Science Fair Information
Dear Parents and Students,
Your experiment should follow the Scientific Method.
How to display your experiment:
The backdrop must be sturdy, to support your display of the procedure and results of your experiment. It must be free standing. Displays cannot be more than 48” wide and 36” high. Science Fair display boards can be purchased at Staples.
Please Note: No Science Fair experiments will be allowed to utilize live vertebrate animals and or microorganisms of any type (including mold). Experiments that utilize tobacco, alcohol and/or controlled substances are prohibited as well.
Criteria for the evaluation of Science Fair projects:
A. Concept 1) Is a problem being investigated?
2) Has the problem been clearly defined?
3) Is the problem being dealt with in a creative manner?
4) Is the problem suitable to the age and maturity level of the student?
B. Method 1) Is the “scientific method” being followed?
2) Was the experiment properly controlled?
3) Was the experiment repeated several times in order to secure a large number of samples?
4) Is the conclusion justifiable based on the findings?
C. Technique 1) What books or people were consulted? Is there evidence of research presented?
2) Are there records of the original data collection?
3) Are the findings reliable? Can they be repeated?
D. Format 1) Is the exhibit presented in an interesting and dramatic style?
2) Is a general plan of organization evident?
3) Has care been taken in arranging and presenting the material?
E. Interview 1) Does the student show an understanding of the concept being investigated?
2) Can the student substantiate the validity of project’s conclusion?
3) What problems did the student meet in the investigation?
4) What, if anything, would be done differently if the student were to begin this experiment again?
EXAMPLES OF SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
· Does eating breakfast make you hungry sooner?
· Staten Island Soils
· Staten Island vs Brooklyn – a comprehensive look at air quality
· Does Acid Rain Fall on Staten Island?
· Organic Pollutants in Staten Island Waters
· Analysis of Water for Heavy Metals
· Are the waters of Staten Island clean?
· Does caffeine affect the heart rate?
· Does taste affect smell?
· Do subliminal messages affect choice?
· Does Short Wave UV Light Affect Plants?
· How is a barometer related to rainfall?
· Oil and Sorbents
· Is Drinking Water Safe on Staten Island?
· What kind of soil is better for water retention?
· Acid
· Does all of S.I. receive the same amount of rainfall?
· Does Magnetism Affect the Growth of Lima Beans?
· What is the Effect of Growth Regulators on Dwarf Peas?
· Do boys or girls have a higher resting heart rate?
· How Does Pollution Affect the Corrosion of Metals?
· Does Sound Affect the Growth of Plants?
· How Do Colored Lights Affect the Growth of Plants?
· What makes an object float or sink?
· How can using a lever demonstrate the impact of lever length?
· How does day length change during the year?
· Does exercise or healthy eating allow people to lose more weight?
· How does an elevator work?
· How does the shape and mass of an object affect velocity when sinking through water?
· How Do Photosynthesis and Respiration Differ?
· How does the type of surface of an inclined plane affect how fast and far an object rolls?
· How Does Transpiration Rate Compare in Desert Plants to the of Forest Plants?
· What Happens When Water Passes Through the Ground?
· How Do We Get Resources From the Ocean?
· Is Fresh Water an Unlimited Resource?
· How Does Ice React to Small, Large, Slow and Sudden Pressure?
· How Well Do Different Materials Store Heat From Solar Energy?
· Is One Person’s Garbage Another Person’s Energy Source?
· What is the best way to configure shock absorbers?
· How do changes in air pressure affect the weather?
· How does particle size affect settling rates?
· How Does Exercise Affect the Amount of Carbon Dioxide We Exhale?
· Does age affect reflexes?
· Are humans auditory or visual learners?
· Does vision affect the sense of taste?
· How much plant food is best?
· What is the Effect of Vitamin E on Radish Plants?
· Is the temperature the same in different areas of S.I.?
· What Are the Effects of Low and High Temperatures on Seed Germination?
· What are the densities of different rocks?
· Build a rain gauge and measure rainfall in S.I.
· Does water need sunlight to evaporate?
· What Are the Effects of Vitamin C on Kidney Bean Germination?
· How does wind speed affect evaporation rates?
· How accurately do egg producers measure their eggs?
· Stroop Effect
· What are eating disorders (research and survey)?
· How Does Acid Rain Affect Seed Germination?
· Compare rate of plant growth using two different growth hormones.
· Do Plants Grow Better in Water or Soil?
· Do people from different backgrounds have different lung capacities?
· Does caffeine raise a person’s blood pressure?
· Do certain groups of people have different blood pressure readings?
· Is colored or black & white text more easily remembered?
· How much starch do common foods contain?
· How can we make metal float?
· How does the depth of the ocean affect it’s temperature?
· How does ethylene affect ripening fruit?
· Does the type of water affect plant growth?
· How does the color of a background affect it’s absorption of solar insulation?
Your experiment should follow the Scientific Method.
- Title of Experiment – An interesting question
- Problem- Question you are investigating
- Hypothesis- Based on your research, what do you think the outcome will be? (educational guess)
- Materials- List what you will use
- Narrative Report – A step by step description of what you do in paragraph form
- Observation- Graphs, diagram, charts of your data
- Conclusion- Answer the problem and hypothesis
- Research- A background about your experiment
- Variable- What you are testing
- Control- a check on your experiment, the comparison group for the variable.
How to display your experiment:
The backdrop must be sturdy, to support your display of the procedure and results of your experiment. It must be free standing. Displays cannot be more than 48” wide and 36” high. Science Fair display boards can be purchased at Staples.
Please Note: No Science Fair experiments will be allowed to utilize live vertebrate animals and or microorganisms of any type (including mold). Experiments that utilize tobacco, alcohol and/or controlled substances are prohibited as well.
Criteria for the evaluation of Science Fair projects:
A. Concept 1) Is a problem being investigated?
2) Has the problem been clearly defined?
3) Is the problem being dealt with in a creative manner?
4) Is the problem suitable to the age and maturity level of the student?
B. Method 1) Is the “scientific method” being followed?
2) Was the experiment properly controlled?
3) Was the experiment repeated several times in order to secure a large number of samples?
4) Is the conclusion justifiable based on the findings?
C. Technique 1) What books or people were consulted? Is there evidence of research presented?
2) Are there records of the original data collection?
3) Are the findings reliable? Can they be repeated?
D. Format 1) Is the exhibit presented in an interesting and dramatic style?
2) Is a general plan of organization evident?
3) Has care been taken in arranging and presenting the material?
E. Interview 1) Does the student show an understanding of the concept being investigated?
2) Can the student substantiate the validity of project’s conclusion?
3) What problems did the student meet in the investigation?
4) What, if anything, would be done differently if the student were to begin this experiment again?
EXAMPLES OF SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
· Does eating breakfast make you hungry sooner?
· Staten Island Soils
· Staten Island vs Brooklyn – a comprehensive look at air quality
· Does Acid Rain Fall on Staten Island?
· Organic Pollutants in Staten Island Waters
· Analysis of Water for Heavy Metals
· Are the waters of Staten Island clean?
· Does caffeine affect the heart rate?
· Does taste affect smell?
· Do subliminal messages affect choice?
· Does Short Wave UV Light Affect Plants?
· How is a barometer related to rainfall?
· Oil and Sorbents
· Is Drinking Water Safe on Staten Island?
· What kind of soil is better for water retention?
· Acid
· Does all of S.I. receive the same amount of rainfall?
· Does Magnetism Affect the Growth of Lima Beans?
· What is the Effect of Growth Regulators on Dwarf Peas?
· Do boys or girls have a higher resting heart rate?
· How Does Pollution Affect the Corrosion of Metals?
· Does Sound Affect the Growth of Plants?
· How Do Colored Lights Affect the Growth of Plants?
· What makes an object float or sink?
· How can using a lever demonstrate the impact of lever length?
· How does day length change during the year?
· Does exercise or healthy eating allow people to lose more weight?
· How does an elevator work?
· How does the shape and mass of an object affect velocity when sinking through water?
· How Do Photosynthesis and Respiration Differ?
· How does the type of surface of an inclined plane affect how fast and far an object rolls?
· How Does Transpiration Rate Compare in Desert Plants to the of Forest Plants?
· What Happens When Water Passes Through the Ground?
· How Do We Get Resources From the Ocean?
· Is Fresh Water an Unlimited Resource?
· How Does Ice React to Small, Large, Slow and Sudden Pressure?
· How Well Do Different Materials Store Heat From Solar Energy?
· Is One Person’s Garbage Another Person’s Energy Source?
· What is the best way to configure shock absorbers?
· How do changes in air pressure affect the weather?
· How does particle size affect settling rates?
· How Does Exercise Affect the Amount of Carbon Dioxide We Exhale?
· Does age affect reflexes?
· Are humans auditory or visual learners?
· Does vision affect the sense of taste?
· How much plant food is best?
· What is the Effect of Vitamin E on Radish Plants?
· Is the temperature the same in different areas of S.I.?
· What Are the Effects of Low and High Temperatures on Seed Germination?
· What are the densities of different rocks?
· Build a rain gauge and measure rainfall in S.I.
· Does water need sunlight to evaporate?
· What Are the Effects of Vitamin C on Kidney Bean Germination?
· How does wind speed affect evaporation rates?
· How accurately do egg producers measure their eggs?
· Stroop Effect
· What are eating disorders (research and survey)?
· How Does Acid Rain Affect Seed Germination?
· Compare rate of plant growth using two different growth hormones.
· Do Plants Grow Better in Water or Soil?
· Do people from different backgrounds have different lung capacities?
· Does caffeine raise a person’s blood pressure?
· Do certain groups of people have different blood pressure readings?
· Is colored or black & white text more easily remembered?
· How much starch do common foods contain?
· How can we make metal float?
· How does the depth of the ocean affect it’s temperature?
· How does ethylene affect ripening fruit?
· Does the type of water affect plant growth?
· How does the color of a background affect it’s absorption of solar insulation?