Science FairScience FairDisplay BoardsDisplay Boards

Design for successDesign for success

Display BoardDisplay Board

The DISPLAY BOARD is probably the The DISPLAY BOARD is probably the most familiar part of a Science most familiar part of a Science Project. This tri-fold board will show Project. This tri-fold board will show off all your hard work so you want it off all your hard work so you want it to be professional. This powerpoint to be professional. This powerpoint offers several tips for its design and offers several tips for its design and construction.construction.

Example 1Example 1 Borders (not necessary)Borders (not necessary) Lettering (Neat)Lettering (Neat) Matting (adds color and fills Matting (adds color and fills

“white space”)“white space”) Charts (large/full size)Charts (large/full size) Notice layout on sidesNotice layout on sides

Use diagram on handout for Use diagram on handout for proper placementproper placement

Things this project is missing:Things this project is missing: SubtitleSubtitle Pictures with captionsPictures with captions Proper placement of written partsProper placement of written parts Aligning the papers in straight Aligning the papers in straight

lineslines Limited colorsLimited colors

What’s wrong with this picture?What’s wrong with this picture? Where does your eye Where does your eye

go?go? What is missing from What is missing from

this display?this display?

How would you change How would you change this display?this display?

The good, the bad, and the uglyThe good, the bad, and the ugly

Enough is enough!!!Enough is enough!!!

How long How long would you would you

spend spend looking at looking at

this this board?board?

What Makes for a Good DisplayWhat Makes for a Good DisplayFor a Good Display Board, For a Good Display Board,

You Should Answer "Yes" to Every QuestionYou Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question Does your display board include:Does your display board include:

Title & Subtitle Title & Subtitle PurposePurpose ProblemProblem Hypothesis Hypothesis VariablesVariables Materials list Materials list Procedure Procedure AbstractAbstract Data: table(s) & graph(s) & Pictures (all properly labeled)Data: table(s) & graph(s) & Pictures (all properly labeled) Results Results ConclusionConclusion

What it does not includeWhat it does not include Name, school, teacher, etc…Name, school, teacher, etc… Pictures with facesPictures with faces Research report, Sources, Introduction, AcknowledgementsResearch report, Sources, Introduction, Acknowledgements Things hanging offThings hanging off Stickers or clip artStickers or clip art Anything handwrittenAnything handwritten

Text Size Text Size SuggestionsSuggestionsSuggestions for a Typical Science Project Display BoardSuggestions for a Typical Science Project Display Board

Title 150Title 150+:+: You want your title to be visible You want your title to be visible from across a room!from across a room! Subtitle 60Subtitle 60+:+: Should be easily readable Should be easily readable

from five feet away by someone just walking from five feet away by someone just walking by.by.

Headings 60Headings 60+:+: This text is smaller than This text is smaller than headings, but more noticeable than main headings, but more noticeable than main text size.text size.

Easy to read fontEasy to read font Main Body Text 14 – 18Main Body Text 14 – 18: : This is a This is a

comfortable text size for someone who comfortable text size for someone who comes closer to read more.comes closer to read more.

Captions 12 – 16Captions 12 – 16: : It's OK to make these a It's OK to make these a bit smaller than the body text if necessary.bit smaller than the body text if necessary.

Text adviceText advice You can single space everything if you wantYou can single space everything if you want

You can stretch the margins so they are really small You can stretch the margins so they are really small so that text uses up all of the pageso that text uses up all of the page

Use a font size so that you fit everything in its Use a font size so that you fit everything in its proper location. proper location. This may be a trial and error process This may be a trial and error process

Stick with traditional fontsStick with traditional fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, like Arial, Times New Roman, or similar typefaces. or similar typefaces.

Use Use italicsitalics or or boldbold for emphasis, not for all your text. for emphasis, not for all your text.

Absolutely no ALL CAPS; THEY ARE MUCH HARDER TO Absolutely no ALL CAPS; THEY ARE MUCH HARDER TO READ.READ.

Don't use more than two or three different fonts on your Don't use more than two or three different fonts on your

board. For example-Times New Roman for body copy and board. For example-Times New Roman for body copy and Arial for headings makes for a nice combination.Arial for headings makes for a nice combination.

You can do better than this…You can do better than this…samplessamples

Using a color background board…Using a color background board…samplessamples