Project Steps

  1. Read the science fair booklet.
  2. List ten (10) things in science that interest you.
  3. Go to the library and read about them.
  4. Pick the best three topics and read some more.
  5. Find a question you would like to answer.
  6. Talk to your librarian, teacher, and others.
  7. Narrow your problem to some thing YOU can do.
  8. Write it down. [(Problem) (Make the title of your project a question!)]
  9. Put down your idea about how it will come out [Hypothesis].
  10. Assemble the materials.
  11. Keep a record of what you do in a notebook [Log].
  12. Write down what happened [Results].
  13. Write down what you think it means, and what you learned [Conclusion].
  14. Display should be no bigger than 30" deep by 32" wide by 30" high.
  15. Use checklist A or B to appraise your project.

Checklist A

  1. Does my project deal with a specific problem?
  2. Have I answered my question through a scientific investigation?
  3. Do I have a hypothesis?
  4. Do I have a materials list and/or equipment list?
  5. Could someone else set up and conduct my investigation from my step-by-step directions?
  6. Have I taken pictures, made sketches, and/or kept a log?
  7. Are my notes, data and/or drawings neat and clear in my log (journal)?
  8. Will my data allow me to draw conclusions and/or support my hypothesis?
  9. Do I have a plan for accurately and creatively displaying my investigation procedure and results?
  10. Will everything be completed by the due date?

Checklist B

  1. Is my topic question something that I can investigate or answer?
  2. Did I find background information about my topic?
  3. Did I state my problem as a question?
  4. Do I have a hypothesis about my science project?
  5. Did I list all my materials?
  6. Are my step-by-step directions in my procedure clear enough for someone else to follow?
  7. Have I recorded my observations and/or research in a log or journal?
  8. Have I collected enough data? (Data can be researching information, using many subjects, repeating the test or experiment at least 3 times.)
  9. Does my conclusion have a summary of my data, a comparison of my hypothesis and data, and some discussion on what I learned?
  10. Will everything be completed by the due date?