INTRODUCTION
What is a science fair?
A science fair is a wonderful opportunity for you to apply the scientific method to test or answer a scientific question that you may have. In this packet, you will be given step-by-step instructions on how to conduct an experiment and to create an outstanding science fair presentation.
Is this a research project?
While you will do some background research on your topic when working on your project, this is NOT a research project. The purpose of the science fair project is to develop and investigate a testable question.
What happens at a science fair?
All participating students will set up their projects ahead of time. Science fair judges will judge each project based on a scoring guide. The judges may ask you some questions about your project, so it is necessary that you do all the work yourself (you can have some assistance from your parents).
Once the judges have had the opportunity to view all projects and talk to each student, the final scores will be tallied. Winners will then be announced.
Am I required to participate?
Science Fair Projects are 25% of the Marking Period 4 grade.
Can I work with a partner?
All projects are to be completed individually.
WHAT IS A TESTABLE QUESTION?
A testable question is one that can be answered through investigation. You should only have ONE specific testable question for your science fair project. The main difference between a general interest science question and a testable question is that testable questions are always about changing one thing to see what the effect is on another thing. You are not asking a question that leads to a report, but rather one that leads to an investigation.
Here are some examples of broad science questions and testable questions:
Broad Questions (lead to science report)How do plants grow?
What makes something sink or float?
How do rockets work?
How does the sun heat up water?
What happens when something freezes?
What makes cars move?
How do batteries work?
What makes a magnet attract things?
Why does ice melt? / Testable questions (lead to investigation)
What amount of water is best to grow tomatoes? Or What type of soil is best to grow petunias? Or What amount of sunlight is best to grow daffodils?
How well do different materials sink or float in water?
How does changing the shape of a rocket’s fins change its flight?
Does the sun heat salt water and fresh water at the same rate?
Do different liquids freeze at the same rate?
How does the surface on which a car moves affect how fast it goes?
Which type of battery lasts the longest?
Does temperature have an effect on a magnet’s strength?
What is the best insulator to keep ice from melting?
GATHERING BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Once you have identified your testable question, it is important to do some background research. This is necessary so that you know how to design and understand your experiment.
The purpose of background research is so that you can find out what techniques and equipment might be necessary. You also need to find out what scientists already know about the topic and what you need to find out more about in order to complete your experiment. Research helps you understand more about why your experiment works (or doesn’t work) the way it does. In other words, what is the science behind it all?
How to research:
The best way to research is to have a plan. First think about what your testable question is and then look at keywords that will help you find out more about your particular question. Think of the who, what, where, when, why, and how of your question and pick out the relevant information that will help with your particular question.
Some sample questions that may help you in your research are (of course you can come up with some questions of your own):
Why does ______happen?
How does ______happen?
How does ______work?
How does one measure ______?
How do we use ______?
Who needs ______?
What causes ______to happen?
What are the properties and characteristics of ______?
What is the relationship of ______to ______?
When does ______cause ______?
Where does ______occur?
Where do we use ______?
Just be sure to only keep the questions that help you find relevant background information for your particular question and experiment.
Use the following to help you focus your research:
What is the question you are going to try to answer?
List keywords from your question that may help you research.
Use who, what, where, when, why, and how questions to guide your research.
Focus your research only on those areas that will help you understand or answer your question better.
Make sure your research comes from a credible source (such as an encyclopedia or online databases) or you might have incorrect or false information.
Bibliography:
Make sure you keep a list of all of the resources your use for your research. Your teacher should be able to help you with this, if you do not know how to write a bibliography.
NOTE: The purpose of the background research is NOT to compose a research paper, although your research will be included in your write-up. The science fair project is to answer a testable question…not research a topic!
COMPOSING A HYPOTHESIS
After getting your background research, you should be able to formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is the anticipated cause and effect that you think will be observed during the investigation. This is not a random guess, but is based on what you learned in your background research.
Usually, a hypothesis can be written as, “If I (do this), then (this) will happen.” Both what you do and what you think will happen need to be measurable. For example, “If I add salt to water, it will take less time to boil.” You can measure the independent variable (which is what you are changing) – the addition of salt, as well as the dependent variable (what is affected because of the thing you changed) – the time it takes for water to boil.
CAN YOU DISPROVE YOUR HYPOTHESIS?
It is possible to disprove your hypothesis. In other words, you may not get the results you predict. This is okay. If this happens, you need to try to find out why this might have happened. When you write up your final paper, then you can discuss what you might need to change, if you were to do this experiment again, so that you might prove your hypothesis (if it is possible).
DESIGN AN EXPERIMENT
Once you have a hypothesis, you need to design an experiment to test it. To do this, you must decide what you variables are going to be and what materials you need to use. There are three types of variables:
1. The independent variable – this is the one that you will change as part of your experiment.
2. The control variable – this is the variable that stays the same.
3. The dependent variable – the variable that changes as a result of or in
response to the change you made to your independent variable.
There are several steps to designing an experiment:
1. Decide on your variables. What are you changing? This will be your
independent variable. What are you keeping the same? This will
be your control variable. What do you expect to change as a result
of your independent variable? This will be your dependent variable.
2. List materials. What materials (including amounts) do you need in
order to complete your experiment?
3. Plan out your experiment: list ALL the steps to carry out your experiment. If you do additional steps that you didn't plan, write those down.
4. Check your work. Ask someone else to read your procedure to make
sure the steps are clear. Are there any steps missing? Double check
everything!
SET UP AND COLLECT DATA
It is a good idea, when setting up your experiment, to use a notebook in which to record your observations and data. Before starting your experiment, you need to decide how you will collect and show your data. There are different kinds of data, so you want the type that is best for your particular experiment.
Preparing for the experiment:
Know what you are going to do. You must know what steps you are going to take before you start. Also, make sure you have all the tools you need to conduct your experiment.
Use your notebook to take notes on your experiment, as well as to collect your data.
BE SAFE! Make sure you take all precautions necessary for safety. Use gloves or goggles, if necessary. Make sure you have adult supervision, if you need it (but the work should be yours and yours alone!)
Know what kind of data you will use for your experiment:
Quantitative Data
Uses numbers to describe the amount of something.
Uses tool, such as rulers, timers, graduated cylinders, etc.
Uses metric units (For example, meters, centimeters, milliliters, etc.)
May use a table or graph to display the data.
Qualitative Data
Uses words to describe.
Describes physical properties, such as how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, or smells.
During the Experiment:
Keep detailed notes as you conduct your experiment. This is very important! Write down ALL steps and record your data and observations. Also, record any problems that occurred. You cannot ignore those things that happen that were not supposed to happen. These can affect your results and can be important when analyzing your data.
Take pictures of your experiment along the way. These can help you later explain what you did and can help you have a more vivid display. With today's technology, pictures can be taken on cameras, phones, or even on a disposable camera.
Be as exact as possible. This will be necessary for your write up and conclusions. Don’t be discouraged if your experiment does not go exactly as planned. This is part of the learning process. Real scientists do not always have their experiments go the way they plan, either. If you have enough time, repeat your experiment a couple of times.
www.sciencebuddies.com has some great information on how to create a science experiment notebook.
DATA ANALYSIS AND GRAPHS
Review your data. Look at your results and ask yourself:
Is it complete, or did you forget something?
Do you need to collect more data?
Did you make any mistakes?
If you had more than one trial of your experiment, calculate and average, if appropriate.
Make sure you clearly label all tables and graphs - this means your tables and graphs should have titles (so that everyone knows what it is about) and labels, it should include any units of measurement (centimeters, grams, volts, etc.).
Place your independent variable (what you are changing) on the x-axis (horizontal) of your graph and the dependent variable (what is changed by your independent variable) on the y-axis (vertical). If you have more than one set of data, such as with a comparison of two items, show each series in a different color or symbol and include a legend with clear labels.
You may want to use a spreadsheet program on the computer to create your graphs and tables. This makes it more professional looking.
CONCLUSIONS
Your conclusions summarize your results and show whether the results support your original hypothesis or not. You should write a few sentences with the following information:
· What results did you get from your experiment and data? Summarize that information using facts from your background research to help explain your results.
· Whether or not your hypothesis was supported. You do not state that your hypothesis was right or wrong, but rather that it was supported or not supported by your data.
· Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure. Comment on its success and effectiveness.
· Suggest changes you may need to make in the procedure or design and/or possibilities for future study within the area of your topic.
FINAL REPORT
Once you have finished your experiment and have analyzed your data, you need to compile your final report of all of your information. You should use 12 point font (preferably Times New Roman) throughout your paper.
Your final report should include these sections:
· Title Page
· Abstract - a one paragraph quick summary of your report.
· Your testable question.
· Your hypothesis based on your background research.
· Background research – a short version of your research information.
· Materials list (include ALL amounts)
· Identify your variables – what is your independent variable (what are you changing?), your control variable (what are you keeping the same?), and your dependent variable (what do you think will change because of the change to the independent variable?)
· Experimental procedure – what steps you took to complete the experiment.
· Data analysis and discussion. Summarize what you found out in your experiment, focusing on your observations, data table, and graph(s), which should be included here.
· Conclusions
· Ideas for future research.
· Acknowledgements. This is your opportunity to thank anyone who helped you with your science fair project.
· Bibliography.
Your final report will be several pages long, but don’t worry; you should already have all the information before you sit down to complete the report. This report must be typed. If you do not have a computer at home, you can visit your local library or use the computers at school. Be sure to save your report often. You wouldn’t want the computer to crash and lose everything! You may even want to keep an extra copy on a flash drive or other device, just to be safe. You can also e-mail the report to yourself if you do not have a flash drive.