Listed below is a guide to help you plan your science fair project.
1. Pick your project idea - First, choosing a good project idea. You need to find a topic that you are interested in, that you can understand and isn't too complicated.
Once you have a topic, come up with a few different ideas. Talk to your parents, and teachers to decide what idea would be best. Make sure your idea meets the list of requirements for your school's science fair/teacher. Then check out books, magazines and websites that will help you.
2. Science Fair Project Hypothesis - Your Science Fair Project Hypothesis will answer the question your project is asking. To state the hypothesis, change the question into a statement and include what you expect to happen as a result of your experiment or project.
Testing your hypothesis is at the heart of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD. Accepting or rejecting your hypothesis is the core of your Science Fair Project. How you organize your work should revolve around the way you wrote the hypothesis.
3. Make a Plan for your project - Some basic elements your plan should cover are:
* State your question and hypothesis.
* The purpose of your experiment.
* The variables you will change and measure.
* Detailed procedure outlining what materials are needed
* How you will conduct the experiment or study.
Make sure you have allowed enough time for each task. Remember to add enough time for writing your report and preparing your display. Save the weekend before the Science Fair to handle last minute needs of your report and display.
4. Do your project - The next step is to follow the plan you have written. Keep a journal or lab notebook to record your data and observations. Try to write detailed notes on everything you observe. You may want to take pictures, videos or make sketches of your observations. These notes are important to your project because they are needed when you write your report and make your display.
Keep in mind that if your project does not work out as expected, you should still use it. Many scientific experiments do not produce the expected outcome, but still can be successful. Tell what you have learned from the results. Explain where the results differ from what you expected. Examine what you learned and keep notes on what you might do differently to improve results. Remember, your science project still produced useful information.
5. Analyze your results - Once you have completed your project, organize your data and notes. Look over your notes, did you accomplish the results you were expecting? Why or Why not? Analyze the data to help others understand your project. Make charts and graphs to represent the data. Now summarize the results and discuss how they relate to the hypothesis.
6. Write your report - Write a report detailing your science project. Include what you did, how you did the project, and what you discovered. Be sure to write about your plan and your experiment. Include your data, using charts and graphs.
As you write your report, make sure it is legible and has correct spelling and grammar. Make it interesting by writing it in your own words. Try to make it neat with an interesting cover.
7. Make your display - The display is crucial to your success at the actual Fair. Your display must be neat and organized, but also needs to tell the story of your project in a concise. It should include:
* Title
* Your Name
* Hypothesis
* Summary of information
* Explanation of project
* Display items
* Charts, diagrams, graphs, pictures, etc.
* Conclusion
* Application of what you learned.
* Written Report with data
You can find display boards at office supply stores. The display is your chance to be creative. Present your work in a visually exciting way that clearly shows your Science Fair Project.
8. Practice your presentation - When you make your presentation to the judges and others, it is important that you are prepared. Know what you are going to say before you have to say it. By rehearsing your presentation, you become confident talking about your project. Start practicing by yourself, then find some adults to present to as judges.
Practicing will make you calmer and more composed on science fair day. If you are prepared and know what you are going to say, you will do your best and make yourself proud.
9. Do not wait until the last moment - Plan ahead. Allow enough time to do your science project and you will have fun learning about one of your interests.
Cammie's blog site http://www.MomsMaterial.com gives moms ideas they want. She talks books for kids and moms, party ideas, school, parenting, great gifts ideas and how to look good doing it all.
