Doing a Science Fair Project
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We are excited that you are planning to do a Science Fair Project. We hope you are
excited too. This page is a checklist of steps you can take, with lots of useful
information, to help you do a great project. You can print it out and use it to check
things off as you go.
___ Step 1: (do this right after the last science fair) Get a laboratory notebook (or
journal).
___ Step 2: Jot down in your laboratory notebook ideas for potential projects for
next year. Write them all down as they come to you. Some may be too difficult for you,
some may not be good projects, but some will be great ideas. Continue to write down
ideas until it is time for Step 3. Ideas may come from books in the library, internet
resources, friends and relatives, and things that you see that you want to know more
about.
___ Step 3: (do this 3 to 4 months before the next science fair. Usually this would
be sometime in the fall after school starts, some projects may actually take a whole
year) Choose your project from your list. This is a very important step.
___ Step 3A: The most important thing in a science project is to do something you
want to know more about. This is a great motivation for you, and it will result in a
more successful project. Don't do one because someone else wants you to do it, do it
because YOU want to do it.
___ Step 3B: Projects that are an experiment do better at the Science Fairs. But, if
you want to know more about something, and it is a demonstration or a research style
project, do it anyway. Having fun and learning something new is more important than
the fair itself. We look forward to seeing what you have learned.
___ Step 3C: Pick something unusual. Often the better projects are experiments on
things that the judges have never seen before. If the experiment is based on something
that has happened to you in your life, then it is likely to be unusual.
___ Step 4: Note your selection in your laboratory notebook, and start to follow the
process You should write Objective for your project in your laboratory notebook.
___ Step 5: Think about what you think will happen when you run your
experiment. Write this down as your Hypothesis in your laboratory notebook.
___ Step 6: Research your topic. It is likely that there is information about your
Objective out there on the internet. Do some searches, check the library and see what
you can find. You should understand the science behind your work.
___ Step 7: Gather your materials; everything you will need to do your
experiment. Be sure to write them all into your laboratory notebook.
___ Step 8: Decide on your process. What are the steps you will do to perform your
experiment. Write these into your laboratory notebook too.
___ Step 9: Do your experiments. There are many things you need to consider
when you perform the experiment:
___ Step 9A: How many repetitions do I need to do? The goal is to do enough
repetitions that if you get some bad data you will be able to throw it out. The number
depends on your project. If you’re doing an engineering project, you may build
something. The repetitions for this project would be modifications that you make to
make it work better. There may be only a few. If you are growing plants from seeds,
you may have as many as 10 seeds per each test case. Seeds are very variable.
___ Step 9B: Controlling your variables. When you do an experiment, you want to
change one thing and measure the effect it has on a variable you are measuring. ALL
other variables must be kept constant. They should be the same for each test case.
___ Step 9C: When you take measurements, be as accurate as you can. Note
what your accuracy is. For example, if you are measuring the length or height of
something, and you are using a typical 12-inch rule, you probably can measure to 1/2
the smallest scale show, For the rule on my desk, it shows marking every 1/16th of an
inch, so my accuracy could be half that or 1/32 of an inch.
___ Step 9D: Always record the units for all measurements.
___ Step 9E: Write all of your data including the units into your laboratory notebook.
___ Step 10: Turn your Data into Information. While the data is very important, it is
not always obvious what information is hidden in your data. To see trends and patterns
in our data, we often use graphs to show trends. Include these graphs in your
laboratory notebook.
___ Step 11: Evaluate your hypothesis. Did your data support your hypothesis or
were you wrong? This is your Conclusion. Note it in your laboratory notebook. It is
okay if you were wrong.
___ Step 12: (about 2 weeks before the Science Fair) Prepare your display. Most
people use a trifold display made of cardboard. It should be organized in an orderly and
logical manner. All of this information should be in your laboratory notebook, and can
be just copied into the display. It does not need to be typed, it can be hand written, but
it should be neat and easy to read. Students often artistically enhance their display
boards.
___ Step 13: Practice. Get a parent, older sibling, or a friend to ask you questions
so that you will be ready for the judges. Do NOT practice a rehearsed speech. You
may not have time to give it, and the judges would really rather ask you questions. As
you move on to Regionals (7th grade and up) there is a place for rehearsed
presentations and handouts.
___ Step 14: Bring your project to the Science Fair. Some useful information
follows:
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Follow the fair rules. Do not bring anything alive or dangerous. Do not bring
food, liquids or glass.
Sometimes you may bring snacks and things to drink.
Sometimes you may bring a chair if they are not provided.
Bring a book to read while you wait.
Sit quietly and stay at your project. Do not bother other students or the judges.
When it is your turn... Speak clearly to the judge. Answer any questions he/she
may ask. Tell them what you did.
At elementary, we usually will sit down with the students, but at secondary fairs
and the Regional Fair, most students stand up to explain their work.
Do not read from the display.
At the elementary level, do not give a prepared speech. At secondary level a
prepared speech is more typical.
You will probably NOT have the opportunity to demonstrate your experiment.
Relax and have fun.
Remember: You did the project. Therefore you are the expert.
Step 15: Write ideas for next year's project in your laboratory note