Summerwood Elementary Science-Engineering Fair Guidelines
How do I start?
The first thing you do is select a broad area of science that interests you. It might be animals, rocks, petroleum, plants, or any of a hundred other things. From this point your work can be described in three words: read, question, and plan. It is easiest to start with a question, such as “Which kind of ball bounces highest?”
Projects that are an experiment/investigation do better at Science Fairs than demonstrations. Demonstrations, such as building a volcano or a solar system, and research papers, such as finding out why whales have blubber, are NOT the same as conducting an experiment or investigation. Start with a question that you can answer only with an investigation.
Use this booklet as a guide
This packet contains suggestions to guide you through your Science Fair project. There are 100 suggested project ideas that you could choose from, or you can select your own question to investigate. There are also some helpful websites where you could get additional ideas for a project. There is a Science Fair Fast Fact sheet which includes a general checklist to help you complete your project. Guidelines for The Scientific Method, the Lab Notebook, and the Display Board are also included in this packet.
Keep expenses low
The experiment that you prepare should be your own work. Your project should include things that have been made, not purchased. Look for inexpensive materials or things you already have around your house.
Be on time for project set up and judging
Students will set up their projects on Tuesday, March 21st from 3:00-5:00pm in the SWE library. All projects MUST be set up during this time. Judging will take place by grade level on Wednesday, March 22nd starting at 8:00am. The three winners in each grade level will represent Summerwood at the District-wide Science-Engineering Fair on Saturday, April 8th.
Guidelines:
- You must make your own project. An adult may supervise and support, but the work needs to be done by the students.
- All projects must include a journal or lab notebook (see additional information about the lab notebook)
- Professionally built projects are prohibited.
- No live animals may be brought to school.
- Dry ice, fire, or other hazardous materials may not be displayed at school. You may use these in your experiment, but will need to display pictures taken during the investigation.
- The display must be on a 3-dimensional display board. (see additional information on display boards)
- The student’s name, grade level, and teacher’s name must be listed on the BACK of the display board and covered with a piece of paper, taped at the top. Please do not put any name or identification on the front of the display that could be visible to the judges. This includes photos of the student’s face or participants’ faces.
- Only projects completed during this school year may be entered. No student may reuse last year’s project.
- Lettering and illustrations should be neat. Spelling and grammar used in written materials must be accurate.
- Experiments should demonstrate a learning experience.
- Investigations are encouraged. Start with a question that can only be answered with an experiment using The Scientific Method (see additional information about The Scientific Method).
Demonstrations and research papers are NOT the same as an investigation/experiment.
- Good luck and, most of all, have fun learning and practicing the scientific process.
General Rules:
The Summerwood Science-Engineering Fair will follow rules used by the District-wide Science-Engineering Fairs.
Display Guidelines:
- All exhibits must have a backdrop. Tables will be provided, but an exhibit may also be free-standing on the floor.
- The total height of the presentation should not exceed 8 feet (including height of table).
- The recommended side-to-side width is 36 inches (maximum width is 48 inches) and the maximum back-to-front depth is 18 inches.
- Projects must stand on their own.
- All projects must include a journal or lab notebook (see additional information about the lab notebook)
- Student’s name, grade level, and teacher’s name should be written on the BACK and be covered with a piece of paper, taped at the top. No photos of the faces of individuals please.
Project Set-up:
Students will set up their projects on Tuesday, March 21st from 3:00-5:00pm in the SWE library. All projects MUST be setup during this time!
Judging:
Judging will occur by grade level on Wednesday, March 22nd beginning promptly at 8:00am. Students will be brought to their project to talk to the judges about their experiment. Parents, teachers, sponsors, and other students will not be allowed in the exhibit area during the judging process. Again, no projects may be set up after Tuesday, March 21st.
Judging Criteria:
Please see the attached sample rubric in this packet for information on how judges might score projects.
Judges decisions are final. We will attempt to provide feedback to the participants and give suggestions to help them with future fairs, experiments, and science projects.
Awards:
Winners will be announced no later than Thursday morning. The three winners in each grade level will represent SWE at the District-wide Science-Engineering Fair on Saturday, April 8th.
Helpful Websites:
Science Fair Fast Facts
Project Set-up: Tuesday, March 21st, 3:00-5:00pm in SWE Library
Judging: Wednesday, March 22nd, beginning at 8:00am
Project Checklist:
Choose a topic you are interested in and start with a question that can only be answered using The Scientific Method
Gather your materials and any information you need about your topic. Record all information in your lab notebook.
Make your hypothesis and record it in your lab notebook.
Conduct an investigation to answer your question. Remember to repeat your investigation at least 3 times to ensure your results are valid! Record the procedure in your lab notebook, as well as the results and your conclusion.
Use a journal or lab notebook throughout your investigation. Write down everything you do and think! These are your notes and they do not have to be perfect.
Transfer the information from your lab notebook to a display board – include all steps of The Scientific Method and make sure it is neat and in order.
Use charts or graphs on display board to show data collected and results of investigation.
Include an acknowledgements page in your journal and on your display board. Let the judges know who helped you!
Include a Future Work page in your journal and on your display board. This could be what you would do differently if you did this experiment again, or it could be the start of your list for next year.
Make note cards to help answer the judges’ questions about your investigation.
The Laboratory Notebook or Journal
Every science experiment must have a laboratory notebook, such as a composition book or a stapled set of papers. This is NOT a fancy report. A lab notebook is something you write in as you do the experiment. It is a place to record everything you do and think as you conduct your investigation.
The information for your display board will come from your notes in your lab notebook.
Some general rules for a lab notebook: (This is the ideal notebook. Come as close as you can)
- Pages should NEVER be torn out. If a page or text is a mistake, draw a single diagonal line through it, and continue on the next page.
- Writing should be done in pen.
- Mistakes should have a single line drawn through them. They should not be covered with white-out, or black marker.
- Each page should be numbered.
- Each page or section of the page should have the date when the work on that page was done.
- You should initial the bottom of each page or section of the page. If you are a team, then whoever worked on the content for that page or section should initial it. Even though one of you may have actually written the page, if both of you did the work, then both of you should initial the section or page.
- Write down everything in the lab notebook; things you think as well as things you do.
- Do not put your names, your teacher’s name, or your school name on the lab notebook. You can write this information inside the back cover, and put an index car over it.
(Remember – this is the perfect example – just come as close as you can. Don’t stress over the notebook!)
The Display Board
All of the information needed for the Display Board should be in your lab notebook, and can be copied onto the display. It does not have to be typed, it can be handwritten, but it should be neat and easy to read. Grammar and Spelling must be correct.
Each section on the display should have a heading (Objective or Question, Materials, Hypothesis, Procedure, Results/Data, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, Future Work). Be creative on your display board, but keep your sections in an easy-to-follow, easy-to-read format.
Science Fair Questions
There are tons of great ideas out there. You are highly encouraged to come up
with an original project of your own. Here is a list of some possible questions that you could
base your Science Fair project on if you are having trouble coming up with a topic.
Helpful websites for additional ideas:
Remember that a demonstration (volcano, solar system, growing crystals, etc.)
isNOT the same as an investigation. Your project should be based on a question
that you are able to test through the Scientific Process.
- Does wing design, size or the type of paper affect the flight time or distance of a paper airplane?
- Does filter material affect how well muddy water is cleaned?
- Does the packing material affect how well a raw egg is protected?
- Does cleanser brand affect cleaning ability?
- Does temperature affect crystal growth?
- Does using hard or soft water affect the cleaning ability of soap?
- Does the type of insulation material affect how long heat is retained?
- Does the type of insulation material affect how long cold is retained?
- Does salt or fresh water affect the flotation height of an object?
- Does the type of liquid affect melting time?
- Does the design of a straw bridge affect its strength?
- Does soil type affect its ability to hold water?
- Does the type of adhesive tape affect the sticking strength?
- Does density of an object affect its floating height?
- Does the material, size, design, or weight on the bottom of a parachute affect its drop speed?
- Does the weight of a pendulum bob affect its swings per minute?
- Does the length of a pendulum affect its swings per minute?
- Does the height from which a pendulum is released affect its swings per minute?
- Does soil type affect the growth of bean seeds?
- Does sunlight or artificial light affect the growth of bean seeds?
- Does hydroponics instead of soil affect the growth of bean seeds?
- Does the amount of light affect the growth of bean plants?
- Does the source of light affect the direction in which a plant grows?
- Does light affect germination time for seeds?
- Does position, upside down or right side up, affect the growth rate of plants?
- Does the type of fertilizer affect the growth of bean plants?
- Does the type of liquid used to water affect the growth of plants?
- Is the growth of bean plants affected by using human vitamins?
- Does the color of light affect the growth of plants?
- Does sound affect plant growth?
- Does temperature affect the sprouting time of seeds?
- Does shading a plant’s leaf affect the condition of the leaf?
- Does age affect reaction time?
- Does gender affect reaction time?
- Does using light instead of sound affect reaction time?
- Does weight affect lung capacity?
- Does gender affect lung capacity?
- Does the grade level of elementary school children affect lung capacity?
- Does exercise affect lung capacity?
- Does using the sense of smell affect the ability to identify flowers?
- Does color affect the ability to see things from the side?
- Does sail design affect the speed of a model sailboat?
- Does the color of light affect the evaporation of water?
- Does the color of water affect its evaporation rate?
- Does (powder or liquid, brand of, or added bleach) detergent affect cleaning of clothes?
- Does the material a paper helicopter is made from affect its drop speed or time?
- Does age affect the ability to identify the direction a sound comes from?
- Does age or gender affect the ability to identify odors?
- Does temperature affect the dissolving rate of Alka-Seltzer?
- Does the amount of glycerin affect the size of bubbles?
- Does dry or regular ice have the most affect in dropping the temperature of water?
- Does the temperature of water affect the evaporation time of dry ice?
- Does the number of magnets affect the amount of weight they can hold?
- Does the type of metal affect the speed at which heat is conducted?
- Does the type of string affect the accuracy of speech transmission in a string telephone?
- Does using cans made from different materials affect the accuracy of speech transmission in a string telephone?
- Does the amount of water affect how long it takes to boil?
- Does gender, grade level, or experience affect scores on video games?
- Does the type of background music affect performance on fact tests?
- Does gender or age affect the length of a series of numbers that can be memorized?
- Does color affect preference for Lifesavor flavors?
- Does water temperature affect the cleaning ability of detergent?
- Does the brand of bubble gum affect the size of bubbles blown?
- Does the size of gum chewed affect the size of bubbles blown?
- Does the age of the person blowing bubbles affect the size of bubbles blown?
- Does age or gender affect the ability to distinguish diet from regular soda?
- Does the weight of an object affect its drop time?
- Does gender affect flexibility?
- Does the brand of battery affect battery life?
- Does the type of bread affect mold growth?
- Does sound or no sound affect video game scores?
- Does paper towel brand affect absorbency?
- Does water temperature affect the speed at which ice melts?
- Does gender affect heart rate after exercise?
- Does length of exercise affect heart rate?
- Does grade level affect preference for clear soda?
- Does the color of soda affect preference?
- Does bottled or tap water affect peoples’ preferences?
- Does the cost of detergent affect cleaning ability?
- Does wing length or size affect flight time or speed of a Balsa Plane?
- Does ramp height or car weight affect model car speed or distance?
- Does grade level affect candy choice between hard, chocolate, or gummy?
- Does grade level affect perception of an optical illusion?
- Does diaper brand affect absorption?
- Does the amount of ammonia used affect crystal growth?
- Does toilet paper brand affect perceptions of softness, absorbency, or strength?
- Does volume of air affect the burning time of a candle?
- Does temperature of soda affect the length of time it retains its bubbles?
- Does the length of wire in a coil affect the strength of an electromagnet?
- Does the size of the core affect the strength of an electromagnet?
- Does the number of volts of electricity affect the strength of an electromagnet?
- Does using one or two eyes affect correct perceptions of distance?
- Does the state of matter of a substance affect sound transmission?
- Does color affect soil temperature?
- Does age affect the ability to accurately estimate one minute of time?
- Does the amount of salt in water affect the length of time it takes to boil?
- Does the number in a die affect how many times it is rolled?
- Does the brand of sponge affect water absorption?
- Does the type of clear liquid (water, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide) affect the speed it evaporates?
- Does age or gender affect the ability to balance on one foot or walk a straight line blindfolded?