Science Fair Tips for Students

Here are the secrets to your science fair success:

Wonder

It all starts with, "I wonder why?" or "How come?" or "What if?"  A small wonder and a little exploration can lead to big discoveries! Great ideas and outstanding questions often arise out of doing another experiment. Your science fair project should encourage you to learn how to think like a scientist and use the scientific method.

Remember, the first step to getting the answer is asking the question.

Investigate

You have your question and you're curious to discover what other people have said about it. You can examine an expert, or linger in a library, or dawdle over documents, or enter the Internet and see some "sights" (sites). It's the job of a scientist to build connections between people who know, experiments that tell, and the discoveries you make!

The best projects are the ones that interest you! Do you love animals? Then choose a project in the fields of Life Science or Environmental Science. Does the Mentos Geyser eruption leave you thirsty for more? Then chemistry may be where your focus should lie. Remember, if you aren't interested in the topic you choose, you probably won't have as much fun with your project as you should. The realm of science is nearly endless... choose something you love and get excited about investigating it!

Nix Nothing

If you assume you know the answer, then you don't really have a question. Be willing to allow for an unexpected variable and accept the possibility that the answer you discover might lead to more questions! It's completely OK to conduct an experiment and arrive at a discovery that is a complete surprise to you. Remember, it's the job of a scientist to wonder, discover, and explore.

If you reach a conclusion that is different than you expected, that's okay! Now is the time to start asking more questions... why did my experiment turn out this way? What are some possible explanations for these results? Now you've got it... you are on your way to scientific discovery!

Experiment

Here's where you test your ideas! You're still gathering information that will help you find your answer. When you experiment, things don't always go as planned. Don't consider this a failure - it's just a part of learning. Don't give up! Keep asking questions and moving forward with your experiment.

Need some help getting past the road blocks? Ask a teacher or a parent! Don't be afraid to ask for help... that is one of the best ways to learn, investigate, and grow.

When experimenting for a science fair, be sure to know and follow all the rules provided by the sponsor.

Remember

From the very start, write notes, draw pictures, take photos, make recordings, share what you learn with friends, and test your results so that you know your facts are right. When you finally make your big discoveries, you'll need to use these notes and pictures to fit all of the pieces of the puzzle together. You'll collect lots of cool information to keep track of and to use later on the way to your BIG discovery.

Share

Here's the best part of the entire science fair experience. Now it's time to SHARE what you've learned with the world! Organize your facts, explain your results, and answer your original question. Make posters, write a report, make a video - just share! The wonder grows, the questions come, and the big discoveries follow.

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