Easy science project
The “how to” page
AAAHHH! Science fair project time! Relax, this will be an easy science project that will blow the socks off the judges too.
Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com will guide you through the topic you choose for your project as well as give you detailed steps on creating and presenting a project that will not only be an easy science project to do but will be jaw dropping stuff to all who see it...
Choosing your project
If you have been given a topic or an area of science then choosing a project becomes easier. If, however, you have been given free range to choose any topic in science, then it is a bit more difficult, but it doesn't mean that you cannot end up with an easy science fair project. So if you are in this situation, where do you start?
Firstly you need to realize that science can fit into almost any part of our lives, then, think about what you are most passionate about. Maybe it’s cars, sport, rocks, animals, birds, plants, dancing, music, art, food (I think I would go for food!)...
Secondly, while thinking about your passion, ask yourself what unsolved question you have about that subject. Example: For sport - “Why does a ball travel in the direction I kick it and how can I get it to curve more?” or “Does it really make a difference what quality bat I play cricket with?”, or for music - “How does the music come out of a speaker?”, or for dancing - “How can a dancer damage their body?” or for food - “Does it really matter if I eat junk food?”
Thirdly chose a question that is unique but that you will be able to solve. It shouldn’t have too many variables in it. (In other words it should be a straight forward question, not one that depends on the sunlight, air temperature and wind rate to all be lined up just so for the experiment to work.)This will help make it an easy science fair project, whereas if there are too many questions science will become confusing and unenjoyable.
Now that you are working within your interest AND you have an invested interest in the topic as you want to find out this answer for yourself, you will not only have set yourself an easy science project, but you will have put yourself on a path to success.
The next step is to check out the projects on this site to see if any fit in with what you are thinking of doing. Check out our homepage and choose an
easy science project
from our list. (And in case you were wondering, just because it is an easy science project, it doesn't mean it ain't good ... I mean Benjamin Franklin made a shocking discovery about lightening by flying a kite!)
Planning your project
If you have been to the homepage of this site, you would have read that I was a science teacher for a couple of years ... and before you go screaming off into the distance ... there were a couple of things I learned about school kids and projects. So why am I telling you this? Because I can point out the mistakes that are made and steer you away from changing what should be an easy science project into a nightmare.
Without sounding like a motivational speaker...
Mistake No. 1 – No or not enough planning.
If you plan your project well, you will know when and how to get everything done so that it is in on time, and so that those who see it can only wonder at your scientific genius.
If you have the attitude of
"This is an easy science project and I don't need to plan - I know what's up!",
there will be three things that are likely to happen:
You will be up at 4 o'clock on the morning the project is due trying to motivate your crystal or bean plant to grow, but it just won't listen to you!
You will jump right in and end up doing everything again, and again, and again...
The judges will walk right past your display because they think it is part of the renovations that are happening to the building.
So...how do you plan?
Buy yourself a log book. This is essential to keep track of your project and experiment. For more details on why you need this and how to use it
click here
.
Read through the project requirements that your teacher has given you to follow. It is no use getting going with the project and thinking you are going to be "the bomb" scientist only to find out when you present it that you have left out half of what you were asked to do. Use the front page of the log book to create a checklist of what needs to be done.
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with what the judges want. Check out Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com's
"What the judges are looking for"
page.
Familiarize yourself with the
scientific method
. This will give you your basic outline for planning and doing your science fair project.
Time management! This is a big one. It can be the difference between what was destined to be a great, easy science project turning out to being an average or worse than average, difficult project. Check out Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com's
time management crash course
. Get this right and half the battle is won...
The action plan...
You have chosen your project, planned it in detail ... now to dive in and do it with passion and gusto – right? Wrong!
Science is best done slowly and carefully giving yourself time to think. The passion is still OK but you need to take your time. All the great scientists took their time and thought things through carefully.
So...
Take some time to choose your project topic and make sure you have a good hypothesis and know what experiments you are going to be doing. Don't choose a topic that is way over you head - stick to easy science project ideas and topics that you can understand and do well.
Get your equipment. Do this, keeping your time management plan in mind. Do not spend all your time collecting your equipment for the experiments and then not have time to use it! Keep note of everything you have managed to get hold of in your log book.
Do the research. What do you need to find out about your topic that is going to help you understand and explain your experiments and project? Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com provide some resources and links to give you a head start. Again, keep track of your research in your log book.
Do the experiments. Ensure you have the time and space to do them. Your time management plan should ensure this is sorted and result in an easy science project. Make sure your parents and family are OK with you setting up a mini laboratory in your home – you don't want your experiment sabotaged!
A camera is an essential piece of equipment to have at this stage – you will need good photos for your display. Take photos all through the experiment so that you have a record of experiment from when you start until you have your result. At this stage, the more the merrier. Oh, and use your log book to write down everything you see and learn.
Wrap up your project. By this stage you will have your research and your experiment results (if you use Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com's projects I have told you what you should expect these to be), your photos and everything else you need to wrap up this project. If you have taken my advice, all you need will be in...wait for it...your LOG BOOK. Write up conclusion (where? in your L...... B....... [fill in the blanks]).
Make your display. There is a right way to do this. I have done the research so that you don't have to find out for yourself. Check out
Display tips
and
How to use charts
. (If your teacher has given you specific details that are different to what I have mentioned, please, please, listen to your teacher – I don't want to end up in the Principle's office...)
Prepare for the interview. All you need should be in your log book (have I mentioned it is a good idea to use your log book?). Read it through once or twice before your turn comes around. If you have done everything as mentioned... well Einstein stand aside...
And that is how a stress free, "hey I actually enjoyed it", easy science project is done! Let’s do science!
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