How to do a Science Fair Project

1. How to do a Science Fair Project By Virginia Vilardi

2. Start with a fresh idea • Are there things you are curious about? • Make a list of those topics. • Do background research on each topic to narrow down the list. • Further research on the most appealing topics to see what studies have been done and how they were tested. • Develop research plan with possible testing methods. • Make final topic selection. • Review research plan with instructor.

3. Now it’s time to develop the project • Start with your fresh idea stated as a purpose or problem statement • Develop a Hypothesis • Design the Experiment • Test and Collect data • Analyze the results • Make conclusions • Prepare a report, abstract, project display board and oral presentation

4. Let’s use a Project Display Board to show each of the major parts… Project Display Board Push the arrow To reveal What is in Each section Oral Presentation

5. Project Display • Size: no more than: • 108 inches or 274 centimeters high • 30 inches or 76 centimeters deep • 48 inches or 274 centimeters wide • Good Title: Your title is an extremely important attention grabber. • Take Photographs: Many projects involve elements that may not be safely exhibited at the Fair, but are an important part of the project. You might want to take photographs of important parts/phases of your experiment to use in your display. • Be Organized: Make sure your display follows a sequence and is logically presented and easy to read (larger font). • Eye-Catching: Make your display stand out. Use colorful headings, charts and graphs to present your • project. Label graphs, charts, diagrams, photographs, and tables. Each should have an appropriate label describing what is being demonstrated.

6. Sample Project Display Board

7. Research • Use a variety of resources to study the problem. Library, internet, field experts, government officials. • Research will develop into foundation for report.

8. Purpose/Problem • Once topic is chosen what do you want to know about it? • What are you trying to figure out? • Make this into a statement.

9. Sample Purpose • The purpose of this project was to prove that the meteorite that hit the Wetumpka, Alabama area changed the course of the Coosa River and the topography of central Alabama.

10. Hypothesis • Hypothesis is an educated guess on how to solve the problem. • Should be stated as an if/then statement.

11. If we use our experiment as a guide, then we will be able to determine the effect the meteorite had on the Coosa River flow and direction as well as the topography of central Alabama. We believe the meteorite changed the course of the river and the land structure of central Alabama. Sample Hypothesis

12. Experiment • Design an experiment to test hypothesis. • Make a list of needed materials. • Verify that experiment is step by step. • Design experiment to test for only one variable at a time. • Gather needed materials. • Perform experiment. • Repeat experiment to verify results.

13. Sample Experimental Procedure • Stream Table Construction- standard plywood was used to construct the stream table. The table is 91.44 cm long and 45.72 cm wide. On one end, there is a 2.54 cm diameter drainage hole for the water to drain. Metal net was placed over the hole to keep the dirt inside the stream table. • Soil was added to form a the land and a river was etched in similar to how the Coosa River might have looked before the meteorite hit. • Next, we added the water and created a shallow sea on one end of the stream table. • We launched the rock representing the meteorite at a low angle trajectory to create the impact crater zone. Test was repeated until correct angle trajectory was achieved. • Results were recorded and pictures were taken to document experiment.

14. Results • Use all senses to collect and record data from experiment. • Results should be quantitative and qualitative. • Organize data into charts and graphs. • Only present facts not opinions.

15. Sample Results • In every test, the “meteorite” changed or moved the river. We threw the rock in at several angles but always with a low trajectory because the actual meteorite came in at a low angle. Every time it formed a crater and moved the river several centimeters.

16. Sample Results Table

17. Sample Results Graph River Flow Change

18. Conclusion • Based on the results what did the experiment prove or disprove? • Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect? • What was learned?

19. Sample Conclusion • All of our tests proved that the actual meteorite would have moved the Coosa River changing its flow and direction. It also would have changed the topography of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was correct.

20. Sample Topics • People: Does color affect learning? • Animals: Do dogs respond to smell or sound? • Plants: Are plants affected more by light or touch? • Motion: Can motion be perpetual? • Energy: Can new energy resources be created from waste material? • Pollution: What can clean up an oil spill?

21. Abstract • 250 word summary of project • Should include purpose, hypothesis, brief experimental procedure, results and conclusion

22. Sample Abstract • The purpose of this project was to prove that the meteorite that hit the Wetumpka, Alabama area changed the course of the Coosa River and the topography of central Alabama. • If we use our experiment as a guide, then we will be able to determine the effect the meteorite had on the Coosa River flow and direction as well as the topography of central Alabama. We believe the meteorite changed the course of the river and the land structure of central Alabama. • Procedure: construct stream table. Soil was added to form a the land and a river was etched in similar to how the Coosa River might have looked before the meteorite hit. Add water created a shallow sea on one end of the stream table. Launched the rock representing the meteorite at a low angle trajectory to create the impact crater zone. Test was repeated until correct angle trajectory was achieved. Results were recorded. • In every test, the “meteorite” changed or moved the river. We threw the rock in at several angles but always with a low trajectory because the actual meteorite came in at a low angle. Every time it formed a crater and moved the river several centimeters. • All of our tests proved that the actual meteorite would have moved the Coosa River changing its flow and direction. It also would have changed the topography of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was correct.

23. Model • Model or visual display items add interest and can be used with discussion with judges.

24. Report A good research paper should include: a) Title Page and Table of Contents b) Introduction: The introduction includes purpose or problem, hypothesis, what prompted your research, and what you hoped to achieve with your project. c) Materials and Methods: Describe in detail the methodology you used. It should be detailed enough so that someone would be able to repeat the experiment from your information. d) Results: The results include data and analysis. This should include statistics, graphs, raw data, etc.

25. Report Continued e) Discussion: This is the meat of your paper. Compare your results with theoretical values, published data, commonly held beliefs, and/or expected results. Include possible errors. Did the data vary? What would you do differently if you repeated this project? What would you do next? f) Conclusions: Summarize your results. State your findings in relationships of one variable with the other. Support the statements with data. Be specific. State whether hypothesis was proven or disproved. Also mention practical applications. g) Acknowledgments: Credit those who have assisted you. h) References/Bibliography: Document anything that is not your own

26. Oral Presentation • Introduce yourself. Speak confidently about your work. Simply talkabout your research. Appearance, good manners, appropriate attire, and enthusiasm for what you are doing will impress. Remember the key for the oral presentation is to see if you understand the basic principles of science behind your project. It is to determine if you have correctly measured and analyzed the data. If you can determine possible sources of error in your project and how you might apply your findings.

27. How far can your fresh idea take you?

28. For more assistance • http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/hbk2007.pdf • http://www.uah.edu/ASEF/rules.htm • http://showboard.com/

29. The End Thank you! References: Alabama Power, Your Guide to Science Fair Projects, 1982. Baugh,Erin and Price, Elizabeth. The Stars Fell On Alabama, 2007. Driver, James and Holman, Jordan. Extreme Pyramid Engineering, 2007 http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document/hbk2007.pdf http://showboard.com/

30. Research Plan • The research plan for all projects is to include the following: • A. Question being addressed • B. Hypothesis/Problem/Engineering Goals • C. Description: Detail all procedures and experimental design to be used for data collection. Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data that answer research question or hypothesis • D. Bibliography: List at least five (5) major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your library research.