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Independent Research Project: Description & Timeline Honors Earth Science 2010-2011 Scientists use what they know about the world and how it works and combine that knowledge with careful observations and measurements of natural phenomena to discover new details about how things work…this year we have established a strong basic understanding of the earth system, your capstone project as science students is to now use your observation, measurement, and analysis skills to find out new details about how this earth system works. You are not just learning about science this year but how to be scientists and “do” science.
 * Description:**

Day 7 progress reports, Formal lab report (6/2), Poster (6/7)
 * Products:**

Select an Independent Research Project: March 15-25
 * Timeline:**
 * · Brainstorm in class and individually identifying areas/topics of interest. Groups of 3 will be selected to work on these areas of interest. Exchange contact info with group.
 * · Write-up project proposals including a title, introduction (textbook plus 2 other sources) and methods that meet criteria. Submit for approval by March 25.
 * · Work on developing background knowledge and methods. Collect and test out equipment and work out problems. Take a set of practice data to discover problems.

Data Collection/Lab Report Completed: March 25 -May 19th
 * Set up experiment and/or collect data set. The amount of data needed to demonstrate the answer to your research question adequately varies by experiment, discuss with Ms. G
 * During this time students become experts on their topics and their experiment and develop their lab report following formal lab write up guidelines.
 * Take any pictures of your methods/equipment etc. for use on your poster to help with visualization of experiment.
 * Each Day 7 (3/31, 4/12, 4/28, 5/10, 5/19), the individuals in the group will pass in a project update sheet and an updated formal lab report and include data collected up to that point. Ms. Green will make comments/have a conference with the group to help group move forward. The following cycle update should demonstrate incorporation of those suggestions/show progress.

Project Completion: May 19-28th
 * Peer editing of reports will take place on May 23rd
 * Final lab paper will be due on June 2nd
 * Return/CLEAN UP all equipment and materials used by June 2nd
 * In class oral presentation will take place on June 7th during lab block
 * Create a visual display of your project on a large tri-fold poster following guidelines. DUE ON JUNE 7TH.
 * If you cannot make poster night JUNE 7th I need to know by 5/23. An alternate appointment will be made to present to me and any other students who cannot make it.
 * FINAL PRESENTATIONS AT POSTER NIGHT ON TUESDAY, JUNE 7.