Los Angeles County Science Fair Project
Writing and Research Guide
Science Experiment
Packet #2
Compiled by Kimberly Paggett Willis
6-8 Grade Students should complete the following for the
Experiment/Analysis Steps for the Science Fair Project:
 Finalize Hypothesis
 Design Experiment
 Define Experimental Groups
o Define Controls
o Define Constants
o Define Variables
 Design Study
 Write Experiment Proposal
 Develop Method for Data Collection
 Daily Experiment Log (bound notebook ONLY)
Name__________________________________
Date__________________
Class Section______
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
Experimental Design: Pre-Lab
Complete this ExD planning form BEFORE beginning a lab
Title: The Effect of … (IV) on … (DV). (write last)
Independent Variable: Name the variable that you will purposefully change during the
experiment; include units. Indicate the levels of IV in the columns below. (# of minutes,
different temperatures, levels of fertilizer, types of soil…etc)
Dependent Variable: Name the variable will be measured, that responds to changes in the IV.
(Population growth; Dissolved oxygen level, plant height, habitat preference, etc…)
HYPOTHESIS: What you think will occur to the Dependent Variable (DV) as you change the
Independent Variable (IV) – the cause & effect relationship. Use an “if...then… format. Your
educated guess MUST be testable.
Control: What is the experimental group you will use for comparison?
Repeated Trials: How many numbers per group; how many times will the experiment be
performed?
Constants: List everything that will be kept the same in the experiment - (light, temperature,
wind level, noise level, amount of water, etc…)
SKETCH OF EXPERIMENTAL SETUP, with labels: (put on back)
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
Experimental Design: Example
Title: The Effect of Different Amounts of Fertilizer on the Plant growth
Independent Variable: Amount of Fertilizer
1 ml fertilizer/L
water
5 ml fertilizer/L
water
10 ml fertilizer/L
water
15 ml fertilizer/L
water
20 ml fertilizer/L
water
Dependent Variable: Plant height, from base to highest leaf where it attached to stem.
HYPOTHESIS: If 10 ml f fertilizer/L of water (recommended amount) is added to the bean
plants, then the bean plants should grow taller than any other bean plants.
Control: Plants with no fertilizer added
Repeated Trials: 5 bean plants for each concentration, 5 bean plants for the control
Constants: Brand of fertilizer, direction and level of light, wind level, species of plant, time
& amount of watering, type of soil and container
SKETCH OF EXPERIMENTAL SETUP, with labels:
Set-up at beginning of experiment (each concentration group = 5 plants)
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
Name(s) _______________________________________
____ Period: ___ Date_______
Step-by Step Design
1.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE(S):
In the left column, list the independent variable(s)
that you
will change in your project. In the right column, list the levels that you will be testing.
You must list at least 3 variable levels. See the example below.
Independent Variable(s)
Example:
2.
volume of water used on plants
Variable levels
0 mL/day, 5mL/day, 10 mL/day (3 levels)
CONTROLS: In the left column, list all the parts of the experiment that you will control,
or keep the same in every trial. In the right column, describe how it will be the same. List
at least five controls.
Controls
Example:
1. type of pot
2. type of water
3. temperature of water
4. diameter of pot
5. type of soil
Controls
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Terra cotta pot
Bottled Evian water
20 degrees Celsius
10 cm diameter
home depot potting soil
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
3.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE: In the left column, list the dependent variable that you will
measure
as the results of your experiment. In the right column, explain how you will measure it,
what tools you will use, and what unit you will use.
Dependent Variable
Example:
The height of the plant
Method, tools, and unit



On day one, measure height of plant in
cm, using a ruler. Measure from top of soil
to top of unsupported plant. (“Beginning
height”)
After 10 days of watering, measure plant
height again using same method, unit, and
tool. (“Ending height”)
Subtract Ending height – beginning height
to calculate plant growth. (cm)
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
4.
NUMBER OF TRIALS: In the left column, list the number of times you will test each
variable level (at least 3). In the right column, list the TOTAL number of trials for the entire
experiment.
(Total # of trials
=
# of variable levels
x
# of trials per variable level)
# of trials per variable level
Example: 5
5.
TOTAL # of trials
5 trials/level x
3 levels = 15 total trials
NOTES ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE:
What materials did you use?
What additional materials will you need to perform the actual experiment?
What worked really well or really easily?
What didn’t work so well or didn’t go very easily?
What changes did you (or will you) have to make to your procedure?
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD
In the space below, write any other comments about your experience and how you can make it
better when you perform the actual experiment.
6.
WHAT DOES THE EXPERIMENT LOOK LIKE? In the space below, draw a picture
you of measuring your dependent variable during the experiment. Include all necessary tools
and label each tool. If you prefer, take a photo during “playtime” and paste it below. Label all
materials.
Parent Signature
Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD