Woodbury Leadership
Academy’s
Science Fair handbook
2016
Second-Seventh grade
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The Scientific Method
1. Choose a Specific Topic
The topic should be of real interest to you. See the list of topics included in this handbook or visit some
of the listed websites to get you started
2. Ask a Question
Find a question that you don’t already know the answer to. Make sure your question cannot be answered
with a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Choose a creative, catchy title for your project.
3. Do Research
You will need to use three different types of references while doing research for your project. All
references should be listed in your bibliography. These might include a magazine, a book, encyclopedia,
internet, brochure, letter, interview, T.V. show, and/or newspaper article.
4. Form a hypothesis
Make a prediction or a scientific “guess” about what you think the results of your project will be.
Whether or not your guess ends up being correct does NOT matter. This is a learning process and you
can be sure that many of our most important scientific discoveries were made when the scientist ends up
being wrong.
Your hypothesis should begin with the words, “I believe. . .” State very specifically what you think will
happen in your experiment and then explain WHY. Your hypothesis should be based on what you have
learned through your research.
5. Test the hypothesis
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Materials – keep a list of all the supplies and materials used in your experiment. This list can be used later
on your project display.
Procedure – make a clear and specific step-by-step list of the steps you will take to do your experiment
(number your steps and put them in the correct order). You will also use this on your project display.
Perform Experiment – keep notes and comments in your “Science Fair Project Log”. Collect as much data
from your experiment as you can. Try not to draw conclusions until the very end of your experiment.
6. Explain the results
Somewhere on your project display, you will need to record the results of your experiment. The most
effective method of presenting the data in a clear, accurate and visually appealing way is to use
charts, tables, graphs, and/or photographs. Line and bar graphs are popular in science fairs. Be sure
to title each chart, table, graph or photograph. In addition, you should also write a paragraph describing
your results- if you are just learning to write, an adult at home can write it/type it for you but be sure it is
in your words.
7. Conclusion
When you draw your conclusions, you should be thinking about the following questions:
What happened?
Did you find out the answer to your question?
Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis? How do you know?
You will also explain WHY you got the results you did. This is especially important if you did a
comparison project. You must try to answer WHY one product outperformed another. In preparation for
judging, you should be able to explain each step in your process to someone. Practice explaining to a
parent, friend, or other family member.
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How to Choose a Topic
1. Think of something that interests you.
2. Look at the idea list of topics and questions that is included in this handbook. If you
can’t find something that interests you, check out the websites that are listed. If you still
can’t find something that interests you, talk to any of your teachers.
3. Think about your experiences. Try to remember a time when you noticed something
and thought, “I wonder how that works?” or “I wonder what would happen if. . .” then
turn that into a project.
4. Check out the science section at your local library.
5. Think about current events. Look at the newspaper. For example- oil spills, how can
we clean them up? – a project on how to clean oil out of water
6. Watch commercials on T.V. Test their claims. Can kids tell the difference between
Coke and Pepsi if they don’t know what they were drinking?
7. Take ideas you find and add your own personal touch to them.
Science Fair Project Ideas
(Topics and Questions)
Animal Studies
Do ants like cheese or sugar better?
What foods do mealworms prefer?
Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what a fish does?
What color of birdseed do birds like best?
Do mint leaves repel ants?
Which travels faster- a snail or a worm?
On which surface can a snail move faster- dirt or cement?
How far does a snail travel in one minute?
How much can a caterpillar eat in one day?
Does an earthworm react to light and darkness?
Does surrounding color affect an insect’s eating habits?
How do mealworms react to different surfaces?
Do mealworms prefer light or dark environments?
Why does a fish have fins?
How do birds wings work?
Comparative Studies
What kind of juice cleans pennies best?
Do watches keep the same time?
How does omitting an ingredient affect the taste of a cookie?
Do suctions cups stick equally well to different surfaces?
Which cheese grows mold the fastest?
Which engine oil reduces friction the most?
Which self-adhesive floor tile resists wear the most?
Does the size of a magnet affect its strength?
The effects of water on different types of wood
Do large apples have the same number of seeds as a small one?
Which metal conducts heat the best?
What color pool bottom keeps the water warmest?
Which material makes the best insulator?
Which uses more water a shower or a bath?
Strength of different woods
Comparison of Vitamin A content in frozen, canned,
or fresh peas
The velocity of water through different tubes made with
different materials
How long are yellow lights at various stop lights?
Consumer Testing
Which bread molds the most quickly?
What food does a hamster prefer?
Which home smoke detector is most sensitive?
Which self-adhesive floor tile resists wear the most?
What brand of raisin cereal has the most raisins?
Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?
Which paper towel is the strongest?
Which type of battery do toys run the longest?
Testing the sugar in different soda pop
Which laundry detergent works the best?
Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?
Which brand of diaper holds the most water?
Which cleaner removes ink stains best?
Which brand of soap makes the most suds?
Which fishing line will hold the most weight?
Which fast food restaurant gives out the most fries?
Which nails have the best holding power?
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Human Studies
In my class- who is taller? Boys or girls?
Does anyone in my class have the same fingerprints?
Does anyone in my family have the same fingerprints?
How far can a person lean without falling?
In my class- who has the smallest hands? Boys or girls?
Can you tell time without a watch or clock?
Do boy s or girls have a higher resting heart rate?
Who can balance better on the balls of their feet? Children or Adults?
Does exercise affect heart rate?
Does the human tongue have definite areas for certain
tastes?
Does heart rate increase with increasing sound volume?
Can you see better if you limit the light that gets to your
eye?
How accurately do people judge temperature?
How does coffee affect blood pressure?
Optical illusions
How the ear works
Plant Studies
Do roots of a plant always grow downward?
Can plants grow without soil?
Will bananas brown faster on the counter or in the refrig?
Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
Can plants grow from the leaves?
Do different types of soil hold different amounts of water?
Will adding bleach to the water of a plant reduce fungus growth?
Does sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?
How much of an orange is water?
Can music affect a plant’s growth?
Does the color of light affect plant growth?
How much weight can a growing plant lift?
Does it matter which direction seeds are planted?
Does a green plant add oxygen to its environment?
Does a plant need some darkness to grow?
How does light direction affect plant growth?
Does the kind of water a plant is watered in affect
it’s growth?
Do mirrors affect the way a plant grows?
Tree rings
Physical Sciences
Which type of line carries sound waves best?
Which metal conducts heat best?
Can the design of a paper airplane make it fly farther?
Do wheels reduce friction?
Does a ball roll farther on grass or dirt?
What kind of things do magnets attract?
How can you measure the strength of a magnet?
How much salt does it take to float an egg?
Does water with salt boil faster than plain water?
Does an ice cube melt faster in air or water?
Can you tell what something is just by touching it?
Can you tell where sounds are coming from blindfolded?
Can things be identifies just by their smell?
Does the length of a vibrating object affect sound?
Will more air in a basketball make it bounce higher?
Can you use a strand of human hair to measure air
moisture?
Does the shape of a kite affect its flight?
What gets warmer faster sand or soil?
In which way does the wind blow most frequently?
Do sugar crystals grow faster in tap water or distilled?
What determines how fast a piece of candy dissolves?
What color absorbs the most heat?
Water
Does warm water freeze faster than cool water?
How long will it take a drop of food dye to color a glass of still water?
Which material absorbs the most water?
What materials dissolve water?
Which dissolves better in water? Salt or baking soda?
Does baking soda lower the temperature of water?
Does the color of water affect its evaporation?
Can you separate salt from water by freezing it?
What type of soil filters water best?
Can the sun’s energy be used to clean water?
What types of bacteria are found in tap water?
Websites:
www.nyelabs.com
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.scienceprojects.com
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Science Fair Project Checklist
Name _________________________________________
Project Title _____________________________
In addition to your Science Fair Notebook use this checklist to make sure you are following each of the
steps to complete your project.
Before you Begin
Completed
I have picked a topic that interests me
I have had my teacher sign the required project approval form (the last
page in the handbook)
I have a question to answer
I have made a hypothesis about what the answer to my question will be
I have done research on my topic and used at least three different sources
(books, magazines, websites, interviews, videos)
I have kept track of the sources I have used in my bibliography (your
bibliography will also need to be listed on your final display)
I have been writing in my “Science Fair Project Log” – keeping record of
all the great thinking and learning I have been doing
Time to Experiment
I have a list of all the materials that I will need for my project/experiment
I have listed all the steps that I will be taking to do my experiment
I have conducted my experiment at least three times – scientists must be
sure their data is accurate
I have considered what the controls for my experiment should be
I have been taking pictures for my display board – judges love those
photos
I have written in my “Science Fair Project Log” and kept careful notes
about what I have been doing each day for my science project – start to
finish
I used neat handwriting in my “Science Fair Project Log” (or have typed
it)
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I have decided how I will show my results – charts, graphs, photos, tables
For your Display Board – Required Elements
Completed
Display should be no larger than 4’X 3’
Display needs to be self-supporting and made of cardboard,
tag board, or wood
I have included my name and grade
I have included an appropriate (and creative) title for my project
I have included a heading for each for each step of the scientific method
I have included my research question
I have included my hypothesis
I have included a list of all the materials I used
I have listed my experiment procedure (listed step-by-step in order)
I have included a paragraph that describes my results
I have included my bibliography
I have included at least one visual representation of my results (photos,
graph, chart, table)
I have written a conclusion for my project that includes: what happened,
whether or not you found the answer to your question, if your hypothesis
was correct or not, and an attempt to tell why you got the results you did
All of my writing (or typing) that is included on my display board is neat
and easy to read
I have practiced explaining my science project to family members and/or
friends and I am ready to explain my project to a judge
The Day of the Science Fair . . . Do you have???
I have my project display board
I have my “Science Fair Project Log”
I have all the materials that I would like to set out with my display board
(books, parts of my experiment, equipment, photos, etc.)
I have EVERYTHING I want to share with the judges and classmates
I am prepared and ready to share all that I have learned! It’s time for me
to SHINE!
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Project Display Example
Each display should include:
Student’s name and grade
Title of project
Research question
Hypothesis
A list of materials
Bibliography (resources)
Procedure (listed step-by-step in order)
Explanation of results (could be in paragraph, time-line, graph,
chart, table, or journal form)
Conclusion (This is the summary about the experiment. How it
went, what did you learn, was your hypothesis correct?)
Other:
Display should be neat, attractive, readable, and understandable
Display should be no larger than 4’X 3’
Display needs to be self-supporting and made of cardboard,
tag board, or wood
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Science Fair Project Planning Sheet
(Example)
Consumer Comparison
Topic
Question
My Hypothesis
My 3 Sources
What laundry detergent cleans ketchup stains
the best?
I believe that Tide will clean the best
because it is the most expensive
*Target, Wal-Mart, Cub
*T.V. commercials
*Magazine Ads
Materials
Tide, Era, Cheer, and Purex laundry detergent, water,
4 white t-shirts, washing machine, dryer, scissors, ketchup,
measuring spoons
Procedure
(Steps)
1. Buy the Tide, Era, Cheer, and Purex detergents
2.
Get four cloth samples that are exactly the same
3.
Put one tablespoon of ketchup on each cloth and
rub the ketchup into the cloth.
4. Wash each piece of cloth by itself on the short
cycle of the washing machine using a diff. detergent
5. Dry each piece of cloth in the dryer for the same
amount of time.
6. Compare the pieces of cloth and explain the
results.
7. Try entire procedure again to see if I get the
Same results.
8.
Results
I bought the laundry detergents and found a cotton
t-shirt that I could cut into four equal pieces. Next, I
put 1 tablespoon of ketchup on each piece and
rubbed it in. Then I washed each piece of cloth in a
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different detergent on the short cycle of the washing
machine. Finally, I dried each piece separately in the
dryer for 10 minutes. I then examined each piece of
cloth and found that both the Tide and Era had
cleaned the stain completely. There was a 1”X 1”
stain left on the Cheer cloth and a 2”X 2” stain left
on the Purex cloth. When I did the procedure again,
I had close to the same results.
List Visuals
I will attach the cloth I used in each detergent on this
part of my display.
Conclusion
I wanted to find out what laundry detergent of four
national brands cleaned ketchup stains the best. My
hypothesis was that Tide would clean the best
because it was most expensive. I bought Tide, Era,
Cheer, and Purex laundry detergents. Next, I stained
four pieces of the same t-shirt with 1 tablespoon of
ketchup and rubbed it in. Then I washed one piece
of shirt in each detergent. I found that Tide and Era
cleaned the stain completely. Purex and Cheers both
left stains.
I discovered that Tide and Era clean ketchup stains
the best of the four detergents that I tried. I was
correct in thinking that Tide, being the most expensive, cleaned the best. However, Era cleaned just as
well and that was the cheapest detergent. Therefore,
I conclude that Tide and Era clean ketchup the best
and that the high price doesn’t necessarily determine
the quality of detergent.
Judging Form (2-7)
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Name ___________________________
Grade _________
Judge # _____
+ Done/observed completely (3 points)
Done/observed (2 points)
- Not done/not observed (0 points)
Question:
( ) There was a question asked.
( ) The question was clearly stated.
( ) The approach to answering the question was creative.
Comments:
Scientific Thought:
( ) The project follows the scientific method.
( ) There are at least three sources listed in the bibliography.
( ) There is a well-written, testable hypothesis.
( ) There is an organized list of materials that were used.
( ) The steps in the procedure are clearly written and in order.
Comments:
Experiment:
( ) The “Science Fair Project Log” is neat, organized, clear and complete.
( ) It is clear that the student followed the procedural steps.
( ) Results are clearly stated.
( ) Conclusion includes required information
Comments:
Display:
( ) Each step of the scientific method is shown clearly and completely with
headings.
( ) Board shows data in clear tables, charts, or pictures with headings.
( ) Board is neat and attractive.
( ) The majority of the work has been done by the student.
( ) The written material shows attention to grammar and spelling.
Comments:
Oral Presentation:
( ) The child can clearly state the question.
( ) The student can explain the procedure step by step.
( ) The student can explain the results and the conclusion.
( ) The student appears excited about the project and eager to tell about it.
( ) The student shows understanding of the project.
Point Total =
Comments:
Project Approval Form
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This form must be turned in and signed by Thursday, April 14th.
Student’s Name:
______________________________________________________________
Grade and Teacher:
______________________________________________________________
Project Title: ______________________________________________________________
Project Question:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
How do you plan to test this question?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Questions that I have:
I may need some help with:
Teacher Signature: __________________________________
Date: ______
Comments/Questions:
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