Transcript How to do a Science Fair Project

How to do a Science
Fair Project
Prepared by: Alice Sanford
NMGK12 Fellow, The University of Mississippi
What is a Science Fair
Project?
• A Science Fair
Project is an
experiment that
answers a question
about a topic that
you are interested
in.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Observation: You observe a problem that
you want answered.
Question: Ask a question about what you
observe.
Hypothesis: You predict what you think
the answer will be.
Experiment: Perform an experiment that
will answer your question.
Results: Record your results.
Conclusion:
Where do you start?
Ask and Plan
• FIRST, ASK your
parents for permission!
• PLANNING is the key
to a great Science Fair
Project.
• Let your parents or
teachers help you plan
out what you want to do!
• Keep a journal.
Where do you start?
Choose a topic
• First ask
yourself, What
am I interested
in?
• Music, cooking,
books, …?
• Check out some
of the lists of
project ideas
from the
handouts
• Choose a project
on a subject that
you are
interested in!!
Now that I have Chosen
a topic…
• READ!!! Read all
of the
information you
can find on your
topic.
• Ask for your
parents’ help!
• Keep a record of
where all the
information came
from!!!
Your Question
• Choose a question
that has a one
word answer or a
YES or NO answer.
• CURIOSITY!!!
Your question is
never too simple to
investigate!
Your Hypothesis
• What do you
think the
answer will be?
• Why?
Experiment
• Perform an
experiment that
will answer your
question and
hypothesis.
• Let your parents
watch, too!
Record Results
• Keep records of
what is happening
in your experiment!
• Keeping data is
very important for
your final result!
Why do I have to do it
two or more times?
• If you performed
the experiment
only once, you
might have made a
mistake.
• ALWAYS do your
experiment more
than once to be
sure it is accurate
Important Things to
Remember:
• From the very beginning, Keep notes
on your project. Write down what
you do each time you work on it. This
will help you write your report.
• Keep up with where your information
came from!!
CAUTION!!!
• NEVER!! copy someone’s project!
Use the ideas to make your own
project.
• You can use the same project, just do
the work yourself!
Remember
• Your teachers and parents will be
happy to help you!!!
• But do the work yourself!!!
• Make sure that the results of your
experiment answers the question you
have asked!