Science Fair Projects

You will be working on this quite a bit so don’t choose something you think boring. Try searching a site called “Topic Selection Wizard” It will ask a couple questions and will help identify an area of science that would be most likely to find interesting. Before you begin….

Product comparisons along the line of “Which consumer product is best Any “Which tastes better?” Such experiments don’t involve numerical measurements. They are more of a survey than an experiment. Effects of colored lights/music/talking to plants. This project is over used and can be hard to measure You can be more creative. Effect of color on memory/emotion/mood/taste etc. Highly subjective and difficult to measure. Any topic with measurements that will be hard to take or repeat given your equipment. Topics to AVOID….

Absolutely NO… Any topic that requires dangerous or illegal materials and or causes pain or injury to animals!

Scientific Method or Engineering design Study nature or crating something…

Scientific Method Ask a question Do background research Construct a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Record the data Analyze the data Draw a conclusion Communicate your results Scientific Method

Engineering Design Define the problem Do background research Specify requirements Create alternative solutions Choose the best solution Do development work Build a prototype Test and redesign if needed. Engineering Design

Permanent account of every step, from initial ideas to final analysis Many projects require many steps, or trial and revision. This should be in the notebook. With the complete record in you lab book, it will be much easier to look back and see exactly what happened Writing down the design ideas and testing data will also help keep track if ideas. Start a Lab Notebook

Writing Your Question -The question should be interesting enough to read about. -The question should be possible AND affordable. -There should be at least 3 sources of written info on the subject.

Think Ahead! The experiment should measure quantifiable changes. Such as ..count, percentage, length, width, weight, voltage, velocity, energy, or time. Even on or off. If you cant measure the results it is not science. Must be able to control other factors that might influence your experiment. A “fair test” only occurs when one factor is variable. All others stay the same. Think Ahead!

Background Research Identify the key words in your project question. Generate a focused research question. Throw out irrelevant questions. Be sure the proposed experiment will answer your question. Describe the equipment and techniques you will need. Background Research

Write the research plan After identifying your question’s key words.. Brainstorm additional key words. You will need to add to you background research plan a list of formulas or equations if needed to describe results. Also research similar experiments. Be prepared to ask others, like teachers, parents, or mentors for help or better yet, ask you questions. Write the research plan

Hypothesis.. Hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. Most of the time a hypothesis is written …………. “If __(I do this)__, then __(this)__ will happen” Your hypothesis should be ‘Testable’. Something you can test, You need to measure what you do and what will happen. Hypothesis..

Disproving the Hypothesis Is it OK if you end up disproving your hypothesis?? Yes.

Write a step by step list of everything you need to do. The experimental procedure must tell how you will find the change the only independent variable. The experimental procedure must explain how you will measure the resulting change in the independent variables. The procedure will also explain how the controlled variables will be maintained. Also, the experimental procedure should specify how many times you intend to repeat the experiment, so the judges can see that your results are reproducible. Planning the Method

A good experimental procedure enables someone else to duplicate your experiment.

Scientists call changing the factors in an experiment variables. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only ONE factor at a time while keeping others the same. About the Variables

Variables for Beginners Let’s pretend we’re doing an experiment to see if fertilizer makes a plant grow larger than a plant that doesn’t have the fertilizer. We put seeds of one kind in 3 pots with fertilizer and rich soil. But, we run out of soil so we put seeds of the same kind in 3 pots filled with sand. We put all 6 pots in the same location and water each the same amount of water every other day. The plants with soil and fertilizer grow to be much larger than the ones grown in sand with no fertilizer. Is this a fair test of weather fertilizer makes plants grow bigger? Variables for Beginners

You need to think of what supplies and equipment you might need By making a complete list, you ensure you have everything to hand when it is needed. Make your list as specific as possible. SAMPLE Clipboard to hold papers Kitchen timer Pen or pencil to record data 3 identical flashlights AA size brand specific batteries CD player, and CD Materials List

With your detailed procedure in hand, you are almost ready to start. BUT before you start…. Be sure that you have no questions about how to do any of the steps. Collect and organize all materials, supplies, and equipment needed. Think ahead! Do you need safety precautions? Gloves. Hair ties. Protective eye wear. A fire extinguisher. Towels to clean up afterward. Doing the Actual Test

Date your tables You will need to prepare a data table in your laboratory notebook to collect your data. A data table will ensure that you are consistent in recording your data and will make it easier to analyze your results once you have finished the experiment.

Lookout for the unexpected! During the experiment It is very important to take Very detailed notes as you Conduct any experiments. In addition to the data, you Need to record your observations as you perform the experiment. You will write down any problems that happen, anything you do that is different than planned, ideas that come to mind, or interesting occurrences. Lookout for the unexpected!

Try to schedule in time to repeat the test a couple times Record everything in your lab notebook, including successes, failures and accidents. Take pictures if possible. These can help explain what was done along the way. Remember to use numerical measurements as much as possible. If the experiment also has qualitative data- data which are observations of what is happening , then photograph or draw what h is happening. Be as exact as possible, especially in following your procedure. Taking measurements and note keeping will help. Failures and mistakes are part of the learning process, so don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned the first time. Try to schedule in time to repeat the test a couple times

Data Analysis and Graphs Review the data. Try to look at the results with a critical eye. You will need to ask 3 questions Is it complete or did I forget something? Do I need to collect more data? Did I make any mistakes? Calculate an average for the different trials of your experiment if appropriate Make sure to clearly label all tables and graphs, including units of measurements Place independent variable on x-axis of graph. Data Analysis and Graphs

Really think about what you have discovered while using your data to help explain why you think certain things happened.

Your conclusions summarize how your results support OR contradict the original hypothesis. Include key facts from your background research to help explain the results as needed. State whether the results support or contradict the hypothesis (or design criteria). If appropriate, state relationship between independent and dependent variables. You may want to include key facts from your background research to help explain your results. Conclusions…

If your results show hat your hypothesis is false…. If the results of your science experiment did not support your hypothesis, don’t change or manipulate the results to fit the original hypothesis! Simply explain WHY things did not go as expected.

Professional scientists commonly find that results do not support their hypothesis, and they use those unexpected results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis. If you think you need additional experimentation, describe what you think should happen next. Scientific research is always an ongoing process. By discovering that your hypothesis is NOT true, you have learned that more questions and new experiments are needed. Fair judges DO NOT care about whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis. They care what your LEARNED! Further conclusions..

Making the display board You may only use the space on the board and in front of it. Font of at least 16pt for the text on the board for ease of reading. THE TITLE SHOULD BE BIG AND EASY TO READ FROM ACROSS THE ROOM!! A picture says a thousand words. Use pictures or drawings, but don’t put text covering the pictures. Your name and teacher’s name should be on the back not front. Include captions for each picture presented. Do include your lab notebook. Do not include lab equipment or the invention, it won’t be allowed to stay.

Final Research Report Title page Abstract {a concise summary of your report} Table of contents Question and hypothesis Background research you did before the experiment Materials list Procedure or methods used Data and graphs. Summary of what you found out focusing on your observations, including data and graphs which should also be in the report not just on the board. Conclusions Bibliography. Any resources that you have used.

Let’s Have Fun!