Science Fair Project StrategiesScience Fair Project Strategies

Gail Guzman Teen Librarian

Patty Higgins Reference Librarian

Kelli Staley Information Technology

Lansing Public Library

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Science Projects…Science Projects…

Teach you to manage time over a longer assignment.

Teach research skills when finding your information.

Teach you to keep organized records of your experiment.

Teach critical thinking skills.

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Our PlanOur Plan

Finding a topicResearching your topic

– Encyclopedias & Reference Books– Non-fiction books– Online Resources

Searching our catalogFinding articles

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A Galaxy of Ideas…A Galaxy of Ideas…Where Do You Start?Where Do You Start?

Books Magazines Websites

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Books to Give You IdeasBooks to Give You Ideas

Science Fair collection Science Experiments

binders

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Magazines to give you ideasMagazines to give you ideas

Discover Discovery Kids Mother Earth News National Geographic Popular Science Science

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http://www.lansing.lib.il.us/Web/sciencefair.htmhttp://www.lansing.lib.il.us/Web/sciencefair.htm

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http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/ideas.htmlhttp://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/ideas.html

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http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/topic.htmlhttp://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/topic.html

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Using Project Idea WebsitesUsing Project Idea Websites

Can give you lots if ideas for your project.

Can help you decide what interests you.

A good idea may still be difficult to research, depending on equipment needed, or time required.

Many students use the same websites to get ideas.

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Ways to find a science fair Ways to find a science fair project idea #1project idea #1

Look at lists of science categories and pick one that you are interested in, then narrow that down to a project. (example, say you pick psychology, then narrow it to the differences between boys and girls, then to a topic like "Do boys remember boy-type pictures (footballs) better than girl-type pictures (flowers)?"

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Ways to find a science fair Ways to find a science fair project idea #2project idea #2

Use your experiences Remember a time you noticed something and thought "I wonder how that works?" or "I wonder what would happen if..." then turn that into a project.

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Ways to find a science fair Ways to find a science fair project idea #3project idea #3

Think about current events. Look at the newspaper. People are hungry in Africa because of droughts - a project on growing plants without much rain, which types grow ok with little water? Or the ozone hole over Antarctica - how can we reduce ozone? -a project on nonaerosol ways to spray things. Or oil spills. how can we clean them up? -a project on how to clean oil out of water.

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Ways to find a science fair Ways to find a science fair project idea #4project idea #4

Watch commercials on TV. Test their claims. Does that anti-perspirant really stop wetness better than other ones? What are the real differences between Barbie and imitation Barbie dolls? Can kids tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi if they don't know which they are drinking?

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Keep it specific!Keep it specific!

Make sure your project is well defined.

Pick a project that is age appropriate.

Pick a project that you can accomplish.

Make sure you have enough time to complete your project!

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– What freezes faster, water or juice?

Better Idea:– What freezes faster, water or orange juice?

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– Do plants grow if you feed them?

Better Idea:– Do plants grow if you feed them sugar, or

salt?

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– What makes mold grow?

Better Idea:– What makes mold grow on bread?

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– Solar panels

Better Idea:– Solar panels: are they efficient, and why?

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– Batteries

Better Idea:– Build a battery.

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Sample TopicsSample Topics

Idea:– Transporting electrical currents.

Better Idea:– Transporting electrical currents through

vegetables.

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Scientific MethodScientific Method

Purpose: What am I trying to discover or prove? Research. Hypothesis: What do you think will happen? Procedure: How will I do this?

Your steps of an experiment. Results: What your experiment showed.

Organize your data into charts or graphs. Conclusion: Evaluate results into a summary.

It’s OK if your hypothesis was wrong if your results prove your experiment.

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Research-Searching for Research-Searching for Information on Your TopicInformation on Your Topic

Sometimes, terms are obvious– For plants, you can look at how they grow

Often search terms require critical thinking– For solar panels, look up sunlight and energy

as well.

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……an examplean example

Project topic:Why do nails rust in water?

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Specify Your TopicSpecify Your Topic

Define the topic:– Why does an iron nail rust in water?– Why does an iron nail rust in salt water?– Does an iron nail rust faster in a 25% salt water

solution or a 50% salt water solution?– Does an iron nail rust faster in ice water, 60

degree water, 100 degree water, or boiling water?

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Check the Check the Dictionary!Dictionary!

Rust (noun) 1. Any of various reddish-brown oxides formed on iron and iron containing materials by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water. 2. Any of various metallic coatings formed by corrosion.

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Decide on Your Search TermsDecide on Your Search Terms

WaterIronChemical interactionCorrosionOxidationRust

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Background ReadingBackground Reading

Explore the library resources to find information on the general concept that your science project investigates.

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Beginning Your ResearchBeginning Your Research

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Dewey Decimal System:Dewey Decimal System:How the library is organizedHow the library is organized

Science materials have call numbers in the 500s-600s.

General Science 500Chemistry 540Botany (plants) 581Biology 574

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Reference CollectionReference Collection

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General CollectionGeneral Collection

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Lansing Library CatalogLansing Library Catalog

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Sorting & LimitingSorting & Limiting

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SWANSWAN

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SWANSWAN

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SWANSWAN

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OCLC WorldCatOCLC WorldCat

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OCLC WorldCatOCLC WorldCat

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EBSCOEBSCO

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EBSCOEBSCO

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EBSCOEBSCO

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First SearchFirst Search

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First SearchFirst Search

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First SearchFirst Search

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First SearchFirst Search

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Internet ResearchInternet Research

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Can’t trust everything Can’t trust everything on the interneton the internet

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Trusted WebsitesTrusted Websites

Lansing Public Library– www.lansing.lib.il.us

Illinois Clicks!– www.illinoisclicks.org

Internet Public Library– www.ipl.org

Librarians’ Internet Index– www.lii.org

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Lansing Library WebsiteLansing Library Website

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Illinois Clicks!Illinois Clicks!

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Internet Public LibraryInternet Public Library

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Librarian’s Internet IndexLibrarian’s Internet Index

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Wikis: Collaborative WebsitesWikis: Collaborative Websites

A wiki is a group of Web pages that allows users to add content, as on an Internet forum, but also allows others (often completely unrestricted) to edit the content.

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WikipediaWikipediawww.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org

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5 Tips for Success5 Tips for Success

Start as soon as your teacher assigns a project.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Plan ahead. Ask Librarians if you need help finding

information. HAVE FUN!

Thank you for coming!Thank you for coming!

Please fill out the feedback form!

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