ACCESS Academy Alternative Program

Students in grades 6 through 8 will complete a science project to participate in the ACCESS Academy Science Night. In the 2011-12 academic year, students will have the opportunity to choose from four different options to complete a science project.

OPTION 1

Students may present science or engineering projects in the areas of the natural sciences, the social sciences, mathematics, or computer science. While the student must conduct the work, the student may enlist the advice of a mentor. Option 1 is for EXPERIMENTAL research ONLY. Students need to pose a research question and gather the data to answer it. This may include research that is descriptive and pattern seeking if the student collects the data. Or it may include asking an original question that is answered using statistics gathered by other than the student. Modeling projects are allowed if the model is used to answer an experimental research question, the structure of the model is explained and the model is tested. Two or three students can form a Small Team and compete within the same categories as individual projects.

            Students may complete option 1 in the competitive or non-competitive category.

The competitive category is for those students seeking to present their project at the Intel Northwest Science Expo at Portland State University. A total of 18 projects will be selected to represent ACCESS Academy at this scientific research competition. Projects must be completed by January 23.

Students completing option 1 under the non-competitive category will present their project at the ACCESS Academy Science Night in the Spring. 

 Option 1 Instructions and Resources

OPTION 2

This project encourages students to imagine what technology might be like in the future. From water fountains to hearing aids to nanotubes, student teams will choose a technology that is relevant to the world today and then explore what it does, how it works and how, when and why it was invented. The student teams will imagine their chosen technology 20 years from now and prepare an in-depth report that conveys their visions to others. Students will work in teams of two, three, or four students.

Project is due Jan. 27

OPTION 3

Students will identify an everyday problem related to the way we move, the way we keep ourselves healthy, or the way we make a difference. The problem should directly impact them, their family, their community, or the global population. The idea must be a new innovation or solution, and cannot simply be a behavioral change or a new use for an existing product.

The challenge is to create a one- to two- minute video that...

• explains the problem and how it impacts them, their family, their community or the global population;
• describes a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact the problem;
• explains the science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics behind their innovation; and
• illustrates how their innovation could both address the everyday problem they've identified and have a broader impact locally or globally.

Project is due April 6, 2012.

OPTION 4

Students will work in teams of two, three, or four students in the creation of a project which identifies an issue in their community that needs to "go green" and provides a plan to positively impact that issue and further "green living" in their community.  Each Team's entry should include the following steps: choosing a topic, writing a problem statement, doing background research, writing a hypothesis, developing a plan, collecting data, drawing a conclusion, reporting the results and explaining how to replicate this project. 

Project is due March 9, 2012.

Option 4 Instructions