Activities Organized for a
Multi-Year Science/STEM Research Program/Club
Each of the activities can be adapted to suit any style of STEM/Science Research Program/Club or modified to be included within the constraints of a standard science class
1st year activities
1st quarter
Course structure and class rules
Brainstorming potential research areas and topics
Activities to teach how to use online search tools for basic and advanced information and articles
How to use search tools and searching skills to problem solve and “think outside of the box”
Mastering PowerPoint/Slides, Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets
How to read, “dissect”, summarize and explain general and advanced (journal) articles
How to design a small-scale project, create a research plan, apply for IRB/SRC approval, carry out the project, present the project
2nd quarter
Mastering vocabulary within a chosen area of research
How to present basic information via PowerPoint/Slides in a chosen area of research
Creating a poster to teach basic information in a chosen area of research
Mastering advanced information/related research in a chosen area of research
How to present advanced information/related research via PowerPoint/Slides in a chosen area of research
3rd quarter
Continuing to master and present advanced information/related research
Reaching out to local (or national) professionals in the chosen area of research (often the authors of related research articles) to secure a “mentor” that can help to guide a project and/or an internship
Anticipating basic questions and how to answer them for presentations
Determining what you know and what you don’t in a chosen area of research
Anticipating challenging “nightmare” questions and how to answer them for presentations
Creating a poster to compare and contrast related research information
Writing a summary (review) paper of all learned so far
4th quarter
Preparing a poster to present publicly that highlights:
Background information
Related research
Gap in current literature (Problem Statement)
Goals for upcoming research project
Hypotheses with justifications
Intended methodology
Related results from similar research projects (and how they may differ from the intended project)
Potential importance and application of upcoming research project
Conclusion (summary)
Future Research (what would the phase 2 be)
Planning for the upcoming summer research project (if that is the model that your school program follows/wishes to follow)
Present intended research at end-of-year symposium
2nd year activities
1st quarter
Course structure and class rules
Analyzing winning vs. non-winning papers
Writing the full research paper based on the spring/summer/fall research project after insight is gained on how to write a student research paper
Peer review of papers
Re-writing papers based on peer review
2nd quarter
Register for Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Submit all forms, research paper and abstract
Register for International Genius Olympiad
Submit all forms, research paper and abstract
Analyzing aspects of winning research posters
Creating a research poster to present in science fairs/competitions including:
Introduction/Background
Related research presented in a “funnel” that leads to the “gap” in the current knowledge
Problem Statement
Goals
Hypotheses with justifications
Methods
Results/Analysis/Discussion
Conclusion/Application
Future Research (what are the next steps and why)
Peer review of posters
Revising of posters based on peer review
3rd quarter
Preparing for presenting in competitions by:
Anticipating basic questions and how to answer them for presentations
Determining what you know and what you don’t in a chosen area of research
Anticipating challenging “nightmare” questions and preparing answers
Anticipating challenging questions that may be asked but are not directly related to the project
Presenting to peers, teachers, parents, local professionals
Presenting at local, regional and state competitions
4th quarter
Presenting at local, regional and state competitions
Evaluating areas for improvement regarding:
Presenting at science fairs/competitions
Phase 2 of the project or preparing on a different project
Working on the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) application essays
Helping 1st year students to prepare for their end of year presentation and upcoming research project
Preparing for the 2nd summer of research
Present phase 1 of research and intended research at end-of-year symposium
3rd year activities
1st quarter - Enter the Regeneron Science Talent Search
Research Paper
Write/Update the full research paper based on the spring/summer/fall research project
Peer review of papers
Re-writing papers based on peer review
Application and Essays
Request for recommendations and transcript
2nd quarter - Science Fairs/Competitions
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
Research Paper and Abstract re-formatted for JSHS
Scientist, Teacher and Student “certifications”
Create PowerPoint to present at JSHS and practice to peers, teachers, parents, local professionals, mentor.
Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Submit all forms, research paper and abstract
3rd quarter - Science Fairs/Competitions continued
Regional Science & Engineering Fair
Create Poster to present at Science & Engineering Fair and practice to peers, teachers, parents, local professionals, mentor.
4th quarter
Organize and help to run the end-of-year symposium
Serve as peer-judges to help the younger student prepare for their public presentations
Create a tri-fold brochure to highlight their research project for display in the school and district offices
Host and present at the end-of-year symposium