Science Fair

 
  • If information on the scientific method is needed, see these websites:

Ø      http://www.brainpop.com/science/matter/scientificmethod/index.weml  

Find out what the scientific method is by watching this fun video.  Requires Flash.

 

Ø      http://www.sciserv.org/isef/primer/scientific_method.asp 

Good description of the scientific method. Asks questions a good scientist would be asking and explains the different aspects of the scientific method.

 

Ø      http://plymouthschools.com/Science/scifair/scimeth7.htm 

An overview of the scientific method.

 

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html 

Before starting your project you need to understand the scientific method. This section uses examples to illustrate and explain the basic steps of the scientific method.

 

Ø      http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htm 

A descriptive guide to the scientific method.

 

How to Help Students Choose a Question

  • Use pages 5-6 and 18 of Elementary Science Fair Handbook. See global document link.
  • These sites give information about what makes a good project:

Ø      http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Resources/Good_Project.html

A website from USC that gives a lot of good tips and ideas to think about regarding what makes a good science fair project. Advice for students as well as teachers.

 

Ø      http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

Site gives a thorough and detailed description of the steps to a successful science fair project.

 

  • Finding an idea for your project can be the hardest part. Ideas for science fair projects come from many sources. Have students list interests and choose a topic from interests.
  • If students need ideas, use these websites on project ideas:

Ø      http://www.nyelabs.com

Click on the Home Demos link and you can use the pull down menu to select from forty experiments

Ø      http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htm

Agriculture science projects you can do. Use these ideas as a jumping-off place for coming up with your own project.

Ø      http://www.rossarts.org/naples/ideas.htm

Science projects ideas under plants, animals, earth science, human body, physical science, and consumer science.

Ø      http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/buginfo/scifair.htm

Science fair topics related to insects.

Ø      http://camel.math.ca/Education/mpsf/

A list of math projects for science fairs. Level of difficulty varies.

Ø      http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ideas.html

This site offers tips and sample topics as a starting point. 

Ø      http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/index.html#chemical

Topics on Chemical/Stored Energy, Electricity, Geothermal, Hydro-Power/Water Energy, Nuclear Energy, Saving Energy, Solar, Transportation, and Wind Energy. It also includes a really Great Reference Sheet for What Makes a Good Science Fair Project.

Ø      http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/index.html

From blowing, bouncing, bursting bubbles to dramatic static, this site tells you what you need, what to do, as well as explaining what's going on.

Ø      http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/ScienceInternet/GetStarted.html

Guides you through the steps of picking a topic, including how to narrow down your topic.  Also, the site includes ways to find project ideas along with some simple exercises in how to frame your idea into a research question.

Ø      http://www.madsci.org/experiments/

A comprehensive list of experiments and descriptions in the following categories: Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics.

Ø      http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/experi.html

Ideas for science fair projects in the area of Neuroscience. Some questions asked are: Can your eyes deceive you? How good is your memory? Do you remember your Dreams? Experiments for grades 3-12.

Ø      http://www.neiu.edu/~pjdolan/chemistry.htm

A list of chemistry-related science fair ideas.

Ø      http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/sciencefair.html

A list of questions is given that might help get a student started with a photosynthesis science fair project. They can also follow a link to "What is Photosynthesis?"

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/ideas.html

This site breaks down ideas into topic areas such as "Animals and Insects," "Food and Our Bodies," and "Plants and Gardening."

Ø      http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/

Science Fairs offers the student numerous scientific categories from which to choose and then provides a large number of project ideas in each category. It tries to provide a good mix of ideas so that both younger students as well as high school students will find useful ideas.

Ø      http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/science.html

Taken from the Science Made Simple newsletter, this site contains 4 projects readers can do that explain scientific concepts with experiments.

Ø      http://www.southlakems.org/science_fair_ideas.htm

Science fair topics in the following categories: Behavioral Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Science, Engineering, Light, Microbiology. Beginning to advanced topics.

Ø      http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/act-summ.html

List of science fair projects under categories including bioscience, communications, computers, earth science, energy, mathematics, oceanography, physical sciences, space transportation. Level of difficulty K-8 is indicated.

Ø      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/sciencefair.html

The U.S. Geological Survey provides a fun list of earthquake project ideas.

How to Help Students Design Experiments

Ø      http://www.botany.com/ 

This site provides information regarding the general description of plants and includes a dictionary of botanical words. 

Ø      http://www.chem4kids.com/ 

This site contains some valuable basic chemistry information. Several scientific terms are explained in simple language and are then related to everyday living.

Ø      http://www.madsci.org/libs/libs.html 

An excellent starting point for exploring science resources.

Ø      http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Glossary.htm 

Extensive scientific glossary.

Ø      http://sciencenet.tpl.toronto.on.ca/ 

This science reference site is divided into how to search (A-Z or subject) as well as age level of the searcher. 

Ø      http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/index.html 

Run a search for an animal and all files with that name appear. Choose an animal and the classification, physical traits, behavior, and environment are given.

  • Websites for asking an expert/scientist: (First check out the site's archive to see if your question has already been answered.)

Ø      http://www.allexperts.com/browse.asp?Meta=6 

Ask questions in the following topics: Accuweather, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace/Aviation, Architecture, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Entomology, Environmental Science, Geology, Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Molecular Biology, Naval Architecture, Oceanography, Paleontology, Physics, Popular Science, Zoology.

Ø      http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/ask-a-geologist/about.html 

Look through their frequently asked questions.  You can also send your own earth science questions and a USGS earth scientist will answer it in a few days, or offer referrals to other resources.

Ø      http://www.madsci.org/submit.html 

If you have a science question, just ask the members of the Mad Scientist Network.

Ø      http://is.dal.ca/~sits/askascitst.html 

A Science reference site that allows you to e-mail your science questions.

Ø      http://mathforum.org/dr.math/ 

Ask Dr. Math is a question and answer service for K-12 math.

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/askjvc.html 

Janice Van Cleave will answer questions about science fairs.

Ø      http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/ 

A site that you can use to ask physics questions. Either submit a new question or scan through the archives of previously asked questions.

Ø      http://www.askanexpert.com/ 

Connects you with hundreds of real world experts, from astronauts to zookeepers. 

Recommended Components of a Project

  • See pages 8-10 of Elementary Science Fair Handbook. See global document link.
  • Use websites that take you through all the steps of a project:

Ø      http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

This site has one-sentence explanations of each part of a science fair. The site also has an explanation of what makes a good project and an explanation of how to come up with your own science fair project.

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/

This site provides a complete guide to science fair projects. 

Ø      http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/SciProjIntro.html

An excellent resource for students doing an experiment-based science fair project.

Ø      http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/scifun/projects.htm

Detailed step-by-step guide to doing a science fair project.

Ø      http://www.gdlewis.ednet.ns.ca/gartland/scifair.html#topics

Includes help on choosing a topic, the scientific method, planning your project, the presentation, and the report.

Ø      http://users.rcn.com/tedrowan/primer.html

A site to help students get started and run a science fair project.

Ø      http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/observation.htm

Step by step instructions on the science fair project. Categories include observation, question, hypothesis, method, result, conclusion, presentation.

Ø      http://www.scifair.org/

A variety of resources and advice.

  • Websites for presentation of project:

Ø      http://www.stcalaska.org/displayhints.htm 

Hints for good science fair displays:  Overall consideration, Display panels, Colors, Good Color Combinations, Panel Layout, Lettering, Headlines, Type.

Ø      http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/ScienceInternet/ChartsGraphs.html 

Examples of charts and graphs; which graph or chart is the best for your data.

Ø      http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/ScienceInternet/Display.html 

Whether you are doing a backboard, a presentation, or a paper this site has it all.

Ø      http://plymouthschools.com/Science/scifair/display.htm 

Includes tips on materials, color, lettering, drawings, and photos.

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/display.html 

Helpful hints on your display, as well as some do's and don'ts.

Ø      http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/presandeval.html 

Advice on judging, as well as some Do's and Don'ts for the Science Fair.

Ø      http://www.scifair.org/articles/display.shtml 

Tips on how to set up your display boards with picture.

 

Websites and information from C-FB ISD COL