How do I do a science fair project?
Have you heard the phrase “It’s not brain surgery”? Well, the process of doing a science fair project is not brain surgery. Rather, it’s a straightforward path from asking a question to figuring out how to find an answer to communicating what you have learned. Key point: If YOU own this process by doing it yourself, the knowledge you gain is also yours!
Doing the Research or Engineering Design
Selecting a Topic
Try to keep it simple — what question would you like to answer? Find a topic by looking to favorite hobbies, sports, books, toys or family life for inspiration. Or visit Science Buddies. (Note to teachers and parents: Resist assigning a topic. Students put more time and energy into projects inspired by their own interests.)
Purpose & Hypothesis / Engineering Goal
The purpose is a description of what you plan to do. The hypothesis for an experiment tells what you think will happen. For an engineering design or process, you talk about what your machine or process will accomplish.
Research / Design
Find out about your topic by asking professionals in the field, consulting the librarian to find reference books, materials and magazines, and accessing the Internet. (Note to parents and teachers: You may help your student locate resources; you do NOT prepare reference lists or fact sheets!)
Experiment / Design Iterations
You must plan exactly what you will do. For your safety, complete all of the Ying TRSEF paperwork required for your grade including signatures BEFORE you begin your experiment or start your engineering design. Record EVERYTHING that does or does not happen as you progress. Remember, the scientific method requires that you vary only one part of the experiment at a time and should do the experiment more than once to verify the results. If you are doing an engineering project, you document EVERY change you make to your equipment or process, your thinking as to why you are trying this, and what happens on “the next run.”
Communicating the Results
Written Report
This can be one or many pages and it can contain charts, illustrations and photographs. There are three main elements:
- The topic’s name, why it was chosen and what you hoped to find out.
- How you did the experiment or design, and the information that was collected.
- The conclusion you reached.
It should also contain a bibliography of the research information. Every source you use must be cited; citations for images and data downloaded from the Internet must include date of access as well as the URL!
Exhibit and Presentation
The exhibit is how your research is communicated visually. A free standing display board can be purchased inexpensively at most office supply stores, or made from large cardboard boxes. Use drawings, photographs, charts or anything else that describes your project visually. (You MUST cite the source for each item, including the photographer’s name for any photos.) The graphic below illustrates what the display should show.
Your project exhibit also requires an abstract and a written report documenting your research and bibliography. The maximum space allowed for each exhibit is 48 inches wide by 30 inches deep by 72 inches high (above table top). Include in your display photos of any part of the exhibit that does not fit in this space. Be sure to bring all the supplies you need, including tape, scissors, markers, extension cords and A/V equipment. Label everything with your own name and your school’s name. Set out your written report and at least 5-6 copies of your abstract.
Finally, prepare an oral presentation (3-4 minutes) that briefly talks about how and why you chose your topic, the work you did, and the conclusions you reached based upon your results. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
We also suggest you check out these well organized overviews that can get you started:
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
From the why to the how, ISEF even includes a student checklist! If you like to start with people’s faces, watch this video created by the Society For Science and the Public (ISEF’s managing body).
Science Buddies: Science Fair Project Guide
To sections on “Getting Started” to “Abstract” and “Display Board,” the team at Science Buddies adds a block of pages on Tools, Techniques, and Reference Information and Science Fair Project Additional Resources.
The Ying TRSEF partners with a number of online science and engineering advocates. For example, Science Buddies opens a treasure chest of ideas and resources for middle and high school students starting out in the science fair process. So… let’s go!
Project Ideas
The director has three suggestions if you are scratching your head about what to choose as your science fair project. First, decide if you like to work on your own or with a partner; the Ying TRSEF does allow teams of two students. That will affect how you choose your project topic.
Then give your imagination free rein. Walk outside and see if you come across something fascinating that sparks a question in your mind. Or just take some time to sit quietly and see where your curiosity carries your daydreams. You may find your idea there. Next stop is the public library. Start with a topic that interests you and read along from topic to narrower topic to narrower topic until you find there’s a question you’ve not found an answer to yet. Voila your project!
If time is short, though, and you really want to jump start this process, do visit these Science Buddies pages and get started now!
Science Buddies: Topic Selection Wizard
You work your way through this wizard, following your own interests until you identify a personalized cluster of projects from their library of over 800 ideas.
Science Buddies: Project Ideas Directory
Prefer to wander in the library? Then click here to browse through those 800+ ideas organized by the area of science, technology or mathematics.
If you have questions, feel free to contact the Fair Director.