No electrical outlets will be provided. No glass, chemicals, open flames, plants, or vertebrate animals can be used. The project restrictions are 30 inches deep, 48 inches wide, and 108 inches high.

Science Fair projects are meant to be an experimenting and learning activity which can be related to the real world. Students should select a topic on a subject that interests them and is reality in the life of an elementary student. A project should include a planned and organized investigation. When students use scientific method to investigate a question or topic they become better critical thinkers. This is the main goal of Science Fair projects.

What exactly do you want to find out with your project?

The problem is the scientific question to be solved. It is best expressed as an "open-ended" question, which is a question that is answered with a statement, not just a yes or a no. For example, "How does light affect the reproduction of bread mold on white bread?"

Do limit your problem. In your project you want to get that "glass of water" from Lake Pontchartrain, not ALL OF THE WATER! Narrow down the question as much as possible. To find the answer to a question such as "How does light affect molds?" would require that you test different life processes and an extensive variety of molds.

Do choose a problem that can be solved experimentally. For example, the question "What is a mold?" can be answered by finding the definition of the word mold in the dictionary. But, "At room temperature, what is the growth rate of bread mold on white bread?" is a question that can be answered by experimentation.

To help you formulate an appropriate question you can fill in the following examples:

What is the effect of _____ on _____?
How does _____ affect _____?
Which/What _____(verb) _____?

Here is one example of a hypothesis for the earlier problem question:

"I believe that bread mold does not need light for reproduction on white bread."

Do write down your hypothesis before beginning the project experimentation.

Don't change your hypothesis even if experimentation proves it to be false.

This is the place where you write down all of the materials that you need for the experiment. It is best to brain storm here so that you will have everything you need to conduct the project. You should secure all materials BEFORE you begin the experiment. Many times the items that seem the easiest to find are the hardest to locate when you are beginning your project experiment.

Every step of the way, you will keep a journal in which to record the progress of the project. After the project has been completed, the journal will be very useful to you when you begin to construct your board.

Plan and write down your procedure and record all information as you do each step. Do not rely on your memory. This is a scientific procedure and you must take notes as you proceed so that you can report what actually happened. Also, accurate information is needed for the Results and Conclusion.

Before you can state the results of an experiment, you must first organize all the data collected during experimentation. Numbers, called "raw data," have little meaning unless you organize and label them. Data from each experiment needs to be written down in an orderly way in your journal. You should compile your information in charts, pictographs, graphs (bar, line, or pie), pictures, measurements, tapes, or anything else that would apply. In this step you will be giving FACTS NOT OPINIONS. Do not use the words more, less, seems, or better. Be specific and be sure to give all of the facts.

Photographs are another way to display data. Have someone take a photograph of you performing the experiment. Take photos of the procedure setup to use as part of the project display.

Unexpected Results
What do you do if your results are not what you expected? First of all - don't panic. A scientist's hypothesis often is not supported by his or her experiments. Report the truth in your conclusion. As before, state your hypothesis, but truthfully say that while your research backed up your hypothesis, your experiment results did not. Say what you expected and what actually happened. Report everything—if anything supported the hypothesis, identify it. Continue by giving what you think are the reasons that the results did not support your original ideas. Make your explanation scientific. For example, if you were moving during the experiment:

Do say: "There is a possibility that the lamp was not centered between the materials at all times. This would have resulted in the materials not receiving the same amount of light. This problem can be solved by securing the materials to the table so they are not accidentally moved during the experiment."

Don't say: "My little brother bumped into the box and moved it. I need to lock my door so my brother can't mess up my stuff."

If your results do not support your hypothesis:

DON'T change your hypothesis.

DON'T leave out experimental results that do not support your hypothesis.

DO give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results.

DO give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution.

If your results support your hypothesis:

You might say, for example, "As stated in my hypothesis, I believe that light is not necessary during the germination of bean seeds. My experimentation supports the idea that bean seeds will germinate without light. After seven days, the seeds tested were seen growing in full light and in no light. It is possible that some light reached the 'no light' containers that were placed in a dark closet. If I were to improve on this experiment, I would place the 'no light' containers in a light-proof box and/or wrap them in light-proof material, such as aluminum foil."

Examples:
How long does it take the heart to return to normal after exercise?
What is the most electricity you can make with a magnet and a coil?

Construction of a Kit or Model

Examples:
A model of a solar home
An ecology terrarium
Insulation materials and their uses

Demonstration of a Scientific Principle

Examples:
Measuring lung capacity

• Science Fair Topics
• Elementary Project Ideas
• Science Fair Project Ideas
• Idea Bank
• All Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Ideas
• Project Ideas
• Sample Projects
• Bunsen Bob Science Hunt