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Finding an Idea for Your Science Fair Project

One of the most important considerations in picking a topic for your science fair project is to find a subject that you consider interesting. You'll be spending a lot of time on it, so you don't want your science fair project to be about something that is boring.

We know that finding a topic is the hardest part of a science fair project, and sometimes you just need a little help focusing on what sorts of topics would be of interest to you. To help you find a science fair project idea that can hold your interest, Science Buddies has developed the Topic Selection Wizard. By answering a series of questions about everyday interests and activities, you will help us identify an area of science that is best for you. So click on the following link and let's get started!

Your Science Fair Project Question

The question that you select for your science fair project is the cornerstone of your work. The research and experiment you will be conducting all revolve around finding an answer to the question you are posing. It is important to select a question that is going to be interesting to work on for at least a month or two and a question that is specific enough to allow you to find the answer with a simple experiment. A scientific question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where. Here are some characteristics of a good science fair project question:

• The question should be interesting enough to read about, then work on for the next couple months.
• There should be at least 3 sources of written information on the subject. You want to be able to build on the experience of others!

Now, for something like a science fair project, it is important to think ahead. This will save you lots of unhappiness later. Imagine the experiment you might perform to answer your question. How does that possible experiment stack up against these issues?

• The experiment should measure changes to the important factors (variables) using a number that represents a quantity such as a count, percentage, length, width, weight, voltage, velocity, energy, time, etc. Or, just as good might be an experiment that measures a factor (variable) that is simply present or not present. For example, lights ON in one trial, then lights OFF in another trial, or USE fertilizer in one trial, then DON'T USE fertilizer in another trial. If you can't measure the results of your experiment, you're not doing science!
• You must be able to control other factors that might influence your experiment, so that you can do a fair test. A "fair test" occurs when you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same.
• Is your experiment safe to perform?
• Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your science fair project, or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost?
• Do you have enough time to do your experiment before the science fair? For example, most plants take weeks to grow. If you want to do a project on plants, you need to start very early! For most experiments you will want to allow enough time to do a practice run in order to work out any problems in your procedures.
• Does your science fair project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair?
• Have you avoided the bad science fair projects listed in the table "Science Project Topics to Avoid" in this project guide?

If you don't have good answers for these issues, then you probably should look for a better science fair project question to answer.

Some science fair projects that involve human subjects, vertebrate animals (animals with a backbone) or animal tissue, pathogenic agents, DNA, or controlled or hazardous substances, need SRC (Scientific Review Committee) approval from your science fair BEFORE you start experimentation. Now is the time to start thinking about getting approval if necessary for your science project 

Examples

These are examples of good science fair project questions:

• How does water purity affect surface tension?
• When is the best time to plant soy beans?
• Which material is the best insulator?
• How does arch curvature affect load carrying strength?
• How do different foundations stand up to earthquakes?
• What sugars do yeast use?

Science Fair Project Question Checklist

Here are some things to consider as you finalize your question: