Science fair projects can be the most memorable part of your science class, giving you an opportunity to show your abilities and creativity. Sometimes, it is hard just to get started on your science fair project. Before you can plan your project, and even before you pick a topic, you must first understand the different types of science fair projects. It’s very important to choose the right type of project, or all of your effort could be wasted.
There are three different methods you can use for science fair projects: building (or modeling), demonstrating or investigating. When you choose between them, you should consider two things. First, read the science fair rules to find out what type of project is required, and be sure to confirm it with your teacher. If you are able to pick a type of project, go with the one you are most comfortable with.
The Model Building Method
The model building method is the kind of project which, as the name implies, enables you to construct a model, to scale whenever possible, to illustrate a specific scientific principle. This can often be a real working machine, such as a simple crystal radio set, or a straightforward model, such as one of the solar system. Many of us have seen the model of an erupting volcano in which the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar causes realistic looking ‘lava’ flows down the sides of a ‘mountain’. These models can be fun to build and quite spectacular – but they are often more suited to elementary school science fairs because of the relative lack of real ‘science’ or creativity in most of them. Some students do create unusual or dramatic models, which can be used demonstrate new ideas.
The Demonstration
The demonstration or descriptive method of research is again fairly self-explanatory. You could display your collection of rocks or other items related to a particular topic (like geology), and describe how they are related in your report, speech or on a display board. Alternatively, you might produce a poster or visual display about a topic on which you have carried out extensive research -climate change is understandably very popular at the present time. When you do this kind of project, you are not doing anything new, but only explaining or illustrating known scientific principles.
The Scientific Experiment (Investigation)
It is with the third of the possible methods that you can provide what most science fairs for older students are looking for – proper scientific experiments using scientific methods to construct and test a hypothesis and draw conclusions from it. If you have ambitions in science, or want to progress to regional or even national science fairs, then this is the area that you really should be looking into. And the choice of science fair project topics is limitless. Biology, chemistry and physics projects are common, but if your interest lies elsewhere, consider geology, environment, meteorology, or even sports science. Develop a hypothesis around your interest, and then find a method of testing it. Books and web sites can be valuable sources for project ideas, but the more novel and distinctive your project, the more interested the judges will be.
Remember, it is important to keep your teacher informed about your progress, and confirm that you know the rules and requirements for your science fair. Then, no matter what science projects you choose to do, you can enjoy the experience, confident that you have chosen well!
