizzes, tests, projects and labs.  

The Students will also learn the Scientific Method, how to conduct an experiment and how to do research and gather data. 

Then, armed with this information – they will do a Montgomery County Science Fair Project.  Three winners will compete in the Montgomery County Science Fair.  

This project will begin in late September.  The HFS science fair award ceremony will be in January.  The Montgomery Science Fair is usually in February or March.  The three top Science Fair projects will be going to the Montgomery Science Fair. 

Erosion and Weathering Project Rubric

Erosion and Weathering Project

Cover Page

• Give your project a title
• A picture of Weathering or Erosion
• Your name and date

First Page

• Definition of Erosion in your own words
• Definition of weathering in your own words
• Compare and Contrast Weathering and Erosion – 
  1. Tell what is the same and what is different
• Draw or find a picture of Erosion
• Draw or find a picture of Weathering

Second Page

• Definition of Mechanical Weathering in your own words
  1. Examples of Mechanical Weathering
  2. Draw or find a picture of mechanical weathering
• Definition of Chemical Weathering in your own words
  1. Examples of Chemical weathering 
  2. Draw or find a picture of chemical weathering

Third page

• Definition of erosion in your own words
  1. Examples of Erosion – different from the first page
  2. Draw or find a picture of erosion – different from your first picture
• Definition of deposition in your own words
  1. Examples of deposition 
  2. Draw or find a picture of deposition 
• Definition of Mass Movement in your own words
  1. Examples of Mass Movement
  2. Draw or find a picture of Mass Movement

Fourth Page and Fifth pages

• Definition of Water Erosion in your own words
  1. Examples of water erosion 
  2. Draw or find a picture of water erosion
• Definition of Glacial Erosion in your own words
  1. Examples of glacial erosion
  2. Draw or find a picture of glacial erosion
• Definition of Wave Erosion in your own words
  1. Examples of wave erosion
  2. Draw or find a picture of wave erosion 
• Definition Wind Erosion in your own words
  1. Examples of Wind Erosion
  2. Draw or find a picture of wind erosion

Due on Friday May 30

Title Page

Name and Date

Erosion and Weathering Project

Wednesday 1/8 

The Plan for January Science classes

1. Students need an unused copybook for their science fair project by Monday 11/18
2. Project topic due by 11/26
3. Research plan and forms due 12/20
4. The Science Fair board is due 1/8
5. Judging of Boards 1/17
6. HFS Award ceremony 2/13
7. HFS Winners go onto the Chester County Science Fair 3/11
8. Chester County Science Fair Award Ceremony 3/18

1. All projects must be in the form of an experiment.  Not a demonstration.  
2. The work on each student’s project will be completed at home.  This includes research, data collecting, experiments, conclusion and creating the trifold board.
3. Every student must create and keep a Log Notebook.  Every thought must be recorded in this Log Notebook.  Topic ideas must be recorded.  The approved topic must be written down.  All the research.  All the questions that led to new research searches need to be written down.  Data collected needs to be written down.  The notebook is a test grade.
4. Experiments cannot come in to school to be shown off. – So remember to take pictures and document everything every step of the way.  All documentation must be in the notebook. 
5. All students are expected to present their projects in class and to explain their experiment.  This is a test grade.  They will also need to answer questions from the judges during the judging.
6. Projects may notinclude
   1. Science or math kits from stores
   2. Live animals
   3. humans
   4. Fire
   5. Bodily fluids
7. Students must follow the Scientific Method
8. Students should find a project that interests them. 

• You need to add an Abstract above the Purpose
• You need to add a Bibliography under the Conclusion

• You and your parents read through this packet
• Buy a Log Notebook – bring it to school by Monday 11/18
• Return the signature slip to school by Monday 11/18

• Use a new copybook
• Make it your own – title it – draw on it – put your name on it
• Be sure to DATE each entry!
• Start Today!
• Brainstorm – all your thoughts and ideas get written down in this notebook
• Write about all your ideas
• Write about your interests
• Write any questions that come to your mind – I wonder if . . . 
• Write about the problems you came across and how you think you can solved them
• Once you decided on a problem/question write it down
• Start your research here – date it, write where you found it, summarize it.
• Record all of your investigations – in detail
• Record any drawings that you have
• Basically, anything to do with your project should be recorded in your log book

• Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Cooking and Food Science
•  Music
• Photography, Digital Photography
• Physics
• Sports Science

• Human Biology and Health
• Plant Biology

• Civil Engineering
• Electricity and Electronics
• Energy and Power
• Environmental Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Robotics

• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Ocean Sciences
• Weather and Atmosphere

• Human Behavior
• Sociology

• Computer Science
• Pure Mathematics
• Video and Computer Games

1. Write down in summary form your plan
2. Include 
   1. Title
   2. Hypothesis
   3. Planned procedure
3. Base this off of your research
4. The information you put in your Research plan must match the information you put on your board – example – hypothesis must be the same

1. Create a materials List – Remember everything right now is going in your Log Notebook.  
2. Write out your Procedure.  Procedures are numbered.  First do this, second do this, third do this . . .
3. List your controlled variables and your independent variable.
   1. Controlled variable = the things that will be the same for each experiment
   2. Independent variable = the thing that will change – what you are testing. 

1. The Abstract
   1. The abstract is the last thing you do – but it’s the first thing on the left side of the board
   2. It is a written summary of your project
   3. It should include
      1. Purpose (why)
      2. Procedure (how)
      3. Data Conclusion (what you learned)
   4. It can be no more than 250 words
2. Purpose
   1. Define the problem or question you were trying to answer through experimentation
   2. Define the purpose
      1. Why is it important?
      2. How will it help?
3. Hypothesis 
   1. The “If...then...because” statement:
   2. If I do this, then that will happen because of what I learned from my research
   3. This is done before you start the project – this is you guess of what the outcome will be due to your research
4. Background/Research
   1. What did you already known about this topic?
   2. What research did you use to design the experiment?
   3. Cite relevant background research on the project

1. TITLE
   1.  Your board must have a Title.  The title can be your question.
2. Materials
   1. List all of the materials you used to do this project.
      1. Use bullets to list materials
3. Procedure
   1. Detailed procedure
   2. It should be listed in numerical order 
4. Diagrams/Charts/Graphs/Pictures
   1. Make sure you do not have faces of names on the charts or pictures
   2. You should make Diagrams/charts/ or graphs of the data you collected 
   3. You should be taking pictures of your experiment as you go – pick the best photos to display

1. Results / Data Analysis
   1. What happened 
   2. Why did it happen
   3. Use your experiment and your research in this section
2. Conclusion
   1. Was your Hypothesis correct?  Why or why not
   2. Use your research to explain your results and conclusion
   3. What would you do different if you were to do this experiment again
   4. Are you left with any questions
3. Bibliography
   1. List all the sites you used during your research
   2. List all the videos you used during your research
   3. Note any experts you spoke with
   4. Note/list everything you did to research this topic
   5. You must have at least 5 resources

1. System – a group of parts that work together as a whole
   • Such as air, water, rock and life work together on Earth
2. Energy – the ability to do work.  
   • The energy of Earth is 
     • Heat from the sun
     • Heat following out of the Earth as it cools. 
3. Atmosphere – the relatively thin envelope of gases that forms Earth’s outermost layer
   • Mixture of gases – mostly nitrogen and oxygen.
   • It also contains dust particles, cloud droplets, and rain and snow and water vaper
   • Contains Earth’s weather
   • Is the foundation of the different climates 
4. Geosphere – Earth’s mass, found in Earth’s rocks and metals.
   • Has three main parts
     • Metal core
     • Solid middle layer
     • Rocky out layer
5. Hydrosphere
   • Earth’s water
     • About ¾ of Earth’s surface is covered by water
     • Ocean’s glaciers, rivers, lakes, groundwater, and water vapor
     • Earth’s surface water is mostly salt water 
     • Only a tiny part of the Hydrosphere is fresh water that is drinkable by humans
6. Biosphere
   • The parts of the Earth that contain living organisms 
   • Life exists 
     • Top of mountains
     • Deep underground
     • Bottom of the ocean
     • High u in the atmosphere
   • Life exists in all kinds of conditions
7. Feedback – when a system returns or feedback to itself data about a change in the system
   • Feedback can increase the effects of change – ex warming glaciers
   • Or slow the effects down.
8. Constructive forces – forces that construct or build up mountains
   • shape the lands surface by building up mountains and other landmasses.
   • Volcanoes build up Earth’s surface
   • Earthquakes build landmasses
9. Destructive Forces – destroy and wear away landmasses through processes like erosion and weathering.  
   • Erosion is the wearing down and carrying away of land by natural forces such as water, ice or wind.
   • Weathering – the process or ice rain wind and changing temperatures that tear the rock apart. 

Notes workbook pages 4-9

• The Earth systems involve a constant flow of matter through different parts.
  1. Example 
     • The water cycle
     • The rock cycle
  2. The constant flow of matter needs energy
     • The earth’s energy comes from 
       • The heat of the sun
       • Heat flowing out of Earth as it cools
• The Earths system has four main spheres:
  1. The Atmosphere
  2. The Geosphere
  3. The Hydrosphere
  4. The Biosphere
• The Earth’s lands are constantly being created and destroyed by competing forces
  1. Constructive forces
     • Constructive forces shape the land’s surface by building up mountains and other landmasses
  2. Destructive forces
     • Destructive forces destroy and wear away landmasses through processes like erosion and weathering

WELCOME TO 6TH GRADE SCIENCE 2023

• What does the topography of an area include?
• What are the landforms
• How do maps and globes represent earth
• What are the major lines used
• What is the difference between GPS and GIS
• How do you read a topographic map
• What is the difference between weathering and erosion
• What is mechanical weathering
• What is chemical weathering
• What determines the rate of weathering
• How do rocks break down
• How does soil form
• What is soil made up of
• What are horizons
• Why is life dirt and dirt life?
• What processes wear down and build up Earth’s surface
• How does moving water cause erosion
• How do glaciers cause erosion
• How do waves cause erosion
• How does wind cause erosion
  • What is dessert pavement
  • What causes wind to deposit sand or sediment
• What are fossils
• Name the different kinds of fossils
• How do rock layers change
• What is the relative age of rocks
  • How do you find it
• What is the absolute age of rocks
  • How do you find it
• What is radioactive dating
• What is the geologic time scale
• What causes a gap in the geologic time scale
• How old is earth
• How did earth form?  
  • Bible 
  • Book

1. Projects can start after Thanksgiving, November 27, 2023
2. Students need an unused copybook for their science fair project by Monday Nov. 27
3. Projects need to be completed by Jan 22, 2024
4. Students need a trifold board for their science fair project.
5. Completed Boards and experiments are due into the school on Jan 31, 2024
6. Awards ceremony Thursday Feb 29, 2024 7:00 pm all are invited to come and check out all the fabulous science experiments.

1. All projects must be in the form of an experiment.  Not a demonstration.  
2. The work on each student’s project will be completed at home.  This includes research, data collecting, experiments, conclusion and creating the trifold board.
3. Every student must create and keep a Log Notebook.  Every thought must be recorded in this Log Notebook.  The notebook is a test grade.
4. Experiments can come in to school to be shown off at the science fair. – But remember to take pictures and document everything every step of the way.  
5. All students are expected to present their projects in class and to explain their experiment.  They will also need to answer questions during the judging.
6. Projects may not include
   1. Science or math kits from stores
   2. Live animals
   3. Fire
   4. Bodily fluids
   5. Parts to fragile to be handled and to travel to and from school
   6. Uncontained messes
7. Students must follow the Scientific Method

Here is how the board needs to be set up.

• You and your parents read through this packet
• Buy a Log Notebook – bring it to school by Monday 11/27
• Return the signature slip to school by Monday 11/27

• Use a new copybook
• Make it your own – title it – draw on it – put your name on it
• Be sure to DATE each entry!
• Start Today!
• Brainstorm – all your thoughts and ideas get written down in this notebook
• Write about all your ideas
• Write about your interests
• Write any questions that come to your mind – I wonder if . . . 
• Write about the problems you came across and how you think you can solved them
• Once you decided on a problem/question write it down
• Start your research here – date it, write where you found it, summarize it.
• Record all of your investigations – in detail
• Record any drawings that you have
• Basically, anything to do with your project should be recorded in your log book

• Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Cooking and Food Science
•  Music
• Photography, Digital Photography
• Physics
• Sports Science

• Human Biology and Health
• Plant Biology

• Civil Engineering
• Electricity and Electronics
• Energy and Power
• Environmental Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Robotics

• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Ocean Sciences
• Weather and Atmosphere

• Human Behavior
• Sociology

• Computer Science
• Pure Mathematics
• Video and Computer Games

1. Create a materials List – Remember everything right now is going in your Log Notebook.  
2. Write out your Procedure.  Procedures are numbered.  First do this, second do this, third do this . . .
3. List your controlled variables and your independent variable.
   1. Controlled variable = the things that will be the same for each experiment
   2. Independent variable = the thing that will change – what you are testing. 

• Know the major types of rocks
  • Igneous
  • Sedimentary
  • metamorphic
• Know the properties of a mineral
• Know what weather is
• Know what climate is
• Know the difference between weather and climate
• Know about Earth’s crust 
  • Inner core
  • Outer core
  • Mantle
  • Lithosphere 
  • Crust
• Know the layers of Earth
• Know what weathering is
• Know what erosion is
• Know the difference
• Know about rainfall and runoff
• Know about Earth’s four spheres
  • Biosphere
  • Geosphere
  • Atmosphere
  • Hydrosphere
• Know where Earthquakes usually occur
• Know the difference between condensation, precipitation and evaporation. 

• Using radioactive dating, scientist found rocks on earth that were 4 billion years old
• But scientist think that Earth is a bit older
• Scientist believe that the moon is formed from materials off of Earth when Earth was very young and got hit by something
• Moon rocks, using radioactive dating, are 4.6 billion years old
• So scientist think that earth is 4.6 billion years old

• Scientist think that Earth began as a ball of dust, rocks and ice in space and that gravity pulled it all together. (gravity?  From where?  How?)
• As Earth grew larger gravity pulled in more ice, dust and rocks
• The energy from the collision of all this materials raised earths temp.
• Scientist believe earth got so hot it melted a bit – causing heavier rocks to mold together at the center of earth = earth’s core
• Less dense rocks hardened over time to form Earth’s outer layers = the crust and mantle

• Earth’s first atmosphere
  • May have included light gases such as hydrogen and helium
  • But gravity could not hold onto these gases as the sun releases strong burst of particles called solar wind
  • This light atmosphere blew away
• Earth’s next atmosphere
  • Volcanic eruptions and collisions with comets released carbon dioxide, water vaper, nitrogen and other gases into the atmosphere
• The Oceans
  • First the Earth was too hot for water
  • As Earth cooled water condensed and formed rain 
  • The water filled up the oceans
  • The oceans absorbed much of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• The Continents
  • During Precambrian time much of Earth’s rock cooled and hardened.  
  • Less than 500 million years after Earth formed the rock at the surface formed continents
  • The continents move very slowly over Earth’s surface
  • Over the billions of years Earth’s landmasses have repeatedly formed, broken apart and then crashed together again
• Early Organisms
  • Scientist cannot found exactly when and where life formed on Earth
  • But a fossil of a single celled organism was found that dated back 3.5 billion years ago
  • About 2.5 billion years ago, many organisms began using energy from the sun to make food = Photosynthesis
  • Photosynthesis makes Oxygen
  • The oxygen formed an ozone layer around the Earth
  • The ozone layer protected Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays
  • Thus organisms could begin to survive on land

• Erosion
• Sediment
• Deposition
• Gravity
• Mass movement

• Erosion – the process by which natural forces move weathered rock and soil from one place to another.
• Agents of Erosion 
  • Gravity
  • Moving water
  • Glaciers
  • Waves
  • Wind
• The material moved by erosion is called sediment
• Sediment is made up of   
  • Pieces of rock and soil
  • Remains of plants and animals
• Deposition occurs where the agents of erosion deposit or lay down the sediment.
  • Deposition changes the shape of the land
• Weathering, erosion, and deposition act together in a cycle that wears down and builds up Earth’s surface
• As a mountain wears down in one place a new landform builds up in another place
• This cycle is never ending.

• Gravity – the force that pulls you downward
• Mass movement –movement of sediment downhill.  There are four types of mass movement
  • Landslides
  • Mudflows
  • Slumps and
  • Creep 
• Mudflows
  • Rapid down hill movement of a mixture of water, rock, and soil.
  • Usually occur after heavy rain.
  • Clay soil is usually involved
• Landslides
  • When rock and soil slide quickly down a steep slope
  • May contain huge masses of rock
  • Usually from unstable slopes
• Slumps
  • When a mass of rock and soil suddenly slips down a slope – all as one
  • Usually occurs when water soaks the bottom of the soil that is rich in clay
• Creep
  • Very slow downhill movement of rock and soil
  • Usually occurs from the freezing and thawing of water increased layers of rock beneath the soil. 
  • Creep may tilt objects at unusual angles. 
• vocab 
  • Runoff – moving water that moves over land carrying particles with it.  Runoff causes sheet erosion 
    • The amount of runoff depends on 
      • Amount of rain an area
      • Vegetation – more vegetation less runoff
      • Type of soil
      • Shape of the land.  Steeper land more runoff
      • How people use the land ex paved parking lot does not absorb water so more runoff
    • More runoff = more erosion
    • Reduce runoff = reduce erosion
  • Rill – tiny grooves in the soil cause by runoff
  • Gully – many rills coming together – a larger groove or channel in the soil that carries runoff after a rainstorm.
    • Gullies only contain water when it rains
  • Stream – when gullies join together to form a larger channel = a stream
    • A stream is a channel along which water is continually flowing down a slop. 
    • It rarely dries up
  • River – streams coming together to form a river. – a large stream = a river
  • Tributary – a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river. 
  • Drainage basin or watershed = an area from which a river and its tributaries collect their water.

• Through erosion, a river creates valleys, waterfalls, flood plains, meanders, and oxbow lakes.
• Rivers usually begin on steep mountains slopes
• Near the top the rivers flow heavy and quickly causing a deep V shape river to form
• Waterfalls 
  • Occur where a river meets an area of hard rock next to an area of soft rock. As the soft rock erodes the water falls over the higher hard rock
  • This also causes rapids
• Flood Plain
  • Form in flat areas, lower down the rivers course, 
  • The water is not moving so fast, so it is not in a deep V shape and it spreads out and erodes the land forming a wider river valley. 
  • Wen the river overflows its banks it fills the flood plain
• Meanders 
  • Formed when a river flows through easily eroded rock or sediment
  • Is a loop like bend in a river
  • As the river flows from side to side, it erodes the outer bank and deposits sediment on the inner bank 
  • Over time the loop becomes bigger
• Oxbow lake
  • Formed by meandering rivers that are cut off from the river
  • When a flood comes and the water moves quicker and stronger it breaks free of the meander and follows a more direct root.  
  • Deposit sediment dams up the meander causing a lake to form

• As water moves it carries sediment with it.
• When water slows down it drops its sediment 
• This is called deposition
• Deposition creates landforms such as alluvial fans and deltas
• Delta
  • A river ends its journey when it flows into a still body of water such as an ocean or a lake.
  • Since it is no longer going down hill it slows down and drops its sediment
  • This sediment builds up to form delta’s or land forms
• Alluvial fans
  • Where a stream flows out of a steep narrow mountain valley, the stream becomes wider and shallower and the water drops its sediment
  • This sediment will form a alluvial fan.

• Groundwater is water that flows underground.  It is not absorbed in plants nor is it flowing in rivers.
  • It affects the shape of the land
  • Groundwater can cause erosion through a process of chemical weathering.
  • Water combines with carbon dioxide and forms a weak acid called carbonic acid.
  • Groundwater contains carbonic acid
  • Carbonic acid erodes limestone.
  • This cause underground caves to form
• Cave Formations
  • Caves form underground from carbonic acid eroding the limestone
  • Inside the limestone caves water still seeps in
  • The water still contains sediment and carbonic acid
  • The dripping water from the top of the cave forms stalactites
    • Stalactites are like icicles from the roof of a cave
  • As the water drips off the stalactites, the dripping builds up on the cave floor cause cone- shaped stalagmites to form
    • Stalagmites are formed from the dripping of the stalactites and are found on a caves floor.
• Karst Topography
  • A region where there is a layer of limestone near the surface, and a lot of rain.
  • There are not many streams or rivers because the limestone absorbs the water
  • The water erodes the limestone
  • This can cause a sinkhole to form
  • A sinkhole is when the roof of an underground cave caves in leaving a deep hole with little or no warning. 
• vocab
  • Glacier – any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
  • Continental glacier – a glacier that covers much of a continent or a large island (Greenland)
  • Valley glacier – a long narrow glacier that forms when snow and ice build up high in a mountain valley.
  • Ice age – when continental glaciers cover a large portion of Earth’s surface
  • Plucking
  • Till moraine
  • Kettle 

• Glaciers can form only in an area where more snow falls than melts
• Continental Glaciers cover about 10 % of the earth
  • They cover Antarctica and most of Greenland
• Continental Glaciers can flow in all directions as they move.  
  • They are pulled down by gravity
• Valley Glaciers – can be found in between the sides of mountains.
  • They usually move down the valley that was already cut by a river
• Gravity constantly pulls a glacier downhill
  • Valley Glaciers can move from a few centimeters in a year to a few kilometers in a year

• The two processes by which glaciers erode the land are plucking and abrasion.  
  • Plucking – as the glacier flows over the land, it picks up rocks.
    • The weight of the Glacier can break rocks
    • These rock pieces freeze into the bottom of the Glacier
    • When the Glacier moves it carries the rocks with it
    • Many rocks remain on the bottom of the Glacier
    • As the Glacier moves it drags the rocks across the land
  • Abrasion 
    • As the Glacier moves with the rocks on the bottom scratching the land This is Abrasion  – the Glacier scratches and gorges the bedrock

• When a Glacier melts, it deposits the sediment it eroded from the land, creating various landforms.  
  • These landforms remain for thousands of years after the Glacier melts
  • The sediment that the Glaciers deposits is called Till
  • Till is made up of particles of different sizes – Glaciers can move boulders. And it is made up of clay, silt, sand, gravel and boulders.
• Moraine
  • The till deposited at the edges of a glacier – it usually forms a ridge
  • A terminal moraine is a ridge at the furthest point the Glacier reached
    • Long Island NY is a terminal Ridge
• Kettle
  • Retreating Glaciers can create a Kettle
  • A Kettle is when a chuck of ice is left in a glacier till – it creates a depression
  • These depressions sometimes fill with water and are called Kettle lakes
• Features of Erosion
  • Horn = when glaciers carve away the sides of a mountion resulting in a sharpened peak
  • Cirque = a bowl shaped hollow eroded by a glacier
  • Arête = a sharp ridge separating two cirques
  • U-shaped Valley = a flowing glacier scoops out a U shaped valley
• Features of Deposition
  • Moraine = where glacier deposits form a ridge
  • Drumlin = a long mound of till that is smoothed in the direction of a glacier flow
  • Kettle Lakes = forms when a depression left in till by melting ice fills with water

• Groundwater is water that flows underground.  It is not absorbed in plants nor is it flowing in rivers.
  • It affects the shape of the land
  • Groundwater can cause erosion through a process of chemical weathering.
  • Water combines with carbon dioxide and forms a weak acid called carbonic acid.
  • Groundwater contains carbonic acid
  • Carbonic acid erodes limestone.
  • This cause underground caves to form

• Cave Formations
  • Caves form underground from carbonic acid eroding the limestone
  • Inside the limestone caves water still seeps in
  • The water still contains sediment and carbonic acid
  • The dripping water from the top of the cave forms stalactites
    • Stalactites are like icicles from the roof of a cave
  • As the water drips off the stalactites, the dripping builds up on the cave floor cause cone- shaped stalagmites to form
    • Stalagmites are formed from the dripping of the stalactites and are found on a caves floor.
• Karst Topography
  • A region where there is a layer of limestone near the surface, and a lot of rain.
  • There are not many streams or rivers because the limestone absorbs the water
  • The water erodes the limestone
  • This can cause a sinkhole to form

1. Projects can start after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2022
2. Students need an unused copybook for their science fair project by Monday Nov. 28
3. Projects need to be completed by Jan 20, 2023
4. Students need a trifold board for their science fair project
5. Completed Boards and experiments are due into the school on Jan 27, 2023
6. Awards ceremony Thursday Feb 9, 2023 7:00 pm all are invited to come and check out all the fabulous science experiments.

1. All projects must be in the form of an experiment.  Not a demonstration.  
2. The work on each student’s project will be completed at home.  This includes research, data collecting, experiments, conclusion and creating the trifold board.
3. Every student must create and keep a Log Notebook.  Every thought must be recorded in this Log Notebook.
4. Experiments can come in to school to be shown off at the science fair. – But remember to take pictures and document everything every step of the way.  
5. All students are expected to present their projects in class and to explain their experiment.  They will also need to answer questions during the judging.
6. Projects may not include
   1. Science or math kits from stores
   2. Live animals
   3. Fire
   4. Bodily fluids
   5. Parts to fragile to be handled and to travel to and from school
   6. Uncontained messes
7. Students must follow the Scientific Method

• You and your parents read through this packet
• Buy a Log Notebook – bring it to school by Monday 11/28
• Return the signature slip to school by Monday 11/28

• Use a new copybook
• Make it your own – title it – draw on it – put your name on it
• Be sure to DATE each entry!
• Start Today!
• Brainstorm – all your thoughts and ideas get written down in this notebook
• Write about all your ideas
• Write about your interests
• Write any questions that come to your mind – I wonder if . . . 
• Write about the problems you came across and how you think you can solved them
• Once you decided on a problem/question write it down
• Start your research here – date it, write where you found it, summarize it.
• Record all of your investigations – in detail
• Record any drawings that you have
• Basically, anything to do with your project should be recorded in your log book

• Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics
• Astronomy
• Chemistry
• Cooking and Food Science
•  Music
• Photography, Digital Photography
• Physics
• Sports Science

• Human Biology and Health
• Plant Biology

• Civil Engineering
• Electricity and Electronics
• Energy and Power
• Environmental Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Robotics

• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Ocean Sciences
• Weather and Atmosphere

• Human Behavior
• Sociology

• Computer Science
• Pure Mathematics
• Video and Computer Games