Science Fair Information
Name:_________________________________________
Science and Technology Projects
Help, I don’t have a Topic!
Choosing a topic may be the hardest part of your project. Don’t give up. There’s lots of help available to you. Follow the steps below to help you come up with topic, but keep one thing in mind: Choose a topic that is of INTEREST TO YOU!! It will make it much easier to work steadily and achieve a good result.
1. Begin with Your Own Interests.
Science is a part of every aspect of your life. If you enjoy music, consider an investigation into sound (What gives each instrument its characteristic sound? ) How does the material of a string affect the sound produced?
List 4 or 5 general interests you have.
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2. Research/Investigate the Topic
From your list of interest, choose one topic that you think might lead to an interest science inquiry.
Then use the library, CD-ROM, or classroom resources to develop a specific question about the topic.
In the spaces below, list the resources you used, including specific page numbers.
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3. Develop a List of Possible Focus Questions for Your Research and Select One.
A good focus question is specific and clear, and avoids having YES or NO for an answer. A good format for your
question is:
How does ______________________ affect the _____________________ of _______________________?
This format creates a simple cause and effect question. Does one thing (independent variable) have an effect on another (dependent variable)? Some examples:
How does temperature affect the bounce height of a tennis ball?
How does wind direction affect the pH of rainfall in Scarborough?
An important feature of a good question is that it suggests some method of answering it. A good question also tells you what NOT to do. In the first question you would not test a “superball”.
Take time to develop a good focus question, and don’t expect your first version to be the final one. Check your question with other students and with the teacher, and check with your teacher before you use it for your project.
YOUR FOCUS QUESTION IS DUE ON ___________________________
Name:_________________________________________
Science and Technology Projects
I Have a Focus Question…Now What?
Now that you’ve decided a focus question, it’s time to thoroughly plan what you will do for your project. Careful planning is essential for a successful project. Please fill out the Project Outline on the back of this sheet.
a) Focus Question
This should be your final focus question and should be worded clearly. Make sure it can be answered, and avoid yes/no types of questions. Try to put it in this form…
How does __________________ affect _____________________
The first blank is the variable you will change (independent variable) , and the second is the variable you will observe (dependent variable).
b) Concepts
Make a list of all the concepts (ideas) that are related to your topic. Include a description of each. This might require some additional research.
c) Procedure and Materials/Equipment
In this section, you describe exactly what you are going to do in order to answer the focus question. It should
be detailed enough that another student at your level could read the procedure and conduct the experiment . a list of all necessary materials and equipment should also be given.
THE PROJECT OUTLINE IS DUE ON: _____________________________________
Project Outline
Student Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Partner’s Name (if applicable) _______________________________________________________
Type of Project (check one) Experiment Study Innovation
Focus Question:
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Other Related Questions I have:
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How I plan to answer my Question(s):
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Scientific Concepts involved (list and define them):
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Special Requirements/Equipment needed:
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Name:_________________________________________ Science and Technology Projects Submission I: Investigative Proposal
Due Date: ____________________________________________________________________
Student Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Partner’s Name (if applicable) _______________________________________________________
Investigative Title:
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Causal Questions:
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Causal Variable: (Independent)
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Result Variable: (dependent)
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Prediction of the Test:
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Hypothesis:
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Type of Project (check one) Experiment Study Innovation
Steps to Investigative Procedure:
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Possible Results and Explanation:
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Budget and Timeline:
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Name:_________________________________________ Science and Technology Projects Submission II: Progress Report
Due Date: ____________________________________________________________________
Student Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Partner’s Name (if applicable) _______________________________________________________
Investigative Title:
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Data Collected:
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Inferences of the data in relation to the Hypothesis
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Next Steps:
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