Science Fair
What? 7th – 8th Grade Science Fair
When? Spring 2021
Where? In-house
(advancing to Nebraska City High School)
Why? Eligible projects will advance to the
Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair
in the spring
What is science? Why is science important? These two questions need to be considered
by anyone who explores the world through a science investigation. Experience shows
that the best way to really understand the true nature of science is to become involved
in a science investigation from start to finish.
Scientific Method – You will be using the following steps to organize
your experiment/project.
1.
Ask a question.
2.
Review what is known about the topic.
3.
Formulate a hypothesis.
4.
Experiment to test the hypothesis.
5.
Observe the experiment; record and organize the results.
6.
Analyze the results and draw conclusions.
7.
Share the results with others.
How do I plan my investigation? – As you plan your investigation, you will
need to consider the following questions:
*What supplies and equipment will I need in order to complete the
steps I plan to follow?
*Where will I get the equipment and supplies?
*What will I measure to determine the result of my experiment?
*What is the control group for my experiment?
*What is the variable for my experiment?
The Three Major Parts
1.
Library Research/Research Paper
Library research must be conducted first in order to educate you in the subject you
chose for your experiment. The books researched, what you learned, and the
bibliographic information should all be recorded in the log book. The results of your
library research will be presented in the research paper. This portion of the project is
worth 30% of your total grade.
2.
The Experiment
The most important part of your project is the actual experiment. The data collected,
the procedure followed, and the results are all to be recorded in the logbook. The
experiment is worth 30% and the logbook is worth 15% of your total grade.
3.
The Display
The final piece of your project is the display of your results. The display must visibly
and clearly communicate the findings achieved. The display board should be an
advertisement for your project. The display is worth 25% of your total grade.
The Log Book
●
Your logbook (composition notebook or spiral
notebook) will contain all relative information collected during library research, as well
as the data collected during your experiment. It will also contain your thoughts
concerning the project and the experimentation process.
●
All entries in the logbook should contain the
date (and time, if necessary) of each entry. All entries should be written in ink and
single-spaced on the front side only of the pages. (If you are using a spiral notebook
you may skip lines.) The logbook may not be typed.
●
The logbook should be relatively neat and
readable, but is not intended to have the appearance of a research paper.
●
The log book should be laid out as follows:
o
Title page
o
Table of contents (this will develop as the
logbook does, so leave some blank pages in the front)
o
A brief abstract describing the project (again,
leave blank pages so you can write the abstract as your project develops)
o
The major portion of the logbook should be
divided among your library research, your experiment and data collected, and the
conclusions and findings about the project.
o
The use of hand-drawn sketches and
illustrations is encouraged.
o
The logbook is the most detailed and
comprehensive part of the science project. It is the only part of the project that starts
when the topic is chosen and is finished the day you turn in your project. A thorough
logbook should be around 30-50 pages.
Your Research Paper
●
Your paper must contain the following:
o
Title Page
o
Table of Contents
o
Outline
o
Brief Abstract
o
Main Body of Paper (introduction, methods and
materials, results, conclusion, and discussion)
o
Bibliography Page (Sources)
o
The final draft of the research paper should be
presented in a folder that will enhance the theme of the paper.
●
o
and vertically.
o
information
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
●
o
outline to create the table of contents.
o
o
heading.
Title Page
The title page must be centered horizontally
The bottom right corner must list the following
Your name
School name
Grade
Name of teacher
Due date of final version
Table of Contents
Most students use the major points of their
Eight or ten lines is sufficient.
Page numbers are used to locate each
o
Place the title of the project at the top of the
page.
●
Outline
o
The normal length of an outline is ½ to 1
page.
o
Work the main points of your outline into the
body of your paper.
●
Abstract
An abstract that briefly describes the paper should precede the main body of the paper.
It should be on a page by itself and be 50-150 words in length.
●
Main Body of Paper
o
Length of paper
▪
Junior High should have a main body length of
7-10 double-spaced typed pages (12 point font)
o
Be sure to proofread for errors. Use spell
check.
o
Begin numbering with page 2 (introduction).
DO NOT place a page number on the first page (abstract). The table of contents and
outline are not numbered. Include the bibliography as the last page and number it.
o
Place numbers on the top right corner or on
the bottom center of the paper.
o
The first page is to be used to define your
topic and to state the purpose of the paper (abstract). The purpose should be 2 or 3
sentences that explain the reason why the topic was chosen and also explain what the
student expects to discover through the investigation. This page acts as page 1, but
you will not place a page number.
o
Include pictures, graphs, illustrations, etc. in
the body of the paper.
o
The last paragraph must present a conclusion
relating the proposed experiment to the research presented.
●
Bibliography
o
Junior High must use a minimum of seven
sources, three of which must be considered scientific in nature (books and scientific
journals). The remaining references may be encyclopedia, online resources, or other
more common resources.
o
Sources should be current.
The Experiment
●
Definition
o
An experiment is a series of tests undertaken
in order to verify predicted results. The tests are usually performed in order to prove a
hypothesis.
o
It involves a control or standard to which the
“change” can be measured. For example, if you are testing the growth rate of plants
that are exposed to classical music, your control would be a plant that is not exposed to
the music.
o
It involves a large population or series of
repetition in order to verify the validity of the results.
o
The data collected, the comparisons made, and
the conclusions reached are all recorded in the logbook.
●
The Control
o
The control must be within measurable limits.
o
Usually the control is accomplished by setting
aside or not manipulating some of the population. The changes in the manipulated
population can be compared to the unaltered population.
●
Repeating the Experiment
o
An experiment must be conducted several
times using the exact same controls in order to validate the results.
o
If time is a factor, then several simultaneous
experiments using the same controls are acceptable.
●
Careful attention to detail, especially in the
control and repetition of the experiment, is extremely important to a successful project.
The Project Display
●
Required Display Contents
o
All display information should be typed, but
very neatly hand-written information can be acceptable. The display must have the
following items:
▪
Title
▪
Subtitles
▪
Hypothesis
▪
Abstract
▪
Illustration or description of equipment used in
experiment
▪
Experimental procedure or method
▪
Results, including graphs or similar illustrations
▪
Conclusions and/or recommendations
▪
The logbook
●
Explanation of the Display
o
Title
▪
should have a professional appearance and be
between 1 and 3 inches high.
▪
should be short and to the point (10 words or
less). The best titles usually pose a question to be answered or are “catchy.”
o
Subtitles
▪
should have a professional appearance and be
approximately 1” high (smaller than the title).
▪
If you have a “catchy” title, this will be your
question.
o
Purpose
▪
What is your reason for pursuing this project?
What did you hope to learn through this investigation?
o
Hypothesis and/or Problem Statement
▪
The length is usually one sentence or
statement.
▪
It is a prediction of the outcome of the
experiment.
o
Abstract
▪
Length: 50-150 words.
▪
Definition: The abstract is a summary of the
project. It briefly describes from start to finish the overall significance of the project.
o
Equipment Description
▪
This may take the form of a drawing,
photographs, or actual setup of the equipment used in the experiment.
▪
The purpose is to illustrate the manner in
which the experiment was conducted.
o
Procedure
▪
This is a concise step-by-step record of the
manner in which the experiment was conducted.
▪
It is intended to give the observer a general
understanding of how the results were obtained.
▪
It should avoid extreme detail.
o
Results
▪
Tables, graphs, or other visual illustrations are
excellent methods of displaying the results of an experiment. Make sure the correct
type of graphs are used. Make sure the graphs are sufficiently labeled.
▪
Avoid wordy discussions describing how results
were obtained. Make results appear to be obvious.
▪
Basically, what did you learn from your
experiment?
o
Conclusion(s)
▪
The conclusion is similar to the results in that it
includes the findings of the experiment, but different in that it extends to the observer
suggested applications or benefits of the findings.
▪
It should offer an answer to the original
question. Do you accept or reject your hypothesis?
▪
It briefly describes how society may benefit or
profit from the results obtained by the experiment.
▪
It may recommend further experimental
procedure to be pursued if the results are somewhat inconclusive.
Topic List
A good science investigation question (1) can be answered by selecting one answer
from a few possible answers, (2) involves a topic about which you can find a lot of
background information, (3) is something that is easily observed and measured, and (4)
leads to an investigation that you can perform with available equipment and other
materials.
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Can earthworms be used to recycle kitchen wastes into fertile garden soil?
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The effect of pollution on the buoyancy of freshwater birds.
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What colors attract certain insect pollinators?
●
How can plants be used to measure the level of air pollution?
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Which starch plant produces the most fuel?
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Is chlorophyll present in a leaf that has turned brown?
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The effect of the height of a swinging mass on its energy
●
How does changing the effort on a third class lever affect the resistance of the
load?
●
Which grass can withstand drought?
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Is there a way to contain oil that has been spilled on water?
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Is there an environmentally-friendly detergent that can clean oil off of bird
feathers?
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Do different brands of orange juice contain different levels of vitamin C?
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Do all plants transpire at the same rate under different sources of light?
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Can you use a cricket to tell the temperature of air?
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How do soil and water compare in their abilities to absorb and release heat?
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Under what conditions do algae grow best?
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How can you tell if sunscreen blocks ultraviolet light?
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Can potatoes complete an obstacle course?
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Do preservatives really stop the growth of bacteria?
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What effect does nicking the seed coat have on the germination rate of seeds?
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Does boiling geranium seeds affect their seed germination?
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What is the effect of vitamin A on regeneration in planaria?
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What is the effect of temperature on the length of time a battery lasts?
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Determination of vitamin C in aging fruit
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Does wind have any effect on the amount of water loss from the leaf surface of a
plant?
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Are composites of wood stronger than solid wood?
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Does a golf ball’s bounciness influence the distance that it will travel?
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Test for the hardness of water.
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Can the lifespan of a bubble be extended in different temperatures?
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How can the amount of bacteria found on kitchen sponges and dishcloths be
reduced?
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What causes the unequal heating of land?
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How does root position affect plant growth?
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A comparison of the heat-conducting abilities of different metals.
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Can you use insulation materials to keep food fresh?
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Generate electricity for a flashlight without batteries.
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Can orange peels fight off drought?
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Can a robot maintain a vegetable garden?
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The effect of colored light bulbs on the growth of plants.
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Sprout seeds without soil.
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How do glaciers change land?
Construct a working dimmer switch.
The growth of bacteria in different disinfectants.
Mold growth on different types of bread.
The effects of salt vs sugar on plant growth.
Wavelengths of sound produced by different musical instruments.
How can you turn a desert into farmland?
Is eye color related to vision?
The effects of air drag on cars.
Anti-bacterial effect of cranberries.
Helpful websites:
www.all-science-fair-projects.com
www.sciencebuddies.org