Project ideas
- Does water with salt boil faster than plain water?
- Can you tell time without a watch or clock?
- Does an ice cube melt faster in air or water?
- How much of an orange is water?
- Will more air in a basketball make it bounce higher?
- Does baking soda lower the temperature of water?
- Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest?
- In my class, who has the biggest feet - boys or girls?
- Does the color of water affect its evaporation?
- How does omitting an ingredient affect the taste of a cookie?
- Which person in my family has the greatest lung capacity?
- Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?
- Which cheese grows mold the fastest?
- Which brand of diaper holds the most water?
- What is the best shape for a kite?
- How does a pulley help you do work?
- What kinds of things do magnets attract?
- What kind of juice cleans pennies best?
- Which materials conduct heat best?
- Do watches keep the same time?
- Which materials dissolve in water?
- Do ants like cheese or sugar better?
- Do plants grow bigger in soil or water?
- Can you separate salt from water by freezing?
- Do suction cups stick equally well to different surfaces?
- How much weight can a growing plant lift?
- Will water with salt evaporate faster than water without salt?
- Do all colors fade at the same rate?
- In my class, who has the smallest hands - boys or girls?
- Does a baseball go farther if hit by a wood or metal bat?
- What gets warmer - sand or dirt?
- Which material makes the best insulator?
- Which color container cools off the quickest?
- How does temperature affect plant growth?
- Do coins corrode more in salt or fresh water?
- Does a ball roll farther on grass or dirt?
- Do plants give off water?
- Do large apples have more seeds than small ones?
- Do any people in my class have the same fingerprints?
- Which bread molds most quickly?
- Which color liquid do hummingbirds prefer?
- Can people identify flavors of KooI-Aid when blindfolded?
- Which dissolves better in water - baking soda or salt?
- On which type of battery do toys run the longest?
- What magnet is the strongest?
- Do plants prefer tap or distilled water?
- Can an earthworm detect light and darkness?
- On which surface can a snail move faster-dirt or cement?
- How can you measure the strength of a magnet?
- Can the design of a paper airplane make it fly farther?
- Can you tell where sound comes from when you are blindfolded?
- Does warm water freeze faster than cold water?
- Do bigger seeds produce bigger plants?
- Do wheels reduce friction?
- What holds two boards together better - a nail or a screw?
- What is the best condition for the growth of mold?
- Which brand of paper towel is the strongest?
- Which paper towel absorbs the most water?
- Can things be identified just by their smell?
- Does a bath take less water than a shower?
- Will an ice cube melt faster whole or when crushed?
- In which soil do plants grow best?
- How far can a snail travel in one minute?
- Do roots of a plant always grow downward?
- What foods do mealworms prefer?
- Can plants grow without soil?
- How long will it take a teaspoon of food dye to color a glass of still water?
- In my class, who is taIler - boys or girls?
- Which materials absorb the most water?
- Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what a fish does?
- Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
- How far can a person lean without falling?
- Does the shape of a kite affect its flight?
- Does sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?
- Which liquid has the highest viscosity?
- Does the color of light affect plant growth?
- Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?
- How much can a caterpillar eat in one day?
- What is the effect of heat when dissolving sugar? Salt?
- Why is salt put on icy sidewalks?
- What is the acidity of various household products?
- What kind of materials will put out a fire?
- Do all crystals have the same shape?
- How much of the air is oxygen?
- How is the strength of a magnet affected by glass, cardboard, or plastic?
LINKS FOR SCIENCE FAIR IDEAS
Science Fair Project Types
1. Experimental Project (the classic approach)
2. Special Interest Project (in-depth focus on a topic)
3. Model or Demonstration Project (investigate or show how a system works)
4. Your own idea!
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1: Experimental Project
An experimental project can be done by anyone. The hardest part is thinking of a question that interests you. Once you’ve done that, using the scientific method to learn about it is fun and exciting.
Guidelines
Use the Scientific Method, described below, to perform your experiment. Base your conclusions on your data, and create a display board showing that you understand what happened. Include some ideas of your own in the project!
What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is simply an orderly way to find an answer to something. The basic steps are illustrated by the questions below. Using these steps as a guideline, you can conduct an investigation that will make it possible for you to convince someone else what you discovered is true. It allows others to repeat your experiments and verify your results. Scientists have specific words for these questions. They are listed after the question.
The Questions for an Experimental Project
1. What is the question I want to answer?
2. What do I think the answer will be before I start? (HYPOTHESIS)
3. What did I do to test my hypothesis? (METHOD)
4. What materials did I use? (MATERIALS)
5. What things did I change? (VARIABLES)
6. What things did I keep the same? (CONTROLS)
7. What happened as a result of what I did? (RESULTS/DATA)
8. What is the answer to my question based on my experiment? Does it match my hypothesis? Why or why not? (CONCLUSION)
9. What books or resources did I use? (REFERENCES)
10. Who helped with my project? (COLLABORATORS)
Experimental Project Terms
A hypothesis is a guess or speculation about how or why something happens. You should form a hypothesis or guess about your questions before you begin your experiment.
Methods and Materials: Decide how you can test your hypothesis. Write out your plan. You should plan to run your test a number of times.
Next, change one part of your test and see what happens (while keeping everything else the same.) Change another thing, and see what happens. The things you change are called variables.
The thing or things you keep the same are called controls. Test only one variable at a time, and repeat the tests several times to get good data. Make sure your test is fair, so that it doesn't only show the results that support your hypothesis. You should look for the answer, whatever it is - proving your hypothesis is wrong is just as valid as proving it right! If you do prove something wrong, try to figure out why, and write it down in your conclusion.
The information gathered during the investigation is called data. After collection, data can be put in chart or graph form if a more formal and concise presentation is desired. From looking at the data or results, you can answer the question that started the whole adventure. The answer is the conclusion.
List any books, magazine articles, or any other sources of written information you used to learn about and do your project, and their authors. These are known as references.
Collaborators are the people who helped you with your project. This may include your family, other adults, and friends.
An Example of an Experimental Project
Question: Will different surfaces affect how far a toy car rolls?
Hypothesis: I think a toy car will roll farther on a smooth surface than on a rough surface.
Method: I will set up an inclined ramp and put different surfaces on it (variables), such as: a) rough sandpaper b) linoleum c) indoor/outdoor carpet d) a mirror (or glass). I will keep the incline and the car the same for each trial (controls). I will run three races on each surface and measure how far the car rolls from the end of the ramp. I will graph the results for each surface and find the average distance the car travels on each surface.
Results: The car traveled the furthest distance on the glass surface and the shortest distance on the indoor/outdoor carpet.
Conclusion: The smooth surface provides the least amount of friction.
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2: Special Interest Project
Special interest projects are an opportunity for students to study a science related topic they are interested in and create a display showing what they have learned. The display could include a report, pictures, drawings, charts, photographs, etc.
Guidelines
· Pick something that you are interested in studying.
· Learn about that topic through books, computers, magazines, etc.
· Create a display showing what you’ve learned.
Questions for a Special Interest Project
1. Why did I choose this topic to study (i.e. what was my question about this topic?)
2. What did I learn about this topic? Where did I get information about my topic?
3. Who helped me with my project?
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3: Model or Demonstration Project
Model/Demonstration projects give students the opportunity to research a topic and/or build a model of something they are interested in and then present it. Learning about the heart, the digestive system, or the solar system can be very exciting. How does an internal combustion engine work? Find out, and share your answer!
Guidelines
· Pick something you are interested in studying, and show that you understand what you studied.
· Make a model that shows things completely and correctly, so someone who hasn’t studied your subject understands your topic.
· Create a display board showing what you learned. There is space in front of your display to place your model if you'd like.
Questions for a Model/Demonstration Project
1. What is the question I want to answer?
2. What materials did I use to build my model? How did I use those materials to build my model?
3. What books or resources did I use?
4. Who helped with my project?
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Project Type 4: Your Own Idea!
Be creative and design your own project style.
2. Special Interest Project (in-depth focus on a topic)
3. Model or Demonstration Project (investigate or show how a system works)
4. Your own idea!
◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌
1: Experimental Project
An experimental project can be done by anyone. The hardest part is thinking of a question that interests you. Once you’ve done that, using the scientific method to learn about it is fun and exciting.
Guidelines
Use the Scientific Method, described below, to perform your experiment. Base your conclusions on your data, and create a display board showing that you understand what happened. Include some ideas of your own in the project!
What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is simply an orderly way to find an answer to something. The basic steps are illustrated by the questions below. Using these steps as a guideline, you can conduct an investigation that will make it possible for you to convince someone else what you discovered is true. It allows others to repeat your experiments and verify your results. Scientists have specific words for these questions. They are listed after the question.
The Questions for an Experimental Project
1. What is the question I want to answer?
2. What do I think the answer will be before I start? (HYPOTHESIS)
3. What did I do to test my hypothesis? (METHOD)
4. What materials did I use? (MATERIALS)
5. What things did I change? (VARIABLES)
6. What things did I keep the same? (CONTROLS)
7. What happened as a result of what I did? (RESULTS/DATA)
8. What is the answer to my question based on my experiment? Does it match my hypothesis? Why or why not? (CONCLUSION)
9. What books or resources did I use? (REFERENCES)
10. Who helped with my project? (COLLABORATORS)
Experimental Project Terms
A hypothesis is a guess or speculation about how or why something happens. You should form a hypothesis or guess about your questions before you begin your experiment.
Methods and Materials: Decide how you can test your hypothesis. Write out your plan. You should plan to run your test a number of times.
Next, change one part of your test and see what happens (while keeping everything else the same.) Change another thing, and see what happens. The things you change are called variables.
The thing or things you keep the same are called controls. Test only one variable at a time, and repeat the tests several times to get good data. Make sure your test is fair, so that it doesn't only show the results that support your hypothesis. You should look for the answer, whatever it is - proving your hypothesis is wrong is just as valid as proving it right! If you do prove something wrong, try to figure out why, and write it down in your conclusion.
The information gathered during the investigation is called data. After collection, data can be put in chart or graph form if a more formal and concise presentation is desired. From looking at the data or results, you can answer the question that started the whole adventure. The answer is the conclusion.
List any books, magazine articles, or any other sources of written information you used to learn about and do your project, and their authors. These are known as references.
Collaborators are the people who helped you with your project. This may include your family, other adults, and friends.
An Example of an Experimental Project
Question: Will different surfaces affect how far a toy car rolls?
Hypothesis: I think a toy car will roll farther on a smooth surface than on a rough surface.
Method: I will set up an inclined ramp and put different surfaces on it (variables), such as: a) rough sandpaper b) linoleum c) indoor/outdoor carpet d) a mirror (or glass). I will keep the incline and the car the same for each trial (controls). I will run three races on each surface and measure how far the car rolls from the end of the ramp. I will graph the results for each surface and find the average distance the car travels on each surface.
Results: The car traveled the furthest distance on the glass surface and the shortest distance on the indoor/outdoor carpet.
Conclusion: The smooth surface provides the least amount of friction.
◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌
2: Special Interest Project
Special interest projects are an opportunity for students to study a science related topic they are interested in and create a display showing what they have learned. The display could include a report, pictures, drawings, charts, photographs, etc.
Guidelines
· Pick something that you are interested in studying.
· Learn about that topic through books, computers, magazines, etc.
· Create a display showing what you’ve learned.
Questions for a Special Interest Project
1. Why did I choose this topic to study (i.e. what was my question about this topic?)
2. What did I learn about this topic? Where did I get information about my topic?
3. Who helped me with my project?
◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌
3: Model or Demonstration Project
Model/Demonstration projects give students the opportunity to research a topic and/or build a model of something they are interested in and then present it. Learning about the heart, the digestive system, or the solar system can be very exciting. How does an internal combustion engine work? Find out, and share your answer!
Guidelines
· Pick something you are interested in studying, and show that you understand what you studied.
· Make a model that shows things completely and correctly, so someone who hasn’t studied your subject understands your topic.
· Create a display board showing what you learned. There is space in front of your display to place your model if you'd like.
Questions for a Model/Demonstration Project
1. What is the question I want to answer?
2. What materials did I use to build my model? How did I use those materials to build my model?
3. What books or resources did I use?
4. Who helped with my project?
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Project Type 4: Your Own Idea!
Be creative and design your own project style.