I created these pages so you can help your child choose a topic for a Science Fair Project at school.

My list is not categorized into grade levels, so you will need to keep in mind the child's grade level, sense of responsibility, safety issues, and capability of carrying out the project.

After attending many Science Fairs, I have noticed that the majority of the projects have been comparative in issue, while only a few have been research topics.

If you have never been involved in a Science Fair Project, here are some preparation tips and some information:

Select a Topic (title): This is a test you do to find an answer to a question, not just showing what you know about something. The title is usually in the form of a question.
Purpose: If the title is a question, then the purpose of the project is to provide an answer. What is your goal? "Example: to find out if ..."
Hypothesis: A possible answer to a question or solution to a problem. Based on what you know, try to make an answer for your question. This is your best guess. You will try to find out if your hypothesis is correct.
Procedure: Your research - search for information about your project. Use books, magazines, interviews and TV. Try contacting businesses, utilities, government offices, etc. Your experiment - test your hypothesis. How exactly can you prove it? It is a good idea to try and conduct your experiment 5-10 times to see if the results are consistent.
Materials: list what you will be using to conduct your experiment. Pictures can be added here.
Results: List your results. Use a notebook, charts, graphs, pictures, or tapes. Give measurements, not statements like "more or less". Give facts, not opinions. What did your research and experiments prove?
Graph: you can include your graph on the display board, be it a bar graph, pie graph, or a line graph.
Conclusion: What does it all add up to? What did your project teach you? What is its importance? Even if your experiment proved your hypothesis wasn't correct, you've learned something.

Constructing an Exhibit or Display
You will need to get a display board. The school may be able to furnish this for you for a small price, or you may find them at educational, school supply stores. The price may range from $4.50 up to $7.50 for one, depending on the size, style, and color. If you are not able to obtain these from the school/store, you can make one from a cardboard box. Ask the teacher what size each panel should be. The store may, also, be able to furnish the labels you will need for your board. Most commonly used labels in the Middle Grade School levels are: Purpose, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Results, Graph, and Conclusion. You can make these by hand if none are available in the stores.

Written Report
Your child will need a written report of the project to go along with the display board.
Title Page: The project's name (usually in the form of a question), child's name, school, and grade.
Table of Contents: This page is made last. List the parts of the report (Introduction, Hypothesis and Research, Procedure/Experiment, etc.) and the page numbers where they begin.
Introduction: One paragraph that tells the whole story. One way to do this is to write a sentence for each idea in the scientific method. One for the purpose, one telling what experiment or test you did, etc.
Hypothesis and Background Research: State your PURPOSE in more detail, what made you think of this project. Tell what you found out from the books or other sources you used to learn about your topic and be sure those sources are listed in your bibliography.
Procedure/Experiment: List the materials you used and what you did. If drawings will make it clearer, draw on separate pages and put in this section. Explain in detail things you made.
Results: Describe what happened, what you observed. Show your data.
Conclusion: Describe your interpretation of your results. Look over your notes, charts, and log and write what you think your data shows. You can put your opinions here. Was your hypothesis (what you expected to happen) correct? Don't be afraid to say that you might have made a mistake somewhere.
Credits/References (Bibliography): List of books, articles, pamphlets, people you talked to and any other sources you used for researching your idea and writing your paper.
Sources are written or typed in this form:
Last name of author (or person you talked to), First name, "Title of article or chapter", Title of source (book title, magazine title or "Conversation"), Place where published: Publisher name, Date, volume: pages.
Examples:
Harris, James R., "The Cycles of Weather" Science Today Magazine, May 1983, Vol. 14:15-17.
Parker, Theresa, Telephone Conversation, April 3, 1999.

Practice Presentation to Judges
Practice explaining your project to someone (parent, friend, grandparent, etc.). This will help you be calm on Science Fair Day.

A major contribution to your Science Fair Display is to bring in the actual equipment (materials) that you used to conduct your experiment. It provides a great visual effect and is usually required.

Good Luck!