How to Fix Up Science Project Backboards
Scientific experimentation, whether you are in middle school or postdoctoral studies at a top research institute, has little effect on people unless you can effectively communicate your findings. At the grade-school level, this communication can take the form of a science project backboard: a display board in three panels that unfolds to be 36 inches tall by 48 inches wide. Use some tested techniques to make your backboard as effective as possible.
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Instructions
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Organize your information so that the audience can read from top to bottom, then from left to right. On the left-hand panel, plan to include an 8.5 by 11-inch sheet of paper on the abstract, purpose, hypothesis and materials. In the middle, include your procedure and results. On the right-hand panel, provide a graphical display of your results and conclusions. While you do not need to adhere exactly to this format, similar organizations make it easier for your audience to grasp the most important points of your project: your purpose, what you did and your results.
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Use a font of at least 36 points for the title and at least 16 points for the text. People should be able to view your title from across the room and read your text from a few feet away.
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Include photographs and diagrams germane to your subject to make the poster more visually engaging.
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Mount the different sections of your poster (abstract, purpose, etc.) on colored construction paper to make your poster more colorful. Attach the sections to construction paper with a glue stick to avoid wrinkling caused by liquid glue.
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Use rubber cement to attach the construction paper to your poster board.
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Tips & Warnings
Proofread everything that you plan to mount before attaching it to your backboard.
For best results, choose a strong title that will catch people's attention.
Follow all the regulations of your science fair. For instance, some science fairs prohibit using pictures of yourself on your backboard.
While you do not necessarily need a separate section for every topic of interest on your backboard, your backboard shouls include your title, abstract, scientific question, variables, hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, discussion of results, conclusions, references and acknowledgments.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
