- Schedule work on the project during the part of the
evening when you feel the best. Stop work when you become tired, bored, or
are having problems. If all is going well, extend the work period.
- You will need a freestanding display that is no larger
than 18” deep, 36” wide, and 48” tall.
- The title should be across the top of your display
board in bold print. It could be in question form. It should be a short
and catchy title. Divide the board into three panels so that each measures
approximately 12” X 18”. The top left panel section is the place to write
in the SCIENTIFIC QUESTION OR PROBLEM. The hypothesis should be displayed
in the bottom left of the same Panel. The top center portion of the
display should contain the PROCEDURE Used in carrying out the project. The
major portion of the center section should be used for the BODY OF THE
DATA, i.e. Charts, graphs, etc. or Model. The top right panel lists the
RESULTS based upon the data collected during the project. The middle right
panel if for CONCLUSIONS. The bottom right panel is for SOURCES CITED,
STUDENT NAME, SCHOOL, TEACHER, AND GRADE.
- Outline the project on the board. Block everything in
pencil first. Use stencils or letter patterns, etc. Then when the display
is in its final form, a marker can be used.
- Go over everything: check spelling, grammar,
punctuation, content, and clarity.
- Avoid using fancy lettering, border, or elaborate
pictures. Do have neat, accurate charts and graphs. Be sure that the backboards are
large enough to display the necessary information.
- Don’t forget, you must keep an accurate log of all of
your work on this project. A small spiral notebook works well. This should
contain everything from when you started on your idea until you bring your
project to school.
- YOUR PROJECT MUST BE AN EXPERIMENT! You must test something! Get
your ideas OK’d by your teacher!!! Volcanoes, solar systems, motors, demonstrations, etc.
are not experiments. Check with your teacher.
- Make sure that your name, school, teacher, and grade is
placed on the front of your backboard.
- You must include a student written report with your
project that
is about the topic you chose to experiment on. You may not use pages
printed directly from an encyclopedia program or off of the Internet. You
must write the report.
- Your experiment should be fully concluded prior to
the fair. A
display of your work is all that will be allowed at the science fair. Your
display will be viewed and not touched. Thus, your display is an integral
part of your project.