The purpose for encouraging students to complete long term projects such as the science fair project is to give students the opportunity to research problems or explore a topic in a systematic scientific way. Another benefit of such a project is that they also require students to integrate and apply the skills they have learned in language arts, math, and science. Furthermore, such projects allow students the opportunity to express their curiosity, creativity, and ingenuity. The fact that competition is involved in the school fairs should not overshadow the basic reason for the project. The primary goal is student learning.

Table of Contents
	Guidelines for Parental Involvement		The Scientific Method
	Helpful Links		The Judging Form
	The Display		The Reference Page/Bibliograpy
	Noodle Tools Website		How to Write an Abstract

 

Start with a Problem that you can solve through experimentation. The Problem should be written in simple question format form: What is the effect of _____ on _____? How does _____ affect _____? Which _____ (verb) ______?

Next begin your research to gain background information on the topic. Review relevant literature to answer questions you might have about the topic. Always record the answers and sources. Write your R eview of Literature. At this time, go ahead and do your Bibliography. See guidelines.

After you have reviewed the literature, formulate one Hypothesis based on your findings. It should be written simply. My hypothesis states that _____ because _____.

Next, design your Procedure for testing your hypothesis. This should be clear, concise, and logically sequenced. Be sure to list the Materials. Be sure to have a Data Collection Form devised to record results from your experiment. Make sure that you test your experiment at least THREE times. (The number of trials should allow for a substantial amount of data to accept or reject your hypothesis. Ex. Surveys may require 30 participants, not 3 trials)

Analysis of Data is a narrative statement in paragraph form telling what your actual research and results indicated. It should include a summary of all data found. Ex. I found out that _____.

Conclusion: What did you find out? Did you accept or reject your hypothesis? Ex. I found out that _____ because _____. Therefore, I (accept, reject) my hypothesis which states that _____ .

Application: How will your research findings help people solve problems or make the world a better place to live? Ex. I can apply this to the real world by _____.

Once all of the above steps have been completed and you have finished your experiment, it is time to write your Abstract to summarize the results and process. After this, you will need to work on your Backboard, a visual representation to convey the results of your experiment.

Questions to ask when working through the Scientific Method:

1. What do I want to find out? Stating the Problem
2. What should happen? Formulating the Hypothesis
3. What materials do I need? Listing the Materials
4. What do I do with the materials? Outlining the procedure
5. What did happen? Recording Observations and analyzing data
6. Did I find out what I wanted to know? Drawing Conclusion

Examples of ways to state the Problem Statement:

1. What is the effect of ______ on ______?
Detergent on germination of seeds, Eye color on pupil dilation
Light on growth of plants, Temperature on the volume of air
2. How/to what extent do/does the _____ affect _____?
Color of light to growth of plants, Humidity to growth of fungus,
Color of material to its absorption of heat, Viscosity of a liquid to its boiling point
3. Which/ what ______ verb _____?
Paper towel is most absorbent, Peanut butter tastes the best,
Detergent makes the most bubbles, Foods do mealworms prefer

Long term projects such as the social studies fair project requires parental involvement. To help parents and students understand how much and what type of parental help is permitted, the following guidelines have been adopted:

1. Parents may type project backboard information and report from the child's handwritten final draft.

2. Parents can proofread a student's work, but corrections should be made by the child.

3. Computer generated graphs are not required and do not necessarily improve a student's chance of winning. They are permitted. However, the student must be involved in the process. Parents may guide students through the use of difficult computer programs. Students should make the final decisions about the graph type.

4. Artwork should be the work of the child.

5. The parent may assist the child in creating a visually appealing backboard. For example: help with measuring, cutting, pasting, hot gluing, and placement.

6. Topic selection should reflect the interests of the child.

7. Research, design, and implementation of experimental procedure should be completed by the student. The parent's role is to provide the resources and direction necessary.

8. The parent's role is to reinforce project guidelines established by the teacher.

Science Fair Helps

Need Help Finding a Good Problem/Topic?
Helpful Links

Science Fair Central - Some topic ideas!

KidSpace - The Interent Public Library - References to just about anything, including information on Science Fairs.

Writing Your Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of an abstract is to provide a condensed version that summarizes the key elements of your project. It will be placed in front of your backboard with your packet.

The Packet to be displayed in front of the project board is a synopsis of your entire work. It contains at least four pages that should be typed. Do not attach this to the backboard.

1. Title Page: State title, date, and school. No student name should be here at all!

2. Abstract: See attached section – How to Write an Abstract

3. Review of Literature: Fourth grade – at least one paragraph and one source
Fifth grade – at least two paragraphs and two sources
Sixth grade – at least three paragraphs and three sources

4. Bibliography: APA Style. Word “Bibliography” centered at top of page. Entries
in ABC order by first word of entry.
Fourth grade – at least one reference source
Fifth grade – at least two reference sources
Sixth grade – at least three reference sources

How to Write an Abstract

Title:
Researcher:

I. Problem Statement and Hypothesis: (What do you want to find out and what do you think will happen?)

I wanted to find out _____. My hypothesis stated that _____ because I think _____.

II. Methodology: (How will you test what will happen? List all materials needed. Explain how your research will be conducted.)

I wrote my problem, reviewed my literature, and wrote my hypothesis. I designed my experiment and gathered my supplies. (List materials & tell what you did for your experiment - Procedure.) I conducted my experiment and collected data. I analyzed my facts. I wrote my conclusion.

III. Analysis of Data: (What did the data you collected indicate about what happened in your research? Include all data here.)

I found out that _____.

IV. Conclusion: (What did you find out? Did you accept or reject your hypothesis?)

I found out that _____ because _____. Therefore, I (reject, accept) my hypothesis which stated that ____ (restate hypothesis).

V. Application: (How will your research findings help people solve problems or make your world a better place to live?)

I can apply this to the real world by _____.

Working on the Backboard

Board: The purpose of the Science Fair Board is to offer a visual summary of your entire project in a simple format for a judge or observer to peruse. The wording on the board will be slightly different from the abstract. For example, the materials and procedural steps should be numbered or bulleted for easy viewing. The preparer wants the observer to know exactly what was done without having to search for information or have difficulty reading the information.

The parts of the board are:

Title: Catchy and centered across the top/center of your board.

Problem: The statement should be written in question form.

Hypothesis: The statement about what you think will occur.

Materials: List in bulleted or numbered format.

Procedure: List in bulleted or numbered format. (Compare to Materials and Procedure Methodology in Abstract)

Data: Charts or graphs that give visual representation of all the data collected. If a graph or chart is not appropriate, then photographs should be included, but only to show progression over time. Pictures of students or equipment would not be appropriate.

Analysis of Data: Written in paragraph form, just like in the abstract. However, the board should also contain a graphic depiction of the data, which is NOT included in the abstract.

Conclusion: Briefly tell what you found out and talk about the original hypothesis – just like in the abstract. One nice paragraph is appropriate.

Application: Should be included on the board as well.

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