science fair project: investigation or invention? · pdf filescience fair club: week 2 handout...

Science Fair Club: Week 2 Handout

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Science Fair Project: Investigation or Invention?

Investigation: Find things out, conduct experiments

In an investigation, students: 1. Ask a testable question 2. Research the topic 3. Make a hypothesis about the outcome based on the research or their own knowledge 4. Design the investigation 5. Conduct the investigation 6. Collect Data 7. Make sense of the data and draw a conclusion 8. Present their findings for peer review

What is a Testable Question?

Can be answered through hands-on investigation with controlled variables Here are some examples of broader science questions and testable questions:

Broad Questions

(lead to science reports) Testable questions (lead to investigations)

How do plants grow?

What amount of water is best to grow tomatoes? or What type of

soil is best to grow petunias? or What amount of sunlight is best

to grow daffodils?

What makes something sink or float? How well do different materials sink or float in water?

How do rockets work? How does changing the shape of a rocket’s fins change its flight?

How does the sun heat up water? Does the sun heat salt water and fresh water at the same rate?

What happens when something

freezes? Do different liquids freeze at the same rate?

What makes cars move? How does the surface on which a car moves affect how fast it

goes?

How do batteries work? Which type of battery lasts the longest?

What makes a magnet attract things? Does temperature have an effect on a magnet’s strength?

Why does ice melt? What is the best insulator to keep ice from melting?

These are examples of good science fair project questions:

How does water purity affect surface tension? When is the best time to plant soy beans? Which material is the best insulator? How does arch curvature affect load carrying strength? How do different foundations stand up to earthquakes? What sugars do yeast use?


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Project Question Checklist

Here are some things to consider as you finalize your question:

What Makes a Good Science Fair Project Question? For a Good Science Fair Project Question, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question

Is the topic interesting enough to read about, then work on for the next couple months?

Yes / No

Can you find at least 3 sources of written information on the subject?

Yes / No

Can you measure changes to the important factors (variables) using a number that represents a quantity such as a count, percentage, length, width, weight, voltage, velocity, energy, time, etc.?

Or, just as good, are you measuring a factor (variable) that is simply present or not present? For example,

Lights ON in one trial, then lights OFF in another trial, USE fertilizer in one trial, then DON'T USE fertilizer in

another trial.

Yes / No

Can you design a "fair test" to answer your question? In other words, can you change only one factor (variable) at a time, and control other factors that might influence your experiment, so that they do not interfere?

Yes / No

Is your experiment safe to perform? Yes / No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your science fair project, or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost?

Yes / No

Do you have enough time to do your experiment more than once before the science fair?

Yes / No

Does your science fair project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair?

Yes / No

Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require SRC (Scientific Review Committee) approval?

Yes / No

Have you avoided the bad science fair project topic areas listed in the table above?

Yes / No


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These are examples of bad science fair project topics that you should avoid!!!!!

Science Project Topics to Avoid Why

Any topic that boils down to a simple preference or taste comparison. For example, "Which tastes better: Coke or Pepsi?"

Such experiments don't involve the kinds of numerical measurements we want in a science fair project. They are more of a survey than an experiment.

Most consumer product testing of the "Which is best?" type. This includes comparisons of popcorn, bubblegum, make-up, detergents, cleaning products, and paper towels.

These projects only have scientific validity if the Investigator fully understands the science behind why the product works and applies that understanding to the experiment. While many consumer products are easy to use, the science behind them is often at the level of a graduate student in college.

Any topic that requires people to recall things they did in the past.

The data tends to be unreliable.

Effect of colored light on plants Several people do this project at almost every science fair. You can be more creative!

Effect of music or talking on plants Difficult to measure.

Effect of running, music, video games, or almost anything on blood pressure

The result is either obvious (the heart beats faster when you run) or difficult to measure with proper controls (the effect of music).

Effect of color on memory, emotion, mood, taste, strength, etc.

Highly subjective and difficult to measure.

Any topic that requires measurements that will be extremely difficult to make or repeat, given your equipment.

Without measurement, you can't do science.

Graphology or handwriting analysis Questionable scientific validity.

Astrology or ESP No scientific validity.

Any topic that requires dangerous, hard to find, expensive, or illegal materials.

Violates the rules of virtually any science fair.

Any topic that requires drugging, pain, or injury to a live vertebrate animal.


Any topic that creates unacceptable risk (physical or psychological) to a human subject.


Any topic that involves collection of tissue samples from living humans or vertebrate animals.



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Inventions: engineering a solution; solving a problem; improving a design

In designing and engineering a solution, students: 1. Find a local problem or something that needs to be improved 2. Research it to find out what others know 3. Suggest a solution and explain why it should work 4. Design the solution and the method for testing to see if it works 5. Build and test the solution (as a model if necessary) 6. Collect data to be sure your solution made a change 7. Make sense of the data – how do you know it worked, or didn’t work? 8. Develop a report and share it with your fellow scientists

General Science

Topic Problem Examples Design Question

Gravity and mass My backpack is too heavy to carry. How can I make it easier to get it to school?

Dog behavior Our dog barks too much. How can I get him to quiet down without hurting

him?

Visibility When I'm in a crowd, I can't see around me. What can I do or use to help me see more?

Conserving heat My juice gets warm in my lunchbox. How can I keep it cold?

Reflection of sound The echo in our cafeteria is so bad that it's

hard to hear, even when people talk quietly.

What can we do to cut down on the echo in

there?

Plant Growth Our petunias dried out last summer and

died after one week.

How can I keep them watered without having to

go out and do it every day?

Remote Sensing

We have to wait too long for the bus. We'd

rather wait inside where it's more

comfortable.

How can we tell when the bus is approaching

without having to wait at the stop?

Food storage

I make sandwiches ahead of time on

Sunday, but by the end of the week, they go

stale.

How can I better preserve my sandwiches so the

one I eat on Friday is as fresh as the one on

Monday?

Human accessibility

My younger brother and sister are too small

to reach the light switches. I always have to

go turn on the light for them.

How can I make it so they can turn their bedroom

room lights on or off?

Security I caught my brother in my room, but he says

he never goes in there.

How can I tell if someone has gone into my room

when I'm not there?

Convenience I sometimes forget my backpack. Is there a way to be sure I always take my

backpack to school?

Solar energy

Sunlight coming in windows makes the

house warmer in the winter. But we keep

the drapes closed and forget to open them.

Is there a way to make sure the drapes stay open

when the sun is shining in the winter?

science fair project: investigation or invention? · pdf filescience fair club: week 2 handout...

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