Ms. Toth’s Tips to Science Fair Success

“Success is not a function of fame and PR, but of hard-work and discipline.”

- President Obama, 2011 State of the Union Address

·  Choose a topic of interest. (Curiosity will drive your experiment!)

·  Be prepared with several experimental ideas.

·  Discuss your project ideas with your parents from the very beginning – don’t wait! Your parents must approve your project’s cost and materials.

·  Need IRB approval? Fill out the required paperwork ASAP! You need to have approval before you begin your experiment.

·  Complete each step by the checkpoint date listed below. This will keep you on time with our lab dates and due dates.

·  Be prepared for our lab time! Bring all necessary materials to class and be ready to maximize your lab time.

·  Take pictures while you are doing your experiment. (Remember: no faces included!)

·  Ask questions!!!

·  Record everything – data, observations, errors, etc.

·  Do all of your typed work in ONE document, adding to it as you go. Wait until the very end to print this one document!

·  Have your flash drive with you everyday.

·  Even if you are absent on December 9th (for whatever reason), your project must be turned in. Turn in your assignment on time! After all of your hard work, do not lose points by turning your project in late!!

And lastly,

·  Push yourself - don’t go for the easy project! Each one of you has the ability to do an amazing job on your science fair project and the experience will be even greater if you step up to the challenge! J

Checkpoints for completing your project on time:

October 17 – List of possible science fair topics/experiments

October 18 – Science Fair Question stated and approved (parental approval signature)

October 28 – Research completed and typed

October 29 – Variables, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures completed and typed

November 12 – Data Table, Graph, and Data Summary completed and typed

November 13 – Conclusion and Abstract completed and typed

December 2 – Create Power Point presentation based on Word document and rubric

December 6 – Complete Power Point and peer edit presentation.

December 9 - Project Presentations will begin. You will present in a random order.