Teachers and Parents
It is science fair time!! Not sure where to begin?
Working on a science project and competing in science fairs gives you an unusual opportunity to take a close look at the natural world, and perhaps make a discovery. Plus, you will have an opportunity to meet and learn from other young scientists, as well as professional scientists from many fields. Some students work on a project for several years, refining it each time they present it at a fair. Your initial project may require only three or four months of study.
Scientists encounter many closed doors before finding those open to them. Failure is not a word often used in scientific circles. If you have put forth effort and found something that “doesn’t work,” your project can still be a great success if you report collected data showing why it didn’t work. Most judges will score you on the methods you use in your work, not the success rate you achieve.
What do you want to study in your science fair project?
Begin the brainstorm process. This Brainstorming tool was created to help kids, like you, come up with a unique idea for their Kids’ Science Challenge entry. (It's OK if you didn't enter the KSC... this tool works for brainstorming a variety of projects.) Give it a whirl!
Or did you submit an entry into the Kids' Science Challenge already? You can take that idea and use it as the basis for a science fair project. How? Take a few steps back and consider how you came up with your KSC entry. What do you think will happen if you try to make it a reality? If your KSC entry was full of multiple “big” ideas, perhaps choose to focus on one element. Begin to think about how you might actually carry out your KSC idea. How will you test it? What will you observe? And what can you conclude about your KSC idea?
KSC Year 1 flavor science winners at their science fair!
They used their idea of flavored tongue depressors to create a science fair project!
Here is a check list of 26 possible things to think about for developing and sharing a science fair project.
- __ Collect Science Fair information and register for Fair. When and where is the Fair? What are your deadlines?
- __ Develop personal interest list. What bits of science really capture you imagination?
- __ Locate books and articles with research topics relating to items on your interest
list. A minimum of one third of your project time should be allotted to research. - __ Select general topic. Do not attempt to force a set of topics onto yourself. Narrow
the list to one area of study that captures your mind and engages it. Find a joyous
topic! - __ Now that you have selected a topic that interests you ask your parents and teacher what they think of your idea. It is a wise move to check with teachers and parents. Listen to their reaction to your topic selection.
- __ Secure and meet with mentor for the first time. Your teacher may be able to direct you to a scientist or other person knowledgeable in the area of your topic. Scientists always seek collaborators to share information. Teamwork can play a big role in science.
- __ Draft a problem statement. This statement is the key to the entire project. It sets
the direction of your work. Keep it short and sweet…directly to the point. What is the problem you are addressing in your project? - __ Ask your mentor to review the problem statement. Is it clear and to the point? Or too broad? Listen to the feedback you receive and make appropriate adjustments.
- __ Complete background research. Who else has been working on such work? What
are they doing? What is left undone? Collect data and reports from many sources,
not just one or two. - __ Write bibliography. Keep track of all your data sources. Science Fair judges will be
checking your source lists. - __ At a second meeting with mentor, review the work you have done up until this point. Ask him/her if you have compiled sufficient research and written a proper bibliography.
- __ Create hypothesis. This is the statement upon which all of your experiments will
be based; the statement you attempt to prove true, or false. - __ Now that you have a hypothesis, ask your parents and teacher to review it. You need to check and make certain you have permission to proceed. Does your project meet all rules? Is it safe?
- __ Design experiment / test. Use your artistic skills to make a chart or map of your
experimental plan. Rearrange items on the chart until the process is clear and
makes sense. - __ Write a procedure list. Write a clear step-by-step procedure. Make certain even a
non-scientist could understand the entire project by reading this list. - __ Write a materials list. You need to think and plan clearly for every material you
need for the project….before you start! Again…think safety! - __ At your next meeting with your mentor review these lists. Before investing time and money obtaining supplies and materials for the project, check with your mentor for suggestions and approval.
- __ Procure materials. Gather together all of your supplies and store them securely.
- __ Experimental trials. Safely perform the tests designed by you and approved by
your mentor. - __ Lab log completed. Keep timely and accurate records of every experimental step. Yes, neatness counts! Your lab log should be available at the Fair.
- __ At the fourth meeting with your mentor, share your experimental results. Look for errors in your process. Remember, if you make solid observations and take good notes even an unexpected outcome can mean a successful project.
- __ Write data analysis and formal conclusion. This is the point at which you pull all of
the data together to form a conclusion. Did your hypothesis prove correct? Why?
Or why not? - __ Write abstract and finalize bibliography. Try to summarize the entire project in one
or two paragraphs. - __ Finalize display plan. Now is the time to design your Fair display board. Keep it
simple, clean, and neat. Keep clutter to a minimum. - __ Fabricate display. Make it solid and stable. You may be moving it around from
place to place at the Fair. - __ Final review by mentor, parents and teacher. Ask several people to review your
project and presentation before presenting it at the Fair.
Still need more good science fair project resources? Check out...
Science Buddies offers free online resources for K-12 students and teachers doing science projects. Here are just a few of the resources featured on the site:
- Over 1,000 project ideas in all areas of science and engineering
- A Topic Selection Wizard to help students find interesting projects
- An overview of the scientific method
- A step-by-step guide to doing a science project
- An Ask an Expert Forum where students can get answers to science questions
- STEM career profiles
The Kids’ Science Challenge wishes you good luck at your science fair!!