Science Fair Instructions
Creating a Science Fair project can be fun and exciting! Here are some tips on how to get started:
1. Think of a question that you have been wanting to find the answer to. For example: When comparing
three types of apples, which one contains the most seeds?
2. Your question must be able to be answered through experimentation with results that are
MEASUREABLE! To do this, you will compare at least two or more things and be able to collect data
that can be displayed on a graph. Try to avoid Yes or No questions. Things that do not qualify as a
measureable experiment include:
•
making general observations about things (ex: Bread requires yeast to rise.)
•
building or designing something and describing what you found or how you built it (ex: volcano)
•
answering general questions (ex: Why do plants need water to grow? or How much does my dog like
treats?)
•
displaying how something works (ex: I built a remote control car and this is how it works…)
3. Sometimes finding your topic can be the hardest part to getting started. There are many websites that
can help you generate ideas. Here is a list of ideas you are welcome to choose from, as well:
✓ What type of paper is the strongest (notebook, construction, etc.)?
✓ Which brand of paper towels is the most absorbent?
✓ Which type of ball bounces the highest?
✓ Do taller people run faster than shorter people?
✓ Which type of liquid will make a plant grow fastest?
✓ At which temperature does yeast grow best?
✓ Which color of candle burns the fastest (or slowest)?
✓ Which paper airplane model flies the farthest?
Helpful Websites:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com
http://sciencefair.math.iit.edu/projects
http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/ideas.php
4. Your display board should display the four main parts (steps) of the Scientific Inquiry process. How you
choose to do this is up to you! Don't forget to add a catchy title to the top! The four steps include:
•
FORM - this is where you form your question and state your hypothesis (ex: The Red Delicious
apple will contain the most seeds because when I eat them I notice many seeds inside.)
Your FORM section on your display board should include:
Background Information (tell what you already know about your topic/question before you get
started), Question (what you are trying to find out), and Hypothesis (what you think will
happen).
•
DESIGN - this is where you plan out how you will run your experiment. The DESIGN section of
your display board should include: Materials (list all of the materials you used/will use in your
experiment) and your Procedure (step-by-step of how you conducted your experiment).
•
COLLECT - this is where you display all of the data you collected. This section should include a
Table displaying your results and/or a Graph. If you only choose one, a graph is usually the best
way to clearly show your results. This can be very simple (ex: hand drawn bar graph) or as fancy
as you want to get (ex: computer-generated graph). Even Kinders can do basic graphs!
•
ANALYZE - this is where you summarize how your experiment went. Here are some good
questions/topics to cover in this section:
Did your results match your hypothesis?
Summarize what you found (try to use numbers to do this).
Did you run into any problems during your experiment?
What was the best/worst part of your experiment?
Would you do any part of the experiment differently next time?
Did you have fun? ☺
5. Once you have completed your experiment, it is time to complete your display board showing all of
your hard work! It is up to you how you do this. Have fun and be creative. You can type sections on
your computer or hand write them. Using bright colors of construction paper can be fun to use as
backgrounds. If you took pictures during your experiment, make sure to display them on your board!
The example below shows ideas of how you can set up your board. This is only an example, as you can
do this however you like. Just don't forget to include and label the steps of your Scientific Inquiry
process (FORM, DESIGN, COLLECT, ANALYZE)