What makes a good science project? Well, there are many answers to that question: From a philosophical standpoint, one that encourages your student to enjoy science (instead of fearing/dreading it). From an academic viewpoint, one that gets a high grade. From a parenting standpoint, one that requires minimal supervision, assistance, and hair-pulling/nagging. For this discussion, however, I am going to look at what makes a “good” science project from a SCIENTIFIC viewpoint. In other words, I am going to discuss good scientific priniciples to consider when you are approaching a scientific investigation, whether it is on the elementary, middle school, or high school level.
2. Be a control freak. Yes, you read that correctly. When setting up your project, you want to eliminate unnecessary variables that may skew your results. Basically, you want to keep things as uniform/standard EXCEPT for the variables you are testing. For example, if you are investigating the effect of soil on plant growth, you want to ensure that the plants are getting the same amount of sunlight, equal pot size, same room temperature (if you are growing indoors), and of course equal amounts of plant food/water. In other words, you want SOIL to be the only thing that differs in your experiments. You want to be as “scientific” as possible….when measuring, use a graduated cylinder or measuring cup (and yes, use the same measuring utensil unless you are using laboratory grade glassware; household measures can vary greatly from one to another). While most students won’t be doing their science projects in a laboratory, try to mimic the standards of laboratory protocol as much as you can. Take copious notes and include this as part of your presentation!
3. Be honest. Part of science is trial and error. Some of the best science projects that I’ve seen had unexpected results. If your results are completely opposite of your hypothesis, still report your results honestly and accurately. If you have a disaster (my dog literally ate my science project), don’t be afraid to report it with candor and do the best you can with the results you have. Fudging, white lies, and made-up results are all the same thing: lying. And completely unscientific.
Hope this gets your young scientist off to a GREAT start on your “good” science project, at least from the view of this scientist!
Cecilia
PS: Need some help getting your ideas flowing for that good science project? Try 24 Hour Science Projects to get you started on your scientific journey!!
Lunch money, field trips, school pictures, clothes, shoes, teacher appreciation, snack day, book fair, fundraisers galore…am I the only one that feels as if the school year is an endless drain on my finances? A proverbial syphon on my wallet? I’m always wondering, “What next?” And then it comes home one day in the backpack (which, now that you mention it, is getting ratty and probably needs to be replaced)….the dreaded science project. Great. What’s this going to run me? Twenty dollars? Thirty? Gulp. More?!?!
Years ago (before I was a mom), I worked as a technical consultant for a large chemical company that, among other things, produced chemical test kits. Even though I didn’t have children, I knew exactly when the science project assignments were coming out. I received calls from all over the country asking many of the same things: “Where can I find a cheap, reliable test for lead?” (You can’t.) “How much is a spectrometer?” (More than you want to spend on a science fair project.) “Do you sell any test kits without chemicals?” (I preferred to answer that one with silence.) These calls came from parents of two types: (a) those that were genuinely unaware of the cost, hazard and knowledge of such prefab kits and (b) those that regarded money as no object as long as little Susie or Johnny could get a good grade.
Well, I’ve been called many things in my life (some of which I don’t care to repeat in an open forum). Coupon Lady. Junker (not to be confused with junkie). Penny Pincher. And my favorite—-Queen of Cheap. I decided that there has to be ways to do quality science projects and keep costs to a minimum. So, here are some thoughts on creative ways to produce quality science projects without breaking the bank.
1. Consider the cost BEFORE choosing a project. Make sure you look over the list of required components. Are you going to have to buy almost everything new? Don’t forget to allow some money for producing the final product (if you aren’t crafty and don’t have a supply of cardstock, glue, & accesories, remember that you’ll be buying some stuff to make a project board). If the project you want to do requires five variables that you will have to purchase at $10 each, you might want to move on to a more budget friendly idea. Have your young scientist brainstorm on ideas that can be done using everyday household “stuff.” Personally, I think of a new science project almost every time I do laundry or cook supper (the effect of time on stains, home remedy stain removers, water temperature, boiling points, surface area, etc.)
2. Make it a game to see how little you can spend on the project. Perhaps you can incorporate it into the theme and subtitle accordingly. For example, “Cheap Heats/Building a solar heater without spending a dime” This is particularly great if you are doing an experiment or demonstration on something like recyling. Let the entire assignment be a lesson on budgeting, especially if you have a child in middle school or older! Can you do a project using only resources at home/borrowed/donated? How about five dollars? Ten? Make it fun!!
3. Know or learn where to shop. This can be time consuming, but extremely cost-effecctive. Many, if not all, of your materials can be found at local thrift stores. Depending on your area, you may have a plethora of “junk” sources right in your backyard–Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and many local ministries as well. Also, yard sales are a great resource. The typical rule of thumb for yard sale prices is 1/8 of the original sales price (so it pays to know the value of things). Often, you can get people to donate stuff if they know it is for school. Whether you are shopping at thrift stores or yard sales, don’t be afraid to ASK for deals and/or freebies. Finally, the internet is a great resource for hunting out great deals. Craigs’ List is a neat tool for finding local deals. If a parent or someone you know is on websites such as facebook, you can put out a request…”looking for 2 yards of fabric for science fair project” or “need three different brands of sunscreen…” You’ll be amazed at the response!
Hope this helps you create a great science project without having to sell an organ! Happy deal hunting!
PS: Want an inexpensive way to launch your budget friendly science project? Consider 24 Hour Science Projects. There are some excellent ideas with very easy to find (and inexpensive) components!!
I’m not competitive; I just like to win. Of course, as a (stereo)typical nerd, I’m not exactly the athletic type. In fact, I was third string in church-league softball. So, I turned my competitive spirit towards a more even playing field: science. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in the value of education in and of itself. I’m all for personal enrichment and will even participate in a group hug or a good round of Kum By Ya. However, I would like to address those of you that want a science project that will do more than just get the requirement out of the way. No matter if your idea of winning is a science fair medal, getting an “A,” or sparking a lifetime interest in science in your child…the following ideas are for a winning project—whether your child is in elementary, middle school, or high school.
1. Go With the Times: Of course, you’re going to get a lot more enthusiasm from your child if the project doesn’t bore him to tears. Consider guiding your young Einstein towards a project that hits on a current trend or theme in the news: environmental (recycling, reusing, producing less waste), economy (projects that compare name brand to generic, recommended versus necessary quantities for cleaning products, alternative–and cheap!–energy sources), health and fitness (vitamin C, coatings on vitamins,etc). By choosing a “hot” project, not only will your child have a greater interest in the research, but you have a better chance of catching the attention of a science fair judge or teacher. Remember, there are only so many homemade tornadoes that someone can look at before their eyes glass over!
2. Play By the Rules: Make sure that you are aware of the restrictions and requirements for the project. You don’t want a student to do all that work to be disqualified or overlooked on a technicality. Be careful with size limits (board displays and paper length). Also, ensure that you are complying with the TYPE of project that the teacher has requested. You don’t want to turn in a demonstration when an experiment was expected. Check and double check that you have all required elements to the project (Purpose, Hypothesis, Procedure, Conclusion, Graphs, References, etc). This step may seem obvious, but you always want to cover the basics so that your project can “shine” on all the extras.
3. Catch Their Eye: A catchy title can go a long way. “The Effects of Hair Products on Hair Strength” is not nearly as engaging as “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow.” Consider using a popular song title/lyric or pun to get a smile from your audience.
Well, let’s allow that info to simmer (on the Bunsen Burner, of course) for a while. Stay tuned for the continuation of creating a winning science project!
Kids think science projects should be fun. Teachers think they should be educational. Parents just want them to be done fast and easy. Since students, teachers and parents are all involved in the process of getting ready for the science fair, most of the time, science projects have to be all of the above!
As a result, finding the perfect science fair project can be difficult. Here are five steps to choosing a science project that will make everybody happy.
1. Know what kind of science project is required. There are five kinds of projects, and many a student has had their project idea rejected because of a science technicality. Make sure you know if the science teacher requires an experimental (investigatory) project, a demonstration of a science principle, a report on a subject in science, a collection of items, or a scientific model. Most science fairs require an experiment, which has an hypothesis, tests the hypothesis following the scientific method, and arrives at a conclusion.
2. Find out what interests the student. What does your child do in her spare time? Does he ride horses, is she a soccer player? Is music a passion, or do you have a budding engineer on your hands? If a student is already interested in a subject, learning more about it will come naturally.
3. Determine the budget for time – and money. If your science fair is next week, you need to choose a fast and easy science project that can be done without ordering supplies from Outer Botswana. If you can’t afford special chemicals or science equipment, then you’ll need to focus on projects that can use materials easily found in your home.
4. Use all available resources for the science project search. Head to the library and look at the books on science projects. You can also use the internet. Go to your search engine and type “science project on vitamin C” or “science experiment on insulation”. Note, however, that many books and websites have demonstration projects instead of experiments. So, again, be careful that you find the right type of project.
5. Make a list of possible projects, and work together to choose the best one!
6. Our BEST hint:, and get a free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects“. You’ll learn more about how to choose that perfect science project! Or, for five fast and easy science fair experiments that can be finished by this time tomorrow, visit 24 Hour Science Projects.
