Science Fair Proposal

1. What is your hypothesis?
If the gelatin is succesfully produced, then I will  find the fruits than can be used in the mixture without effecting the end result.

2. Identify the dependent, independent and control variables in your hypothesis.
Dependent: Gelatin
Independent:Fruits
Variables: Gelatin mix

3. What is the connection between your science fair project and your senior project EQ?
I think that my experiment fits in well with my senior project because I have cooking, and my experiment deals with food. My EQ is: "What is the most important skill of an accomplished chef?"  This goes well with my EQ because by trying out different methods and recipes, you can help yourself become a better cook.

4. How will you perform the experiment? Include the equipment you plan on using.
I will be performing the experiment at my house because I have most of the equipment necessary. Once i'm ready, I will followall the steps needed to perform this experiment, according to the article.
EQUIPMENT:

Clear plastic cups (18); Note: if you would like to test additional fruits, add 6 cups for each type of fruit.
• Permanent marker
• Chopped fresh fruit (3 cups of each fruit you’d like to test); choose at least one fruit with protease and one fruit without protease from the lists below. Note: Use only fresh fruits, unless you are trying one of the Variations at the end of the experiment.
  • Fruits with protease, such as figs, ginger root, guava, kiwi, mango, papaya, and pineapple
  • Fruits without protease, such as apples, blueberries, oranges, raspberries, and strawberries
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Meat tenderizer (3 teaspoons); available in the spice aisle of grocery stores
• Pot, large enough to hold 18 cups of hot liquid
• Optional: Fruit/vegetable steamer; see the Experimental Procedure for more details.
• Teaspoon measuring spoon
• Dry measuring cup, 1-cup volume
• Small bowl or cup
• Spoons for stirring (6)
• Stovetop
• Oven mitt
• Gelatin mix (enough to make 18 cups of gelatin); any flavor is fine. See package details to determine how many packages you will need to yield 18 cups. Note: each additional fruit you try will require another 6 cups of gelatin.
• Lab notebook

5. Which category will your project be listed under?
Biochemistry
The idea was taken from this website: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/FoodSci_p004.shtml

Self Reflection

1) How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?
 I think I can be doing way better, as far as keeping up with assignments for senior project. As for now I think i should be getting an AP because lately I think i've been turning in better quality work. I know at first my work didn't show it, but I really think i've stepped my game up.

2)What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
  As far as senior project goes, I think I've been doing pretty good focusing what I want to do with my project. I know which direction I want to go in now, as compared to before.

3)What is one thing you would like to improve on and why?
  If i could improve on one thing, it would definitely be the service learning portion of it. Thats the part where I feel the most left behind in.

What I've Learned So Far

1) What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?
I haven't necessarily learned to do something specific, but I have learned what not to do. I have learned the right way to cut things, the right way to let things cook and i've also learned how to determine if the meat im cooking is fully cooked.

2) Post evidence of this accomplishment.

3) What research helped you to do this and how?
The best resource i've had up to date is this book im reding, its called "The Joy of Cooking". It really has plenty of information and gives you the do's and dont's for cooking.

Independant Component Plan 1 Approval

1) For my Independant component, I plan on taking an ROP class if i can find one. By taking the class, I think it will help me very much with first hand experience of the work needed to be a proffesional chef.

2) I think that the class will help me meet the 30 hours required because it is a class in which i will need to be attending regularly. Wether it be once or twice a week, it will be a routine and I think I will get the hours in no time.

3) The Independant component will help me with my EQ because I get to see first hand what is necessary and how things actually work in the kitchen. Working with someone that actually knows the kitchen is very different than being on your own. My mentor will teach me the rights and wrongs in the kitchen, and i believe that the basic fundementals needed in the kitchen will be taught by my mentor. This will help me with my EQ.

Defining the Essential Question

1) What is your EQ?
-What is the most important skill of an accomplished chef?

2)Define the words in your EQ to make sure we are on the same page regarding what your EQ means
-important: most needed or necessary   -skill: something the chef does in particular different than others
-accomplished: meaning you are still a chef, and work in the industry for quite a while

3)What are some possible answers to your EQ so far?
-Experience  -Work Ethic  -Passion for cooking

4)What has been your most important source and why?
-My most important source would have to be my interview. I say this because he is a poroffesional and
the answers he gave me were very thorough and he gave above and beyond answers. His name is Jesus Mendez.

Second Interview Questions

1) What is your main role in this organization?

2) How long have you been working for this organization?

3) What would you say has been the biggest influence on you to pursue this career?

4) What is your favorite thing about working with this organization?

5) What seperates this organization from the rest?

Interview 1 & Presentation 1

1.  In what way did the first interview affect your presentation?  Please explain, be specific and use an example.
-The first interview really helped because i got a firsthand experience about what being a real cook was all about. PLus my first presentation was all about my interview. He also gave me multiple sources to use.

2.  What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
-It stood out because nobody else in the class is doing cooking so it brings a fresh and new feel to things.

3.  What was the most challenging to do and why?

-The most challenging was actually finding the right questions to ask my interviewee because i wanted to make it perfect.

Senior Project Presentation 1

I will be doing my presentation on cooking.

Objective: I'm going to be talking mostly about my interview and the things he explained to me as well as what i plan to do with this topic as far as other interviews and possibly my service learning.

Procedure: 1st I will introduce myself and explain my topic.
2nd I will explain who my interview was and what he does for a living.
3rd I'm going to explain the resources and information he gave me, then my service learning.
Last I will close up by saying what i plan to do with this whole project.

Check for understanding: I will ask the audience questions about the presentation i just gave 7 see if they got the answers right or wrong.

Resources/ materials: All i need to execute this presentation is myself and a poster that i'll be creating about cooking.

Interview Check

1. Who are you interviewing and why?
     I am going to be interviewing Jesus Mendez, who is my neighbor. I'm interviewing him because he is a really close resource and he's a proffesional chef.

2. What additional questions will you ask them?
     In addition to the 5 questions we've been assigned, i will also ask where he works as well as how long he's been in the proffession.

1. What is your topic? Why?
     My topic is cooking. I have chosen to do cooking because i find that cooking is a really interseting subject. Cooking is a great way to express yourself and your cooking can also be something special and shared with others as well.

2. What do you hope to accomplish after studying this topic all year?
     After studying cooking, i hope to become better at it. I'm hoping to set off a spark and become really involved in it, cooking is something that i think is really fun & is also very rewarding.