How to Style Science Projects
Science projects are an opportunity for students to examine and find answers to scientific questions. Such questions may serve to educate students on a particular process or introduce them to complex scientific ideas. To design the best science project, students will need to utilize the scientific method. This method includes asking a question, performing research, developing a hypothesis and creating experiments. Students must confirm whether or not their hypothesis was correct using their experiments.
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Instructions
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Ask a question. Determine what it is you would like to know or find out from your science project. Questions may be things like "Does salt make ice melt faster in water?" This will be the basis of your science project. Do not use vague questions, such as, "Does ice melt?" The more specific your question, the better your project will turn out.
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Conduct preliminary research on your subject. In conducting an experiment to determine how long it will take ice to melt in salt water, for example, research how long it takes ice to melt in regular temperatures and how salt impacts water temperature. This research will help you as you create the later steps of your project.
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Develop a hypothesis based on your research. State clearly what you expect to happen based on your research and other relevant information.
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Add variables to your project to ensure changes are not a result of some other force. Variables may be things that can effect the outcome of the experiment and would thus prove that another factor is responsible for the perceived change. For example, a project designed to answer whether toothpaste makes teeth whiter may include variables like reducing juice intake, ingesting more fluoride in water or dentist visits as factors that could disprove that toothpaste is solely responsible for tooth whitening. Incorporate these variables and how you will measure the change into your project.
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Design your experiment by considering how you will test your hypothesis and incorporate the variables. You will need to ensure you have a standardized way of measuring your data so that the results of your project are accurate. The experiment should take place under controlled conditions and each part should utilize the same materials as the other. For instance, all water used for the ice experiment should be the same temperature and even in the same glass. Write down how you plan to carry out your experiment step-by-step so that you follow it the same way each time.
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Perform your experiment multiple times following your steps and record your data. Include photos or video if necessary. Use clarity and conciseness when recording data to ensure accuracy in your reading of the results.
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Summarize your results based on your experiments. Check whether or not they match your hypothesis. Note why the results differ from your hypothesis and if there were any flaws in your experiment.
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References
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