Science Fair
Sacred Heart Parish School Science Fair
March 22, 2010, 5:30 to 8:00pm
Science Fair Participants
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Journal | Scientific Method | Rules | Getting Ideas | What to Expect
Your Display | Science Fair Project Ideas | Resources
2009-2010 Science Fair Student Packet
- explore topics of interest
- talk with a scientist
- each others what they learned
- see a science performance
- have lots of fun learning
Your Journal
You will need a journal. Write down everything you do every step of the way. It will be a record of all your topic ideas, hypothesis', resources, test results, and conclusions. Use it to keep track of all your ideas even if you don't end up using them. You should bring your journal to the science fair and include it in your display. Back to Top
The Scientific Method
The Sacred Heart Parish School Science Fair requires students to do a project that reflects the scientific method. This is a specific set of steps. Learn more about the scientific method at these links:
Sometimes a science project that looks fun to do ends up being a "science demonstration" instead of a science project. (K-3)
Most demonstrations can be turned into experiments.
- After a demonstration has been done once, decide on a variable.
- Make a hypothesis about how you think the variable will change the demonstration.
- Test your hypothesis.
- Record your results and research the reasons why.
- Make some conclusions comparing what you thought would happen and what actually did happen.
Rules
All participants in the science fair must follow these important rules:
- Your project must not hurt anyone.
- Your project must not hurt animals.
- Dangerous chemicals are not allowed.
- No open flames are allowed.
- Live animals cannot come to the fair.
Getting Ideas
Deciding on a science fair project can be stressful. Science project ideas are all around you everyday. Many of the things you wonder about can be turned into a science project.
- You can experiment with living things.
- You can work with a friend.
- You can turn a toy into a science project.
- You can test human responses.
- You can do consumer research.
- You can have a hands on display to help others understand your experiment.
- You can test a scientific principle.
What to Expect at the Science Fair on March 22, 2010
- You will bring your project to the gym before school at 7:30am on March 22nd. A table to display your science fair project will be reserved for you. It is important that you let the science fair project chairpersons know how much space you need and if you need electricity. It will help them decide on a spot that will be perfect for your project. Set up your project and make sure you have everything there that you need for the science fair.
- Come back to school promptly at 5:30pm. Stay by your project some of the time. Spend some time looking around to see what other students have done and asking questions about their project.
- Judges (scientists) will speak with you about your project. This is a special opportunity for you. The scientist will ask you some questions about your project, but you will also be able to ask questions.
- Winners will be announced the next morning (March 23rd).
- Be ready to answer questions about your project. If appropriate, you can have supplies on hand for people to "do" your experiment.
- At 2:50pm you need to come to the gym and take your display home.
Showing Your Science Fair Experiment
After you have done your experiment and recorded the results of all your tests with notes and pictures or drawings and made your conclusions you will be ready to create the display that you will bring to the Science Fair.
Think of a title for your project that is creative and will make people want to come and look at it.
Your display has two main parts:
- a visual display
- a brief oral presentation
The visual display must stand up on a table by itself. The overall maximum size is 4ft wide x 2 1/2ft deep x 6 1/2 ft high
Your visual display should . . .
-
be attractive
-
be easy to read and understand
-
include your journal
-
have pictures or drawings
-
have some examples of your experiments
-
have charts or graphs
Your oral presentation should . . .
- tell how you chose your idea
- tell what you thought would happen
- explain how you set up your experiment
- have answers to questions about your experiment
- explain what happened
- tell if your hypothesis was correct
- tell what new scientific information you learned
- tell what new questions you have
Some Science Project Ideas
Scifair.org
Many projects at this site are demonstrations with some explanations. They could easily be turned into experiments by adding some research, playing with variable, and recording test results.
Yes Mag Project
Easy to follow instructions for some science demonstrations that can be expanded into science experiments. This site has some good illustrations and information about buying kits.
Science For Fun...Some Surprising Science Facts
This site presents a surprising science fact and an experiment to help you prove and understand it.
The Adventures of Science Bob
Click on "experiments" and then "choose an experiment" to try.
Science Playwiths
An interesting site that uses simple items to pose interesting questions and answer them. (Click on set of small experiments.)
Sport!Science
What's the science behind baseball, the skateboard, and hockey.
How Can I Make...
Directions on how to make science experiments and projects at home.
Ideas for your project
An excellent site with general information, answers to questions, and connections to other resources.
Newton's Apple Science Tryits
An alphabetical listing of all Newton Apple shows. For each there is a question to answer, activities and definitions. A great resource for science fair projects.
Energy and Science Projects
Detailed descriptions of science experiments that use different types of energy.
Neuroscience for Children-Experiments and Activities
Experiments concerning the function of the brain.
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye the science guy gives some easy directions and explanations of "What's Happening" to get you started asking questions that may turn into a science fair experiment.
Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab
This site gives directions for some experiments organized by difficulty.
Cyber - Fair
This site answers the question "what makes a good project". It suggests how to create a question that will lead to a science fair experiment.
Resources
Cornell Math and Science Gateway
This site has information about categories such as physics, chemistry, and meteorology. There are some virtual field trips included. This site is for older children.
Ask an Expert
Look at an experts web site to see if you can find the answer to your question. If you can't, you can email your question.
Thinking Fountain
This great site is from the Science Museum of Minnesota. Select "A to Z" index of ideas and get activities and definitions for younger children.
Chemistry 4 Kids
Use the site map to help you find answers in specific areas of chemistry.
Biology Projects
Use the site map to help you find answers in specific areas of biology.
Earth Science
Use the site to help you find answers in specific areas of physics.
The Physics Classroom
This site has explanations of "Laws of Physics". Useful information, but may need a parent to assist with the reading.
Fizzics Fizzle
A beginner's guide to physics.
StarChild
Excellent resource to answer your questions about space.
Yahooligans
A search engine for children.
MadSci Archives
Go to "search" and enter keywords and grade level to help in your search. This site will also let you ask an expert questions and use its library to connect to other related links
Energy Quest
A treasury of sites about energy.
Other science related links:
- California State Science Fair: Science Fair Resources
- Science Fair Project Ideas
- Science News for Kids: ScienceFairZone: Topics
- Science Fair Central has science fair project ideas for kids.
- Agricultural Ideas for Science Fair Projects
- The Science Club
- Earthquakes for Kids