What I need to know about Science Projects
Science fairs were designed to help the students learn that their ideas are worth testing and proving. As a student works hard on their project, they will learn that it is fun when you have an idea that you can back with proof . At the fair the student is given the opportunity to show the judges his (or her) idea and how they went about proving or disproving their theory.
The science fair also shows colleges that you can stick to a task. Last year at the Alabama State Fair, I was talking to a guy who had been competing in the science fair when I was and had come back to support his sister. He told me how he had gotten into college and now was about to get a summer job. He said that the research that he done for the science fair had really impressed those making the decisions and had helped him get the job. His project had shown that he would stick to it even if it got hard.
A science project is where a student proves an idea that they had. They can prove that a certain programming language will do a certain type of computer program. Or they may be proving their design of a bridge support is stronger then the one used by the bridge builders of today. Maybe the student is interested in medical studies, so they prove a certain medicine is harmful to humans. The project could be about weather forecasting, habits in the life of humans or animals, or the project could be an idea for an invention that was built and tested. It really does not matter what the idea is. It is most important that you prove if it is true or not. (Safety is important so please make sure that the project meets the ISEF rule for entry.)
With a little thought any idea can be turned into a science fair project. All you have to do is try to prove an idea (hypothesis) and you have a science project. Making a Cake, Building a House, Fixing a Car, Teaching History, Feeding a Pet, or even Taking a Nap. Because there are so many categories and so many subcategories just about anything will fit in.
Lets see which categories some of these will fit in:
Making a Cake:
Chemistry, Medicine and Health, Microbiology
Building a House:
Engineering, Botany, Behavioral and Social Science, Environmental Science, Microbiology, Physics, Medicine and Health
Fixing a Car:
Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Behavioral and Social Science
Teaching History:
Behavioral and Social Science
Feeding a Pet:
Environmental Science, Medicine and Health, Zoology, Behavioral and Social Science, Chemistry, Botany, Biochemistry, Microbiology
Taking a Nap:
Medicine and Health, Earth and Space Science, Behavioral and Social Science, Biochemistry
This is the 2nd year that the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair will allow team projects. A team is made up of 2 or 3 students that are in the same grade bracket. These students work on the project together thus using the strengths of each student for the improvement of the project. A team may be made up of one student that is a good 'hands on' person working with a good writer. This allows each student to help in the other's weak spot. It will then help to strengthen both team members.
Grade groups will be:
K-4th grades
5th grade
6th grade
7th-8th grades
9th-12th grades
The North Alabama Regional Fair sets these grade classes. 5th and 6th are separate because 6th grade can go to the State Fair but 5th grade is not allowed to enter at the State level.
Every student has an area of interest. For some, it might be computers or rockets, others will be interested more in plants or animals. Your student may prefer to be out in the dirt rather than inside reading a book. Whichever type student you have, the science fair has something just for them. With up to 13 categories (depending on the grade level of the student) there is a category for just about anything you can think up. When choosing a subject, pick one that is of interest to the student so he or she will enjoy the project.
My first project solved a real problem. It was also a subject of interest to me.
Each project will involve each of these areas:
Book research
(library and internet)
Hands on research
(experimenting to prove your idea)
Artistic design for display
(backboard for showing result)
Charting findings
(graphing, and explaining results)
Problems that must be overcome
(every scientist will have to overcome problems)
Planning what is to be done
(a research plan needs to be written before you start so
you know what how to procede)