Science Fair Project Guidelines

Science Project Categories

1) Behavioral and Social Sciences - Human and animal behavior, social and community relationships--psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, etc.

2) Biochemistry - Chemistry of life processes--molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry, hormones, etc.

3) Botany - Study of plant life--agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics, algae, etc.

4) Chemistry - Study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it--physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, etc.

5) Computer Science - Study and development of computer software and hardware and associated logical devices.

6) Earth and Space Sciences - Geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, geology, speleology, seismology, geography, etc.

7) Engineering - Technology; projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses--civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical,electrical, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, environmental engineering, etc.

8) Environmental Sciences - Study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control; ecology.

9) Gerontology - Study of the aging process in living organisms.

10) Mathematics - Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles--calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, probability.

11) Medicine and Health - Study of diseases and health of humans and animals--dentistry, pharmacology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, etc.

12) Microbiology - Biology of microorganisms--bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi, bacterial genetics, yeast, etc.

13) Physics - Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter--solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics, etc.

14) Zoology - Study of animals--animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology, entomology, animal ecology, paleontology, cellular physiology, circadian rhythms, animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, invertebrate neurophysiology, studies of invertebrates, etc.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT DESCRIPTION

EACH PROJECT MUST CONTAIN:

  1. LOG- journal to record all project work, research notes, interviews, and experimental data
  1. Formal Report- includes all information as outlined on the Formal Report Checklist. The Review of Literature section is the part that presents all the information found on the topic through library resources, personal interviews, materials from companies or organizations, or the Internet. There should be a bibliography of all resources used.
  1. Triptych and Presentation- The triptych is a 3-panel board used to display the project. A format for the triptych is included at the end of this information. The student is also expected to present his/her project to the class in an oral presentation.
  1. The first step is to SELECT A TOPIC. A good topic is written in the form of a question that can only be answered by experimenting. Ideas for your topic might come from hobbies or problems you see that need solutions. Choose a topic that you are interested in and can do the experimentation yourself in the time allotted.
  1. Your next step is to state your PURPOSE and HYPOTHESIS. Identify the purpose of your project in one to three sentences. Tell what you hope to discover and why you chose to learn more about this subject. The purpose statement should begin with: The purpose of this experiment is to determine ….

A hypothesis states what you think is going to happen when you complete your experiment. It is an educated guess that predicts the possible relationship between the manipulated and responding variables. The hypothesis should be written in the following way:

If (manipulated variable) …., then the (responding variable) will ….

3. Now you are ready to RESEARCH THE TOPIC. Read everything you can find about the subject. Take notes and keep a bibliography of your sources. Talk to a professional in the field or anyone who can give you reliable information on your topic. Write to companies or organizations that might be able to help you. You should find at least 3 sources, only one of which may be an encyclopedia. Use your log to take notes and record your sources.

4. Next you must design your PROCEDURE. This consists of step-by-step directions for carrying out the experiment and includes a list of MATERIALS. Remember; by reading this section, another person should be able to repeat your experiment without any problems. Your plan should explain how you will do your experiment and exactly what it will involve. The procedures should be numbered in the correct order. The materials list should include everything you are going to use to conduct the experiment. Do not include the supplies for completing the triptych. Be very specific with the type, size and quantity of the materials you will use.

  1. Write your LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. Use the notes you made for your research to write a summary of everything you learned from the sources. Be sure to follow the correct format for a bibliography. The format is found on pages 20-24. You should have at least 3 sources.
  1. Begin EXPERIMENTATION as soon as your topic and procedures have been approved. Follow your procedures exactly and record all data in your LOG. Write down every measurement and observation-do not rely on your memory. Remember to change only one variable for the experimental group and make sure to maintain a control group in which nothing is changed. Be sure you have a sufficient number of test subjects in each group and that you repeat the experiment several times. All measurements should be done using the metric system. Take photographs or draw pictures to help record observations. Measure and record all results. Write down any problems that occur. Think about what your are observing and record your thoughts.
  1. Once you have finished experimenting, you need to organize your data. Compile the data you have collected into a chart or table. Use the chart or table to construct a graph of your data. You may use photographs to help display your results. The manipulated variable should be placed on the horizontal axis and the responding variable should be on the vertical axis. A bar or line graph is most appropriate for most data.
  1. Examine the results and draw a conclusion. What has your experiment shown about the variables? Carefully study the results: look at your charts, graphs, photos and log notes. Does this information support your hypothesis? If it does, great! If it does not support your hypothesis, do not be afraid to say so! You still have accomplished successful scientific research. Never alter results or change your original hypothesis.

Write your conclusion in complete sentences. You should ask yourself these questions:

(1)Did I get the results I expected? If not, how were the results different?

(2)Were there any problems or occurrences that may have affected the results of my experiment?

(3)Did I collect sufficient data? Were there enough trials, and was the sample size large enough?

(4)Was your original hypothesis supported or not supported by your data?

  1. Once you have finished your research and experimentation, write your abstract. The abstract is a brief summary of all parts of your project. Write one paragraph that includes your purpose, hypothesis, procedure and the results. The abstract should not be more than 200-300 words and should fit on one page. It is included as a part of the formal report.
  1. The log is one of the most important parts of the project. Use a bound composition book to keep accurate records of everything you do. You should start it when you first begin thinking of a project. The log should be hand-written. If you make a mistake, do not use “white-out”. Simply draw a line through any error you make. LOGS MAY NOT BE TYPED. It should look like you have used it!!
  1. Complete your FORMAL REPORT. Refer to the checklist for the section in the report and the correct order. The checklist also tells how many points each section counts. If possible, type your report. If it is handwritten, be sure it is neat and legible. Be sure to edit your report for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
  1. Prepare your TRIPTYCH. This is the display board that visually represents your work. It is the first thing a judge sees. It should be neat, attractive and colorful. Keep the display simple and to the point. Do not distract the judges with a lot of decorations. Lettering and layout are important for the triptych to be neat and understandable. Double-check your work for spelling and grammatical errors. Follow the directions exactly for placing the information on the triptych.

The Science Department will take orders for triptychs in October. Your teacher will give you the prices and ordering information. You may purchase a triptych elsewhere or make your own.

Sample Triptych

Triptych & PresentationFormal Report

  1. General Appearance (34 points)1. Title page (1)____

-neat and legible (5) ____2. Table of Contents (2)____

-appropriate size of letters, etc.(4) ____

-items properly placed (5) ____4. Purpose & Hypothesis (10)____

-items neatly spaced and aligned (4)____5. Materials & Procedures (20)____

-correct spelling and grammar (5) ____6. Review of Literature (20) ____

-all written work is printed or typed (4)____7. Results (20)____

-all written work is done in ink (5) ____8. Conclusion (20)____

-no lined paper is used (2)____9. Acknowledgements (2)____

10. Bibliography (5)____

Formal Report Score ______

II.Use of Scientific Method (61 points)

1. Problem stated as a question (3) ____

----Problem can only be answered

by experimentation(5) ____

2. Hypothesis stated to showLog

relationship between MV & RV (5) ____

3. Purpose is correctly stated (2) ____1. Dated (10)____

4. Materials are listed (5) ____2. Everything done on the

  1. Procedures are listed in step-by project is recorded (25)____

step order (5) ____3. Includes all data and

6. Data chart is present(5) ____ measurements (25)____

Data chart is clearly labeled (5) ____4. Handwritten/not typed (5)____

7. Procedures are appropriate to address ____5. Entries indicate a long-

the question (5) term project (15)

6. Includes all notes (20) ____

from library research

8. Data indicates repeated trialsLog Score______

with averages (10) ____

9. Conclusion stated (2) ____

10. Data supports conclusion 7) ____

11. Conclusion is easy to understand (2)____

12. Conclusion responds to hypothesis (5)____

III. Project turned in on time (5) ____

Triptych & Presentation Score ______

Sample Log Page


Bibliography Guidelines

Title is centered on the page, with 1” top, bottom, and right margins and

1 1/2” left margin

  • The entire page is double-spaced (see the sample)
  • The first line of each entry starts flush with the left margin
  • Additional lines for an entry are indented
  • All entries end with a period
  • Entries are arranged in alphabetical order (see the sample)
  • Include page numbers in book entries ONLY if you read a section of a book – not the entire book
  • Entries must be punctuated EXACTLY like the examples shown

Bibliography Examples

  1. Book with one author

Author’s last name, author’s first name. Title of the book. Place of publication: Publisher’s name, date of publication.

Example:

Hardy, Thomas. Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Garden City, NY: Bantam Books, 1994.

***Special note-include page numbers after the date if you did not read the entire book.

2.Book with two authors

Author’s first name, author’s last name and author’s first name author’s last name.Title of the book. Place of publication: Publisher’s name, date of publication.

Example:

Leet, Don and Charles Marsh.Dealing with Harassment. Springfield, MA: Bacon and Allyn Publishers, 1986.

  1. Book with no author

Title of the book. Place of publication: Publisher’s name, date of publication.

Example:

Rocks and Fossils. New York: Nature Company Publishers, 2002.

  1. Encyclopedia article with an author

Author’s last name, author’s first name.“Title of the article.” Title of the Encyclopedia. Last publication date ed.

Example:

Jones, David. “Gravity.”World Book Encyclopedia. 2002 ed.

  1. Encyclopedia article with no author

“Title of the article.” Title of the Encyclopedia. Last publication date ed.

Example:

“Civil War.”Encyclopedia Britannica. 2004 ed.

  1. CD-ROM encyclopedia

Author’s last name, author’s first name.“Title of the article.”Title of the Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Publication date ed.

Example:

Smith, Elizabeth. “Plant Growth.”Compton’s Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. 2000 ed.

  1. On-line encyclopedia

“Title of the article.”Title of the encyclopedia. Date article was accessed. URL.

Example:

“Missiles.”Britannica. 25 June 2004 <

  1. Internet article with an author

Author’s last name, author’s first name.“Title of the article.” Page numbers of

the article. Access date.URL.

Example:

Plank, Mary. “The Way the Ball Bounces:” 1-5. 6 October 2001.

<

9. Internet article with no author

“Title of the article:” Page numbers.Access date.URL.

Example:

“Real Physics:” 3-5. 14 May 2004.<

  1. Magazine article with an author

Author’s last name, author’s first name.“Title of the article”.Name of the

MagazinePublishing date: pages.

Example:

Davis, Michael. “Life in Victorian England.”Newsweek 12 March 2001: 31-38.

  1. Magazine article with no author

“Title of the article.”Title of the magazine date: page numbers.

Example:

“Life in the Wild.”National Geographic 16 August 2004: 26-32.

  1. E-mail

Sender of the e-mail’s last name, first name.E-mail. 30 June 2004

Example:

Harris, David. E-mail. 27 August, 2004.

  1. Letter

Sender of the letter’s last name, first name.Letter. 17 October 2003.

Example:

Dooley, Betty. Letter. 25 August 2004.

  1. Personal Interview

Person’s last name, first name.Company or occupation. Place of interview, date of interview.

Example:

Stephens, Ron. Personal interview. 15 August 2004.

Sample Bibliography

“Arthritis.”World Book Encyclopedia. 1992 ed.

Coster, David. “Gravity.”World Book Encyclopedia. 2002 ed.

Dixon, John. “Life during the Civil War.”History Journal 12 March 2002:31-35.

“The Effects of Television Viewing on Teenagers:” 1-4. Online. 21 Dec. 2001.

Franklin, Carl. “Hurricanes.”Compton’s Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. 2002 ed.

Green, Peter. The Forensic Casebook Files. New York, NY: Doubleday Publishers, 2003. 45-63.

Leet, Don and Charles Marsh. Dealing with Harrassment. Springfield, MA: Price Publishers, 2000.

Lidle, Mary, “The Life of Robert E. Lee:” 3-7. On-line. 18 Nov. 1999.

Marsh, Kelly. “Compaq Targets the Internet:” 1-14. On-line. 14 June 2001. <http:

Sanders, Karla. E-mail. 30 June 2000.

Needed Bibliography Information

These are patterns for you to follow to record information for your bibliography. Choose the appropriate pattern and write this information on the top lines of the pages in your log book before you begin to take notes from the source.

Book

Author ______Title ______

Publishing Location ______Publishing company ______

Copyright date ______Pages used ______

------

Encyclopedia

Title of the Encyclopedia ______

Author’s name (if given) (look at the end of the article) ______

Topic in the Encyclopedia ______Copyright date ______

------

Magazine

Title of the magazine ______Article Title ______

Author ______Date of the Magazine ______

Pages _____

------

Interview

Name of the person ______

Interview date ______

Type of Interview ______

Internet Web Site

Title of the Web site ______

URL of the web site ______

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