How to Build a Science Project
All science projects begin with a question that leads a student to ponder a scientific principle. Why do volcanoes erupt? How are clouds formed? What causes erosion? Choosing a topic is the first step. Make sure that your topic is interesting, relevant and age-appropriate. You should also consider cost and time allowances before making a decision. After you have chosen your topic, you are on your way. Below are steps in creating a great science project.
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Things You'll Need
- Poster board
- Illustrations
- Glue
- Word processor
- Lab materials, as appropriate
Instructions
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How to Build a Science Project
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Identify the topic. You probably submitted a project idea to your teacher. Your entire project will be based off this topic. Now that you have a focused subject, do some research to see what types of experiments you can perform to discover the scientific principles behind your topic.
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Form a hypothesis. What is a hypothesis? It is what you predict the experiments and research will prove. For example, if your topic is “What causes erosion?” then your hypothesis might be “I think that erosion is caused by rain and wind.” Your hypothesis does not have to be correct. It only has to be your prediction of what the results will prove.
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Run experiments. Always talk to your parents before doing experiments. Any experiments that involve a potential for danger should always be done under adult supervision. Be sure to give yourself enough time to run experiments. Some experiments will take weeks (i.e. projects that monitor plant growth). Don’t procrastinate. Other experiments may be more difficult that you imagined and may need to be run more than once. In addition, science in general is based on systems of trial and error.
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Record data. Be sure to record data at every interval. Neglecting to record data will only lead to additional work. If possible, take pictures of the results as evidence. Photos can prove valuable when creating your final visual presentation.
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Interpret the data. Review all of the data that you recorded. What happened? What conclusions can be made based on what you saw? How clear are the results? What scientific principles are in play in this project? What did you learn about your topic? Why is it important?
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Build a visual project. Science projects generally take the form of a poster or a three-sided display board that give an overview of the project from beginning to end. The visual component should illustrate every step of your project. Start with the topic – very clearly stated on the top center of the poster. Then add your hypothesis. Next, include a written explanation of the experiments you carried out and exactly how they were performed. Any photos taken of your experiment would be appropriate here. You will also need to reveal the data you collected by listing the findings in a table or creating a graph. Next you will give your interpretation of the data. Last, explain what conclusion you came to and how the data proves this.
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Write up your conclusions. If you are required to submit a written report, follow all specific guidelines given. In general, your research paper should include:
A title page – Your project topic, your name, your class name and date.
Body – Write your paper in chronological order. As above, explain your topic and move on to your hypothesis, then an explanation of experiments, relate the data results, interpret the data and state your conclusion.
Bibliography – Be sure to cite any relevant sources related to researching your project and coming to your conclusion.
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Tips & Warnings
Always start science projects early!
Be sure to record data regularly.
Any experiments that involve a potential for danger should always be done under adult supervision.
