Elementary Science Fair Projects

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Elementary Science Fair Projects

• The Steps for a Successful
• Science Fair Project

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The Scientific Method

• You should always follow the easy 9 steps of the
  scientific method when doing a science project to
  be successful.

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Step 1 Select a Topic
A. Student What is my interest?
B. Parent Will I be able to help?
Selected Topic
C. Teacher Is the project on level?
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Step 1A Select a Topic - Student

• What are my interests?
• What would I like to learn about?
• Do I have a question about something?
• Where to look for topics?
• Science Fair books
• Internet
• Teacher
• Does my project meet the rule requirements?

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Step 1B Select Topic - Parent

• Can I help with the selected topic?
• Does the selected project meet the rule
  requirements?
• Do we have the needed materials for the project
  or know where to purchase?
• Help set a timeline for my child.
• Is my child meeting the deadlines of the teacher?

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Step 1 C Select Topic - Teacher

• Is the project at the students ability level?
• Does the project meet the rule requirements?
• Is there parent approval?
• What is the timeline for each step?
• Locate needed resources for students.
• Are the students meeting the timelines?

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Step 2 Identify the Problem

• This is a sentence or question about the problem.
• Example What type of container will keep my
  soda cooler longer?
• Or I would like to compare the temperature of a
  glass bottle of soda to a can of soda.

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Step 3 Collect Background Information
BOOKS Encyclopedias Topic Books
Magazines/Newspapers
INTERNET Websites Search by
Topic
RESEARCH about Project Media Center
No less than 3
references
CD ROM Grolier
Compton
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Step 4 Form a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a statement of what you believe
  will happen in the experiment.
• Do not start with I think.
• Example The can will keep the soda cooler
  longer than the plastic or glass bottle.

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Step 5 Design an Experiment

• Materials List
• All materials needed to conduct the
  experiment
• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Measuring cup
• Etc.

• Procedure
• The procedure is a step by step set of
  directions on how to do the experiment.
• Step 1 gather all materials
• Step 2 set up experiment
• Etc.

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Step 6 During Experiment
Observe Watch Look
Record Notes Journal/Log
Results
During the Experiment
Analyze Data What have I learned from
the results?
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Step 7 Repeat the Experiment

• The experiment should be repeated at
  least 3 times.
• This is done in order to prove the results as
  true.

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Step 8 Drawing A Conclusion

• This is a sentence that states what did happen
  during the experiment. What did you learn from
  the experiment?
• Example The can kept the soda cooler longer
  than the glass bottle.

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Step 9 Application

• What can the results be used for?
• How can I use the knowledge I have gained from
  the experiment?
• How will I use what I have learned?
• How can others use the information I have gained
  from the experiment?

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Writing the Abstract

• The abstract is a summary paragraph that gives an
  overview of what your project is about, what you
  will prove, and how you are going to share the
  data that you collect.
• It should be brief and clear, using strong
  science vocabulary.
• NOT REQUIRED FOR ELEMENTARY

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The Display Board
Title/ Question Graphs Charts Pictures
Data/ Results Conclusion Application
Hypothesis Procedure (Abstract)
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Electronic Presentation

• The presentation file must have no more than 20
  slides or pages.
• It should contain everything that would normally
  be displayed on your project board.
• Pictures, text, and scanned drawings are all
  acceptable.
• You must follow the same rules as for projects
  that are presented on boards.

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Some Websites Resources
  1)      Science Fair Center -
www.sciencefaircenter.com/science_fair_planning.tp
l?cart112499281739133921 2)      Science Fair
Center for nonscientist parents
www.sciencefaircenter.com/science_fair_basics.tpl?
cart11249928173913392 3)      What Makes a Good
Science Fair Project? www.usc.edu/CSSF/Resources/
Good_Project.html 4)      Discovery School .com
http//.school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
5)      Intermediate Projects (Grades 7 - 9)-
www.cdli.ca/jbarron/intermed.html 6)     
Elementary Projects (Grades 4 - 6) -
http//www.cdli.ca/sciencefairs/elem.html 7)     
Science Projects 13.01 - http//members.ozemail.co
m.au/7Emacinnis/scifun/projects.htmN42 8)     
IPL Science Fair Resource Guide -
www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/ 9)     
Successful Science Fair Projects -
http//faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html 10
)  Science Fair Prep - www.cyberbee.com/science/pr
ep.html 11)  Steps To Prepare A Science Fair
Project(Cyber Fair) - www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resourc
es/cf/steps.html 12)  Science Fair Ideas USGS
www.earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/sciencefair.html 13)
  Yahoo Ask Earl - http//yahooligans.yahoo.com/
content/ask_earl/20020123.html 14)  Agricultural
Ideas for Science Fair Projects -
http//www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.ht
m 15)  Lycos Search - http//search.lycos.com/?src
sflocsemquerysciencefairprojectideasnlubi
d1 16)  Science Fair Resource Center -
http//www.hallbar.com/sciencecenter.html 17) 
Science Fair Links - http//www.rcs.k12.va.us/csjh
/sciencefair.htm  
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Good Luck

• You are able to be successful!