Welcome to Mr. Smedberg's Science Fair Page! Links to specific forms and
examples
Scientific Method
By following (or modifying) the steps I've outlined below any
Junior High Student should be able to do a science fair project, from getting
an idea to doing your presentation. There are also links to other science fair
sites (on the links page - above) to help with things like report writing
and data analysis. Two "majorly important" keys to science fair are;
1- Following the scientific method, 2 - Doing and experiment
and not a demonstration.
Probably the biggest mistake students make when they do a science fair project
is that they choose something they do not like. Because these projects reuire
a lot of effort, choose something you are interested in! How to find the science
fair project that's right for you?
Choose a branch of science that you are interested in, Biology, Physics,
Chemistry, Geology, etc. Remember, your project might be a sub-category of
a specific discipline.(like sports medicine is part of Biology, Sport science
is usually physics...)
We've all seen television commercials right? Well, some of the claims they
make can be put to the test.....remember, if you can test something, it may
make an interesting science fair project! Keep in mind what you are trying
to test!
What is going on around you? If you look around, you can probably find something
that is happening in your environment. Local current events are often a good
source of science fair ideas!
Also very important to keep in mind is that you have experienced certain
things that not all people have. Use your own experiences to help come up
with an idea!
Use your library to find science fair books!
Ask an older brother or sister, or your mother or father for some ideas.....but
remember that what they like, you might not!
Use a search engine, and research your idea on the internet! Or the links
page from above.
Scientific Method
Here's an overview of the Scientific Method as it applies to a science fair
project. (The steps of the scienctific method
can vary but is ALWAYS similar).
Research.
Find out the science or scientific principles behind your project.
This might involve doing research in your library, interviewing people
or using the internet.
Or even plain old thinking!
Develop a Hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a statement that tries to explain what you think will
happen when you test your project. It is an educated guess based on the
research you've done on your topic.
Generally, the hypothesis will answer this question: What if??? or
What will happen when???
You should NOT know the answer already!
Design an experimental procedure.
This is the meat of the science fair project. It is in the procedure
that you decide how you will test your hypothesis. When you have come
up with a procedure to test your hypothesis, write each step down in order.
You should number them as well!
It is very important that when you design your experiment, you test
only the hypothesis, and not for something else. These are called uncontrolled
variables. Uncontrolled variables are bad, and usually indicate the procedure
was not given enough thought or time! Sometimes however, the best scientists
can't control all the variables, so don't be discouraged!
Wait what's a variable?? The thing that you change on purpose to test
your hypothesis is the manipulated (or independant) variable. The responding
(dependant) variable is what changes when you change the manipulated variable.
A constant variable is some part of an experiement that you must keep
the same each time you change the manipulated variable.
Collect and your data and results.
Your results are the things that happened in your experiment. Don't
try to explain your results at this point, just record them in the form
of a data table. These are your observations only!
After you have collected your results, it is time to organize it and
analyze it in some manner. Your data should be easily read, so its presentation
is very important. Make a data table, a graph or chart to show your data.
Also, diagrams and photographs can be quite useful in the data analysis.
A computer can be an excellent tool when creating graphs. Spreadsheet
programs can be used for simple statistical analysis and for producing
graphs of your experimental data.
Conclusions.
This is the point of the project where you look at your data and decide
if your hypothesis is true or false.
If you can think of a way this could be applied to a real life situation,
include it in your conclusion!
This is where you try to tie the entire project together!
You may even come up with a new Hypothesis or changes that you make
if you were to do this again.
A good experiment will be able to be repeated by another
student and they should get the same results. Write everything down!
Planning Your Project
The key to success in any project is planning ahead. Science fair projects
take time. You should give a lot of thought to how you will conduct your
experiment, collect the results and do your presentation. You may even have
to do the experiemnt several times to get accurate results. Try these general
rules for planning:
1. Get a calendar or plan book that you can use as your log or journal.
2. Set goals and deadlines for your goals. Follow the procedures outlined
above to help you.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL A WEEK
BEFORE THE DUE DATE TO START!
3. Make a checklist of what has been completed and what has to be done.....this
will help you later in life too!
4. Give yourself about two extra weeks to complete your project.....just in
case!
The Report
The science fair report is basically a written copy of everything you've done
in your project. It is your scientific method (from above) written out so that
some one else can follow it and repeat your experiment to get the same results.
It will supplement your presentation.
The Presentation
When a science fair project is presented, is should follow some general rules:
The project should show your scientific method from above; include at LEAST
- The purpose, procedure, results (use tables and graphs) and the conclusion.
Also include diagrams and photographs as needed.
The project should be self-supporting. Use a science fair display board
found at most stores and especially at office supplies stores.
The project should not take up more than a 3 foot by 3 foot square area.
Know your project...judges and spectators will ask you questions. Be polite
and try to answer to the best of your ability. If you don't know the answer
to a question someone asks you, just tell them you don't.....no need to panic!
