Instructions for Use
The following is a document that I downloaded information from
another school district. As long as you leave the credit line in the
footer it is reproducable.
You do not have to use this document in its entirety. This is
designed for use through high school, so please make changes as
necessary to align to your students level.
Please make sure to take note of all highlighted text. This
requires you to adjust this section to you personally.
The first page is the only page that will have the students name
on it, this will make it easy to remove this page when submitting
for district science fair.
When submitting the packet for District, the labels we provided
through the efair online submission, should have one to affix to
the back page of Project Packet for identifiaction.
A students name should not be anywhere else in the packet.
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Student Name: ___________________________________________
Remove this sheet for District Submission
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Science Fair Invention/Engineering Project Planning Packet
Due Dates
Things To Do
Choose a topic and write a Problem
Get approval from teacher name
Describe your purpose
Research your topic and write key words and paragraph
Possible Solutions
Plan & Create
Test & Improve
Conclusion & Applications
Science Concepts
Make the project display
Turn in planning packet to teacher name.
Present your project at the science fair.
1. Problem Question - State the problem you set out to solve in the form of a one-sentence
question. Be specific.
Problem Question for Approval
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2. Purpose - In one short paragraph, tell why you did your project on the topic you chose.
3. Research Your Topic - spend some time learning more about your topic. Use reliable
Internet sources, books from the library, your science book, or other resources. Not only do
you want to be an expert on your topic, but you want to teach others about your topic.
a. Key Words - locate at least 3 key science words related to your topic. Your science
book is an excellent place to find these. Make sure that the words you choose are
directly related to your topic. Provide a definition of each key word IN YOUR OWN
WORDS.
b. A paragraph describing the science behind your project - after you have completed
your research give us, your audience, some background information on your topic in
a complete and well-written paragraph (5-7 sentences). Give us specific, rather than
general information. Use the space provided to write a draft.
4. Possible Solutions - Describe and/or diagram possible solutions you imagined during
your brainstorming. Include a data table that shows positive and negative points (strengths
and weaknesses) for each. Identify the solution you chose to try, explaining why you chose
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5. Plan & Create
A. DRAFT PLAN Describe and explain the details of how your invention will work. Show
your diagram (drawing) with the parts labeled, using symbols.
B. MATERIALS List and describe the materials you used and briefly tell how and where
you obtained them
C. BUILD Explain how you put your invention together according to your plan.
D. OBSTACLES Make a log of the troubles you run into with materials or the building
process. Discuss how you make changes or discover ways to make it work.
6. Test & Improve
A. TEST Use your data log, diagram with labels, and any charts you created to explain the
ways you tested your invention. Use two or three sentences to evaluate how well your
invention worked.
B. IMPROVE Based on your data, describe changes you made to your invention so that it
would work even better.
C. RE-TEST Tell about the results of your improved design. Did the redesign help or not?
7. Conclusion & Applications - Evaluate how well your invention has addressed the problem
you posed at the beginning. Explain how your project findings apply to society and/or you
personally. Reflect on and write about the benefits of doing this project.
8. Science Concepts - Describe how your invention applies scientific concepts. These can be
related to things you have learned in class or from other sources. You should cite where
you learned the science concept.
9. Sources/Bibliography - List all books, articles, pamphlets, and other communications or
sources that you used for writing your research section. You must have at least three
sources, only one of which may be an encyclopedia. College libraries, as well as city
libraries, should be used. Interviews with experts in your field of study are encouraged.
10. Display Board
A. Backboard Materials - The backboard must be sturdy and stand by itself on a table.
Foam core-board and cardboard are the best materials. If you need to cut through the
sides of your core-board to make “wings”, do not cut all the way through.
B. COLORS - If you need to paint your backboard, enamel paint works best. Do not use
water-based paint. Contact paper may also be used. Use a minimum of three contrasting
colors on your board.
C. LETTERING - Your title and subtitles may be computer generated or cut from
construction paper. Do not freehand the letters. The title letters should be 3-4 inches
high. The subtitle letters should be 1-2 inches high. The subtitles, which are mandatory
on the display board, are: Purpose, Problem, Research, Possible Solutions, Plan &
Create, Test and Improve, Conclusion & Applications, and Science Concepts. All items on
the display must be glued to the board. Do not use pins, tacks, staples, or tape.
D. Dimensions:
a. When backboard (display portion) is flat, it should be 48 inches wide.
b. Side panels (“wings”) should be l2 to l8 inches.
c. Height should be no more than 48 inches.
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E. Drawings, Diagrams, Photos and Graphs - Drawings, diagrams and photos are most
useful on the display
a. Drawings and diagrams should be drawn in pencil first and then retraced. They
should be in color.
b. Diagrams must have all parts labeled, using symbols to label the parts.
c. Graphs and charts must have explanatory titles. Graph axes must be labeled.
d. Photos are great to highlight a project, but cannot include a student’s face.
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Key word
Key Words
Definition
Research Description Rough Draft
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Use the following page to write your final Research paragraph.
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Problem Question
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Purpose
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Research
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Possible Solutions
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Draft Plan
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Materials List
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Build Plan
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Obstacles
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Test
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Improve
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Re-Test
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Conclusion & Applications
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Science Concepts
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Bibliography
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Data Log
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Data Log
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