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The 2026 Zach Science Fair will be held in February!
Sign up deadline: Friday, January 28th
Fair Submissions: February 16, 2026
Judging Window: February 20, 2026
Do you have questions about things you see in the world around you? a science Experiment can help you Find Answers!
The Science Fair is an opportunity to share what you learned using the Scientific Method to explore questions about the natural world.
Use this page to help you learn about the Scientific Method so you can create a science fair project.
Students in grades K-3 you may choose to do a research project on a science topic of your choice.
The Scientific Method starts with a QUESTION.
Watch the videos below to learn each part of the
Scientific Method:
Parts of a Science Fair Project:
Question
Your research question is what you hope to figure out. You should be able to write the research question in a simple sentence. For example:
"What happens to seeds if they are kept at different temperatures before they are planted?"
"What bubble gum keeps its flavor the longest?"
"What is the best way to remove slime from a carpet?"
"Which soap makes the largest bubbles?"
CLICK HERE for more ideas!
The Hypothesis
The hypothesis is what you expect to happen in your experiment. For the research question about seeds (above), the hypothesis might be, "higher temperatures will make seeds sprout faster." It's a guess about what you think will happen. Your results might not match your hypothesis and that is ok.
The Procedure
The procedure is the plan for how you will conduct your experiment. Once you decide on a procedure, write it down step by step. That way, you can prove what you did and can follow the same procedure if you need to repeat the experiment.
Here are some things to think about:
An experiment can only have one variable. That is, you can change only one condition in each experiment. For example, with the seed experiment, the variable is the temperature at which the seeds are kept before you plant them. Keep each group of seeds at that temperature for the same amount of time. Also make sure that all the seeds get the same amount of light and water after you plant them.
How long will your experiment take? If you only have a few weeks to do your experiment, decide on a procedure that you can carry out in that time.
Consider your "sample size." How many seeds will you test at each temperature? Allow a big enough sample so that you can have a few duds in each group.
The Results
Results are the data, or information, that you collected. Your data should be in numbers. For example, let's say that some of your plants grew 1 centimeter the first week. Don't just write that the plants "look bigger"; write down exactly how much they grew.
The Conclusion
The conclusion is what you learned from doing the experiment. You might also think of the conclusion as a summary. In just a few sentences, your conclusion explains what happened in your experiment and whether it supported your hypothesis.
What if your results do not support your hypothesis? That is perfectly fine. You're not out to "prove" your hypothesis but to test it. Think along the lines of "here's what I thought was going to happen, and here's what actually happened." Then go on to explain why you think things happened the way they did.
The best projects come from your own unique ideas,
but here are some examples to get your brain working.
Do all crayon colors last the same? Draw a really long line with one color, then draw the same length of line with another color. Are both crayons the same length?
What is the effect of microwaving seeds on their germination rate? Test seeds that sprout quickly, like radish seeds, and different microwave times, such as fove seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, one minute. Use a control (no microwave) treatment for comparison.
Will seeds germinate if you soak them in a liquid other than water? You can try milk, juice, vinegar, and other common household liquids. Alternatively, you could see if plants will grow if they are "watered" with liquids other than water.
Does wiping a doorknob with an antibacterial wipe really reduce the numbers of bacteria? Does using hand sanitizer really reduce the amount of bacteria on your hands?
Do worms react when they are exposed to light? Do they react differently when they are exposed to different colors of light?
Do ants prefer different types of sugar? Test using table sugar, honey, maple syrup, and molasses.
Can people taste the difference between drinks sweetened with Stevia (a natural non-caloric sweetener) and sugar? Which do they prefer?
Are there any dyes you can add to water living plants that change the color of their flowers? Hint: Some modern orchids are tinted blue using dyes, so it's possible.
Can you tell different brands of soda pop apart based on taste?
Do different types of carbonated sodas have different pH? Do you think this can affect tooth decay?
Inspiration from Science Fair experts,
previous Google Science Fair Winners!
The Google Science Fair was a worldwide online science competition sponsored by Google, Lego, Virgin Galactic, National Geographic and Scientific American. It was an annual event spanning the years 2011 through 2018.
Contact Mrs. Nimlo if you have questions:
jnimlo@psdschools. org
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