by 5 people |
Haven't Found Your Science Fair Project Idea Yet? Don't Worry...
If you've ever had to search for a science fair project at the last minute you know how frustrating it can be... you are searching online looking for an idea, you feel overwhelmed, you wonder if the project you are looking at is a proven project or just somebody's great "idea". You wonder if it will result in a good grade. Then you start reading the instructions and the list of materials needed and start having second thoughts and move onto yet another site :)
This is exactly how I felt when me and my daughter Haley tried to find a science fair project together. Of course Haley left the project to the last minute and then "asked for my help"... you know how that goes :)
In case you are in the same situation, I'll share with you what we did. We wound up going with the package at a site called 24 hour Science Projects, not because we needed to get the experiments done in 24 hours (we had about 3 days), but because their project guides were organized exactly like you would display a science project board ie: Purpose, Hypothesis, Supplies, Procedure, Data, Results, Conclusion and Research. I also liked that each project came with the charts that Haley could just add her data into, thus saving her (me) time. I also like that the supplies for all 5 experiments were very easy to find (You should have seen the supplies list for some of the projects I researched before finding the 24 hour Science projects site).
Haley decided on the "A STRAIGHT FLUSH" project (which tests which toilet tissue is the most biodegradable)... and she had a lot of fun doing the experiments. In case you're wondering she didn't win but she did get an excellent mark. So if you are in a rush or just plain fed up with trying to find the right science fair project then I'd recommend the science projects site I mentioned above. It worked for us :)
Here's Some Successful Science Fair Tips
While some greet the challenge of preparing the best science fair project ever with eager enthusiasm, many students grumble at the thought of choosing a topic and completing the required research. With a little motivation, the competition and recognition associated with creating a knock-out science fair presentation is one that impresses teachers, parents, and your peers. To make the most out of your effort and possibly land an A+, there are a few factors to consider if you want to impress the judges inspecting your effort. New Text / Write module
Where Do I Start?
It is important to plan out the way you wish to approach a science fair project. If a topic hasn't already been assigned to you, selecting one is needed. There are plenty of areas of science to explore, including plants, animals, minerals, rocks, volcanoes, dinosaurs, and electricity. If you choose a topic you are interested in, the overall process is more likely to run smoother. Sometimes, selecting a topic you are unfamiliar with will jumpstart your curiosity and pose a challenge that will help you see the project to the end. It's always fun to learn something new.On the otherhand if you don't have enough time or simply don't want to risk selecting a "unproven" project topic then you can take the easier route and select a proven project topic and even get project guides and templates to accompany it. Your child still has to do the experiments but at least you can be guaranteed the experiments are "crowd and teacher pleasers".
What Should a Science Fair Project Include?
There are five main parts to a science fair project and missing just one of them will cost you a lower grade or loss of points. When it comes to this type of project, a student must first pose a question that they will attempt to answer through a specific procedure.Let's say you have chosen to base your science fair project on plants. Maybe you'd like to know what happens to plants when they get too much or too little water? How do different plants respond to an increase in water? What happens when you test different levels of sunlight on the same plants? Which ones last longer? Usually, one basic question is needed that should lead to answering the rest.
Next, a hypothesis is needed, which simply means you will predict what you think will happen at the end of your project. It doesn't matter if you are right in the end; you just need to form an opinion.
The procedure follows the hypothesis, which explains how you attempted to answer your science fair project question. This part of the process deals with the experiment(s) you may conduct. After you have completed your experiment(s), you will display your results, showing what happened during the project. During your experiment, you should take notes in a spiral notebook on everyday changes that will help you explain and present the results.
The last part of a science project is the conclusion. This is the part of the assignment where you share all that you have learned. In the end, you will explain whether or not your hypothesis came true or if something else occurred in the process.
Overall, creating a quick outline and helpful checklist helps to remember all of the components that go into creating a successful science fair project.
How Can I Stand Out From the Crowd?
Science fair projects become part of a competition and it is important to focus on all areas of presentation when it comes time for you to shine. One of the most appealing parts of a project is the visual display. A poster board depicting your overall project should be colorful, informative, easy-to-read, and neatly arranged. The set-up of your experiment also needs to appear well put together and sorted out.First impressions are very important, so adding clear labels, engaging photos and diagrams are often crowd pleasers.
Also for the best mark you show your experiment results using charts and graphs, as this adds that extra professionalism to your project.
The presentation of the display board should provide just the right amount of information - not too crowded and not too empty. Science fair projects also include a demonstration, where judges may ask you additional questions. Practicing a full run-through is suggested to prepare you for anything. Speaking clearly and with confidence lets the judges know you really "know your stuff."
Judges are also impressed by a student that appears to have learned a lot and seemed to have fun doing so. Your enthusiasm in the project will definitely rub a panel of judges the right way.
by sciencemom
Hi I'm Judy and this is me with my daughter Haley. Hopefuly our story can help you :)
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