Ciao...
Ahhh..the memories of science fairs and being up all night the night
before the project was due and trying to finish it. Can't say I miss
those days :)
There are several steps to a successful science project. The first,
and one of the toughest, is trying to figure out what subject to
choose. The first thing I would recommend you do is speak with your
science teacher and let him or her know you are having some difficulty
figuring out what to do your project on. Your science teacher will be
the best resource you have. If, after speaking with him or her, you
still don't know what subject to so, follow a few steps: Think about
which one of the sciences you like (or at least dislike the least :)).
From there, try to narrow it down even further by thinking about a
time you thought something like "I wonder how that works" or "Why did
that happen" and take it from there. Then visit your local library
and look up book titles, magazines, articles, etc that cover the
subject and then, think of a question such as: "What is the effect of
____ on ____ ?" or "How does ____ affect ___?". Then, the real work
begins.
Here is a list of some ideas of various science project themes you may
want to choose from. This list is by no means complete, however, it
may help you think of a project that you would like to do. This is a
sample of the list that can be found at
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/intermed.html:
Physics:
1. Fire and Burning- what factors affect burning?
2. Fuels and their efficiency in producing energy.
3. Musical instruments- the scientific principles behind them
4. Music vs Noise- difference
5. Pendulums- how can a period of a pendulum be increased?
6. Air Pressure- Water Pressure
METEOROLOGY
1.Snow- what happens when it melts; what does it contain; structure of
snow flakes; life in a snowbank
2.Sky Color- account for differences in color at different times
3.Wind and Clouds- what are the common wind patterns in your area and
why? Is cloud formation related to height, weather systems and
temperature? Study and record how clouds relate to weather patterns.
4.Water levels- study and record varying levels over the year in a
body of water; account for differences and the results on the
surrounding environment.
5.Dew formation- how much is formed on a square meter for a period of
time; account for variations
6.Wind-does wind travel at same speeds and in same directions at
different heights?
CHEMISTRY
1. Effects of temperature on viscosity of oil, chemical reactions,
Brownian movement, burning of different materials.
2. Everyday activities that illustrate chemical principles
3. Chemical reactions that produce energy or that require energy
4. Testing of consumer products- glues, stain removers, antiseptics,
mouthwash, detergents, paper towels, making salt water potable,
removal of pollutants
5. Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper
6. Effects of increased concentrations on the rate of chemical
reactions
BOTANY
1.Germination - how monocots and dicots differ - the effects of heat,
light, carbon dioxide, pH level, etc. on germination rate
2.Photosynthesis - factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
temperature, light intensity, water, carbon dioxide - part of light
spectrum used in photosynthesis
3.Leaf - do the numbers and sizes of stomata vary with different
plants - what happens if stomata are covered and why
4.Roots - how much water is used by different plants - what is the
effect of temperature, sunlight, etc., on the use of water
(transpiration) - how do different types of soils affect the ability
of roots to anchor plants - what factors encourage root growth and
what is the effect of water, oxygen, soil type, minerals on root
growth
5.Plant growth - determine the effects of various nutrients, amounts
of water, hours of sunlight, strength of weed killer, temperature,
pollutants, pH levels on plant growth and crop yields - can plants
live without oxygen, carbon dioxide - what percentages of various
plants is water
You can find a bigger list of project subjects at
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/
Once you pick your subject, you may want to visit
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html which will give you
a set of steps to follow which will help you organize and prepare for
your Science Fair.
Some other resources to help you with your project:
DiscoverySchool.com Science Fair Central
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
Great collection of ideas, tips and other great help for a science
project.
Internet Public Library Kidspace Science Fair Project Resource Guide
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/
Great selection of resources for project ideas, help and resources for
you.
Good luck with your science project and I hope you get an A+! Thanks
for your question and if you need any further clarification, please
let me know.
Regards,
-THV
Search Strategy:
science fair projects
References:
CyberFair Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project-Idea Generation
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ideas.html |
