Pick a Topic

 How to choose a topic

To have a great project, you must choose a fun topic. 

Hosted at AOL but available to anyone on the Web.  This is the best collection of science fair project ideas from multiple sites.  Includes links to supporting materials.

2. Science Fairs Home Page
http://www.stemn et.nf.ca/~jbarron/scifair.html

Arranges science projects by grade level.  This is a collection of real science fair project descriptions.   The project ideas are brief and do not include details on how to put the project together.

3. The Ultimate Science Fair Resource:  The Idea Bank & The Idea Board

http://www.scifair.org/ideas/

The Idea Board is a Web board for students are sharing ideas with each other .  The Idea Bank is a collection of ideas from the archives of the Idea Board and from the Ultimate Science Fair resource editors.

4. Science Fair Central: Students Getting Started:  Project Ideas
http://www.school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifai rstudio/ideas.html

Discovery Channel's Discovery School site elementary school level project ideas and descriptions.

5.  Internet Public Library - Science Fair Project Resource Guide - Choosing a Topic
http://www.ipl.org/youth /projectguide/topic.html
Sample project ideas and collection of links to many other sites with science fair project ideas

Collect Information

How you collect information

Close observation allows you to collect the information you need for a great project.

Hosted at AOL but available to anyone on the Web.  These two articles explain the steps and define the kinds of information to be collected in doing a Science Fair Project.   Each idea listed also includes a link to supporting information Web sites.  For example if you choose to do a shrunken head project, you'll find links to anthropology resource sites.

2. Internet Public Library - Science Net andExperiments & Science Fair Projects
http://ip l.org/cgi-bin/youth/youth.out.pl?sub=sci0000

Collection of links to science fair projects and experiments background information and guidelines sites for all ages.  The sites are organized by general scientific subject area. 

3. The Ultimate Science Fair Resource: Science Research & Books

http://www.scifair.org/researc h/

Collection of science background research links and books to support science fair projects.

4. Science Fair Central: Students Getting Started:  Links and Books
http://www.school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifai rstudio/links.html

Discovery Channel's Discovery School site links and books with science background information for science fair projects.

What's Your Hypothesis?

Creating your "question".  

What do you think will happen? This is the question you will try to answer.

Hosted at AOL but available to anyone on the Web.  These two articles explain the steps and define the kinds of information to be collected in doing a Science Fair Project.   Each idea listed also includes a link to supporting information Web sites. 

2. Cyber-Fair: See the Steps Involved in Doing a Project

http://www.i sd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

K-12 Science fair steps and guidelines.  Hosted in Minnesota but applicable to all students.

3. Science Fair Central: Students Getting Started:  Science Fair HandBook:  Scientific Method:  Hypothesis
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html#hypothes is

Discovery Channel's Discovery School site description of deciding and stating a good science fair project hypothesis.

Test Your Hypothesis

Put your hypothesis to the test

Decide one element that will test your question.

Hosted at AOL but available to anyone on the Web.  These two articles explain the steps and define the kinds of information to be collected in doing a Science Fair Project.   Each idea listed also includes a link to supporting information Web sites.

2. Cyber-Fair: See the Steps Involved in Doing a Project

http://www.i sd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

K-12 Science fair steps, descriptions, tips and guidelines.  Hosted in Minnesota but applicable to all students

3. Science Fair Central: Students Getting Started:  Science Fair HandBook:  Scientific Method:  Project Experimentation
http://school.discovery.c om/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html#exp erimentation

Discovery Channel's Discovery School site description of deciding and stating a good science fair project experimental design for testing your hypothesis

Observe the Change

How to conduct your observations

The secret to success is carefully observing change.

Hosted at AOL but available to anyone on the Web.  These two articles explain the steps and define the kinds of information to be collected in doing a Science Fair Project.   Each idea listed also includes a link to supporting information Web sites.

2. Cyber-Fair: See the Steps Involved in Doing a Project

http://www.i sd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

K-12 Science fair steps and guidelines.  Hosted in Minnesota but applicable to all students.

3. Science Fair Central: Students Getting Started:  Science Fair HandBook:  Scientific Method
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html

Discovery Channel's Discovery School site description of  the scientific methods steps needed for a good science fair project experiment and report.

A Winning Report

Make your report AWESOME!!!

You're report will help you win - includes a sample report template.

2.Cyber-Fair: Judging Forms & What Makes a Good Project?

http://www .isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/Criteria.htm

http:/ /www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/goodproject.html
Hosted in Minnesota but applicable to all students.  Example judging forms give students a clue about what judges will be looking for and the steps descriptions will make sure that all the pieces of a winning project are in place.

5.  What Makes a Good Science Fair Project?
htt p://www.usc.edu/CMSI/CalifSF/Resources/Good_Project.html
California State Science Fair guidelines for winning science fair projects, includes guidelines for parents, teachers, county coordinators, and judges as well as students.  Details include an overview of the scientific method and what kinds of projects are NOT good science fair projects.

The Day of the Fair

is finally here...

Winning ways for this nerve-racking day.

And for something completely different