Steps to a Successful Science Fair Project

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Steps to a Successful Science Fair Project
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Select a Topic

• 3 possible SF problems due Tuesday, Aug. 29
• Remember a Science Fair Project is a test you do
  to find an answer to a question, not a
  demonstration
• When picking a topic, ask yourself how you would
  test it and what the variables would be
• Your problem must be stated in the form of a
  question
• Your problem doesnt need to be difficult or
  complicated to make a good project
• Your subject needs to be one on which you can do
  research and find information

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Gather Background Information

• Gather information about your topic from books,
  magazines, the Internet, people and companies.
• Keep notes about where you got your info because
  it will need to go on your bibliography
• You will need to have at least 5 references

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Scientific Method

• Since you are doing a controlled experiment, you
  want to find an answer to a question.
• You research all aspects of the subject
• You make an informed prediction about what you
  think the answer will be
• You design a test to help you test your
  prediction
• Your test must involve changing/varying a
  factor(independent variable) to cause a change in
  another factor (dependent variable)
• You conduct your test/experiment and run a
  minimum of 5 trials to make sure your information
  is reliable
• You take careful, detailed, specific notes in a
  journal

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Graphs and Tables

• What happened?
• Organize your changes in measurement, frequency,
  color, etc. into a data table
• Design an appropriate graph dependent upon the
  type of data.
• You may make your own graph, or use the program
  we demonstrated in class
• Make sure you indicate how many trials you
  performed (minimum of 5)

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Design Your Board

• You must use a regulation size, 3-section board
  that can be purchased at Walmart, Office Depot,
  Walgreens. Sometimes Mrs. Peters sells them, but
  you will have to ask her. No home-made boards!!
• Your board needs to be arranged as in your
  science fair regulations I gave you
• Design a colorful, attractive board that will
  catch the eye of the judges
• Use contrasting backing paper for each item
• Title should be the largest heading on the board

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Report

• You must hand in a report at the same time you
  hand in your board
• The report consists of
• A copy of every part of your project on a
  separate page
• Page 1-title/question page 2-summary of
  research page 3-hypothesis page 4-summarize
  your experiment, name your variables, list
  procedures page 5-data tables, graphs page
  6-observations page 7--conclusion (Did your
  results agree with your hypothesis? If not, how
  would you revise your hypothesis and retest)
  page 8-bibliography
• Your report must be in a report folder

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Time Line for Science Fair Project

• August 29list of 3 possible projects
• Sept. 5project question you have chosen
• Name independent and dependent variables, as well
  as constants and control
• Sept. 15experiment plan
• Sept. 29progress report
• October 13progress report
• November 15-21projects and reports can be turned
  in

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Resources for Science Fair

• http//www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0
  .html
• http//www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_va
  riables.shtml
• http//www.sciserv.org/isef/document/Rule2007.pdf
• http//www.sciserv.org/isef/document/abstrct.pdf
• http//nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing
• http//scienceclub.org/scifair.html
• http//school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
• http//www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ideas.html