My Question

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Research

What are some specific things that you know about this topic or anything that may influence your experiment?

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My Hypothesis

I think that the result of the experiment will be that ______________________________
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This will happen because ___________________________________________________
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Procedure:
The procedure is a series of numbered step by step instructions that are clearly described.
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Materials
The list should include every item used, no matter how small or insignificant.
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Results
What happened during the experiment.  Any changes that you observe with any of your senses should be listed and explained.
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Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct or incorrect?  What evidence shows that you were correct or incorrect?  Why do you think that these results occurred?
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Image
Draw a picture of your experiment below.  The picture should be detailed and should show one part or aspect of your experiment.





























North Cedar Intermediate School
Science Fair Judge’s Worksheet

Project Title: _____________________________________________________________

Student Name(s) __________________________________________________________

Comments: ______________________________________________________________
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Interviewer _________________________________

*Please remember to be positive with all comments.  It is often helpful to include suggestions for future projects.  The evaluation is out of a total of 25 points.  Students may refer to their project as they answer questions.

Tell me about your project (5)------------------------------------------------------ 1 2 3 4 5
-Does the student understand the project?
-Can the student explain the project?
-Does it seem that the student completed his/ her own project?

Scientific Thought (5)--------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5
-Can the student clearly state the problem or purpose?
-Did the student have an original hypothesis or guess about the outcome of the experiment?
-Was there a reasonable procedure/ plan to solve the experiment?
-Was data collected and were the results shown?
-Is the conclusion based on the original problem?

Creative Ability (5) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5
-Does it seem that the problem is original?
-Was the problem solved in a creative way?
-Does the design, construction, layout of the experimental process show creativity?

Project Skill Value (5) ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5
-Is the exhibit attractive?
-Is the exhibit or project well constructed, given the materials used?
-Is the workmanship of the board neat and well done?
-Does the project have a reasonable layout- from question through to conclusion?
-Does it seem that the student put their own backboard together?

Presentation Dramatic Value ------------------------------------------------------ 1 2 3 4 5
-Does the student present the project in a knowledgeable manner?
-Does the student seem to care about the topic/ exhibit?
-Does the student seem to have enjoyed working with the topic?
-Can the student identify ways to expand the project or conduct further research?

Display Board

The front of the display board must include the following details/ headings and information:
q    Title
q    Question
q    Hypothesis
q    Materials list
q    Procedure (numbered steps_
q    Results
q    Conclusion

On the back of the display board, the student should write their name, date, teacher.
The display board must be able to stand by itself and be made of sturdy material. 
The maximum display dimensions are: 150 cm in width, 125 cm in height and 75 cm in depth.
Items may be displayed in the area in front of your board, provided that they do not exceed the edge of  the table and fit within the width, height and depth of your board (see above for maximum dimensions)
Pictures, colour, charts, and labels are a good way to add to your board.
Your Display board and project may not contain:
q    Pictures of dead or dissected animals
q    Flames or highly flammable appartatus
q    Poison, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances, soils, or waste samples
q    Liquids or gases that are stored under pressure or sublimating substances that go directly from solid to liquid – ie. dry ice)
q    Edible substances




Science Fair Project Ideas
Remember, your science fair project should start with a question. What topic interests you most? What have you always wondered about that topic? Once you've decided the question you want to answer, everything from the hypothesis to the procedure will flow from there.
Animals and Insects
·    How does electricity affect fruit flies?
·    How do different types of liquids affect fruit-fly growth?
Earth, Sun, and Stars
·    What evidence can we find about the rotation of the earth from star trails?
·    What is the size of the earth? (Eratosthenes method)
·    How does the color of a background affect its absorption of solar insolation?
·    How does sunspot activity affect radio reception?
Food and Our Bodies
·    What are eating disorders? (research and survey)
·    Is there a relationship between eating breakfast and school performance?
·    On which foods does fungus grow best?
·    How does ethylene affect ripening fruit?
·    How are teeth affected by fluorides and acids?
Oceans, Rivers, Streams
·    Does the amount of water affect the size of the wave?
·    How does the volume of a stream affect its flow rate?
·    Where is the current of a stream the fastest?
·    Is there a relationship between phases of the moon and our weather?
Plants and Gardening
·    What kind of soil is best for water retention?
·    Will antacids help soil polluted by acid rain?
·    Does human hair affect the growth of plants?
·    How does a garden mist spray affect plant growth?
·    How does the duration of insolation affect plant growth?
·    What is the percentage of water in various fruits and vegetables?
·    Which plants and vegetables make the best dye?
·    Which type of wildflower grows best under artificial light?
·    How does temperature affect the water uptake in celery plants?
·    Does the type of water affect the growth of plants?
·    Is soil necessary for plant growth? (hydroponics study)
·    How does rotation affect plant growth?
·    Does music affect plant growth?
·    Does a plant grow best in sunlight or artificial light?
·    Can plants deprived of sunlight recover?
·    What is the relationship between root and stem growth?
·    How does gibberellic acid affect plant growth?
·    Which color of light causes green beans to grow best?
·    Can potatoes be grown without soil?
·    How do worms affect plant growth?
·    What is the effect of urine on grass?
·    What affect do Epsom salts have on plant growth?
Water Quality
·    What is in our drinking water?
·    Are our local waters acidic?
·    Do our soils show the effects of acid rain?
·    What is the lime content of various samples of water?
·    How polluted is our water? (the trapping and study of bacteria with a Millipore filter)
Weather
·    How can we prevent the weathering of our sidewalks and driveways?
·    How does topography affect weather conditions?
·    Does the topography of an area affect its local weather?
·    How do changes in air pressure affect the weather?
·    How are all weather factors related?
Other
·    Are safe homemade cleansers as effective as commercial cleansers?
·    How does particle size affect settling rates?
ELECTRICITY 
·    -demonstration of principals; how is current affected by type of conductor,temperature,filament,etc. 
·    -compare electromagnets for strength, wires for conductivity. 
·    -principles of fluorescent lights; how do they compare with filament bulbs, in effectiveness and cost. 




PHYSICS 
·    -How metals compare in conducting heat. 
·    -How metals compare in density and buoyancy 
·    -Efficiency of different types of steam engines 
·    -How does the amount of oxygen affect the rate of burning? 
·    -Does Temperature affect Solubility? 
·    -Are some substances more soluble than others 
·    -How do Aeorplanes fly? What is the best wing shape? 
·    -How do waves carry energy 
·    -How do magnets work? How are they made? 
·    -Compare densities of different gases 
·    -How Light is Affected passing through water e.g. viewing objects under water, formation of rainbows. 
·    -What limits the speed of a boat, a truck transport. 
CHEMISTRY 
·    -Chemical Change and the factors that affect the rate such as heat. light and catalysts 
·    -Acid and basic solutions, how are they produced, how can they be modified; practical considerations in soil, lakes, food;             acid or basic solutions around the house. 
·    -Factors affecting the making of glass. 
·    -The effects of salts on the freezing point of water and other liquids. 
METEOROLOGY 
·    Day Length - record length of days and nights over a period of time; what effects do the changes have on things like                     household plants, pets, etc. 
·    Air Movement - Is air in your house the same temperature at floor level and near the ceiling? How could you spread heat             more evenly through the house? 
·    Dew & - Does it form on clear or cloudy nights? What other 
·    Frost factors increase the amount of dew? Can you measure how much dew is formed in a square meter. 
·    Temp. - How does the temperature change during the day? What time is usually the warmest? Can you construct your own             thermometer to keep your own records. 
·    Rain - How does a rain gauge work? Measure the rainfall over a period of time and compare it with the daily weather                     reports. - Principles of cloud seeding and other weather modification. 



BIOLOGY 
·    Insects -personal observations on life cycle, feeding habitats, population, flies, bees, butterflies. 
·    Nutrition - plants and fertlilzer 
·    Studies - how pet mice respond to different types of food (pellets, crushed, solid) - how do plants get nitrogen 
·    Plants - why do plants grow towards light? - the effects of gravity on seed germination - how water moves through the plant 
       -how plants reproduce and factors that affect the process - why do plants move? 
·    Soil - the importance of earthworms to soil and plants - the effect of soil components and organic matter on growth of                    plants. 
·    Field Studies - plant and animal life in the school grounds, a creek or stream, a grassy field, a tree, a home garden, a                     balanced aquarium, during winter. - diets of various animals 





















Ten Easy Steps for a Successful Science Fair Experiment

1. Choose a topic
-    Choose a topic that you are familiar with
-    Choose a topic that you can experiment with by yourself
-    Choose a specific topic
-    When you choose a topic, create a question that you can answer

2. Research your topic and keep good records
-    Find out as much as possible about your topic
-    Keep a journal or a log book, include: places you visit to research, people you talk to, books or articles that you read,                     notes.
3. Gather the materials early
-   As soon as you know what you need, get all materials
-   Get a folder to organize all papers in
-   Use a bin or a box to house all materials
-   Be specific when you list materials, include: measurements when you can

4. Do your experiments
-    Be careful and accurate when recording observations and results
-    Write down each step of each part of your experiment
-    Start your experiment long before your due date

5. Write your labels up neatly
-    Type or neatly write your problem/ question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, observations/ results, and conclusion on a                 separate pieces of paper and then attach them to your display board
-    Edges of all papers should be neat




6. Record your results
-    When possible include a graph
-    Drawings, charts and pictures are a good way to make your project look unique

7. Write a conclusion
-    Your conclusion should state if your hypothesis was correct or not, and why
-    Your conclusion should be supported by your results- it must not be faked
-    Your conclusion should also explain what you learned while completing the project

8. Be creative
-    Use colour and mount any pages that you put on your board
-    Be very neat
-    Check spelling and grammar

9. Check your project
-    Make sure that your project does not exceed the allowable size- see dimensions
-    Do not include any substances that are not allowed
-    Include your name, date, grade, teacher on the back
-    Tell the organizer if you need any electrical hook-ups at least 2 days in advance of the science fair
-    Make sure that you have a problem/ question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, observations/ results, and conclusion – and             that they are in order

10. Prepare for your presentation to the judges
-    You have to know your project to do well
-    Clearly be able to talk about all parts of your project
-    You should know:
-    Why you chose the project
-    What happened during the experiment
-    Any problems you had
-    Who helped you and how much
-    What you might do different next time
-    Other research you might do about the project