Science Project Format
The project consists of the report and the display board. The following should be addressed in
each of the following sections:
Report:
Title Page
Abstract (250 words)
Table of Contents
Problem Statement
Background Information (2-3 pages)
Hypothesis
Experiment
Materials
Procedures
Controls
Variables
Data (graphs, charts, pictures)
Results
Conclusion
Application
Glossary (10-15 words)
Acknowledgements
Bibliography (5 references)
Display Board:
Title
Problem Statement
Hypothesis
Experiment
Materials
Procedures
Controls
Variables
Data (graphs, charts, pictures)
Results
Conclusions
Applications
Abstract (250 words)
Bibliography ( 5 references)
(Attach the abstract and bibliography to the lower left side of the display board)
Acknowledgement (optional)
Sample of the Experiment:
A free-standing segment of the experiment that depicts some aspect of the
investigation should accompany the display.
Note:
Molds, preserved specimens, possible disease-causing organisms, live animals, offensive
photographs, dangerous chemicals, explosives, corrosives, syringes, razor blades,
matches, and other dangerous objects may NOT be displayed.
Project Content
(For Student Use)
A Science Fair Project has three parts: a report, a free-standing display board, and a sample of
the work that you have done (if practical).
Choosing a Topic
A good topic has a problem that can be answered only by experimenting. If a topic is broad or
general, too many factors (variables) will exist that cannot be controlled, and you will find it
difficult to produce reliable results.
A list of what each project should have is followed below by a list of where each part should be
placed:
Title
A project needs a title. It lets people know what you have worked on. The title should be in the
form of a statement. It must be in the format given (The Effect of the Independent Variable on
the Dependent Variable)
Example: The Effect of Different Soap Powders on Removing Catsup Stains.
Problem Statement
The problem statement is always written in the form of a question. The question tells people
what you are trying to find out.
Example: Which soap powder works best in removing catsup stains?
Background Information
Books, internet, encyclopedia, magazine, or experts in a field can give you background
information to help you understand your topic. That information will not answer your question.
It will only give you ideas about your topic. For example, you may read about soap and what it
is made of, and include it in your project report, but you will still have to do the experiment to
get the answer to your question. Begin collecting information for your bibliography.
Hypothesis
After getting information about your topic, you should make a guess about what you think the
answer to your question may be. The format is if, then, because.
Example: If soap X is used, then the catsup stains will be removed, because of the composition of
soap X.
Experiment
Now you are ready to do your experiment. You should write down this information:
Materials: What did you use? List all of the items that you used. Tell how many or
how much.
Procedures: What did you do? List and number the steps in the order that you did
them. Repeat your experiment several times (at least three trials)
to be sure of your results.
Example:
1. Five pieces of cotton from a white shirt were placed on a
table.
2. One drop of catsup was placed on each piece of cotton.
Controls: There should always be a control with which results can be compared. A
Control is the part of your experiment that is kept the same (variable held
constant).
Variables: These are all factors that affect your investigation. A manipulated variable is
what you change on purpose to see its effect (what you are testing). A
responding variable is what changed or did not change in response to what
you have manipulated. This is what you are observing and/or measuring in
order to get your results.
Data: What did you see? Record all of your observations in a log. For example, if you
were doing the soap experiment, you should tell how long it took for the different
soaps to work, or which soap worked best at removing the stain. If you used
quantitative data, be exact with your numbers or counts (use metric units). If
you used qualitative data, describe what you observed in words like hot and
cold, bright and dim, or fast and slow. Use the same words when you talk about
the same conditions. Make graphs or tables to display your data, or take pictures.
Results
Interpret the data. Think about what you are learning from the data. State the findings of the
experiment based upon the data you observed and analyzed.
Example: Soap X worked in 20 minutes while it took soap Y 40 minutes.
Conclusion- Use the Conclusion script from the lab report format.
Your conclusion should begin with a statement on whether or not the results supported the
hypothesis. You should have added a description of how specific experimental data supported
the hypothesis. Include a description of problems that might have affected the results and why.
Also include any new discoveries you have made in addition to the results of the experiment.
Add any new questions that may lead to new experiments.
Example:
Soap X worked in 20 minutes while soap Y took forty minutes. Soap X works best in
removing catsup stains because it worked twice as fast as soap Y. The hardness of the
water may have affected the results because…………
Applications
You may want to tell why this experiment was important or how your findings may be useful to
others in society.
Acknowledgements (optional)
You should make a list of any people who may have helped you, including your parents.
Abstract- 250 words
This is a short summary of the entire project. It must include purpose, procedures, and results
in paragraph form. You should limit yourself to no more than 250 words. The abstract is usually
the first item the judges look at after the title.
Example:
The purpose of the experiment is to find out which soap works best in removing catsup
stains. Catsup stains of the same size were placed on pieces of cotton. Soap X and soap
Y were used to wash the stained cotton several times. In each case, soap X cleaned the
pieces of cotton twice as fast as soap Y. The hardness of the water may have affected
the results. It would be interesting to find out if the results would be the same with
different types of stains from other substances.
Bibliography
You must make a list of all the books, magazines, interviews, internet sources or other sources
that you used.
Examples are below:
Table of Contents
Page #
I. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
II. Fruit Flies ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
A. Size …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
B. Color …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
C. Survival factors ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
1. living conditions
2. eating habits
D. Species ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
E. Life Cycle ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
III. Bananas ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
A. Explanation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
1. size
2. temperature in which they grow best
3. how it grows
B. Diseases ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
C. Health Benefits ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
1. Potassium
a. lower blood pressure
b. improve circulation
2. Nutritional value
IV. Experiment ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7-10
V. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 11
Glossary
Bibliography
Important:
1. No less than 5 roman numerals with sub-headings and no more than 8 roman
numerals with sub-headings.
2. No roman numerals for the glossary and bibliography.
3. You must have no less than 10 scientific terms in the glossary with definition.