Projects
Helping Students Select a Science Fair Topic
Parents can help provide direction and narrow down choices, but the final choice of topic should be the student’s. His or her motivation will be a critical factor in the successful completion of the project. Parents may pose these questions to help students refine their choices and decide on the most suitable area to explore.
Interests
- What kinds of things do you enjoy doing?
- What area of science interests you the most?
- If you could be a scientist, what would you like to do?
- What are your hobbies or free time activities?
- What do you like to do on rainy days?
- What kinds of books do you like to read?
- Which movies or TV shows might give you ideas or information?
- What are your special skills of talents?
Difficulty Level
- How hard will this topic be for you to understand?
- What problems have you had with this subject before?
- Are you familiar with this topic or is it brand new?
- Do you think you will need to gather a lot of outside information?
- Will you be able to work in this area for 6 weeks and still be interested?
- What special tools or apparatus do you think you’ll need?
Time
- Will you be able to spend some time on this project every week for 6 weeks?
- How long do you think you will need to gather information about this topic?
- Are you interested enough in this subject to spend a great deal of time on it?
- Will you need to set up a special schedule to complete all the things you need to do?
- Do you have enough free time at home to work on the project?
Materials
- What special materials do you think you’ll need for this project?
- Do you have those materials at home or will you need to buy them?
- Will you need to construct anything complicated?
- Will you need help in putting the display together?
- Will you need to order any materials through the mail?
- Will you be able to buy materials in local stores?
- Will your materials be inexpensive or costly?
Guidance
- How much help will you need with your project?
- Will you be able to do most or all of the work yourself
- Will you need to consult any experts in your chosen field?
- How much involvement will your parents have?
- Will you be able to build the display unit on your own?
Safety
- Will you be able to follow all safety rules in putting your project together?
- Are there dangers from equipment or materials associated with your project?
- Will there be any dangers to observers of your project?
- Will there be any danger to you at any time during the investigation of this project?
Oftentimes students select a topic simply because everyone else has selected it. Please help your child to understand that the choice of an appropriate topic depends on allowing students to explore self-chosen areas of interest that will be a major factor in making the science fair a positive learning experience.
(Taken from The Complete Science Fair Handbook by Anthony D. Frederick and Isaac Asimov)
Six-Week Timetable for Science Fair Project
Date of Science Fair: May 28, 2008
Date to begin working on project (count back 6 weeks from Science Fair opening date): ___________________________
Week 1
- Choose a topic or problem to investigate
- Check resources in school or community library
- Contact experts in the field
- Gather all the written material you can find on the topic
Week 2
- Begin putting your project notebook together
- Start collections or experiments
- Begin designing display unit
Week 3
- Begin building display unit
- Design all visual aids
- Take the photographs you need
- Complete your research
- Consult with experts (scientists, college professors, teachers, parents) to check your progress
- Write first draft of report
Week 4
- Continue collecting items for display
- Continue your experiments
- Set up your apparatus and test it
Week 5
- Write second draft of report
- Construct background for display
- Design and assemble graphs or charts
- Complete lettering for display unit and mount it
- Double check your written data
- Complete experiment and record data
Week 6
- Write and type final report
- Set up display unit at home and test
- Transport display to science fair site, set it up, and test it
(Taken from The Complete Science Fair Handbook by Anthony D. Frederick and Isaac Asimov)
FYI:
* Please be careful about using food products in their Science Fair Projects. I explained to the children that if a Science Project makes it past the school level in some areas of the country that the project might have to last for months. I realize that they are beginners at this, but I am trying to help them learn it correctly from the beginning. Depending on where you live, Science Fair projects can earn a student quite a bit of money in the form of scholarships and grants. :-)
* There are some great websites out there with examples of how to set up displays. One of them that I found is at
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/display.html
Locally, The Teaching Nook at 4272 W. Oglethorpe Highway has some really good things to support the children's education as well.
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