|
Step 1: Curiosity
|
What makes a good science fair project?
It depends on what you want to know!
Your project should be on a topic that's exciting to you - perhaps something from a branch of science that you're interested in such as biology, physics, chemistry or any combination. Find out if soap bubbles last longer on warm or cold days. Choose something that you're interested in!
|
|
|
Step 2: Gather
|
After Picking your topic, learn more about it.
Gather information from books, magazines, and the internet to find out the science and scientific principals behind your project. Ask an expert who might know. Keep track of where you got your information.
|
|
|
Step 3: Predict
|
Based on your research, come up with a question you want to answer.
What you think the outcome of your project will be is called your hypothesis. You will try to prove or disprove your hypothesis with an experiment. Make a step-bystep list of how you will go about it.
|
|
|
Step 4: Experiment
|
Follow the plan you just made by creating an experiment.
Carefully record all of the measurements. Write down everything you noticed, or any problems you had. You may want to take pictures or make sketches of what's happening. These notes are valuable because you will use them when you write your report and construct an exhibit. These notes are your science log, or you "private science."
|
|
|
Step 5: Analyze
|
Organize your notes, charts and graphs.
Decide if the results either agree or disagree with hypothesis.
|
|
|
Step 6: Conclude
|
Look at your data and decide if your hypothesis is true or false.
If you can think of how to apply your work to a real life situation, include it. Talk about problems that you had during the experiment and list other things you may have learned. You may also want to answer any related questions that come up be sure that you are answering your original question.
|
|
|
Step 7: Build
|
Construct an exhibit to display your project.
Include pictures, graphic charts, write-ups or anything else that makes it clear what your project is about. The exhibit is an overview of your question, the research methods that you used, the results and conclusion. Title each section. The exhibit should be easy to read, colourful and fun to look at.
|
|
|
Step 8: Pass it on
|
The Presentation!
This is your "public science." Now you can display all of your work and your audience will learn something new.
Become more comfortable with your project by rehearsing a presentation you can give to the judges until you feel confident with the subject. Ask a friend of family member to watch your presentation and give you his or her opinion. During the science fair, stay calm, be professional and speak with confidence. Be polite to the judges and try to answer their questions as best you can.
|
|
