The Project - From Beginning to End

There are a number of steps to follow when doing a science fair project.

Finding a Topic. Researching the Topic Reading the Rules and Regulations Conducting the Research and Keeping a Project Notebook. Writing the Research Report. Constructing the Exhibit.

Finding a Topic:

An amazing variety of projects appear at the science fair each year. Most of the ideas come from interesting problems encountered in every day life. Ideas are also generated by school work, a hobby, club or activity. A good project is original, useful and understandable. An original project deals with a subject that has not been proven or seen before. A useful project solves a problem and adds to the knowledge of science. An understandable project can be repeated in the future with similar results. Try to write a question that clearly outlines the project.


Researching the Topic:
To do a good project the topic or problem must be researched. Possible sources of information are libraries, teachers, television shows, newspapers and people who work in that area. General information is available in encyclopedias. For more specific information, books or science magazines are better. Excellence sources of very current data can most often be found on the Internet. Use index cards to write down all important information, keeping track of the source of information.

Your research should be attempting to determine answers to the following or similar questions (not all questions apply to all project ideas):


Reading the Rules and Regulations:
Many science fair projects can become quite complex and involve potentially dangerous or harmful materials. It is essential that all science fair rules and regulations are read and understood by science fair participants so that accidents do not occur and that time is not wasted developing an unsuitable project. In particular, there are very specific and strict rules for projects dealing with animals or using humans in scientific research.


Conducting the Experiment(s), Study or Innovation:

Use the established scientific method to produce accurate results. Start with a purpose or question, followed by the hypothesis, procedure (materials and methods), results and conclusion.

  1. Purpose: Every experiment, study or innovation must have a purpose stating what you are attempting to do. The purpose should include an hypothesis. The project title should reflect the purpose.
  2. Developing an Hypothesis: Once the background information has been collected, an educated guess can be made about the solution to the problem. This educated guess is called an hypothesis.
  3. Procedure: This is the method used to test the hypothesis. List and describe all of the materials used, explaining how each was used as your project develops. A method must also be written. The most sophisticated studies involve the clear definition and control of all variables. The variables a scientist changes are called independent variables. The things that change as a result of the experiment are called dependent variables. A good experiment or study uses only one independent variable at a time because any change in experimental result can then be attributed to the change of that independent variable. A Study or Innovation type project still needs to have a procedure that outlines the steps taken in gathering and assessing data or in the development and testing of the innovation.
  4. Keeping a Project Notebook: As you work on your project, keep a notebook, logbook or journal which describes your progress. It should be at your side throughout the work you do, and therefore holds all of your "rough work". Your original notebook, rough as it may appear, is a very important part of your project. It should not be a copied or laundered version. It should contain your ideas, notes on books you have read on your topic, people you contact, etc. When you begin your project, record all observations and raw data here, both successes and failures. It is from this notebook that you will extract the information for your display, your written report and your interviews.
  5. Results: Record all observations. Keep complete and accurate notes of everything you see, smell, hear or feel. There are two types of observations, those that are sensual (qualitative) and those that are accurately measured (quantitative). Measuring devices include metre sticks, thermometers and clocks. Record all results, even the unexpected. As mentioned above, it is important to record what appear to be failures or things that don't work or come out as expected. This is a critical part of the scientific process - learning and formulating new ideas from the so called failures. Remember - results are never wrong. Data, or results can be organized by tables or graphs. They should provide support that the hypothesis appears to be right or wrong. If the hypothesis is wrong it can be changed and other experiments conducted. Projects that prove an hypothesis wrong, however, are equally valid and acceptable.
  6. Conclusion: An analysis should be made on completion of the research explaining how the hypothesis was arrived at and whether it was found to be correct. Other researchers should be able to reach the same conclusion by following the described research procedure. The conclusion should include additional background information, any sources of error that may have been present, and possible practical applications for the results. Ideas for further research are described in this section.

Writing the Research Report:

This report requires you to demonstrate your ability to write a concise summary of your project using a standard scientific style of reporting. It requires that you select only what is important and state it in a succinct way. The written reports are submitted with the Application Forms in March. Each project must have a separate report. It must be typed or neatly written on a set of papers stapled together, not enclosed in a cover or folder. Do not fasten the report to the application form and do not fasten the reports from one school together.

Project Report Requirements:

  1. The student's name, grade and school appear in the upper right hand corner of the page. The project title is centered. The report is in four sections.
  2. i) Background, Purpose and/or Hypothesis
  3. ii) Procedure
  4. iii) Results and Conclusions
  5. iv) Acknowledgments

Explanatory Notes:
  1. Although a title page and bibliography may be appropriate in a complete report, they are not required in the Research report.
  2. The Background section is intended to describe information that explains why the project was done. It is not to be a theoretical discussion.
  3. The Procedure must be a very brief outline of the materials and methods used in the project.
  4. The Results and Conclusions section should summarize what the student(s) found and that satisfy the purpose. A brief discussion of the limitations, or suggestions for further research, may be included.
  5. In the Acknowledgments paragraph, recognition should be given to all who provided significant assistance to the student(s) in development of the project, in the form of guidance, materials, or facilities. The judging panel will use this information when formulating questions for the interview with you and when deliberating on the quality of your work. This section of the report will not be marked.
Displaying Your Report:

Marked reports will be returned to exhibitors before judging begins, and should be visible at your display during the judging period. Display of the report during other times is at your discretion.

How the Reports are Graded:

The written reports, assigned 5, 4, 3, or 2 marks, are evaluated on overall approach, organization, content, writing skills (grammar, spelling and punctuation) and style (clarity, precision and economy). A mark of zero will be assigned if no report is submitted with the application form.


Constructing the Exhibit Display:

The exhibit should be visually attractive and exciting enough to attract the attention of visitors and judges. It's also important that it be sturdy with all parts securely fastened. Visual effects - charts, graphs, drawings, photographs - add a lot to a display.

Building a Backboard

Science fair projects need free-standing backboards made of sturdy material such as masonite, pegboard, plywood or coroplast. The structure must be no higher than 350 cm from the floor, 80 cm deep and 120 cm from side to side. A coat of paint helps improve the backboard's appearance. Please refer to the safety section when designing the display.