Science Project Ideas & The Scientific Method

Science fair projects are based on the scientific method. Students formulate a hypothesis and predict the outcome before performing the experiment. The test results support or refute the hypothesis.

Science fair competitions may involve students from preschool to high school age and may be local, regional, state or national contests. The rules vary among the competitions and the science fair project is designed with the rules in mind.

Students design science fair projects to examine a testable question. The experiment uses available equipment or tools and is safe to perform. Topics range from agriculture to zoology. "Does organic matter affect the water-holding capacity of soil?" is a testable question. Building a model of a volcano is not.

Students create a title, develop a question, write a hypothesis, make a list of materials and outline the test procedures. They then perform the experiment, tally the data and explain the results.

Often science fair projects are presented on a tri-fold cardboard display board. Laboratory notes and a detailed laboratory report are usually included with the display.