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Overview of Submission
To create and carry out an original experiment, you should first formulate a clear research
question and/or hypothesis. You then should do background research on the topic before
refining your hypothesis and designing an experimental procedure and apparatus. Collect raw
data and observations while conducting your experiment. Make sure you leave enough time
to thoroughly think and analyze your results. Why do you think you have the results you do?
In the end your experiment will be evaluated on the following criteria:
 experimental design and process
 poster display
 oral presentation
Project Display – What should it look like on the day of the fair?1
Your project should be displayed in a neat, clear, visible, well-organized format. Use your
creativity to design the display, with the following important guidelines:
 Project displays must be free standing (not attached to walls, ceilings, etc.) and fit on a
double-size desk. This means the display surface area must be no larger than 148 cm
wide by 52 cm deep (but it may be smaller).
 If you have an unusual model or display that is larger than this, or require special
placement, hanging up, or electricity, please request this in writing on Form 2.
 Note: Projects requiring electricity should use batteries or other power sources, if
possible. If electrical power is needed, you must have prior approval by the Science
Coordinator.
 Each project must be accompanied by a poster display that explains the exhibit (see
examples on the next page). This display board/backdrop should not exceed 100 cm
height x 148cm wide (two ~40cm wings and a ~70 cm back).
 The title of the project should be placed at the top of the center panel or
on the separate title board.
 Near the title, include an abstract of no more than 200 words that
summarizes your experiment. (An abstract should communicate the
basics of your experiment for someone who wants to know quickly
about your experiment – it’s what scientists read in professional journals
to decide if they want to read the whole article.)
 Research
Question
and/or
Hypothesis,
Background
Information/Research,
Materials/Apparatus,
Procedure,
Observations/Data/Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Further
Questions and any photos/drawings/graphs should all be displayed on
the Display Board. The formatting may differ between projects, but all
submissions should contain all of these components.
 References (bibliography or works cited) must be clearly displayed.
Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism; school policies on
plagiarism will apply.
 Lettering should be clear and large enough to be seen from a distance. Charts, graphs,
photos and drawings should be labeled.
 The name and section of all group members and the group’s number (given upon
registration) must be clearly displayed.
Adaptations have been made from “science-o-rama!: Great Minds at Work, Information Guide, Grades K-5,
Tuesday, February 1st, 2005, Los Alamitos Cafeteria”.
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



The area in front of your poster display should be used for any part of the project that
needs to be displayed (such as plants, equipment, etc.). Do not display anything that
could be hazardous; use photos or drawings instead. If you keep a journal during your
experiment where you record raw data and draft writing, you may display that here as
well.
DO NOT DISPLAY: dangerous chemicals; combustible solids, fluids, or gases; flames;
open containers of liquid; live animals; expensive or fragile items; or any hazardous
substance.
Do not consume food or drink for personal consumption while displaying your project.
This can disqualify you from the competition!
Students may use their own computer to supplement their project presentation, but at their
own risk – these should be removed when participants are not actively presenting their
project. ACS assumes no responsibility for personal computers used at this fair.
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Project Display Examples2
Be creative! The format may vary depending on your project. These are suggestions only.
ABSTRACT
Overall summary of
your experiment.
PROJECT TITLE
Names
Grades/Sections
Project Number
PROCEDURE
Experiment or process:
What did I do?
RESEARCH
QUESTION
AND/OR
HYPOTHESIS
What do I want to
know?
What do I think?
MATERIALS/
APPARATUS
What did I use?
Drawings, photos, etc.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION/
RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONS/ DATA / RESULTS
Where did I get
information?
What did I find out?
(tables, graphs)
DISCUSSION
How do your results
compare with what
you know from your
background research?
Why do you think you
got the results you
did?
What sources of error
were there?
CONCLUSION
Was your hypothesis
supported or not
supported or what is
the answer to your
research question?
NEW QUESTIONS
What do I want to
know next?
What reading did I
do?
The area in front of the display board may be used to display your journal, project, research paper,
demonstration, invention, apparatus or other items.
Adaptations have been made from “science-o-rama!: Great Minds at Work, Information Guide, Grades K-5,
Tuesday, February 1st, 2005, Los Alamitos Cafeteria”.
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Project presentation – What do I have to say about my project?
You will talk about your project in two ways. One will be the formal presentation for the team of judges.
Expectations for your formal presentation are as follows:
 ALL members of the group should be present and take part in the presentation during judging.
Missing team members will not earn the percentage bonus! (In the event of an emergency, serious
illness or academic conflict, contact your Project Supervisor in advance.)
 You should prepare an oral presentation of 7 to 10 minutes in length. If your presentation falls
outside of this time range you will lose points. We will cut you off if you talk for more than 12
minutes. (See Presentation rubric for details.)
 In the presentation, you need to summarize your research question or hypothesis, the procedure
you used for the investigation, the data you collected, the results of your research and what you
can conclude from this experiment. You may also mention noteworthy information about the
references you consulted, your materials, modifications you made or challenges you experienced,
if you would change something if you did this experiment again, or what studies you think should
follow this experiment.
 The judges will ask you questions about your project. Practice answering questions posed by
someone who is not part of the project so that you are prepared and calm.
The other presentation will be the informal presentation of your project to your peers. On the day of the
science fair, many students will come to see and admire your hard work. They will have a lot of questions
for you, different from those of the judges, about your project and how you carried it out.
You are required to be with your project at all times listed in the Science Fair schedule as “project poster
session”.
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ACS Science Fair Project Application: Form 1
This proposal is worth 5% of the overall evaluation of your Science Fair project.
Ask one of your current science teachers to act as your project supervisor for this project.
This application is due to your project supervisor by 15:40 Friday, October 9th, 2015 or earlier if your
project supervisor is not available on this day. Please consult your project supervisor.
Names of students:
Sections:
_________________________________
___________
_________________________________
___________
Research question and/or hypothesis:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Signature of participating students:
Signature of project supervisor:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Percentage earned of 5%: __________
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ACS Science Fair Project Application: Form 2
This proposal is worth 5% of the overall evaluation of your Science Fair project.
This application is due to your project supervisor by 15:40 Friday, November 20th, 2015 or earlier
if your project supervisor is not available on this day. Please consult your project supervisor.
Project Title: ………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Names of students:
Sections:
_________________________________
___________
_________________________________
___________
1. Refined procedure: Attach an additional page that provides a detailed and adjusted procedure for your
experiment, in list form.
2. Apparatus: Attach a printed photo of your apparatus with your student ID card visible in the bottom right-hand
corner of the photo. You can also provide sketches or diagrams in addition.
3. Possible references: Attach a list of 3 references you might consult when writing about your project. You should
include the web address or bibliography information, and can provide brief notes about the content if you wish.
4. Will you require access to an electrical outlet for display purposes? (circle one): YES / NO
5. Do you have any other display needs? (e.g, access to laboratory, water, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
NOTE TO STUDENTS: Before preparing the display, plan time to write the:
Introduction – background information, research question, and hypothesis
Materials and Apparatus
Procedure
Observations / Data / Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Further questions
Signature of participating students:
Signature of project supervisor:
________________________________
________________________________
Percentage earned of 5%: __________
_________________________________
NOTE TO SUPERVISOR:
Remove attached pages; add up total percentage earned
from Forms1 and 2 below with your name; submit to the
project coordinator/s
SUPERVISOR NAME: …………………………….
TOTAL PERCENTAGE: ____________/ out of 10%
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ACS Science Fair 2015
Project #: _____
Points: _______ of 50 weighted to 55 (grade 8)
_______ of 55 (grades 9-12)
Judging Rubric for Experiment
Score
5
3
1
One or two of the criteria on the
left are missing.
Does not include any relevant
conclusions from the experiment.
Student designed an experiment with clear control and
experimental groups that effectively tested a
hypothesis.
Student designed an experiment
with control and experimental
groups that were related
indirectly to the hypothesis.
Student designed an experiment
that did not effectively test a
hypothesis and had inadequate
control and experimental groups.
Independent and dependent variables are clearly
defined and measurable.
One of the criteria on the left is
missing.
All of the criteria on the left are
missing.
One or two of the criteria on the
left are not met.
Limited detail
All necessary materials are listed
but not in sufficient detail.
Incomplete list of materials.
Criteria
Summarizes results clearly.
Abstract
(not required for
8th grade)
Includes at least one major conclusion from the
experiment.
Attempts to connect with relevant research.
Overall grasp of
scientific method
Research question
or Hypothesis
Hypothesis is stated with support from background
information.
All terms are defined.
Background
information
Multiple sources are used and referenced in a
bibliography.
Concepts related to problem are clearly explained.
Information stated is related to hypothesis
All necessary materials are listed and in sufficient
detail.
Materials
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Design is a well-constructed test of the stated
hypothesis.
Two of the criteria on the left are
missing or inappropriate.
Four or more of the criteria on
the left are missing or
inappropriate.
One or more of the criteria at left
is missing.
Data is missing or is
inappropriately displayed.
Student demonstrates
understanding of the topic and
adequate use of scientific
terminology.
Student lacks understanding of
the topic and incorrectly uses
scientific terminology.
Lists specific sequence of steps.
Explains how independent variable is manipulated.
Explains how dependent variable is measured or
described.
Procedure
Provides for control of other variables.
Provides enough data to draw a conclusion.
Steps are in sufficient detail that another individual
could duplicate the experiment.
Includes duplication of experiment.
Tables of data are included and appropriate.
Appropriate graph used, or multiple graphs used as
warranted.
-Data are plotted correctly.
-Graph is titled and labeled correctly.
Results
-Graph is properly scaled.
-Variables on proper axes (independent on x-axis,
dependent on y-axis.)
In rare cases in which data cannot be quantified,
results are summarized clearly and visually.
Student completely understands the topic and uses
scientific terminology properly and effectively.
Discussion
Summarizes the data and uses it as support in
answering the problem.
One of the other criteria
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And/or is missing two of the
previously mentioned criteria.
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Relates background information to data and analysis.
mentioned at left is missing.
Summarizes and evaluates the experimental
procedure, including relevant sources of error.
Relates the study to general interest, other studies that
have been or could be conducted.
Accepts or rejects hypothesis or answers the problem.
States the relationship between the two variables.
Conclusion
One of the criteria on the left is
missing or inappropriate.
Two or more of the criteria on the
left are missing or inappropriate.
Two of the components on the
left are inadequate.
Four of the components on the
left are inadequate.
One of the previous is
inadequate.
Two of the previous are
inadequate.
Conclusion precisely stated, relates directly to support
or non-support of the hypothesis.
Suggests recommended improvements for this
experiment and possibilities for further study.
All expected components are present and clear
Text is concise and free of errors
Poster
Three or more references are clearly displayed in the
proper format.
Display meets size requirements
If appropriate, technical drawings are included and are
neatly drawn.
Student demonstrates a very strong knowledge of
subject.
Presentation
Presentation is well organized, is presented within the
necessary time frame, and includes all of the
necessary parts.
Students don’t stumble and use appropriate speed and
volume.
Students maintain good eye contact and good posture.
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