WHAT IS A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?

A Science Fair project is an investigation into the world of science. This investigation is an experiment that tests how one property (the cause or independent variable) affects another property (the effect or dependent variable).

Following all the steps of good experimentation, student(s):

· Think of an area of interest.

· Research some background on the topic, and its impact.

· Decide on an investigation question.

· Form a hypothesis.

· Design an experiment, deciding on procedure, materials, set up.

· Conduct the experiment, observing, measuring, and collecting data.

· Organize the results and data.

· Analyze the data, and draw conclusions. Explain the trends you found, and what the scientific explanation might be.

· Discuss the accuracy and validity of the experiment(s), discuss implications to real-life, and discuss further investigations.

· Present all the steps.

The Science Fair Project consists of

the following six required parts:

· Lab Notebook

· Research Paper

· Project Display

· Abstract

· Self Evaluation

· Oral Presentation

Entering the project in the New Haven Science Fair also requires: picking a project age level, group category, and subject division, obtaining possible SRC approval, registering for the Fair, and presenting the project.

When you do a science fair project, you become a scientist. You go through the same investigative steps as a scientist to find the answers to such questions as: Can you tell the temperature from the chirping of crickets? Who has a better sense of distance, boys or girls and why? In what kind of soil do plants grow the best? The possibilities are endless but the project should always be based on what interests you.

Even if your project does not turn out the way you thought, it is your understanding of it that judges look for.