1. Preparing for a Science Fair
What is a Science Project?
Grade Levels
Steps to a Science Project
Report and Display Board
Wrapping Up

2. What is a Science Project?
A science fair project is an experiment, a demonstration, a research effort, a collection of scientific items, or display of scientific apparatus presented for viewing.
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3. Differences between Grade Levels
K- 5th Grade
Focus on learning
Introduction to science methods
Middle School(6th-8th)
More focus on critical thinking
Applying what student learned
High School(9th-12th)
Research orientated
Real life application
Use of labs and lab equipment
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4. How to develop your project?
Make observations
Develop a question based on observations
Do background research
Create a hypothesis
Design the experiment
Conduct the experiment
Analyze your information
Evaluate your hypothesis
Communicate and display your results/findings.
This is the Scientific Method
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5. KEITH

6. Project: Scientific Method
Approaching a
Project: Scientific Method
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Think, Try Again, that is an extra level not required of students and really not anywhere through high-school. However, it is something you want them to consider. If they need to really solve or resolve a problem, it might involve redoing an experiment, considering what went wrong in the experiment.

7. Tricks for a Successful Science Fair Project
Helping parents and children work to put a good science fair project together.
A few critical items that:
reflect the inquiry-based nature of science
help students begin to develop a solid foundation for their scientific endeavors
represents a first step in developing a project that will maximize the student learning experience
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Science categories, is this chemistry, biology, is this physics, environmental health and often times the project is a combination.
Source: Volcanic Smoke and Mirrors: Tricks for a Successful Science Fair Project by Breanna Harris and Brian Gray

8. Tricks for a Successful Science Fair Project
Helping parents and children work to put a good science fair project together.
A topic the really interests the student.
An appropriate question
A hypothesis based on background knowledge
An appropriate control
Replication!
Journal
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Science categories, is this chemistry, biology, is this physics, environmental health and often times the project is a combination.
Source: Volcanic Smoke and Mirrors: Tricks for a Successful Science Fair Project by Breanna Harris and Brian Gray

9. A. First step - Find an idea
Find a idea that interest you.
Determine a science category your science project will relate to
Get inspiration from books, internet, science articles, or previously done experiments.
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Science categories, is this chemistry, biology, is this physics, environmental health and often times the project is a combination.

10. B. State a purpose
For higher grade levels, a statement of purpose may be required
The purpose helps define
The reason why you choose your question
What you hope to achieve at the end of the project
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11. C. Gather background knowledge
To make an effective science project, you will need to know some background knowledge on your chosen topic
Gathering background knowledge helps you to find the best way to carry out your project and know a measure of expected outcomes.
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This is one of the hardest parts for students. Finding the right resources and at what age do we expect proper usage of bibliographic materials and proper use of the internet

12. D. Write an Hypothesis
A hypothesis an educated guess about how things work
You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure and be constructed in a way to help you answer your original question.
Ex. "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen."
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13. E. Design the Experiment
Decide what variables you are testing
Step-by-step procedures of the experiment
Gather all of the materials needed to carry out the project
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14. F. Conduct the Experiment
Allow proper time
Do many trials( at least 3-5 trials)
Record all data
Optional: take pictures
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15. G. Analyze your data Compile all of your recorded data
Construct charts and graphs
Calculate any numerical variables in experiment
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16. H. Evaluate your hypothesis
By evaluating your data, determine if your hypothesis was right (supported) or wrong (not supported)
In your conclusion state that your hypothesis was correct or incorrect
Also, if your hypothesis was incorrect, you can develop a new hypothesis and start a new experiment
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17. I. Communicate and display your results
After you gather your data, evaluate your hypothesis, and draw your conclusion its time to share your findings
Your findings can be displayed by
Written Science Report
Display Board
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18. Writing the Science Project Report
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The written report combines all of the information you gathered during your project

19. Written report Title page Abstract Introduction/Background Hypothesis
The written report contains:
Title page
Abstract
Introduction/Background
Hypothesis
Materials and Methods
Data/Results
Conclusion
Bibliography
5 sources
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20. Title Page
The title page gives an accurate description of your project or an attention grabber if used in science fairs.
Avoid unnecessary words
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21. Abstract A quick summary of the science project which includes
The purpose, key findings, methods, and significance
It gives readers an understanding of the project which determines if they want to read the entire report.
The abstract cannot be more than 200 words and only one page
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22. Introduction/Background
The Introduction gives brief background information about the research topic
The Introduction also gives the purpose of the experiment
Hypothesis
This page informs the reader of the hypothesis and the reasons behind it
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23. Materials and Methods
List the materials that was used in the experiment
List the procedure that carried out the experiment
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24. Data/Results Conclusion
The data and the information gather through the experiment
Graphs and charts should be added here
This section should also discuss if the hypothesis was proven or not
Conclusion
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This section summarize the entire project and talks about future implications for the project

25. Bibliography
This last section gives credit to resources used in the project
Proper use of the internet
.org or .gov sites are more recognized
published articles in peer-reviewed journals
How to paraphrase?
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26. Tips to paraphrase Try to understand it as a whole
Own words-tell a story
Look away from source then write
Take notes
Change the structure
Change the words
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27. Creating a Display Board
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28. Display board Title page Purpose Hypothesis Materials
Methods and Procedure
Observations/results
Conclusion
Bibliography
Graphs
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29. Set-up of Display board
Use summarize or shorten versions of the different sections of the science report
Organize your information like a news paper with information going from top to bottom then left to right
Abstract, question, hypothesis…..
Use appropriate font size for readers
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30. Example display board
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31. Day of your science fair
Be confident
Look judge in eye
Be reasonably excited
Be positive
Be to the point
Dress nicely
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32. Finding Science Topics
Your Teacher
Your Parents
Friends and Family
Something you have pondered
Other sources:
(founded by Cisco Foundation)
(science for kids
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For Projects and For In the Classroom

33. KEITH

34. Parent Resources and Science Activities
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External and Internal Links
Available as a free download at:

35. Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans
Keith Harris
Science Instructional Specialist
Arkansas Partnership for STEM Education
and
Director
Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair
(CARSEF)
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External and Internal Links