How To Create An Award-Winning Science Fair Project

Before your child begins his or her science fair project he must fully understand what a science fair project really is. It is different from an essay or a book report or other written assignments. Science comes from experimentation. One must proceed using the scientific method. This is a step-by-step logical process which has several components as follows:

1. Statement of the problem.

2. Hypothesis.

3. Experimentation and information gathering.

4. Conclusion based on hypothesis.

The statement of the problem does not mean that something is going wrong. A problem is something for which there is no immediate answer. Water pollution is a problem. Overweight people, crab grass, antisocial behavior are all problems. You must create your problem. Discuss it with your parents, your teachers, your friends. Look up the subject in the library or on the internet. Get some background information and some attitudes from others. A hypothesis is an educated guess. For example, if you guess that by fertilizing a plant it will grow better, then you have made a hypothesis. You would need a control for this experiment which would be a plant that does not get fertilized. All of the other factors, such as sunshine, water, temperature, etc., would have to be carefully controlled.

You also have to make certain assumptions. For example if you were growing plants from seeds, you would have to assume that all the seeds were the same. Before beginning an experiment, make certain that you state all of your assumptions. Sample size is your next important consideration. The greater the sample size, the more accurate the project. Using only two seeds in the above experiment would not be as accurate as using ten or more. Statistical data becomes more meaningful as the sample size get larger.

Making accurate measurements is very important as is keeping excellent records. The conclusion of your experiment must be related to your hypothesis. Remember there is no failure in science. Even if something goes wrong, learning has taken place and the result is recorded so that it is better the next time. The knowledge of mankind is built on success and failure in experimentation. We learn from failure, we learn from success.

Science fairs require experiments. Collections are not by themselves experiments, although they can be turned into experiments. For example if you collect shells along the seacoast of eastern United States, and then you compare the sea shells to the western United States. The structure and composition of the shells from the different coasts can be compared.

Choose a topic that is of interest to you. Safety is always a consideration. Depending on your age, try to avoid things like dangerous chemicals, explosives, fire, sharp objects, glass, and other dangerous things. Be very careful when dealing with living things. Be careful with certain experiments that might take months to finish. And be careful to avoid experiments that can be very expensive or require special testing equipment that may not be available in your local high school or college.

You should have a full understanding of what the judges are looking for. The judges want to if the project is clear and communicative?

Are visual aids properly used? Do they help to understand the project?

Is the lettering, printing, diagrams, photos and other display materials clear? Is the project understandable? Is the presentation neat and accurate? Is the project complete? Does the project reveal careful planning? Is a complete story told? Is there enough data to support the project? Is it accurate? Does it appear that the student understands the topic? Is the notebook complete? Is it a good subject for a science fair project? Is the problem suitable for scientific investigation? Is it stated clearly? What about the scope – not too narrow – not too broad?

Does the investigation seem appropriate to the problem?

Are the results, controls and variables properly treated?

Is the conclusion a logical consequence of the data presented?

Is the project imaginative? Is the display creative? Is the student’s interested reflected? Does it have a personal touch?

Is it appropriate for the student’s grade level? Is it properly put together? Does it appear to be original? Is there anything hazardous about the display? If you are going to compete, find out ahead of time what the rules are.

Most important of all, have fun with it. The learning experience will be severely diminished if you get so caught up with prizes and awards and forgot about the knowledge and experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

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