1. WHAT IS A
GOOD SCIENCE
FAIR PROJECT?

2. WHAT IS A GOOD
SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?

3. Have you ever wondered how the
experiments for electricity were done?
Or why someone wanted to do them in
the first place.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
 In this project you will not simply read
about science.
 You will become actively involved in a
science fair project.
You will conduct experiments.
You will create a satisfactory project
report and display of your project to be
displayed at the science fair.

7. Scientists ask . . .
WHY?
Anyone can ask why, but
it takes a true scientist
to answer WHY!

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

9. 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.

10. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The scientific method is a special way to look at and SOLVE
PROBLEMS. There are at least 4 main parts to solving the
problem.
 QUESTION:
stating the problem
 HYPOTHESIS:
deciding on an answer to your problem
 PROCEDURE:
establishing a method of investigation or experiment
 RESULTS:
collecting and analyzing data
 CONCLUSION:
decide on the outcome by drawing conclusion from the
RESULTS of your investigation or experiment.

11. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Let’s look at a simple example of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD using:
Step #1:
QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS: Crissy wanted to find out . . .
Which brand of bubblegum would make the biggest bubbles?
Step #2:
PROCEDURE: She bought samples of every brand of gum she
could find and divided them into equal sizes, according to weight.
She then chewed each piece of gum exactly 150 times and blew
bubbles. She repeated this procedure many times.

12. Step #3:
RESULTS:
Crissy had a friend measure the size of each bubble
she blew. These measurements were written down in a
notebook.
Step #4:
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: After a careful study of
the data, Crissy found out which gum was best for
blowing bubbles.

13. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
HYPOTHESIS
Stating the PROBLEM and forming a HYPOTHESIS:
A problem arises when you see something happen and
wonder about it. You might wonder why leaves change
color, or how strong ants are or why moss grows only on
one side of a rock.
A HYPOTHESIS is your explanation or solution to a
problem.
• It does not have to be right, but it should be a good
guess based on what you observe.
• It should not be a WILD guess.
Later on you will test your HYPOTHESIS with MORE
THAN ONE experiment.

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

15. HYPOTHESIS
DIRECTIONS: You are to write as many science fair problems as
possible in the next 15 minutes. You will receive one point for
every 3 problems that require experimentation and that boys
and girls your age can do with the available materials.
MODEL #1
How does ________ affect ____________?
MODEL #2
What is the effect of ________ on _______?
MODEL #3
Which ____________ is _____________?
consumer product strongest…lasts longest…is best, etc.

16. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD PROCEDURE
Now let’s look at the 2nd step of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD.
Now that you have learned how to state a PROBLEM and
form a HYPOTHESIS for a science fair project you are ready for
the 2nd step . . . the PROCEDURE.
After a HYPOTHESIS has been formed or a PROBLEM stated, an
experiment needs to be designed to test the HYPOTHESIS or
solve the PROBLEM.

17. In a science fair project this is called the PROCEDURE.
Certain rules MUST be followed:
1ST - Keep careful records of everything you
do. You must keep these records so carefully that
another person could read your notes and do your
experiment without any trouble.
2ND - You need to consider all of the things
that can affect an experiment’s outcome. These things
are called VARIABLES.

18. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
VARIABLES
Whenever you do an experiment,
you must control the VARIABLES!
Remember, the variables are the
things that can affect the outcome
of an experiment.

19. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
VARIABLES
Let’s say you wanted to find which brand of plastic cement is the
strongest. You first buy two of the most popular brands - Super Stick and
Mighty Stick. Next you get four pieces of plastic. You take two of the pieces
and put a lot of Super Stick on them and squeeze them together for 5
minutes. Then you take the other two pieces of plastic and put a small dab
of Might Stick on both pieces and squeeze them together for 3 minutes.
In the morning you try to pull the pieces of plastic apart. First you
pull on the pieces that were joined together by Super Stick. You cannot pull
them apart. Then you pull on the pieces held together by Might Stick and
the two pieces easily come apart. Super Stick held the plastic together, but
you do not know if it held longer because the glue was better or because you
used more glue than the other brand. Maybe Might stick would have held
just as well if you used the same amount of glue as you did with Super Stick.
You also held the pieces of plastic glued with Super Stick together longer
than you did the pieces held together with Mighty Stick. Perhaps this is why
Super Stick held better. AND HERE’S THE POINT . . .

20. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
VARIABLES
You can’t be sure which brand of
glue is better unless you have
controlled all of the VARIABLES.

21. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: VARIABLES
• Remember, the VARIABLES are the things that can affect
the outcome of an experiment.
• In order to control the VARIABLES you must:
• use the same amount of glue
• as well as the same size and shape of plastic
• you must hold the pieces together for the same amount
of time
• you must pull with equal force when you try to separate
the pieces.
• All of these things that you try to keep the same are called
VARIABLES.
• The only variable that is not the same is the brand of
plastic cement you are testing. If one holds better than
another, you can say it is a stronger brand of plastic cement .
. . because you CONTROLLED all the VARIABLES.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Qualitative Data
• Deals with descriptions.
• Data can be observed but not measured.
• Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance,
beauty, etc.
• Qualitative → Quality

25. Quantitative Data
• Deals with numbers.
• Data which can be measured.
• Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed,
time, temperature, humidity, sound levels,
cost, members, ages, etc.
• Quantitative → Quantity

26. Quantitative data:
• Qualitative data: • picture is 10" by 14"
• blue/green color, gold frame • with frame 14" by 18"
• smells old and musty • weighs 8.5 pounds
• texture shows brush strokes • surface area of painting is
of oil paint 140 sq. in.
• peaceful scene of the • cost $300
country
• masterful brush strokes

27. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
RESULTS = COLLECTING DATA
Throughout your experiments you will have many observations to
make. These observations usually fall into 3 categories.
 Measurement
 Observation
 Counting

28. MEASUREMENT: Here you
would measure things like
 temperature
 height
 weight
 distance
 speed
 time.

29. OBSERVATION is one where you use your
senses.
 SEE
 HEAR
 FEEL
 SMELL
 TASTE
as they relate to your experiment.
Brenda wrote in her notebook that the beans growing in the sand were a
pale green and yellow. While Crissy was experimenting with gum, she
observed a change in color and taste. She also noticed the gum became
stickier the more she chewed it. During an experiment you may use all
three kinds of observations or only one.While making your observations,
you need to keep careful records in some kind of notebook.

30. COUNTING: You might count the
number of worms found in certain
kinds of soil, or the number of
animals living in a small pond.

31. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
RESULTS COLLECTING DATA
 Another way to record information is with a data sheet.
 There are many ways to make a data sheet.
 Make sure that all important Data is recorded.
Here is the important thing to remember:
KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS AND NOTE
THE OBSERVATIONS YOU MAKE DURING
THE EXPERIMENT.

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

33. 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.

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

35. 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.

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

37. Report
All the parts of your paper are listed in
your packet along with a rubric for the
grading of your report.
Take the time to read over the handout
so you have a clear understanding of
what should be in your paper.