1. Science Fair Projects Developed by Ms. Sica-Fosella 10 Easy Steps to Science Project Completion

2. Step 1: Select a Topic/Project Idea What are you interested in finding out? What observations have you made that lead you to a question you want to answer? Can you obtain the materials that you need to experiment on this topic?

3. Step 2: Summarize your Project Purpose What is the purpose of your project? What your project is all about? How do you plan to complete the experiment? Project Title Write a catchy title that relates to your topic and gets people interested in your project.

4. Step 3: Write a Problem and Hypothesis Problem What do you want to find out? Does your question relate to the topic and the purpose of your experiment? Can you develop an experiment to answer your question? Does your question make sense? Is it confusing?

5. Step 3: Write a Problem and Hypothesis Hypothesis What do you think will happen? Make a prediction using observations, past knowledge and research. Make sure you explain WHY you made the prediction. Can your hypothesis be tested with an experiment? BE SPECIFIC! Use complete sentences.

6. Step 4: Research What information do you need to know about your topic before you can experiment? Search in books, encyclopedias, magazines, the internet and other sources for information. Write facts about your topic. List all of your references – write down each website that you use.

7. Step 5: Materials and Procedure What materials will you use to complete your experiment? Make sure you only choose materials that you can get! What steps will you follow to test your hypothesis? BE SPECIFIC! Label your steps using 1, 2, 3, and so on. Would someone else be able to follow your directions? Are there any safety concerns?

8. Step 6: Experiment and Results Be sure to display your data in an organized manner. Use a table or chart to help you show your results. Don’t forget to label! Include enough data to prove or disprove your hypothesis. Write down any observations you made during your experiment. Draw pictures of your experiment. Take photos of the experiment and yourself performing the experiment.

9. Step 7: Draw Conclusions What do your data and observations tell you? What happened during your experiment? What did you find out? Was your hypothesis proven or rejected? What might have gone wrong, if anything? Are there any new questions that you have after this investigation? Write a summary of what you learned during your experiment.

10. Step 8: Proofread and Edit Proofread your project and edit any mistakes. Did you adjust your materials and procedure to match what you actually used and what you actually did? Have a classmate proofread your project. Have an adult proofread your project. Create a final copy of your project and submit it to your teacher. Now you will receive a project display board!

11. Step 8: Create your project display board Use the layout shown to create your display board. Make it neat and attractive! Write your name, teacher, and school on the back of your board. Question Hypothesis Materials Procedure Title of Project Observations/ Photographs/Graphs Results (Explanation of Data ) Conclusion Real Life Applications and/or Interactive Portion Acknowledgements and Resources Written Report 3-D Representation or Model that Corresponds with Project Grades 3- 7

12. Step 10: Present your Project Decide what you are going to say during your presentation and how you will demonstrate your experiment to the class. Place notes on index cards to guide you during your presentation. Practice your presentation at home. Be ready to answer questions from your classmates and teachers. Bring your project display board and experiment to school on the due date. Carry it in a bag, container, or box that has your name on it!