6th Grade Science
Mrs. Weis
What is a Science Fair?
 A science fair is your opportunity to investigate
something that interests you!
 You will use the scientific method to conduct your
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investigation.
You will create a Science Fair display board with the
scientific method.
You will write a one-page report.
You will give a five-minute presentation in class.
You will create a bibliography using the MLA style.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 1: Identify the problem
 Think of some kind of experiment that you would like to
try. Remember that you must be able to measure the
experiment each day or have several different samples in
your experiment.
 Write down your problem. Make sure that there is a
purpose to your experiment.
 Explain how you have set up your experiment and the
materials used.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 2: Research the Problem
 Look up information about your topic.
 Don’t forget to write down information for your bibliography.
 Use at least three different sources including books,
magazines, Internet, interviews, encyclopedias, etc.
 Write down what you expect to happen before you try your
experiment.
 Be specific! Make a chart of the numbers that you are
predicting and give reasons for your guesses.
 Include other guesses such as height, color, condition, size,
time, etc.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis
 Write down what you expect to happen before you try
your experiment. Be specific.
 Include other guesses such as height, color, condition,
size, time, etc.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 4: Conduct an Experiment
 Do your experiment, keep and record good data.
 Begin a daily journal recording the progress of your
experiment if needed.
 Be sure to record numbers and observations.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 6: Organize your results
 Record your results in full (make charts, graphs, and
diagrams)
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 6: Reach a Conclusion
 Compare what you thought was going to happen to what
did happen.
 Explain what you learned from your experiment.
 Explain the importance of your results.
Using The Scientific Method
 Step 7: Future Directions
 Explain how you would improve this experiment if you
did it again. What would you change? How would you
make it better?
Topic Ideas
 Plants
 Will vitamins affect the growth of a plant?
 Do weed killers affect house plants?
 How do the moon phases affect plant germination?
 How fast do roots grow?
 Does the amount of light on plants affect their growth?
 Does the amount of water given plants affect their
growth?
 What is the effect of detergent on bean seeds?
 Under what color light do plants grow best?
Topic Ideas
 Plants continued
 In what kind of material (sand, clay, etc) do seeds grow
best?
 What is the effect of chlorinated water on plant growth?
 How does the number of seeds produced by different
plants compare?
 Will a frozen seed sprout?
 Will plants grow better in soil or water?
 What can be done to increase the decomposing rate of
plants?
Topic Ideas
 Animals
 What kind of life can be found in 1 square meter of
backyard soil?
 How does a bird embryo grow in an egg?
 Can mice distinguish color?
 How do mealworms respond to light?
 How does an earthworm react to light and darkness?
 Do different kinds of caterpillars eat different amounts
of food?
 Do mint plants repel insects?
Topic Ideas
 Animals continued
 What color of flowers attract hummingbirds best?
 What colors attract moths and other insects at night?
 Does temperature affect the flash rate of fireflies?
 At what rate do pets drink water?
 What is the effect of temperature on the activity of
(mealworms, crickets, etc)?
Topic Ideas
 Earth Science
 Does the moon rise every night at the same time and in
the same location?
 How accurate are long-range weather forecasts?
 Is rainwater absorbed at the same rate in different kinds
of soil?
 From which direction does the wind blow most
frequently?
 How warm is it under the snow?
Topic Ideas
 Physical Science
 What is the effect of heat when dissolving sugar? Salt?
 Why is salt put on icy sidewalks?
 What is the acidity of various household products?
 How fast do fabrics burn?
 What kind of materials can put out a fire?
 Can seawater be “desalted” by freezing?
 What is the best shape for a kite?
 Which holds materials together better, a nail or a screw?
 Do all objects fall at the same speed?
Topic Ideas
 Physical Science continued
 On what kind of surface will a ball roll fastest?
 Which kind of metal conducts heat best?
 Does sound travel best through solid, liquid, or gas?
 Do all colors fade at the same rate?
Topic Ideas
 Consumer Science
 Which chewing gum holds its flavor the best?
 Which detergent breaks up oil the best?
 Which detergent makes the most bubbles?
 Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest?
 Which type of diaper holds the most water?
 How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll Center
of a Tootsie Pop?
 Will a banana brown faster on the counter or in the
refrigerator?
 Will an ice cube melt faster in a cup of water or a cup of pop?
Topic Ideas
 Consumer Science continued
 Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?
 Which cheese grows mold the fastest?
 Which bread grows mold the fastest?
Project Boards
 This is how you will set up your project board.
Project Boards
 Guidelines:
 You will use a standard, three-panel display board that
unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. These can be
purchased at Wal-Mart.
 Organize your information like a newspaper so that
your audience can quickly follow the thread of your
experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to
right. Include each step of your science fair project:
Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background
research, and so on.
Project Boards
 Use a font size of at least 16 points for your main body
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text. Anything smaller is too hard to read.
Stick with the Times New Roman font.
Use italics or bold for emphasis, not for all your text.
Don't place your text on top of a picture; that makes it
difficult to read.
Don't use ALL CAPS; THEY ARE MUCH HARDER TO
READ
Project Boards
 Examples:
Project Boards
 Examples
Additional assignments
 Beside your project board, you will also complete the
following assignments. Each of these must be typed in
12 or 16 point Times New Roman font and double
spaced.
 Statement of purpose for the research –why did you
choose this topic? What are you hoping to learn?
 At least three journals – Each journal will include a
written summary of what you have done on your project
so far.
 Report – this will be a one or two-page summary of your
entire research project.
Important Dates
 Friday, February 21st – Topic Choice, Purpose for the
experiment (in at least 50 words), and Hypothesis are
due. (25 points)
 Thursday, April 3rd – All journals are due. (25 points)
 Monday, April 7th – Completed Project board (100
points), and typed report (50 points) are due.
Presentations will begin this day (50 points).
 Friday, April 25th – Science Fair
What if we have a snow day?
What if I am absent?
 If we have a snow day on the day that something is
due, then the very next day we are in school, your
assignment will be due.
 If you are absent when something is due, you are
expected to turn the assignment in the very next day
you are in school.
Late assignments
 If you are in school and do not turn in your assignment
on the assigned day, you will lose 2 points for each day
that the assignment is turned in late.
 If your assignment is more than 5 school days late, you
will receive a zero for the assignment.
Can my parents come to the
Science Fair?
 No, the science fair is for the students and faculty only.
Any questions?