Possible Science Fair Topics

Grades 2 to 3*How animals grow *Compound machines and their uses*Animals and their young *How does sound move through matter?*Animals in our lives *The earth's crust and how it changes*Endangered Animals *Rocks and minerals*What do roots, stems and leaves do? *lmportant natural resources*Growing and caring for flowers *Water and the water cycle*The food we get from plants *Weather and weather predicting*How are some plants dangerous? *Clouds and storms*Properties of matter *The moon and sun*How does matter change? *Planets in the solar system*Work, force, and energy *Taking care of your body*Pushing and pulling *Healthy habits*How is energy used? *What are the proper foods to eat?*Simple machines and their uses

4to5*How do temperature changes affect a fish? *Food chains and food webs*Do preservatives stop bread mold from growing? *How animals live underground*How leaves lose water *The life cycle of non-seed plants*The effect of sunlight on plants *How plants make food

\

*What fabrics make good insulators? *How animals and plants adapt in order to survive*Materials that are the best conductors of electricity *How rocks are formed*How are crystals formed? *How air temperature changes*Removing salt from water *Similarities an differences between the planets*The three layers of the earth Compare predictied weather with actual weather*Create your own fossils *Bird's nests*The ocean floor *Series and parallel circuits*Taste buds on the tongue*What does a magnetic field look like?* Properties of minerals

Possible Science Fair Topics

*How water rises in different kinds of plant stems*Forming compounds*How heating water affects the rate at which materials dessolve*Factors affecting how fast liquis will mix*Freezing points of different liquid substances*What metals and/or materials will rust?*Good and poor conductors*Are there particulates in the air we breathe?*What materials are biodegradable?*The effect of different kinds of physical activity on pulse rates*Sprout seeds without using soil*Gestation periods of different mamals*Endangered and threatened species of animals/plants*Environmental effects on the size of animal populations*Succession in an ecosystem*Major sources of energy*Physical and chemical weathering*Weather records and extremes*The life cycle of a star*Solar heaters or cookers*Can nonliving things grow?* Factors affecting germination*The effect of salt water and other liquids on plant growth*How our eyes destinguish color*Different types of satellites*Major nerve pathways in the body*Tissues, organs, and systems of the body*The migration patterns of selected birds*How the human body reacts to exercise and inactivity*The development of the atomic theory*Computers in the field of science*Ways to slow down plant growth

The lists above are not meant to be all-inclusive. Rather they should be used tostimulate and encourage other ideas and possibilities.

*Atoms*Constellations*The circulatory system*How glaciers change the land*Eclipese of the sun and moon*Tides

*What is photosynthesis?*What is respiration?* lnvertebrates*Reptiles and Amphibians* Electricity*The Green House Effect*Nuclear energy*Ways to conserve energy*Fossilfuels*Cell reproduction*The parts of a cell*Benefits of recycling*Earthquakes*What causes volcanoes?*The phases of the moon*Phototropism*Effects of smoking*Laser beam technology*Drinking and driving*Robots

*Rockets into space*Space probes

Science Fair Project Time Line

Date of the Science Fair: March 22 - 25

Date Due Date

Completed

Thinss to Do

Choose a topic and write a question.

Research the topic by using books, the lnternetand other resources.

Write a Hypothesis

Design an experiment to test the hypothesis

3onduct the experiment to test the hypothesis

Mae a table, or chart, for data. Draw one ornore graphs ofthe data.

Write the project report.

Make the project display, or exhibit.

3/2s/20L0 2resent the project at the science fair.

Scientifi c MethodThese are the five steps in conducting any science experiment.

1. Ask a Question or Make an ObservationWhat are you curious about or what have you seen that makes you

wonder?

Right down the question/observation that you have.

2. Write a HypothesisWhat do you think the answer to your question or the reason for your

observations.

Write it down.

3. Make PredictionsWhat are some if/then statements that confirm your hypothesis?

Right this down.

4. Perform Tests or ExperimentsWhat will you do to test your predictions?

Your hypothesis may not have been right.

That's okay!

5. State your ConclusionsWhat did your experiment show?

Did the experiment confirm your hypothesis?

Write this down.

Write your Science Fair Project ReportYour project report communicates to others how you did your experiment and what you

found out from it. This is where you use your notes and observations from your

experiment.

An Outline for your Project ReportCover Pase: ln the middle of the page write the title of your project or your project

question. Next, write your first and last name. Then write the date.

Proie$t Question: Begin our report by stating your project question.

Hvpothesis: State your hypothesis. (This is a prediction to the above question.)

Materials and Equipment Design: Make a list of what materials and supplies you will

use in your experiment. Next, describe the design for your experiment. Be sure to

describe the variables (what changes and what stays the same) and how you will set up

a fair test.

Procedure: Describe how you carried out your experiment and what you found out.

Use complete sentences and punctuation.

Prese4t Data: Make a data table and/or graph to show what your experiment results

were.

Conclusion: Compare your results to your hypothesis. This is where you tell if your

hypothesis was right or wrong. Give details about what your experiment proved.

Acknowledeement Page: Write a bibliography. A bibliography includes the names of

books, magazines, websites, and other resources you used for your project. This is also

where you acknowledge all the help from your family and friends. The best traditions of

science require that you do this.

Place your seven page report in a plain folder or use a report cover. You will need to

display it on the table in front of your project board. The judges will look at the report

and it is worth 100 points as a science grade. lt may be typed or neatly hand written.

Making Your Project Display

Your project display will communicate to others what your

project was all about. The display should be three-sided and

have a brief description of the various parts of your

investigation. You can make your display from poster board, or

use a ready-made project display board. The pages that follow

offer you an outline for a summary for your project display and

a guide to writing a longer project report. Adapt your display to

make it the best for your own project.

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tudaina Form

The following criteria have been used in many Check off the applicable items and assign a point

science fairs around the country to evaluate science value from 0 to the total potential point for thatfair projects. You are encouraged to share these points subsection. Add up the point for all the subsections

with your students and their parents throughout the for an overall score,

weeks leading up to the science fair. NOTE: You should feel free to work with your

Each of the two major categories - Display/Display students or colleagues to modify this form (e.g.,

Materials and Written Report - has been assigned adding or deleting subsections or substituting

a possible 100 points (200 points total). lndividual alternative questions) to suit the specific conditions

subsections have suggested point values attached to of your school or science program. Adjustmentthem; however, not every item in these lists will apply of point values for selected subsections is also

to every project. encouraged.

Disolav/Disolav Materials

Creativity {30 points} Score Thoroughness (15 points) Score

Are the materials presented imaginatively?ls the project origional?ls the display attractively designed?

ls the project distinctive?

ls interesting information included

in the display?

Are the data or results interpretedappropriately?

Has the student shown inventiveness?

Scientific Thought (30 points) Score

ls the experiment designed to answer aquestion?

ls the topic or problem stated clearly and

completely?Have appropriate resources been cited?Have experts been consulted?Has a systematic plan of action been

stated?ls there an adequate solution or conclusion?

ls the project notebook provided with thedisplay?

Have any problems or limitations been

noted?

Does the Student understand all the factsandlor theories?

ls the project complete?Does the project represent a sufficientamount of time?ls a problem adequately answered orpursued?

Does the project include a display unitthree-dimensional items, and a

written report?Does the project tell a complete story?Were all potential sources ofinformation consu lted?

Skill(15 points) Score

Does the project represent thestudent's own work?

Does the project represent qualityworkmanship?

How much outside assistance did thestudent need?

Does the project indicate extensiveplanning?

How much supervision did the studentrequire?

Clarity (10 pointsl Score

Are titles and written descriptions legible?

Are the data clearly presented?

Can the average person understand the project?

ls the written material well prepared?

Are drawings and diagrams neat and attractive?

Are discussions clear and straightforward?

TOTAL FOR

Y/DTSPTAY MATERTAIS

100 possible points)

Title Page (2 pointsl Score

ls it present?

ls the title of the project and the student's

name included?

Table of Contents (5 points) Score

Are all parts listed?

Are all sections listed in order?

Statement of Purpose (15 points) Score

Does it pose a question that can be

investigated or measured?

Does it pertain to the experiment or

project conducted?ls it within the student's ability level?

Hypothesis {included for experiments only} Score

Does it answer the purpose?

Does it tell what the student is trying todetermine with the project?

Research (15 pointsl Score

Does the research pertain to the topic?

ls it complete and thorough?

Does it represent a diversity of sources?

Are print/non-print resources included?

Material(10points) Score

Are all materials listed?

Are specific amounts given?

Are there sufficient materials?

Procedures {10 points) Score

Are procedures listed inchronological order?

Could the project/experiment be

replicated?Are they in a logical order?

Observations (15 points) Score

Do observ. indicate what was done?

Did the student choose the best forfor recording the observations?Are they sequential?

Conclusion (15 points)

Does it answer the purpose?

lf an experiment, does itadequately explain the results?

ls it sufficient in for and length?

Bibliography {8 points) Score

ls it in alphabeticalorder?ls it sufficient?

At FOR WRITTEN REPORT

POSSTBTE POTNTS)

AL FOR PROJECT

POSSTBTE POTNTS)