Name _________________________

Period __________ Date __________

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

What to expect

1. Selecting a topic:

Pick a topic that interests you. Narrow this topic down as much as possible.

BE VERY SPECIFIC.

example:

Drugs	too general
over-the-counter-drugs
cold remedies
aspirin
dissolved aspirin	very specific

2. Stating the question:

Put the topic in the form of a question.

Many project titles follow one of these forms:

How will __________	affect __________?
variable	result
The Effects of __________	on __________.
variable	result
Will __________	when __________?
variable	result

THE VARIABLE is the one factor you wish to change (or use
in different amounts) in the experiment. Everything else is
controlled. In a controlled experiment everything is given the
exact same conditions except for one factor. This factor is your
variable.

THE RESULT is the outcome of your experiment. It is what
happens because of your variable. You must have measurable
results, something that can be counted or measured in order to
provide you with DATA

Example: Which color of bird seed will birds prefer?

The variable is the color of seeds
The result is the number of seeds eaten
(Seeds can be counted to provide data).

4 Definition of a Good Science Fair Topic:

You have a good topic if you can answer YES to these questions:

1. Is my topic realistic? Is it something I can do?
2. Is my topic interesting to me?
3. Can I investigate my topic by experimenting and collecting data?
4. Can I afford what Iwill need to investigate my topic?

5. What your Science Fair Project should include:

1. Title - This must be in question form.


ex: What objects are attracted by magnets?

2. Report - Use encyclopedias, electronic resources, books and /or magazine articles to find background information about your topic.


ex: Explain magnetism; what it is, how it works, what kinds of materials are attracted to other kinds of materials

3. Materials - List of the things you used to do your experiment


4. Hypothesis - This is an "educated guess" or a possible answer to your question.


ex: If I put an object made of metal within two centimeters of my magnet, then the objects will be attracted to the magnet.

5. Procedures - List step-by-step what you did to test your hypothesis.

6. Results - Tell what happened when you tested your hypothesis. You should do your testing at least 5 times to make sure your results are valid Keep these results in a logbook used only for this project. Graphs, charts, tables, photographs, or other visual aids may be used to present the results.

7. Conclusion - What did you prove or find out? Was your hypothesis correct? Compare your initial hypothesis to your actual results. Make a statement on how your interpreted the results.

8. Bibliography - Use the proper format to list books, encyclopedias, and articles you used in your report

6. Display:

Sturdy cardboard or plywood or foam board make good display boards. In your display you need to state your title, hypothesis, procedure, results, and conclusions. Charts, graphs, tables, or photographs make your display more appealing.

When people (parents, other students, the judges) come to our science fair, be prepared to answer any questions they may ask about your science fair project.

© 1996 - 2002 Linda C. Joseph
All Rights Reserved

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