1. Science Projects  Review published materials related to your problem or question. This is called background research.  Evaluate possible solutions and guess why you think it will happen (hypothesis).  Include all materials needed for the experiment.  Experimental design (procedure). In designing the experiment, it is critical that only one variable – a condition that may effect the results of the experiment – is changed at a time. This makes the experiment a ‘controlled’ experiment.  Challenge and test your hypothesis through your procedure of experimentation (data collection) and analysis of your data. Use graphs to help see patterns in the data.  Draw conclusions based on empirical evidence from the experiment.

2. On the Project Board  Title  Abstract  Purpose  Hypothesis  Materials  Procedures  Data with graphs  Conclusion  Pictures – Pictures - Pictures

3. On the Table  Notebooks, journals, reference articles, etc. which document your work. These need not be fancy. Bring what you really used to write down your observations, your thoughts, and your analysis. Share your rough materials with the judges.  Abstract- A brief description of your research summarized to 250 - 300 words. Extra copies should be available for the judges.  Your Research Report is not intended to be a longwinded library thesis about stuff you read in an encyclopedia. It's supposed to be about your work- The story that you would tell the judges about each item in your display if you were there.  Experimental materials (if needed), specimens, samples, simulated items, etc. It depends on what you feel is important to display your findings.

4. Font Size and Lettering  Titles font size 72 or 100 bold  Font size on board 20 or 22  Font type should be simple easy to read such as times new roman or California bold, something similar is fine, but nothing difficult to read.  Font colors should be solid colors, no pastels ( light colors ).

5. On the Board  All papers including pictures should have a background paper, where the typed paper is on a piece of construction paper.  Title or header board can be any way you like.  Use brass pins for mounting, no glue or tape.  Choose colors that are complementary to your project board.