Lighthouse Beams

Science fair projects, when done correctly, can stimulate interest in science topics, mathematics and engineering. They provide students with educational opportunities to experience scientific research. It affords the student with an opportunity for public recognition once the project is brought to completion. And, perhaps most importantly, it allows the student to share the information they have learned with other students, teachers, and members of the community.

Where do you begin? The first place is by understanding the rules. If your students are lower elementary aged, K-5 the competitions stop there. You may have a class or school wide competition. For grades 6 and older, it is a different story. These grades are eligible for class, school-wide, and regional competitions. There are state and international competitions for older students as well.

The lower elementary grades need not be concerned with the international rules, but for the upper grades this understanding is imperative. If you learn nothing else from this newsletter know that you should have a copy of the international rules and you can download one for free at www.sciserv.org. This official website of the International Science and Engineering Fair consists of useful information to get even the most reluctant student (or teacher) started and well armed with up-to-date information.

Here is a synopsis of helpful hints to make your science fair experience is a happy one!

1.    Begin planning early.
     a.    Attend informational workshops for teachers (held by the local school board or other organizations in your area.)
     b.    Notify students and parents as soon as you have a science fair date
     c.    Explain the science fair process to participants. If you plan on having students enter a regional competition make sure you understand the rules associated with paper work and the signatures required, prior to beginning the project.
     d.    Research! Give students an outline of acceptable project topics
     e.    Encourage time to brainstorm for ideas and plan library or internet time for research

2.    Explain judging and evaluation criteria to students.
     a.    Prepare a flow chart for students and parents. Have student/parent meetings. (A flow chart is contained in my book on Science Fairs.)
     b.    If your students are upper level (grades 6 and older) make sure the project topics are approved and all the necessary paper work is prepared correctly.
     c.    Older students submit research plan
     d.    Authorized scientists sign all the paper work
     e.    Teacher checks the paper work to make sure it is correct.

3.    Students begin researching, experimenting, recording their observations, writing a project report, etc.
     a.    Care is taken to record all research and information pertaining to the project. This will come in handy when it is time to write the report.
     b.    The experiment is executed.
     c.    The information is recorded and analyzed. The results are compared to the hypothesis and the original question. Did you answer the question? If not, should you do additional research? Can you explain why your project didn’t work out the way you planned?
     d.    Use your evidence to write your report. Your report format should be professional yet conversational and follow the scientific method. Write the abstract. This is a 250 word synopsis of your project.
     e.    Students complete their projects and prepare their display boards.
     f.    Prepare a brief presentation highlighting major points of the project.
     g.    Practice this presentation.
     h.    You are finished!
       
Of course younger students will concentrate on the basic ideas of a science project and complete their display boards with the help of parents or another adult. Even on a primary level science fair projects can be done correctly and with little fanfare. Understanding the idea behind a science project, asking a question and searching for an answer is grasped by most children.

Scientific Method

The scientific method can be broken out in the following way:

1.    Purpose:
The question to be answered

2.    Research
The question is researched to be better understood so a statement and plan can be made in relation to this purpose.

3.    Hypothesis
An educated “guess” based on research, investigation, discussion, or an observation.

4.    Procedure
A plan to carry out the project which consists of research, asking questions of others more knowledgeable, gathering information from observations, experimentation (which will include trial and error), and using every source available. An understanding of the variables that may occur during experimentation is necessary and should be explained to the student. The experiment should be preformed several times to work out any bugs or fine tune the process.

5.    Observation:
A gathering of data from experimentation and research which involves may skills such as mathematics, filling out charts and graphs, writing and recording, etc. Recording the observations such as in note taking, drawing or photographing the results may prove useful. Careful thought should be given to areas where error might have occurred. 

6.    Conclusion
When all of the data is collected and studied the hypothesis is analyzed to see whether it has been proven true or false. The student may find the hypothesis is false which does not mean the experiment is a failure, especially if the student can explain what the experiment found and why.

Finally for the older students, grades six and above, an understanding of writing an abstract is imperative. This single piece of information when done properly with a well thought out and executed experiment can be the winning edge. An abstract is a brief, clear, concise, 250-word (maximum) summary of your project’s purpose, procedure and data, and a short synopsis of your conclusions. Once again, this important aspect of an upper level project can make or break the competition.

A winning science fair project is not necessarily one with the most ribbons attached. Winning projects are those that are done correctly and have satisfying conclusions. They give the student a sense of contentment for a job well done, and it is the parent’s responsibility to make each child, who has completed a project, feel that all projects are worthy of praise!

About Felice Gerwitz…

    Felice Gerwitz has lectured extensively on the topic of science fairs. She is an award winning author and her book “An Insider’s Guide to Successful Science Fair Projects” was chosen book of the month by God’s World Publishing. Let Felice help you teach Creation Science to your children each Monday morning from September 22-October 28. Learn more here: