How to Set Up a Science Project Board

If you've worked hard on your project, take some time to display it properly.

Planning a science board takes thought and preparation. You want visitors, and the judges, to look at your board. You probably spent hours researching and preparing the project, so it's worth taking time to carefully lay out the display. Be creative with your arrangement, and use props if possible. For example, if your science project is about flowers, consider adding a few live flowers to your display.

Things You'll Need

• Foam project board
• Pencils
• Markers
• Visual aids

Instructions

1. Decide how many sections your board should have, possibly ones for title, research, experiment and outcome.

2. Determine the focal point of the board: Do you want a picture or text in the center?

3. Draw a sketch of how you would like the sections to appear. You might want to cut out each section so you can move them around until you like the layout. Arrange the display from left to right.

4. Use pencil guidelines on the board to create a graph for properly positioning the text and pictures.

5. Include ample illustrations, graphs or pictures, but be sure to have enough text to explain your thoughts and ideas.

6. For text, use colors that contrast the background. Consider using color paper behind black letters to draw attention to one area. You also might use odd-shaped backing behind pictures for a contrast.

7. Use 16-point type for the text and 20- or 24-point for the titles. The main title should be larger than the rest of the text.

8. Erase all your pencil guidelines.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the guidelines set by your school.

• Proofread your work several times. Use proper grammar, and cite any references correctly.

• Double-check the size limitations of the board before you start.

• If you use photos from the Internet, be sure to have proper permission.