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Task
This cybrary entry shows how to create a science fair project which follows
the acceptable format of most local and state expositions. Projects
must have a purpose,hypothesis,procedure, and conclusion listed in an acceptable
format. Projects should show thought and interest. Most projects try to
answer a questions such as "Does Aspirin Accelerate Plant Growth" or "Can
Daphnia Regenerate Body Parts"? Most students begin their science
fair projects in the primary grades with simple experiments. As students
mature they tend to try to solve problems with experimentation at home
or in a laboratory setting under the direction of a professional
in a specialized field. This site is aligned to Illinois State Goal
11.
State Goal 11 is "have
a working knowledge of the processes of scientific inquiry and technological
design
to investigate questions,conduct
experiments and solve problems".
Hopefully,
all students will have a chance to participate willingly in science fair.
Remember most
of us learn by doing.
Activities 
1. Think of project or experiment that could be made into a science
fair project.
2. Talk to your parents, friends, or teachers about whether your
idea could be made into a project i
if you have never made a project
before.
3. Take some time to reflect on you idea. Can I do it ?
Is it really an experiment and not a demonstration?
Do you have the time and resources
necessary to do a good job.
4. Think about what you will need in material resources!
5. Are there ways to get grants to help pay for materials?
5. Plan ahead so that time is your friend and not an enemy.
6. Begin your research.
Resources, Research, and Guidlelines
Some of the greatest resources there
are can be found at your school.
Your teachers,librarian, and friends
can be of real help to you.
Your parents and relatives can
also be of assistance to you
Libraries real or virtual
can give you most if not all of the materials necessary to
complete your project.
Below are some great sites to visit!
Project Guidelines:
The site listed below gives 99.9 percent of the information necessary to
get you
Please
click on the word started above before you read the rest of the page!
Library
Resource Sites: Local Chicago, Illinois
http://cpl.lib.uic.edu/CPL.htmlThis a
link to the Chicago Public Library homepage.
http://cpl.lib.uic.edu/002branches/002branches.html
This
a link to the Chicago Public Library homepage.
Library Links National:
http://library.gsfc.nasa.gov
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/scitech/
http://www.calacademy.org/research/library/
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/mathcs/index.html
http://www.cs.umd.edu/Library/
Guide
to Science Fairs & Project Links
http://physics1.usc.edu/~gould/ScienceFairs/
http://www.ascpl.lib.oh.us/scifair/sf-links.html
http://www.lib.Isu.edu/sci/chem/internet/science_fairs.html
Chicago
Public School Students: will find invaluable information
in the following links.
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Student/Articles/ScienceFair/Handbook/handbook.html
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Student/Articles/ScienceFair/Application/Entry_99.pdf
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Student/Articles/ScienceFair/Application/Consent_Form.pdf
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Student/Articles/ScienceFair/Application/Essay_99.pdf
http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Student/Articles/ScienceFair/Application/Consent_Form_Spanish.pdf
Project Design
A great project will sell itself.
It should be able to tell exactly what question or problem you were trying
to
solve and how you did your
researched.
The project should be self
supporting. The dimensions must be within the required limits of
length,width, and height.
The lettering should not be drawn freehand. Stenciled letters or
computer generated
lettering will help sell
your project. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words and a great
picture can
really show off what you
have accomplished.
Project Examples
The following projects were designed by Chicago Public School students
during the
1998-1999 school year.
Assessment
Formats
for judging projects vary. The difference is the greatest between
the school fair
and the international fair. The local/school fairs may use parents,
teachers, and professionals.
The higher level fairs will use professionals from the category being judged. |
