Wow!!
It’s Time
for the Rivera
Science and
Engineering Fair !
Why do we create
Science Fair Projects?
Science is all around us!
Opportunities to work with scientists
Opportunity for the use of multimedia
technologies, written and oral presentations,
exploration of various subject matter in science
Science Fair projects give us a chance to
explore curiosities
Opportunity for scholarship and recognition
It’s just fun!!
Getting Started
Select a topic Remember a time you noticed something and thought
"I wonder what would happen if..." or "I wonder how that works?"
then turn that into a project
Look at the list of topic suggestions in the packet
Go into the library and browse book titles
Look through the newspaper for current events
Look on line at sites such as:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/
http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/
http://www.sciencefairadventure.com/
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html
http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php
http://412science.rusd.k12.ca.us/science_fair.htm
Keeping a Journal
From the very start- KEEP A JOURNAL no matter what
kind of project you are going to do!
 All entries should be substantial. If a procedure was
tried, the journal should include or refer to the exact
steps and methods used.
 Data should be recorded accurately with dates and
times, and any special notes of problems or successes.
 Journals may be computer entries or hand written.
 Record all research and CITE YOUR SOURCE
 Any information, resources, graphs, tables, problems,
and analysis should be included.

Everyone does RESEARCH

The research portion of the project is an important
component of writing standards and is an independently
developed item.

Gather general information about your topic from books,
magazines, the Internet, people and companies.

Keep notes about where you got your info and begin to
develop your bibliography.

Copied text is not acceptable…use your own words.
Types of Projects
Experiment
Model
Collection
Demonstration
Research
Experiment
*Most often presented in a science fair
*Follows the Scientific Method
*Experiments may be long-term, but
they do not have to be.
*The student-scientist should be
knowledgeable enough to discuss and
field questions about the project.
Examples of Experiments
Experiments follow the Scientific Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Question -What is being investigated?
Purpose/Hypothesis –Your educated guess
about what is going to happen, stated factually
Research –What info is out there?
Materials –What is needed to do the
experiment
Procedure –The steps you’ll take to perform
the experiment
Results –Record what you observe and find
Summary Conclusion –Does your experiment
prove your hypothesis?
Model
*Student-scientist chooses a topic of high interest.
*A short research report is written.
*A model is created.
*If a display board is included, it should have a title,
the research, possibly photos of the student building
the model, the model with labeled parts, and a
summary of what has been learned.
*The student-scientist should be knowledgeable
enough to discuss and field questions about the
project.
Examples of Models
Collection
*This is an exhibit of a scientific collection.
*Research is conducted and a short report written
to enhance the significance of the collection.
*If a display board is included, it should have a
title, the research, possibly photos of the
student working on the collection, labels, and a
summary of what has been learned.
*The student-scientist should be knowledgeable
enough to discuss and field questions about the
project.
Examples of Collections
Demonstration
*The student-scientist demonstrates, on a display board,
a particular science principle or fact, how something
works, a scientific phenomenon, or how something is
created naturally or in a lab.
*The display must be self-contained; that is, observers
should be able to follow the demonstration and
understand. It will include a title, the research
information, possibly a series of photos to support the
demonstration, and a summary of the findings.
*The student-scientist should be knowledgeable enough to
discuss and field questions about the project.
Examples of Demonstrations
Research Paper
*In a research paper, the student-scientist
investigates an area of science using primary and
secondary sources.
*Student-scientists will conduct research and conduct
primary information gathering such as visiting a
college, museum, or interviewing experts to explore
their scientific area in depth and detail.
*A grade-level appropriate research paper is written.
*The student-scientist should be knowledgeable
enough to discuss and field questions about the
project.
Doing Research
Displaying the Project
Follow the
guidelines in
the packet
2015-16 TIMELINE
 Wednesday, October 7th: Classroom teachers
share this presentation and pass out Science
Fair Packets
 Monday, November 30th: Projects due to Rivera
(unless teacher has chosen a different date – but no
later than December 2nd)

Thursday, December 3rd: Rivera Science and
Engineering Fair
– Judging takes place
– Friends and Family viewing from 5:30PM –
6:30PM
– Friday, December 4th: Student Viewing and
Project pick-up
Awards and Recognition
So, why do we do Science and
Engineering Fair Projects?
“The important
thing is not to
stop questioning.”
Albert Einstein