2013 Science Fair Project Packet
2013 Science Fair Project Packet
To Do:
Target Date:
Collected?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Choose Topic
Proposal
Preliminary Research
Identify Variables
Research Paper / Introduction
Procedure and materials list
Perform Experiment and Collect Data Take Pictures!
Make Graphs and Charts
8. Analysis, Conclusion, and Discussion
9. Notebook and Science Fair Report
10. Put Mini-Science Fair Board Together
At the end of this project youll be turning in three things: The display
board (a mini-board unless youre selected to go to District), a Science Fair
Report in a portfolio, and a Notebook. Youll find instructions for all of these
requirements in this handout.
How to Keep a Notebook
Keep a Notebook
Dont be too worried about neatness, it is your personal record and should not be
perfect. Likewise do not scribble out incorrect information or entries; one line
through the mistake is adequate.
You should use your notebook through your ENTIRE project and write down ideas,
thoughts, sources, sketches, calculations, brainstorming, notes, and anything else
that could be important. Remember that this is how you will show ALL THE WORK
you put into your project.
At the end of each entry you may want to REFLECT on what went right or wrong as
well as what you may want to do next time or do differently.
Make sure you write down any changes you make to your procedure. We all make
mistakes and it is good to note these as you learn from them.
Be sure to write down ALL observations that you make during your experiment and
throughout your project.
Write the DATE on every entry. Make sure entries are to the point and explain what
you did that day.
In addition to your notebook you will also turn in a Science Fair Report in a thin
portfolio. There you will display completed graphs, pictures of your projects, as well
as other data.
Note: If you are a Senior Fair Student and hope to continue to the International Science
& Engineering Fair your notebook will be a very important part of your project. Make
sure to keep accurate and informative entries throughout your project/experiment from
brainstorming to conclusions.
1. CHOOSE A TOPIC
Interests and Resources
Science Fair projects can be fun or
boringits all in the topic you choose!
Interests:
What do you really like about science? Favorite activity, subjects, topics? What about other
areas of science chemistry, physics, astronomy, engineeringspark any interests!? Be
specific and try to narrow it down.
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Consider Special Resources:
Special Resources are things or knowledge you already have or can get easily.
A hobby: Some hobbies involve special skills or equipment you may already have to
helpjust turn your hobby into a science fair project.
Specialty stuff: Do you have access to any cool or unusual materials or experts that
could help? Free plants, extra electrical wire?
A smart person: Do you know an expert or professional that might be able to lend a
handor an idea?
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Do an Ideas Search:
The Library:
The school or local library
is a science fair bonanza.
You can browse books on
science topics or pick up a
science fair book. You can
look at magazines such as
National Geographic,
Popular Science, Discover,
and many more.
The Internet:
Theres enough science info on the
internet to keep you reading 24/7. Use my
website for additional links.
Discovery Channel (dsc.discovery.com)
Exploratorium (www.exploratorium.com)
Fact Monster (www.factmonster.com)
How Stuff Works
(science.howstuffworks.com)
NASA (www.nasa.gov)
Your TV:
Check out shows like
Mythbusters, and tune
in to channels like
Discovery, the Science
Channel, Animal
Planet, and other
science-oriented
channels. Theyre sure
to fan your science fair
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flame.
Topic Selection
Type of project to choose:
Make sure its a project you can TEST. It needs to have a variable that
you change with intent, and produce results that you can collect data
from and draw conclusions about.
You can also choose and invention project, though it is more unusual. Youll identify a real
world problem and invent a gadget to solve that problem. Then youll test the invention to
see how well it works.
Avoid models (DNA, buildings, volcanoes, the solar system).
Avoid Displays (your rock collection, leaves from your neighborhood, seashells).
Avoid Surveys (dogs vs. cats, diet or regular, hygiene habits).
Now What?
Now its time to get more specific. You need to choose your very favorite idea the one that
really knocks your socks off. Youre going to boil it down to a single question. This question
will be your topic.
Interest:
Idea:
Topic:
Interest:
Idea:
Topic:
Interest: Plants
Interest:
Idea:
Topic:
A Mythbusters Moment:
The topic is the same for every
project:
IS (insert myth here) REALLY
TRUE?
Instant Science Fair Topic!
Validating question
Final Topic
Is there a specific answer?
Choice:
Do I know how to find it?
YES
NO
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Is it safe?
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Is it ethical?
Do I understand it?
Is it original?
For us, the topic is also going to be the PROBLEM/QUESTION. Lets do a final check of your
Topic from above and make sure it is specific and will work. . A good question is the key to a good
science fair project. Scientists ask questions and then conduct experiments to find out the answer.
Therefore, the question asked should only be answered by performing an experiment, not by looking in
a book.
Problem/Question:
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Next you do research and become educated about your topic.
3. Preliminary RESEARCH
What you know so far
Directions:
You must use complete sentences for full credit. Youll want to type this
information out and save it, so you can put it into your Science Fair Report later.
My Problem/Question: Rewrite your Problem below.
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Prior Knowledge: What do I already know?
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New Ideas to Explore: What else do I need to know about my problem? What possible new ideas could
I explore about the problem?
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Using ideas from the previous page, research your topic using the library,
internet, or other sources. While researching your topic make sure to keep a record of
your resources on the following form. Again, typing all of this information will have to
happen eventually, or you can do it now.
Required Resources: 3 sources minimum; 5 recommended
At least 1 print source (book, encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine)
At least 1 electronic source (website: must be pre-approved or a .gov or .edu)
Students choice for final source (print, electronic (.com ok) or interview)
Possible source types: Book/Encyclopedia, Newspaper/Magazine, Website,
Professional Expert
Research Findings:
1. Source Type: ____________________________________ Title:
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Date Published: ___________________________________ Pages numbers used:
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Website (if used):
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Information Learned:
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2. Source Type: ____________________________________ Title:
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Date Published: ___________________________________ Pages numbers used:
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3. Source Type: ____________________________________ Title:
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Date Published: ___________________________________ Pages numbers used:
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Website (if used):
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Information Learned:
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**If you have additional references or need more space write them in your Science Fair
Notebook.**
Now that you have researched your PROBLEM/QUESTION, you may want to revise it to reflect
how much you know. You may revise it a little, a lot, or not at all. If your problem/questions
changes much, youll want to get teacher approval again.
Problem/Question:
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4.
Identify VARIABLES
hypothesis
Hypothesis:
The Hypothesis is another name for a prediction or an educated guess. When you are writing the
hypothesis you are trying to predict the answer to your problem. You should always give a reason for
your hypothesis, either from your own experiences or from research you have done. For full credit
you should also provide the scientific background for how you arrived at your hypothesis and refer to
your research. When it makes sense, turn it into an If, then, because, research shows
statement. For example:
Problem: Does soaking the bean seed before planting it affect how fast it will grow?
Possible Hypothesis: I think that bean plants that have their seeds soaked before planting will
germinate faster because it will make the hard seed covering soft. If, then, because,
research shows statement: If I soak beans before planting them then they will germinate faster
because it will make the hard seed covering soft. Also my research shows that seeds require water
for them to sprout.
Possible Hypothesis: I do not think that soaking the beans will make the bean plant germinate faster
because soaking the seed will just make the seed mushy. If, then, because, research shows
statement: If I soak beans before planting them then the will not germinate faster because it will
make the seed mushy. My research shows that plants exposed to water too long can rot and die.
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Variables
Take time to identify your variables before you start your experiment. It will help you to write your
procedures. A variable is something that can change or be changed. There are three kinds of variables:
independent, dependent and controlled variables.
The Control (the control group) is not a variable. It is one of your trials that gets a normal amount
or none of the independent variable. It is what you use as your standard of comparison so see if your
independent variable has any effect. Not all experiments need a control, but you should have one if it
makes sense.
The Experimental group is not a variable. It is one or more of your trials that get varying amounts of
your independent variable.
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What makes
good variables?
For good variables,
you should answer
yes to every
question to the right.
Identify
your
Variables
YES
NO
Independent Variable
(What I will change
on purpose):
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Dependent Variable
(What I think will
change during the
experiment):
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Controlled Variables (What I will keep the same):
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Control Group (The experimental group that gets normal amount or none of the
independent variable):
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Start your introduction with general ideas about your topic and move to more specific
details.
Your entire report should be written in third person point of view.
In the last paragraph of your introduction,
1) Clearly state the problem/ question you decided to investigate.
2) Briefly describe your experiments procedure.
3) Conclude by stating your hypothesis. Write this paragraph in past tense.
Check out
the example
of an
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Materials
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procedure:
Procedures are a detailed step by step set of directions of
how to conduct the experiment. Details are very important
here. Be sure to tell exact amounts (use the metric
system) of things such as materials, time it will take, etc.
It is important that anyone be able to follow your steps
and repeat your experiment exactly as you did it. You
must have at least 3 repeated trials (5 repeated trials the
standard) and clearly identify what you are keeping the
same and what you are changing to ensure a welldesigned investigation.
Take pictures of your procedural set up, or make a drawing if necessary to help others
understand what you did. Label all parts and provide a title.
Good procedures are easy to follow, and numbered to be sure they are done in the
correct order.
Example:
1. Put two identical bowls on the counter.
2. Take two ice cubes of the same size out of the freezer and place one in each bowl.
3. Break one of the cubes into smaller pieces that are no larger than the size of the
whole ice cube.
4. Time how long it takes for all the ice to melt.
A good way to check the procedure is to ask someone else to read it, and then have
them explain how the experiment is to be done. If they explain it wrong or have
difficulty, your procedures may need to be revised.
Procedure
space!
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order to be
recipe
to do
Data Collection
Write down or record the results of the experiment every time you test it. Be sure to
organize it in a way that is easy to read the results. Most scientist use tables, graphs and
other organizers to show their results. Organizing makes the results easy to read, and
much easier to recognize patterns that might be occurring in your results. You should
also make journal entries in your Notebook while conducting the experiment. Notes may
be brief but should be very descriptive. Always include the date for each entry.
by putting it on a scale (ex. Dark green = 10, Medium green = 5, Light green = 1) and
then your can display it in a graph.
Be accurate and neat! When you are writing your tables and charts please make
sure that you record your data in the correct column or row, that you write neatly, and
most of all that you record your data as soon as you collect it SO YOU DONT
FORGET WHAT HAPPENED! Sometimes an experiment might be hard to explain
with just a table, so if you have to draw and label a diagram (or picture) to explain
what happened, it is recommended that you do. Pictures can also help make things
more clear.
Bar graphs are good to use if you are comparing amounts of things
because the bars show those amounts in an easy to read way. This way the
judges will be able to tell your results at a glance. Usually the bars go up and
down. The x axis (or horizontal axis) is where you label the group names and
the y axis (or vertical axis) is labeled to show the amount that was measured
and units (in this case it would be centimeters that the plant grew).
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about is
would
I were
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