| Headed for the science fair? You're going to want to | | | | A simpler topic will be easier to present at the fair, you |
| consider science projects that will not only be fun and | | | | should always be as clear as possible about your |
| interesting but will impress the judges as well. At first it | | | | research methods and findings. Anyone who comes |
| might seem like a tall order, but the science fair is a | | | | to see your project should be able to understand and |
| great chance for you to gain new knowledge about | | | | enjoy it. Presenting your project is as important as |
| almost anything you can imagine. You don't have to be | | | | doing the study, so be prepared to show what you |
| a rocket scientist to win the fair, it just takes planning, | | | | discovered. Finally, make sure that the topic is an |
| some creativity, and a little work. Follow these four | | | | appropriate one by checking with an adult before |
| simple tips and yours will be one of the science | | | | getting started. |
| projects that will wow friends and judges alike! | | | | 3. Do your own work - The more of the project you |
| 1. Get interested!-This is the most important thing you | | | | do yourself the more you will learn and can use again |
| can do to make this a fun and successful project. | | | | in the future. Sure, there may be certain aspects of |
| Forget those projects from school, this one is your | | | | building the display where someone good a using |
| own and can be about anything you choose. Think | | | | power tools can help out. Maybe you and a friend can |
| about what you like to do and how you could learn | | | | team up to collect some data; cases like these are not |
| more about it through the scientific method. Start by | | | | cheating and are fine. What is important is that you are |
| stating the question you want your study to answer. | | | | part of every step of the process and follow through |
| For example, if you're interested in planes you might | | | | with your original idea. |
| research which shape of wing creates the most lift. | | | | Avoid cutting and pasting information from the internet |
| Or, study your friends and family by researching how | | | | or from books, doing this is illegal and anyone is |
| they react to a set of different musical styles or | | | | allowed to place information online. The judges will ask |
| running a blind taste test. | | | | questions about your project on the day of the fair. If |
| Is the outdoors where you love to be? Get outside | | | | you haven't done your own work you may not be able |
| and run an experiment in the garden or at the local | | | | to tell them about your project, how do you think that |
| park! | | | | would look? |
| Whatever it is you enjoy that makes you curious is | | | | 4. Don't wait till the last minute - If you do, you're only |
| sure to make a great science project, all you have to | | | | cheating yourself. Good science projects require |
| do is ask the right question. | | | | careful planning and more than one try to really learn all |
| 2. Keep it simple-Being creative is important, but the | | | | you can. Remember, a good experiment can be done |
| best scientists know how to ask direct questions | | | | over any number of times with nearly the same |
| which lead to useful results. You don't want to ask too | | | | results, that's how a scientist can be sure of what he |
| broad a question and end up with an incomplete | | | | discovers! |
| project on the day of the fair. Suppose you want to | | | | Give yourself a number of weeks to put together your |
| work with food since you love to cook. A study to find | | | | project and aim to have it ready for presentation a |
| out which is the best type of dessert is going to be | | | | few days before the fair. These extra days are for |
| way too much to handle, there are just too many out | | | | taking care of little things you may not have thought of |
| there and everyone has their own favorite. A better | | | | or just had no idea could happen. Once your project is |
| question would be "How does wrapping an object in | | | | ready, you can use the remaining extra time to |
| foil affect cooking time?" | | | | practice presenting it. |