Science Fair Project Newsletter
January 30, 2015
Dear Parents and Students,
Your child will be responsible for turning in a science project on
Monday, February 23rd. To prepare for this project, we will be
reviewing the steps of the scientific method in class. However, we will
need your help at home. All research, materials, and projects will be
completed at home. In the next few pages you will find several tips
and resources to help your child with his or her project from start to
finish.
Each student’s project will be evaluated for two purposes. First,
three winners from the fourth and fifth grade classes will be chosen
to compete in the district fair. At the district fair students will
compete against other winners from each of the elementary schools in
Bullitt County. This will be held on March 12th. Students will also be
graded on their projects in science class. The rubric that their
project will be graded with is also attached to this packet. Please, use
this to guide your child’s efforts.
It is very important to note that this project is the student’s
project. I realize that parent input is necessary, but please keep it to
a minimum. To help ensure this, we would like all written parts of the
project to be hand-written by the student.
Thank you,
Fourth Grade Teachers
*Display boards (tri-folds) may be purchased at school for $2.00
however, there is a limited supply. Otherwise, you will need to
check Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Staples, or Office Depot.
Science Fair Project Topic Sheet
Every science project starts with a question you are curious
about and do not know the answer to. By filling out the project
question, you will complete step 1 of the scientific method. Only
four steps to go! Please, fill out the science project topic you and
your child have selected below and sign for your approval. Return
this paper to your child’s science teacher by _____________.
Student’s Name: ____________________________________
Science Project Purpose/Question: ______________________
_________________________________________________
Parent Signature: ___________________________________
Steps to Prepare Your Project
1.
2.
3.
Select a topic – remember a science fair project is a test
you do to find an answer to a question; not just showing
what you know about a subject. Don’t forget to turn in
your science project topic sheet to your teacher!
Gather any background information you might need.
Do the experiment (or test) as described and record data.
Keep notes in one place. Write down everything you can
think of, you might need it later.
4.
Construct a neat and colorful display following the
Display Board Instructions below.
5.
Practice your presentation – students need to be able to
pronounce all of the words written on their display board.
Your Science Project Display should do TWO things:
SHOW
and
TELL
Your display should catch the viewer’s attention so he/she
will want to look more closely at your display.

Your display should explain what you did and what you
learned in your investigation.

DISPLAY BOARD INSTRUCTIONS
Before starting your science display board:
1. Think about your display – do not wait until the last minute
to begin working on it.
2.
Plan out your ideas on paper. Decide what you want on
your board and where you want to place it to make your
display interesting and informative. You may want to use
charts, graphs, pictographs, and other illustrations, in
addition to the basic information needed.
3. Select materials you will be using for the title, main
sections, and background of your display. Some materials
you can use are yarn, rope, string, wallpaper, construction
paper, cardboard, plastic, foil, felt, cloth, etc.
4. Do your lettering for each main section – QUESTION,
HYPOTHESIS, MATERIALS, PROCEDURE, RESULTS, and
CONCLUSION – on separate sheets of paper. Use a darkcolored pen or markers for most of your lettering - but only
after you have printed your letters lightly with a pencil.
Make sure the lettering is not crowded and easy to read.
5. Assemble your display. Attach background material.
Arrange everything on your board. Allow room for your title
(Your title should be larger than the other lettering and
should be no more than 5 words). When you have all the
pieces in place you may begin gluing materials to board.
6. If you have materials that cannot be displayed on your
board you may have a shoe box to keep and transport items.
Please label the box with the title of your project and your
name.
SCIENCE PROJECT IDEAS


































How much salt does it take to float an egg?
What kind of juice cleans pennies better?
Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?
Do watches keep the same time?
What brand of raisin cereal has the most raisins?
Can the design of a paper airplane make it fly farther?
Do the roots of plants always grow downward?
Can you tell what something is just by touching it?
How long will it take a drop of food coloring to color a glass of
still water?
Can plants grow without soil?
Does warm water freeze faster than cold water?
Do different types of apples have the same amount of seeds?
Which material absorbs the most water?
What materials dissolve in water?
What color of birdseed do birds like best?
What holds two boards together better – a nail or a screw?
Will bananas brown faster on the counter or in the refrigerator?
Does a ball roll further on grass or on dirt?
Do objects fall to the ground at the same speed?
Does anyone in my class have the same fingerprints?
Which brand of paper towel is the strongest?
Can plants grow from leaves?
Which dissolves better in water – salt or baking soda?
Can things be identified by their smell?
Does water with salt boil faster than plain water?
How far can a person lean without falling?
How far can a water balloon be tossed to someone before it
breaks?
Does the shape of a kite affect its flight?
Does an ice cube melt faster in air or in water?
Does sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?
Will more air in a basketball make it bounce higher?
Does the color of light affect plant growth?
Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?
Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest?






































Does the color of water affect evaporation?
Can you separate salt from water by freezing?
Do suction cups stick equally well to all surfaces?
Will water without salt evaporate faster that water without salt?
Which cheese grows mold the fastest?
Do all colors fade at the same rate?
Which brand of diaper holds the most water?
Which kind of cleaner removes ink stains better?
Does a plant grow better if watered by milk or water?
Which brand of soap makes the most suds?
Does a baseball go farther if hit by a wood or metal bat?
Do living plants give off moisture?
Which metal conducts heat the best?
Does the human tongue have definite areas for certain tastes?
Which way does the wind blow most frequently?
Which grows mold faster – moist bread or dry bread?
Will mold grow faster in warm, dark places or cool, light places?
Does sound travel best through solids, liquids, or gases?
Do sugar crystals grow faster in tap water or distilled water?
What type of marshmallow cereal has the most marshmallows?
Which brand of batteries last the longest?
Which chewing gum makes the biggest bubble?
Do plants need light?
Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what it does?
What kind of food does my pet like best?
What stains won’t come out of clothing?
Will a plant grow inside a bottle?
Can a balloon pick up paper? (static electricity)
Does music have an affect on animal behavior?
Does the color of food or drinks affect whether or not we like
them?
What is the best way to keep an ice cube from melting?
Does age affect human reaction time?
Can you remove an eggs shell without cracking it?
Can you pick up a bottle without touching it?
Can paper stay dry in water?
Do all liquids flow at the same rate?
Can you make a flower change colors?
Can you make a flower two different colors?
Websites for Science Experiments
http://www.isd77k12.mn.us/resources/cf/scprojintro.html
http://www.sciencebob.com
http://www.surfnetkids.com/experi.htm
http://www.madsci.org/experiments
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com
http://teacher.scholastic.com/actvities/wwatch
http://www.scifair.org
http://schooldiscovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/
http://www.yahooligans.com
SCIENCE PROJECT
RUBRIC
Points Possible
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
0 - 40
PRESENTATION
0 - 25
Quality of Project
0 - 10
Student completes and displays
all steps of the Scientific
Process.
Student communicates basic
principle of experiment, results,
and conclusion.
Project is neat, colorful, and well
organized.
Quality of Project
Correct spelling and grammar
usage is evident.
Management
Project shows evidence of
effective time management.
Management
Project was completed on time.
GRADING SCALE
90-100 E
80-89 G
70 -79 S
60 - 69 N
Below 60 - U
Points Earned
0 - 10
0-5
0 - 10
Total Points Possible
100