7th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas
Science fair season is the time of year when students can incorporate all aspects of their knowledge into one presentation. A successful science fair project involves selecting an interesting topic, following plans, analyzing data and creating the project.
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Types
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The realm of science can be broken down into three basic categories: physical science, life science, and Earth and space science.
In "Teaching the Fun of Science," Janice VanCleave summarizes the categories. Physical science, she writes, includes the concepts of chemistry--how materials are put together and how they change under different conditions--and physics, the study of energy and matter and the relationship between them.
The study of life science is composed of "botany, the study of plants; zoology, the study of animals; and anatomy, the study of the human body."
Earth and space science includes the study of "astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics and geology. ... (which) give a better understanding of Earth and its place in space."
Sources
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Ideas for science fair projects can come from textbooks, library books or a student's own curiosity. VanCleave's book has many science fair ideas with questions that lead to deeper evaluation. Those interested in movie special effects will enjoy the book "Movie Science" by Jim Wiese, which has science fair activities with subjects such as how movies work, props and makeup, special effects, light and color.
The Internet is also a great resource for finding science fair projects. Visit Free-Science-Fair-Projects.org, which has a vast resource of searchable ideas based on grade level. ScienceBuddies.org has a listing of potential activities categorized by the field of science, and AllScienceFairProjects.com lists complete instructions on more than 500 topics.
Ideas
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Select a topic that you're interested in; if you're not interested in your topic, you might not be motivated to finish your project. If you're intrigued by physical science, consider conducting experiments that involve changes in matter, forces of motion or energy. If you're interested in life science, consider studying living systems, heredity or ecosystems. For a science fair project based on Earth and space sciences, consider creating crystals or observing the changing position of the sun.
Steps
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Successful science fair projects are dependent on knowing where to start and following certain steps. SciFair.org suggests several steps for success.
Select your topic, and make it interesting and simple. Do your homework, learning as much as you can about the subject. Determine how you will conduct the experiment, then gather everything you'll need for the experiment, including a log book.
When you conduct the experiment, take pictures or make sketches, and consider your final display. Determine what happened and what it means, and organize and analyze your data. When writing your report, "tell exactly what you did, how you did it, and what you discovered." Then make your display and rehearse your presentation.
Tips
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During your experimentation, record your data exactly. As VanCleave notes, "Good science is not just careful investigation; it's also accurate documentation." The goal should be to have such detailed notes that someone else would be able to replicate the experiment and reach the same conclusions.
Don't be discouraged if your hypothesis is proved incorrect. Science fair judges are most interested in how you tried to solve problems. Try making small alterations to your project to see if the results are the same.
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References
Resources
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