From Selecting a Topic to Creating a Question
Ultimate Goals
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 To ask a question and design a way in which to scientifically
assess the question
 To design a model to test the question and describe outcomes
 To analyze data from multiple trials
 To evaluate changes to the model
(NGSS – Engineering Design)
 Improve math skills through gathering and analyzing data
 Improve language arts skills through research and writing
technical papers.
 Improve organization/time management skills by completing a
multi step project.
Selecting a Topic
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 The most important part of the Science Fair!
 Pick a topic that INTERESTS you.
 Pick a topic that is NEW not something you have
seen a lot of.
 Pick something that is TESTABLE.
 Make sure it is REALISTIC (you will have until Oct.
21st to complete your experiment.
 Make sure YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES.
Restrictions
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 Mentos and Soda
 Popcorn popping
 Food that molds
 Models (creating a model of the solar system,
volcano, water cycle, etc.)
 Can not harm animals or people – including
ingesting of chemicals, physical, or mental harm.
 Fire
Categories to Enter
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Behavioral/Social Science
Biochemistry
Botany
Chemistry
Consumer Science
Engineering
Earth Science
Math/Computer Science
Space Science
Environmental Science
Physics
Zoology
Behavioral/Social Science
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The science of human activities including: economics, sociology,
education, linguistics, anthropology, etc.
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The effects of gender on short term memory.
The effects of color on word identification.
The effects of type of light on number of blinks.
Can ants tunnel faster in wet or dry soil?
Does laughter effect blood pressure?
Find others at:
http://www.crystal-clear-science-fair-projects.com/behavioralscience-fair-project-ideas.html
Biochemistry
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The science of the chemical processes of living including:
Genetics, Nutrition, Photosynthesis, Molecular Biology, etc.
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The effects of sugar on cell volume.
The effects of fat content on number of calories.
What type of fruit/vegetable contains the most DNA?
How does temperature effect the amount of DNA in a
substance?
Find more examples:
http://www.juliantrubin.com/biochemistryprojects.html
Botany
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The science of plants including: Agriculture, Horticulture,
Forestry, Mycology, etc.
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The effect of light concentration on mold growth.
Do plants grow better in water or soil?
What is the effect of temperature on root growth?
Does crowding effect plant growth?
Find more at:
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/botany_plant_project
s.html
Chemistry
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 The science of the properties, compositions and reactions of
matter including: organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry,
physical chemistry, fuels, materials, etc.
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Does temperature effect the growth of crystals?
Does sugar or salt create the largest crystal?
The effect of temperature on the pH of Orange Juice.
Which substance melts ice faster?
What substance is most corrosive?
More examples can be found at:
http://www.1000sciencefairprojects.com/Chemistry/BoilingPoint.php
Consumer Science
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Consumer science is the field of knowledge about how the
interactions of consumers, business and government
correlate and how that interaction affects the well being of all
concerned.
 Comparing two or more products (for pH, viscosity,
amount of chemicals, etc.)
 What kind of laundry soap works best?
 What type of toilet paper is the strongest?
 http://www.ehow.com/list_5903664_consumer-scienceproject-fair-ideas.html
Engineering
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The application of scientific knowledge for practical use.
Examples: civil, electrical, chemical, mechanical and petroleum
engineering
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How do different materials react to static electricity?
Comparing nonrenewable to renewable sources
Which type of nails are the strongest?
Can suspension bridges hold more weight than a beam bridge?
 http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/recommender_interest_area.php?ia=ApMech,CE,EnvE
ng&p=9&x=iaRobotics,0,0
Earth Science
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The understanding of processes that regulate Earth (water
cycle, rock cycle, etc.) Examples: geology, seismology,
physical oceanography, meterology
 What type of solution makes the longest crystal?
 Does soil type effect the quality of a cast fossil?
 Which types of soil hold the most water?
 http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/recommender_interest_area.php?ia=Geo&p=7
Math
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The study and application of the logical relations of sets.
Examples: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics,
operations research, calculus.
 Probability of drawing cards
 Geometry of candy
 What’s the fastest way to solve a rubrics cube?
 http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/search.shtml?v=ia&ia=Math&p=3
Computer Science
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 The study of computers including their use, operation and design.
Examples: software development, computer engineering, artificial
intelligence, simulations, graphics
 Investigate the connection between compouter use and having
a dry eye.
 Find out which file format (TIFF, GIF, JPEG) has the best image
quality
 Computer vs. Human: Exploring AI in the Game Blokus
http://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects/computers/computers.html
Space Science
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The science of the universe: Astronomy, Astro-physics
 How does the rotation of a planet correlate to its
surface temperature?
 What direction should solar panels face?
 Do lunar cycles affect human behavior?
 http://www.juliantrubin.com/astronomyprojects.ht
ml
Environmental Science
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The study of the conditions that influence life on earth.
Examples: pollution, population growth, extinction of
species, depletion of vital resources, climate changes
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Which type of class produces the most pollution?
Which type of vehicle has the most pollution?
Which type of ant builds the thickest tunnels?
How do plants grow in different soils?
 http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/search.shtml?v=ia&ia=EnvSci&p=4
Physics
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The science of energy and matter and the interactions
between the two. Physics includes the study of material
and energy as related to motions, heat, light, and force.
 What type of surface creates the most friction?
 Which type of lever uses the least force?
 What type of paper (bridge) will hold the most
weight?
 http://www.sciencefairadventure.com/Physics.aspx
Zoology
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The science of animals. Examples: ornithology (birds), herpetology
(reptiles and amphibians), Mammalogy (mammals), ichthyology
(Fish), entomology (insects)
 The Relationship between the Number of Days it Takes Fruit Flies
to Hatch and the Amount of Light to which they are exposed
 Can the Heartbeat of a Chicken Embryo Be Detected without
Breaking its Eggshell?
 What temperature does the most fish hatch at?
 Are more grasshoppers found in grass or tree areas?
 http://www.sciencefairexperiments.org/Zoology/ZoologyProjects.php
Question
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 Once you have decided on a topic then you need to
create a general question to answer.
 There can not be any pronouns in your question.
 The question needs to be testable
 This needs to include your independent variable
 For example my topic is Speed
 My question could be: Does height affect the speed
of a ball?