Your Project Display Board

The science board is the culmination of all your hard work and effort. It presents the research you have done, the experiment you have conducted, and the results you discovered. It is essential that your board is organized in a way that is clear and meaningful to your audience. Above is a picture that can guide you in creating your board, and below are a couple of examples.

You can also visit this website for more information on what to include in each section of your board.

The Scientific Method

The scientific method is what will guide the way you develop your science fair project. It consists of a number of steps that ensure that your project provides reliable and meaningful results. Below is a picture that will introduce you to the scientific method. This can also act as a guide to create your project display board.

Lab Safety

Lab safety is extremely important. Before beginning any experiment, you must be aware of potential hazards and protective measures that can be taken to avoid them. Below you will find three items that can help you become familiar with lab safety.

The first link is a fun video that provides some general guidelines.

Next is an outline of specific safety rules that was created by another teacher.

Finally, here is a safety quiz that can test how much you know about lab safety.

Choosing a Topic

Choosing a topic can be one of the toughest parts of your project. If you choose a topic that is too complex, you may find it difficult to conduct an effective experiment. If you choose a topic that is too simple, then you may find your project boring. You can search the web for a variety of topic lists, that are often arranged by grade level. One website I have found particularly helpful for students, however, is:

http://sciencebuddies.com/science-fair-projects/recommender_register.php

Here you have access to a topic selection wizard that matches your interests and grade level with a number of topics. You can then choose the one that you like best. Even if you do not like any of the topics it suggests, this may be an excellent starting point to get you thinking about what you want to investigate.