How to Do a Science Project
Step-by-Step Suggestions and Help
for Elementary Students (and Parents)
Get an Idea for Your Project
Find an area that interests you. You might want to look at a list of science fair categories to help decide. Think about ideas with your family, teacher, or friends. Use TV commercials, magazines, newspapers, or books to get more ideas. Think about problems around the house that you would like to solve. You can test household items.
Start a Daily Log
Use a notebook or a booklet. Like a diary, write down all the things you have done on your project each day. Don't be afraid to go into detail. A good scientist keeps careful, detailed records of findings and test results.
Do a Search for Background Information
Every scientist spends time getting background information. Use the library; write or call experts; write to companies and organizations; use the Internet on your computer. Start keeping a bibliography with complete information on every source you used or tried to get.
State the Problem in a Question Form
This part (often used as a title) asks what you are trying to find or show in your investigation.
State Your Hypothesis
The hypothesis is an educated guess or a prediction of what you think will happen during your experimentation. Use background information to help you prepare this prediction. The results do not have to support the hypothesis in order for the experiment to be a success.
Design the Experiment on Paper
Determine your procedure. The procedure should explain the steps to be followed in order to find the answer to your question or problem. Think about necessary safety precautions that will be taken. Make a complete list of all the materials you will need. Identify the conditions that will be controlled (kept the same) during the experimentation. Identify the one factor you will change (on purpose) to get a result. It is important to have a result that can be measured or described. Scientists use the metric system to measure data.
Conduct the Experiment
Follow your procedure. Collect and record all data by accurately observing, measuring, describing, counting, or photographing. Use metric! Work safely. If necessary, make changes in your procedure.
Repeat the Procedure
The results will be more convincing if you repeat the experiment as many times as possible.
Analyze the Data (Results)
Decide what the results mean. Try to find explanations for your observations. If possible, examine your results mathematically (percentages, mean, median, range, mode). Construct graphs or tables to show the results more clearly.
Make a Conclusion
This is a statement telling what you found or learned during your investigation. It is based on results and the hypothesis. Explain how the results support or do not support your hypothesis.
Communicate Your Results
Scientists share their findings with other scientists. Write a short (one page) report or summary that explains what you did and what you found. Practice an oral presentation.
Construct a Display that Explains Your Project
Here are some suggested parts you may want to include in your display. These will help you to organize your presentation and help others to better understand your project:
PURPOSE (statement of problem in question form)
HYPOTHESIS (your prediction of what will happen))
MATERIALS (a list of materials and equipment you used)
BACKGROUND RESEARCH (a mini-report about your topic with sources listed)
PROCEDURE (step-by-step explanation of what you did)
RESULTS (data/information collected shown in tables, charts, diagrams, graphs, or photographs)
CONCLUSION (a statement related to your hypothesis)
Be Ready to Answer Questions
Below is a sample of questions that judges often ask students during judging interviews. It is a good idea to practice answering the following questions before meeting the judges:
/ Where or how did you get the idea for your project?
/ What kind of help did you receive while working on your project?
/ What are the most important things you have learned by doing your project?
/ If you had more time, what things would you do to change or improve it?
/ How much time did you spend working on your project?
/ How can you apply what you have learned to "real life" situations?
Enter your project in the school science fair. Be sure to follow the rules. Bring your display, daily log, and bibliography to the fair. Have fun!
Presentation Board Guidelines
ü For your science fair project, you need to prepare a presentation board to communicate your work to others. You will use a standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide.
Purpose(Testable Question)
Hypothesis
(Predict the answer.)
Background Research
(Mini-report with sources of information listed.) / Project Title
Materials
(List of all items needed to
conduct experiment.)
Procedure
(Step by step directions for
conducting the experiment.) / Results
(Charts, Graphs,
Tables, Photos, etc.)
Conclusion
My hypothesis was
(correct/incorrect)…
ü Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background research, and so on.
ü Use a font size of at least 16 points for the text on your display board, so that it is easy to read from a few feet away. It's OK to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on picture and tables.
ü The title should be big and easily read from across the room. Choose one that accurately describes your work, but also grabs peoples' attention.
ü A picture speaks a thousand words! Use photos or draw diagrams to present non-numerical data, to propose models that explain your results, or just to show your experimental setup. But, don't put text on top of photographs or images. It can be very difficult to read.
ü
This sample shows how difficult it can be to read text
when you print it on top of an image. Don't do it!
ü Be sure to include your name and homeroom teacher’s name on the back of the display board.
Science Fair: Helpful Links
How to Select a Science Fair Project Topic:
o http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/a/sciencetopic.htm
o http://www.livescience.com/38122-science-fair-project-topics.html
o http://azscitechfest.org/blogs/science-fair-how-pick-awesome-project-topic
o http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/homework-project-tips/get-started-science-project
What is a “Testable Question”?
o http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Getting-Started/Investigation.html
o Take a survey: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/recommender_register.php
o Browse Topics:
o http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml#browsealprojects
o http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html
o http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php
Additional Links:
o http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/choosingatopic.html
o http://www.eduplace.com/parents/resources/homework/science/fair_topic.html
Science Fair Help:
o http://www.education.com/topic/help-child-with-science-fair-projects/
o http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/11/21/3-strategies-for-an-original-science-fair-project/
o http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/science_fair_topic.html
o http://www.cyberbee.com/science/prep_sites.html