TYPES OF SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
· COLLECTION (Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade ONLY) – You will collect, identify and categorize something of interest, answering questions related to observations made while exploring your world.
Examples: What kinds of insects can be found in my backyard? What types of tree leaves can be found on my street? What kind of shells did I collect on my vacation? (ex: feathers, rocks, minerals, seeds, fossils etc.)
· RESEARCH PROJECT (Kindergarten through 3rd grade) - Someone has already found the answer to your question/problem, and you will look for their answer/solution by reading books, talking to experts, and gathering information from other sources such as schools and public libraries. Your display board will have drawings, photographs, charts, graphs, dioramas, etc.
Examples: How does a light bulb operate? How do clouds form? What makes a rainbow? What makes a vacuum? How does a magnet work? Why do leaves change color? What is the life cycle of an ant? How does the weather change? How does a radio work?
· EXPERIMENT (Kindergarten through 5th grade) – You will conduct an experiment to find the answer to your question/problem. The Scientific Method will take you through the correct process of asking a question, doing some preliminary research, making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out), planning and conducting your experiment, and analyzing your results. Your project must have a variable. What is a variable? Basically, a variable is any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measuredin an experiment. For example: Which brand of diaper holds the most water? Your variable would be testing 5 different brands of diapers.
Examples: What liquid is best to clean a tarnished penny? Does soil affect the growth of plants? With which brand of batteries do toys run longest? Do all colors fade at the same rate? What kind of glue holds two boards together better? Which metal conducts heat best? Which materials absorb the most water? Does the length of a vibrating object affect sound?
· INVENTION (3rd through 5th grade ONLY) - Everyone is an engineer! You will use science, math, and creativity to dream up and design an object or a process to solve a real life problem. Using The Engineering Design Process will take you through all the necessary steps: asking a question, brainstorming, planning, creating, testing, and making it even better. Think of a question about an everyday problem you would like to solve. Inventions can be almost anything created to solve a problem or meet a need. Examples: processes to clean water, move heavy objects, creating energy etc.
*After you decide which type of project you would like to do, pick up a Science Fair Project Entry Form in the office or print one from the MRE website. Please fill out the entry form and turn it in. The science fair committee will review/approve it and then send home a packet with all of the information you need to get started.
* Projects will be judged using a rubric and some awards will be presented. More information will come home in the next science fair packet.