Tips for a Winning Science Fair Project

Choosing a Topic Investigate The best projects are the ones that interest you! If you assume you know the answer…you don’t really have a question. Be sure a variable is tested.

Choosing the Experiment Consider the following… Materials Variables (must be a controlled experiment) Timeframe Repeat a minimum of FIVE times. Make sure results are measurable.

Resources http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html Search the internet for science experiments related to hobbies/interests.

PURPOSE Purpose: The reason why the student is conducting this research and doing this experiment. What lead the student to this experiment? Noticed a problem to be solved. Great interest in topic.

PROBLEM (Question) Problem: The question telling what the student is trying to find out. EXAMPLE: How does increasing the incline of a ramp affect the distance a marble travels?

RESEARCH Focus on topic/subtopics Have similar tests been done before? Resources Encyclopedias Newspaper/Magazine articles Books Internet ***Remember to cite all sources used Take notes!!

Writing the Research Paper Take notes during research. Organize your notes by similar information (subtopics) to form paragraphs. Make sure you use your own words!

HYPOTHESIS Hypothesis: An educated guess about the outcome of the experiment (before doing the experiment). MUST be written AFTER research and BEFORE the experiment. Use information from your research to support your hypothesis.

Example Hypothesis If the incline of a ramp is greater, then the marble will roll further. I base this on…

SUBJECT(S) Explain what organism, item or parameter the student is testing. Any matter, living or nonliving is the subject. Example: Marble

VARIABLE Variable: The item that the student changes purposely. This is the specific thing being manipulated/tested. Only test 1 variable. Example: Incline of ramp

CONTROLS Control(s): The parameters you keep the same so that the experiment is valid. The items that do not change during the experiment that test the hypothesis. Example: Ramp size Ramp material Marble Release point of marble

MATERIALS Materials: A bulleted list of any supplies needed for the experiment. Be sure to include the quantity of any items listed. Example: 1 Hot Wheels ramp 1 marble 3 Encyclopedias Measuring tape Tape

PROCEDURES Procedures: Step by step instructions of how to perform the experiment. detailed so that someone would be able to repeat the experiment. Use numbers to list steps beginning with a verb (like in a recipe). Do not use pronouns in listing the steps. It is highly recommended to use the metric system. Each experimental trial must be done at least three times to increase the validity of the results.

Example Procedures: Place the one end of the ramp at the edge of an Encyclopedia. Tape in the ramp in place. Hold the marble at the top of the ramp and release. Observe the marble roll down the ramp and record the distance it travels in cm. Repeat steps 1-4 2 more times. Calculate the average. Repeat steps 1-5 with 2 stacked Encyclopedias. Repeat steps 1-5 with 3 stacked Encyclopedias.

DATA NOTEBOOK Record your observations of each trial seeing, hearing, smelling Include the date and time on each page. Use a separate page for each trial. Include pictures (illustrations or photographs)

Recording Data Use the metric system. Find the most appropriate format Data table (best to start with) Line graph Bar graph Make 2 charts/graphs for the board.

Example Data Table: # of Encyclopedias Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

Conclusion What was the outcome? Was the hypothesis supported or rejected? Write a complete sentence, restating the question. Explain your answer.

Application How does it apply to our lives?

Recommendations What would you change? Ideas for future experimentation.

The Board Follow order in packet…exactly Neatness Counts! Watch Spelling Make it eye catching…but don’t over decorate.

The Written Report Follow guidelines in packet. Different page for each item. Include every item in the right order.

Presentation Practice Be enthusiastic! Know your project…every step! Body language Stand straight Smile Eye Contact Be confident

Questions???? miranda.carpenter@imagineschools.com