Science Fair
Riverdale Science Fair
December 19, 2023
Step 1: Choose a topic
Find a topic that interests you! If you need help finding a topic, try some of the following websites.
Science Buddies: Use the topic selection wizard to help you figure out which science project interest you most. Once you have a topic, get help doing research, setting up the experiment, and completing it.
Science Fair Central: Includes cool project ideas, a science fair handbook, reviews of students' experiments, and more from Discovery Channel School.
Finally, state your purpose as a question. What do you want to find out? For help writing a scientific question, click here. The videos below are also good starting points.
How to Do a Science Fair Project
Get Your Idea and Do Some Research
Ask a Testable Question
Step 2: Do some research
Read through books and websites to learn as much as possible about your topic. You may want to consider watching some educational videos as well. Summarize your research in a written essay. Be sure to give credit to the author of the book or website where you found your information on a works cited page. Here is a sample research essay for you to use as a guide.
Step 3: Form a hypothesis
Before you begin your experiment, you need to form a hypothesis. Based on your research, what do you think is going to happen in your experiment? What do you think your results will be? It is okay if your hypothesis is not supported by your data. This article may help you write a hypothesis for your experiment.
Step 4: Conduct the experiment
It is important to make a plan before experimenting and set up your lab notebook.This website will provide you with tips to organize your lab notebook before beginning your experiment. Next, Identify your variables. Decide what procedures you will follow to ensure that you have a fair test. How will you measure the dependent variable? Where will you record your information. Once you have determined these factors, you may begin experimenting! Watch the following videos for help with making a plan for your experiment and identifying variables.
Be sure to conduct multiple trials (at least 3), so your results are more reliable. Be sure to take photos of YOU conducting your experiment to include on your display board.
If you would prefer, you could use the Engineering Design Process to build a prototype and test it for the science fair. Visit this website to learn about the Engineering Design Process.
Design and Conduct Your Experiment
Variables
Step 5: Analyze your data
As you conduct your experiment, you will want to collect data by measuring the dependent variable. Be sure to record your measurements in a notebook/on paper, and then organize the data in a table, graph, or chart. You can create a graph using Google sheets or Excel if you would like, or this website is very user friendly for creating graphs to download to your computer.
What did you learn from your experiment? What did you notice about your results? Did your data support your hypothesis? The following videos may help you as you analyze your data and share your results.
Examine Your Results
Communicate Your Experiment Results
Step 6: Share your results
The last step is to create your display. You may use handwritten titles, charts, graphs, or diagrams for your display, or feel free to use a computer. Be sure to make the parts of your display neat and large enough to see.
Contact your teacher to get a display board, and glue your items to the board. Place any notes, observations, extra photos, or data in a folder or binder for judges to view.
For tips on organizing your display board, refer to this website.
Step 6: Prepare for your presentation
It's time to prepare for judging. Part of being successful is practicing. Below you will find some tips to make your presentation a huge success! This website will give you tips for organizing your science fair lab notebook.
