How to do a
Science Fair Project
By
Virginia Vilardi
Start with a fresh idea
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Are there things you are curious about?
Make a list of those topics.
Do background research on each topic to narrow
down the list.
Further research on the most appealing topics to
see what studies have been done and how they
were tested.
Develop research plan with possible testing
methods.
Make final topic selection.
Review research plan with instructor.
Now it’s time to develop the project
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Start with your fresh idea stated as a
purpose or problem statement
Develop a Hypothesis
Design the Experiment
Test and Collect data
Analyze the results
Make conclusions
Prepare a report, abstract, project display
board and oral presentation
Let’s use a Project Display Board to
show each of the major parts…
Project Display Board
Push the arrow
To reveal
What is in
Each section
Oral Presentation
Project Display
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Size: no more than:
 108 inches or 274 centimeters high
 30 inches or 76 centimeters deep
 48 inches or 274 centimeters wide
Good Title: Your title is an extremely important attention
grabber.
Take Photographs: Many projects involve elements that
may not be safely exhibited at the Fair, but are an important
part of the project. You might want to take photographs of
important parts/phases of your experiment to use in your
display.
Be Organized: Make sure your display follows a sequence
and is logically presented and easy to read (larger font).
Eye-Catching: Make your display stand out. Use colorful
headings, charts and graphs to present your
project. Label graphs, charts, diagrams, photographs, and
tables. Each should have an appropriate label describing what
is being demonstrated.
Sample Project Display Board
Research
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Use a variety of resources to study the
problem. Library, internet, field experts,
government officials.
Research will develop into foundation for
report.
Purpose/Problem
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Once topic is chosen what do you want to
know about it?
What are you trying to figure out?
Make this into a statement.
Sample Purpose
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The purpose of this project was to prove
that the meteorite that hit the Wetumpka,
Alabama area changed the course of the
Coosa River and the topography of central
Alabama.
Hypothesis
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Hypothesis is an educated guess on how
to solve the problem.
Should be stated as an if/then statement.
Sample Hypothesis
If we use our experiment as a
guide, then we will be able to
determine the effect the meteorite
had on the Coosa River flow and
direction as well as the topography
of central Alabama. We believe the
meteorite changed the course of the
river and the land structure of
central Alabama.
Experiment
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Design an experiment to test hypothesis.
Make a list of needed materials.
Verify that experiment is step by step.
Design experiment to test for only one
variable at a time.
Gather needed materials.
Perform experiment.
Repeat experiment to verify results.
Sample Experimental Procedure
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Stream Table Construction- standard plywood was
used to construct the stream table. The table is 91.44
cm long and 45.72 cm wide. On one end, there is a
2.54 cm diameter drainage hole for the water to drain.
Metal net was placed over the hole to keep the dirt
inside the stream table.
Soil was added to form a the land and a river was
etched in similar to how the Coosa River might have
looked before the meteorite hit.
Next, we added the water and created a shallow sea
on one end of the stream table.
We launched the rock representing the meteorite at a
low angle trajectory to create the impact crater zone.
Test was repeated until correct angle trajectory was
achieved.
Results were recorded and pictures were taken to
document experiment.
Results
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Use all senses to collect and record data
from experiment.
Results should be quantitative and
qualitative.
Organize data into charts and graphs.
Only present facts not opinions.
Sample Results
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In every test, the “meteorite” changed or
moved the river. We threw the rock in at
several angles but always with a low
trajectory because the actual meteorite
came in at a low angle. Every time it
formed a crater and moved the river
several centimeters.
Sample Results Table
Difference
Measured
Test 1
5.8 cm
Test 2
3.302 cm
Test 3
4.826 cm
Test 4
5.842 cm
Test 5
6.35 cm
Sample Results Graph
River Flow Change
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Series1
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Test 4
Test 5
Conclusion
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Based on the results what did the
experiment prove or disprove?
Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect?
What was learned?
Sample Conclusion
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All of our tests proved that the actual
meteorite would have moved the Coosa
River changing its flow and direction. It
also would have changed the topography
of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was
correct.
Sample Topics
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People: Does color affect learning?
Animals: Do dogs respond to smell or
sound?
Plants: Are plants affected more by light
or touch?
Motion: Can motion be perpetual?
Energy: Can new energy resources be
created from waste material?
Pollution: What can clean up an oil spill?
Abstract
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250 word summary of project
Should include purpose, hypothesis, brief
experimental procedure, results and
conclusion
Sample Abstract
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The purpose of this project was to prove that the meteorite that hit the
Wetumpka, Alabama area changed the course of the Coosa River and
the topography of central Alabama.
If we use our experiment as a guide, then we will be able to determine
the effect the meteorite had on the Coosa River flow and direction as
well as the topography of central Alabama. We believe the meteorite
changed the course of the river and the land structure of central
Alabama.
Procedure: construct stream table. Soil was added to form a the land
and a river was etched in similar to how the Coosa River might have
looked before the meteorite hit. Add water created a shallow sea on
one end of the stream table. Launched the rock representing the
meteorite at a low angle trajectory to create the impact crater zone.
Test was repeated until correct angle trajectory was achieved. Results
were recorded.
In every test, the “meteorite” changed or moved the river. We threw the
rock in at several angles but always with a low trajectory because the
actual meteorite came in at a low angle. Every time it formed a crater
and moved the river several centimeters.
All of our tests proved that the actual meteorite would have moved the
Coosa River changing its flow and direction. It also would have changed
the topography of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was correct.
Model
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Model or visual display items add interest
and can be used with discussion with
judges.
Report
A good research paper should include:
a) Title Page and Table of Contents
b) Introduction: The introduction includes purpose
or problem, hypothesis, what prompted your
research, and what you hoped to achieve with your
project.
c) Materials and Methods: Describe in detail the
methodology you used. It should be detailed
enough so that someone would be able to repeat
the experiment from your information.
d) Results: The results include data and analysis.
This should include statistics, graphs, raw data, etc.
Report Continued
e) Discussion: This is the meat of your paper.
Compare your results with theoretical values,
published data, commonly held beliefs, and/or
expected results. Include possible errors. Did the
data vary? What would you do differently if you
repeated this project? What would you do next?
f) Conclusions: Summarize your results. State your
findings in relationships of one variable with the
other. Support the statements with data. Be
specific. State whether hypothesis was proven or
disproved. Also mention practical applications.
g) Acknowledgments: Credit those who have
assisted you.
h) References/Bibliography: Document anything
that is not your own
Oral Presentation
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Introduce yourself. Speak confidently about your
work. Simply talk about your research.
Appearance, good manners, appropriate attire,
and enthusiasm for what you are doing will
impress. Remember the key for the oral
presentation is to see if you understand the
basic principles of science behind your project. It
is to determine if you have correctly measured
and analyzed the data. If you can determine
possible sources of error in your project and how
you might apply your findings.
How far can your fresh idea take
you?
International Science & Engineering Fair
(High School Students Only)
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/about/index.asp
State Science & Engineering Fair
(6th -12th Grade)
Regional Science & Engineering Fair
County Science & Engineering Fair
(4th -12th Grade)
School Science & Engineering Fair
For more assistance
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http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/hbk
2007.pdf
http://www.uah.edu/ASEF/rules.htm
http://showboard.com/
The End
Thank you!
References:
Alabama Power, Your Guide to Science Fair Projects, 1982.
Baugh,Erin and Price, Elizabeth. The Stars Fell On Alabama, 2007.
Driver, James and Holman, Jordan. Extreme Pyramid Engineering, 2007
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/hbk2007.pdf
http://showboard.com/
Research Plan
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The research plan for all projects is to
include the following:
A. Question being addressed
B. Hypothesis/Problem/Engineering Goals
C. Description: Detail all procedures and
experimental design to be used for data
collection. Describe the procedures you will use
to analyze the data that answer research
question or hypothesis
D. Bibliography: List at least five (5) major
references (e.g. science journal articles, books,
internet sites) from your library research.