How To Do a Project

Project Steps
  1. Select a Topic
     Remember that a good Science Fair Project should be about how you found an answer to a question, not just a display of what you know about something.

  2. Gather Background Information
     Research your topic in books, magazines, the Internet, people and companies. Keep notes about where you got your information.

    If you are doing an experiment:
    1. Follow the Scientific Method
      - State the purpose of your experiment - what are you trying to find out?
      - Select a variable (something you will change/vary) that will help you find your answer.
      - State your Hypothesis - your guess about what the answer will be.
      - Decide on and describe how you will change the thing you selected.
      - Decide on and describe how you will measure your results.
    2. Run a Controlled Experiment and Record Data
      - Do the experiment as described above.
      - Keep notes in one place. Write down everything you can think of, you might need it later.
    3. Graphs and Charts
      - What happened? Answer that question, then put the results in graphs and charts.

  3. Write a Short Report
    - Tell the story of your project - tell what you did and exactly how you did it.
    - Include a page that shows where you gathered background information.
  4. Construct an Exhibit or Display
    - The display has to be neat, but it does NOT have to be typed.
    - Make it fun, but be sure people can understand what you did.
    - If you performed an experiment, show that you used the Scientific Method.
  5. Practice Presentation to Judges
    - Practice explaining your project to someone (parent, friend, grandparent, etc.) This will help you be calm on Science Fair day. The judges will be interested in what you did and what you learned.

  6. Come to the Fair and Have Fun!
    See you there!

Science Fairs