Mr.

Posante Science Fair Packet

STUDENTS
PACKET
FOR
SCIENCE FAIR
PROJECT
DUE DATES:
January 19th
February 23rd
March 23(Science Fair Date)

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

SCIENCE PROJECT STEPS

1. Choose a topic. Be sure it interests you. Dont pick one because you think it
will be easy. Talk it over with your parents and when you have decided, inform
your teacher, and do not ask to change your topic later. Get your
Registration form for your teacher signed by your parent and turn it in.
2. State your purpose as a question. What is it that you want to find out by
doing this project?
3. Research your problem. Look at any books/websites that might help you,
make observations by simply looking at things, talk to people, and find out as
much as possible about your topic. Write down any ideas you have and where
you got them. Also, keep note of all information needed for citing your
resources.
4. Form a hypothesis. What do you think is going to happen? Based on what
you know or found out from step #3, what do you think the results of your
experiments will be? After doing the experiments, it may turn out that your
guess was wrong. It is okay if this happens.
5. Plan your project. How will you test your hypothesis? What experiments will
you do? How will you measure the results? Where will you keep your
information? Be sure to keep notes and write down everything you do and what
happens.
6. Collect all your materials. Find a place to keep things where others wont
bother them. Let other family members know what you are doing so they don
not throw your materials away by mistake.
7. Conduct your experiments. Remember, the more times you do an
experiment the more reliable and accurate the results will be. Do each
experiment at least three times and get an average of the results for your
graph. Use something to measure your experiments: a ruler or yardstick if you
are measuring distance, a clock to measure time, etc. Check the measurements
to be sure you are correct.
8. Record your data. As you do your experiments, you will want to write down
what you saw or found out. Organize this information in an orderly manner. Put
the date, time, and any other useful information. Write your measurements
clearly.
9. Draw conclusions. What did you learn from your experiments? Have you
proved or disproved your hypothesis? You made a guess about what you thought
would happen. Now tell what really did happen. You dont lose points if your
guess turned out to be wrong.
10. Prepare your titles, charts, graphs, drawings, and diagrams. Make
them large enough to see, neat, and colorful.

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

11. Construct your science fair display. Get your cardboard display board
from your teacher so you can show all your work and have your hands free to
point to sections when you give your presentation.
12. Prepare and practice your presentation. Be able to tell about what you
used what you did in your experiments, and what you found out. Know it well
enough that you dont have to read it from the display.
13. Plan a time line so you dont leave everything until the last minute.
If you need help, tell your parents and your teacher, the earlier the better.
14. Relax and Enjoy yourself. You will do a GREAT job!

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

SCIENCE FAIR RULES

Aw!, you mean there are rules? Of course there are, silly, this is made
by adults!
1. Number one rule. . . think safety first before you start. Make sure you have
recruited your adults to help you.
2. Never eat or drink during an experiment and always keep your work area
clean.
3. Wear protective goggles when doing any experiment that could lead to eye
injury.
4. Do not touch, taste, or inhale chemicals or chemical solutions.
5. Respect all life forms. Animals are not allowed to be used in
experiments. Do not perform an experiment that will harm a person.
6. All experiments should be supervised by an adult.
7. Always wash your hands after doing the experiment, especially if you have
been handling chemicals.
8. Dispose waste properly.
9. Any project that involves animals, drugs, firearms, or explosives are NOT
permitted.
10. Any project that breaks district policy, and/or local, state, or federal laws are
NOT permitted.
11. Use safety on the Internet! NEVER write to anyone without an adult knowing
about it. Be sure to let an adult know about what websites you will be visiting, or
have them help you search.
12. If there are dangerous aspects of your experiment, like using a sharp tool or
experimenting with electricity, please have an adult help you or have them do
the dangerous parts. Thats what adults are for so use them correctly. (Besides,
it makes them feel important!)

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Science Fair Written Report

The written report is a summary of everything that you did to investigate your topic. The written report
provides others with vital information on what your project is about as well as its effect on your
understanding of the topic. Usually the written report is 5-7 pages in length. All information must be
included in the written report. This report provides you with the opportunity to think about all the aspects
of our project and share your ideas with others.
Reports should be neatly bounded in an attractive binder. It must be typewritten.
Typed, doubled spaced. One inch margins and 12 pt Times New Roman Font
Remember to put headings/titles on graphs/charts/tables
All photographs must have captions explaining their significance
Before you hand in your report make sure to reread, revise, and rewrite
Recheck your calculations, spelling, and grammar.

All written report for a science fair project should include:

Title Page: The first page in the report should include the title of the project as well as the name and
grade of the student.
Acknowledgment: Here is where you thank everyone who helped to make your project successful
(including Mom and Dad.) Everyone that you interviewed, including teachers, scientists, and other
experts in the field should be mentioned here.
Table of Content: This page provides the reader with a list of the different parts of the project and the
page number on which each section can be found.
Statement of Purpose: State the purpose of the project in the form of a question.
Hypothesis: You must have a hypothesis before you complete the project. A hypothesis is an educated
guess about what you think will occur as a result from completing your experiment.
Research: This is the part of the report that contains all the background information that you collected
about your topic. Any books or articles read from the internet/journal, authorities on the topic that you
talked to, or outside materials collected should be summarized in this section. This section should be
written in your own words and NOT copied from your resources.
Materials: This is a list of all the materials and supplies used in the project. Quantities and amounts of
each should also be indicated.
Procedure: You will list and describe the steps you took to complete the project. Usually this is listed
in a numbered sequence. This part shows the stages of the project so that another person can carry out the
experiment.
Observations and Results: In this section, you will tell what you learned from the project. It is also
IMPORTANT to include all graphs, charts, or other visual data (pictures) that helps to show your results.
Conclusion: This is a brief statement explaining why your project turned out the way it did. You
should explain why the events you observed occurred. Using the word because is a good way to turn an
observation into a conclusion. The conclusion should tell whether the hypothesis was proven or not
proven. Also give the reason(s) why you chose to learn more about the subject. You could also add what
you know now that you didnt know before you completed your project.
Reference Page: The bibliography should list all the printed materials the student used to carry out the
project. Items should be listed in alphabetical order in a standard format. These website are a great place
to go to find the proper way of writing a bibliography. http://www.bibme.org/ ,
http://www.easybib.com or http://www.knightcite.com Also http://www.Icyte.com lets you tag
information from Internet sources as you research.

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Examples of Science Fair Displays ideas:

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Science-Fair-Presentations/How-to-Create-aWinning-Science-Fair-Display-Board.html

https://youtu.be/7SYQX9xlWEs
https://youtu.be/G4L5i6dJzd0

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Science Fair Websites

1. California State Science Fair: Read about this science fair which has been going on since 1952! You
can learn how to enter, get help with your own project, or see a directory of past projects.
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/

2. Science Buddies: Use the topic selection wizard to help you figure out what science projects interest
you most. Once you have a topic, get help doing research, setting up the experiments, and completing
them. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

3. Science Fair Project Resource Guide: Samples, ideas, magazines, resources, and more. Includes a
list of sites that explain the Scientific Method. http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/

4. Scientific Method: Describes the five steps of the Scientific Method that are helpful when creating a
science fair project. Includes examples of wording and sample projects to explain certain steps.
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Getting-Started/Investigation.html

5. Super Science Fair Projects: Guide to projects, topics, experiments, and tips for successfully
completing a science project, including the six steps of the Scientific Method. http://www.super-sciencefair-projects.com/

6. What Makes a Good Science Fair Project?: Short guide written by a group of experienced judges for
the California State Science Fair. http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Resources/Good_Project.html

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Your Science Fair Oral Presentation

A lot of kids are scared of speaking in public or to a teacher/judge. Just imagine

they are a fellow scientist who just wants you to share what you learned.
Relax, smile, and have fun. Remember, you are the expert and you had fun
doing the project. But if you are a little nervous, we listed some things that you
need to do during the presentation.
Helpful Hints:
o Look sharp, feel sharp, and you will be sharp. Dress nice that day, be polite,
and speak clearly. You will show that you have confidence. Dont forget to look
at your audience.
o Introduce yourself. Point to the title of your display. Tell your audience why you
chose to study this.
o State your problem that you studied (your question.) Tell them about your
hypothesis (what you thought might happen.)
o Talk about what you learned while researching your topic.
o Talk about the sources (books, websites, and interviews) that helped you
understand your topic.
o Tell about your project and explain the steps you took to conduct your
experiment. Be sure to mention all the materials involved and point out the
pictures that you may have taken.
o If it applies, be sure to show them that you tested your experiment at least 3
times.
o Show them all of the cool graphic organizers that you made, like your tables
and charts. Remember to point out the labeled parts of your graph or table to
show that you know what it represents.
o Be sure to explain what your data means. Make sure you can read your
graphs and tables. Let them know if you were surprised by the results, or if you
know what would happen because you studied about it.
o Make sure you sound like an expert on your topic. Always use the appropriate
vocabulary especially by using words from the Scientific Method, like: Problem,
Hypothesis, Procedure, Results, and Conclusions.

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

INDIVIDUAL
SCIENCE FAIR REGISTRATION FORM

DUE January 19th to Receive Points towards Project. (NO

LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2017)
(Presentations of the Science Fair Will be on March 23 @
4-5:30)
PLEASE RETURN YOUR FORM TO YOUR TEACHER
ONLY STUDENTS WHO REGISTER ON TIME WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE SCIENCE FAIR

Students must submit a project as part of their graded

classroom work.
It is a Science class requirement.
GRADE LEVEL _______________
HOMEROOM TEACHER __________________________________________
*STUDENT NAME _____________________________________________________________
**PROJECT TITLE
____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
___________ I need an electrical outlet

*All parents must sign and approve their childs Science Fair
Project.
I acknowledge that I have received and reviewed the materials for the Science
Fair and I am aware that my child is required to complete a Science Project.
I have approved and given permission for my child
_______________________________________________ to participate in this years
Science Fair.
Students Signature ________________________________________________
Date_____________________
Parents Signature _________________________________________________
Date____________________
*Teachers Approval of Project Please Conference with your Teacher about
Project
Teachers Signature ________________________________________________
Date_____________________

Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Name: ___________________
PROJECT Check-In WORKSHEET
Due Date: ___January 19, 2017_____February 23, 2017
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________
DUE no later than January 19th:
Observation: (what you observed)

Question (Statement of Purpose)

Hypothesis:
If, then I think

DUE no later than February 23rd:

Materials I will need:

Procedures:
(Detailed Steps)
Data Collected:
Conclusion:

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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Resource #1

You must have 3 Resources (where you received ideas from/help)

Resource:
Type of Resource: _______________________________________________
Website: http://________________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________________________
Publishing Company: ___________________________________________
Location of the Publishing Company: ______________________________
Date of Publication: ____________________________________________

Information found in your own words:

(Must be at least one paragraph summary.)

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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Resource #2

You must have 3 Resources (where you received ideas from/help)

Resource:
Type of Resource: _______________________________________________
Website: http://________________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________________________
Publishing Company: ___________________________________________
Location of the Publishing Company: ______________________________
Date of Publication: ____________________________________________

Information found in your own words:

(Must be at least one paragraph summary.)

____________________________________________________
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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Resource #3

You must have 3 Resources (where you received ideas from/help)

Resource:
Type of Resource: _______________________________________________
Website: http://________________________________________________
Author: ______________________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________________________
Publishing Company: ___________________________________________
Location of the Publishing Company: ______________________________
Date of Publication: ____________________________________________

Information found in your own words:

(Must be at least one paragraph summary.)

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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NAME:____________
Student Checklist
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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Due Date
JANUARY 19TH
(____/75 points)

Component

Completed

Purpose: State your purpose as a question or a statement. What is it you that you want to find out by
doing this project? (page 10)

(Included in Project Summary Worksheet)

Hypothesis: Form a hypothesis. What do you think is going to happen? Based on what you know or found

out, what do you think the results of your experiment will be? After doing the experiment, it may turn out that
your guess was wrong. Its okay if this happens. (Included in Project Summary Worksheet) (page
10)
Permission/Participation Slip Signed and Returned (page 9)

Topic: Choose a topic. Be sure it interests you. Dont pick one because you think it will be easy. Talk it over
with your parents and when you have decided, than be committed to it. Do not change your topic later, you will
have had two months to think about it! (Included

in Participation Slip.)

FEBRUARY 23rd:
(____/75 points)

Materials: List all materials that will be used in your experiment. Include exact quantities for each
item used. (page 10)

(Included in Project Summary Worksheet)

Procedures: List and describe steps taken to complete the project. Presented in chronological
order or numbered order. (page 10)

(Included in Project Summary Worksheet)

MARCH 23rd:
(___/150 points)

Research: Look at any books that might help you, make observations by simply looking at things, talk to
people, and find out as much as possible about your topic. Write down any ideas you have and where you got
them. (Included in Resource Form You must have THREE!)
(page 11-13)

Written Report (page 5)

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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Presentation (page 8)
Project to display of findings

Name: ____________________________________
Project Name:
_______________________________________
Grade Level: _________________
Total Points Received: ______________/225
Points
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Mr. Posante Science Fair Packet

Teacher Comments:

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