Working on your Science
Project?
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Partnership Between UAMS, UALR and UAPB stem Centers
Sponsored and Funded through the Environmental
Protection Agency
Visit: http://publichealth.uams.edu/pmcr/
Contact Alesia Ferguson, PhD at 501 952 2817 for questions
Content
 What
is a Science Project: Grade Levels
 Steps to a Science Project
 Report and Display Board
What is a Science Project?
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A science fair project is an experiment, a
demonstration, a research effort, a collection
of scientific items, or display of scientific
apparatus presented for viewing.
Differences between grade levels
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5th Grade and earlier
 Focus on learning
 Introduction to science methods
Middle School(6th-8th)
 More focus on critical thinking
 Applying what they learned
High School(9th-12th)
 Research orientated
 Real life application
 Use of labs and lab equipment
How to develop your project?
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Develop a question
Do background research
Create a hypothesis
Design the experiment
Conduct the experiment
Analyze your information
Evaluate your hypothesis
Communicate and display your results/findings
http://www.tfsd.k12.id.us/pe/sciencefairguide12.pdf
Approaching a
Project:
Scientific
Method
A. First step find an idea
 Find
a idea that interests you
 Determine a science category for your
science project
 Get inspiration from books, internet,
science articles, or previously done
experiments
B. State a purpose
 For
higher grade levels, a statement of
purpose may be required
 The purpose helps define:
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The reason why you choose your question
What you hope to achieve at the end of
the project
C. Gather background knowledge
 To
make an effective science project you
will need to know some background
knowledge on your chosen topic
 Gathering background knowledge helps
you to find the best way to carry out your
project and know a measure of expected
outcomes
D. Write an Hypothesis
A
hypothesis an educated guess about
how things work
 You must state your hypothesis in a way
that you can easily measure and be
constructed in a way to help you answer
your original question
 Ex. "If _____[I do this] _____, then
_____[this]_____ will happen."
E. Design the Experiment
 Decide
what variables you are testing
 Step-by-step procedures of the
experiment
 Gather all of the materials needed to
carry out the project
F. Conduct the Experiment
 Allow
proper time
 Do many trials( at least 3 trials)
 Record all data
 Optional: take pictures
G. Analyze your data
 Compile
all of your recorded data
 Make charts and graphs
 Calculate any numerical variables in
experiment
H. Evaluate your hypothesis
 By
evaluating your data determine if your
hypothesis was right or wrong
 In your conclusion state that your
hypothesis was correct or incorrect
 Also If your hypothesis was incorrect you
can develop a new hypothesis and start a
new experiment
I. Communicate and display your
results
 After
you gather your data, evaluate your
hypothesis, and draw your conclusion its
time to share your findings
 Your findings can be displayed by a:
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Written Science Report
Display Board
Writing the Science Project Report
Written report
The written report contains:
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Title page
Abstract
Introduction/Background
Hypothesis
Materials and Methods
Data/Results
Conclusion
Bibliography
Title Page
 The
title page gives an accurate
description of your project or an attention
grabber if used in science fairs
 Avoid unnecessary words
Abstract
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A quick summary of the science project which
includes
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The purpose, key findings, methods, and significance
It gives readers an understanding of the project
which determines if they want to read the entire
report
The abstract cannot be more than 200 words and
only one page
Introduction/Background
 The
Introduction gives brief background
information about the research topic
 The Introduction also gives the purpose of
the experiment
Hypothesis
 This
page informs the reader of the
hypothesis and the reasons behind it
Materials and Methods
 List
the materials that was use in the
experiment
 List the procedure that carried out the
experiment
Data/Results
 The
data and the information gather
through the experiment
 Graphs and charts should be added here
 This section should also discuss if the
hypothesis was proven or not
Conclusion
 This
section summarize the entire project
and talks about future implications for the
project
Bibliography
 This
last section gives credit to resources
used in the project
 Proper use of the internet
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.org or .gov sites are more recognized
published articles in peer-reviewed journals
 How
to paraphrase
Tips to paraphrase
 Try
to understand it as a whole
 Own words-tell a story
 Look away from source then write
 Take notes
 Change the structure
 Change the words
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Creating a Display Board
Display board
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Title page
Purpose
Hypothesis
Materials
Methods and Procedure
Observations/results
Conclusion
Bibliography
Graphs
Set-up of Display board
 Use
summarize or shorten versions of the
different sections of the science report
 Organize your information like a news
paper with information going from top to
bottom then left to right
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Abstract, question, hypothesis…..
 Use
appropriate font size for readers
Example display board
Day of your science fair
 Be
confident
 Look judge in eye
 Be reasonably excited
 Be positive
 Be to the point
 Dress nicely
Finding Science Topics
 Your
Teacher
 Your Parents
 Friends and Family
 Something you have pondered
 Other sources:
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http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/recommender_register.php (founded by
Cisco Foundation)
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/topics.html
(science for kids
http://www.epa.gov/students/teachers.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/topics.html
Teacher Resources and Lesson
Plans: Environmental Topics
• Air
• Climate Change
• Ecosystems
• Energy
• Health
• Reduce, Reuse,Recycle
• Water
IPM and Chemical Use Reduction
These topics are not fully developed but will help start the process of considering ideas for your science fairs. Please be safe when
carrying out any science projects. Get help from adults (i.e., parent or teacher or both). Some projects need the right safe
environment and cannot be done at home. Some are not suitable for young children, Be careful with candles and fire.
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Efficacy of green products in the home (cleaning tests)
Testing Items (i.e., chemicals of foods) that most attract or deter pests
Good cleaning methods (does a swifter system work better than a mop?)
Which dusting cloth is the best to use (does not leave a residue)
Gardening tips to deter pests (e.g., groundcover or type of plant)
Testing the efficacy of pest control product (rat traps)
Do your shoes track dust and soil particle into the home
Ventilation and Filter Use in the Home (which filter works the best?)
Label designs and their ability to attract or deter consumers
Sneeze tests (help to determine things that irritate respiratory conditions-test on a pet)
Which candles release the most PM particles (particle monitor needed-or sunlight test)
Better labeling designs for safe products or ways to better inform consumers
How well does your bathroom exhaust work at removing humidity (times test in the bathroom for
removing moisture)
Testing how harsh cosmetics/cleaning products are:
 How well they destroy a surface or kill a plant(e.g., limestone)
 How well the stain a surface (e.g., cloth)
References used
What is a Science Project?
 http://www.eduplace.com/science/profdev/science_f
air/whatis.html
About.com - How to Do A Science Fair Project
 http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/a/d
oscience.htm
How to Develop a Science Project
 http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_How
_Develop_Project/
Science Fair Project Guide
 http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_guide_index.shtml
 http://www.tfsd.k12.id.us/pe/sciencefairguide12.pdf
General Resources and Help for Science Fair for teachers
o http://www.exploratorium.edu/lc/pathfinders/scifairs/
General Resources and Help for Science Fair for students
 http://www.exploratorium.edu/lc/pathfinders/scifairs/scifai
r-student.html
Easy Science Experiments and Science Fair Projects
 http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments