Science Fair

Are you… A curious person? Asking questions about why things happen? Or What would happen? Someone who likes to do experiments? If you answered yes to any of the above, then this might be the project for you! Scientific Inquiry always starts out with a purpose in the form of a question. For example, if you want to enter a rock collection, you might ask questions such as these: Are all rocks equally hard? Is the hardness of a rock correlated to the density of a rock? Then you can pose a hypothesis and test it, as well as display an interesting collection of rocks. As another example, you might already know what causes a rainbow. But can you pose some questions and think of some ways that you could demonstrate to the visitors at the science fair how one is formed? 

Scientific Inquiry starts by formulating a question and hypothesis. Then designing an experiment that attempts to prove or illustrate your hypothesis. The steps you will follow are used by scientists to explain problems and their solutions. This process is the scientific method.

The scientific method consists of five steps.

1. Stating the research question to be solved (Purpose)
2. Forming the hypothesis
3. Experimenting and observing
4. Explaining the results
5. Drawing conclusions 

Cool websites to check out:

Science Buddies

Science Bob

Education Science Fair

Before you get started, you must first select a topic. Your project will center around the research question you want to solve. Science covers many general areas from which you can choose a research question. The scientific areas to consider for your project are: 

• Behavioral Science the study of people's behavior in society
• Life Science the study of living things; humans, plants, and animals
• Physical Science the study of physical principles, machines, and technology
• Earth Science the study of things on Earth and in the universe 

Which one is the most exciting to you?

After you have selected a research question, you have performed the first step of the scientific method. The second step is forming the hypothesis. The hypothesis (hi-poth-i-sis) is an educated guess or a possible explanation of the research question.

Example:

Kim and Carlo wanted to solve the question, "Do plants grow taller in sunlight or in artificial light?" They each wrote a possible explanation of the question, And these are the hypotheses they came up with:

Kim's hypothesis: Plants will grow the same, whether in the sun or under artificial light. 💁 Carlo's hypothesis: Plants will grow taller in artificial light,

Can you think of another hypothesis for Kim and Carlo’s project? 

After you have selected an area of science that interests you, think about questions that you are curious about and would like to solve. The question you try to solve will be the topic of your science fair project. You need to choose a question that can be answered by an experiment that you can do or a model you can make. Do not choose a question that does not interest you, or one that is too hard to solve.

The following are sample research questions that may help you think of your own research question.

• How does electricity travel through wire?
• How do batteries work?
• What objects are attracted by magnets?
• How is electricity generated from solar energy?
• How can rusting be prevented?
• How do integrated circuits work?
• What is the shape of the magnetic field? How does a robot work?
• How can gasoline make a car move?
• How can a tomato plant be grafted to a potato plant?
• How does overcrowding affect life in a terrarium?
• Do plants grow better in sunlight or artificial light?
• How does gravity affect the growth of a plant?
• How does mold grow?
• How is a bridge built so it does not collapse? How fast do different fibers burn?
• How is sound obtained from a phonograph record?
• What does a dam do?
• How do soft drinks affect teeth?
• How does a canal lock work?
• How does exercise affect the heart?
• Does the moon rise at the same time every night?
• How do spiders spin webs?
• How accurately are weather and natural disasters forecasted? 

If you are creative and full of ideas, then this topic may be perfect for you. Think about it, you get to invent something that you think may benefit others. You will create an invention, test it, and market it. That’s right, you even get to create an advertisement for it to persuade others why they should use your invention. Most importantly, don’t forget that you must have a working model of your invention on display for everybody to be “Wowed” by.

It All Starts With an Idea 

Virtually everything we use had to be invented. For instance, if you are in a room right now, think of the thousands of inventions that surround you — from the windows to the floors to the furniture to the device that heats or cools the room.Some inventions are famous and legendary, while others are obscure and practically forgotten. Many inventions stand on the shoulders of inventions that came before them. Behind every invention is a person who saw a problem or an opportunity and invented a solution or a new device.

Think of something you hate to do (a chore, a task, anything you do on a regular basis). Imagine that someone could invent something that would make that task easier or go away altogether. Some people invent because they have a concern about a social or environmental issue.

Start with these questions:

• What problem is you’re trying to solve?
• What is a solution?
• Is there a product like this that already exists? If so, how will your idea be a superior to what is already available?

Identify a problem, something that needs fixing, or pick something that would make a daily task easier to perform

Research solutions or inventions that might already exist to solve the problem you identified.

Sketch your ideas out

Build a model or prototype of your invention

Test the model by using it so you can find out what works and what elements may need to be improved

Refine your invention by doing more tests until you have something that works well and the way you intended it to work

Ask yourself: Does my invention address the problem or need? If not, you may want to rethink the original problem you were set out to address or perhaps you have come up with a solution to a new or different problem (that can still 

Check out these sites for ideas:

Kids Love to Know

Inventions Handbook

If you love researching and learning about people that have made a real impact in science, maybe this will be the topic you should choose.

It All Starts With Inspiration

Here is a list of just a few of the famous scientists that have overcome obstacles and have shown courage in their time to change the way we think about our world:

• Niels Bohr
• Archimedes
• Aristotle
• Isaac Newton
• Galilei Galileo
• Albert Einstein
• Nicholas Copernicus
• Thomas Edison
• Nikola Tesla
• Marie Curie
• Benjamin Franklin
• Leonardo Da Vinci 

After you choose a scientist, you will research their life. You will learn about their childhood, schooling, and hobbies. You will also discover how he or she contributed to science. After you have explored the life of your scientist, you will highlight one of their most important accomplishments. Make sure you back this up with evidence of why you feel it was so important. Lastly, you will create a hands-on project to accompany your display board. This project should tie into a contribution or theory that your scientist was instrumental in discovering.

Start with these questions:

What information do I need?

• What were your scientist's inventions or discoveries?
• What awards or recognition did he/she achieve?
• Tell us about his/her family.
• Tell us about his/her schooling.
• Include some information of your choice.
• Include some fun facts.

Where will I get my information?