Science Fair
This page was
created especially for students, teachers and parents as they prepare for Science
Fairs. Ideas for topics to present at science fairs are endless and can be found
on other pages at this site. This page deals with details of setting up science
fairs and the projects in them. So, students, pick your topic then visit these
sites to see how to organize it for a winning project. Teachers, plan the science
fair thoroughly before hand with ideas from the sites below then sit back and
enjoy the day!
Let me know how your projects and fairs go by email me at: studyplans@yahoo.com.
I would love to know.
Agricultural Ideas for Science Fair Projects: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htm
Agriculture in the Classroom: http://www.agclassroom.org/
California State Science Fair: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/
HOBO Data Loggers: http://www.iscienceproject.com/
Although you need to pay for HOBO Data Loggers, you can borrow one for free
($8 return postage fee) for two months to see how you like using them. There
are hundreds of free lessons incorporating the HOBO's at the site divided into
elementary, middle, and high school level plans.
Kids' Science Page - National Agricultural Library: http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/Kids/index.html
Math Ideas for Science Fair Projects: http://mathforum.org/teachers/mathproject.html
Science Fair: http://www.cyberbee.com/science/scifair.html
Science Fair Central: http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
Although there's lots of fun science stuff to peruse here, you'll find the meat
of the matter in the Handbook section written by Janice VanCleve, author of
more than forty books on science and science fairs. "A science project
is like a mystery in which you are the detective searching for answers. Science
projects let you practice and exhibit your detective skills. You not only get
to select which mystery to solve, but you can creatively design methods for
uncovering clues that will lead to the
final revelation of who, what, when, where, how, and why."
Science Fair Projects: http://www.surfnetkids.com/sciencefair.htm
Science Fair Project on the Web: http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/
Science Fair Project Resource Guide: http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/
This is one idea from the IPL: Science Fair Project Resource Guide:
Try growing grass under different color Saran Wrap. does color affect the graown
rate of plants?
Determine the effect temperature has on chemical change by putting alka-seltzer
tablets in different temperatures of water and timing the length of the chemical
reaction. There is a huge amount of difference between ice water and warm water.
An extension is to see what happens when the tablets are broken or crushed.
Science Fairs: http://sln.fi.edu/qanda/spotlight1/spotlight1.html
Science Fairs Homepage: http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/
Science Hunt: http://www.sciencehunt.com/
Science Hunt is produced by Hunt, the company that makes those stand-all-by-themselves
project display boards. So in addition to sections on picking and planning a
science project, it has a good chapter on how to display your finished work
including design tips and lots of examples from other kids. You can even send
in a photo of your own science project (using a Hunt display board) for posting
on the site.
Science Knows No Boundries: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/globalscitech/index.html
Successful Science Fair Projects: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html
Super Science Fair Projects: http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/
Among other things, this site is demonstratesthe process, with a timeline, a
project log, a step-by-step outline, a discussion of scientific method, and
an explanation of how judges think.
USDA For Kids: http://www.usda.gov/news/usdakids/index.html
What Makes a Good Science Fair Project?: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Resources/Good_Project.html
"Students are advised that getting the right answer is NOT the purpose
of a science fair project. It is the intent of a science fair project that you
go through the process of asking questions and performing experiments in an
attempt to find answers. Making the attempt without answering the question still
satisfies the intent of your discovering knowledge on your own." From the
California State Science Fair, comes this useful discussion of quality in a
science fair project. The USGS has developed a series
of water education posters which contain science fair activities on the back.
The posters come in two versions, one for students in grades 3-5 and the second
version for students in grades 6-8. The activities on the back are what makes
the grade difference. Six of the nine posters can be viewed on the Web at http://water.usgs.gov/outreach/OutReach.html.
Just click on the poster and you will be given the options to view the posters
backs via "Elementary School Poster Data" or "Middle School Poster
Data." There are nine posters in the series, the ones not shown on the
Web page cover the topics of Hazardous Waste, Watersheds, and Oceans. Posters
can be ordered free of charge by calling 1-888-ask-usgs. Steve Vandas USGS PO
Box 25046 MS 406 Denver, Co 80225 email svandas@usgs.gov
This site began in March 1998 and was created by
Janet Luch. This page was last updated on
December 31, 2005
Email questions and comments to: studyplans@yahoo.com