The document provides guidance for students participating in a science fair, including the key components and steps to follow. Students should prepare a display board, give an oral presentation, maintain a notebook of their research process, and write a 3-page written report. The report should include background research, a hypothesis, experimental methods and results, conclusions, and citations. Students will also conduct a hands-on experiment and document their work in a lab notebook following guidelines for organization, dated entries, and attaching relevant materials.

1. Science Fair
Basics:
1. Display
2. Oral presentation
3. Notebook
4. Written report
5. Hands-on experiment
1. Display
1.Title
2.Pictures
3.Introduction and Purpose
4.The Hypothesis or Question
5.Materials and Methods
6.Data and Results
7.Conclusion
8.References
2. Oral Presentation
Overall summary of your project, about 3 minutes
3. Notebook
Details of your research as it is conducted.
4. Written Report
Compile your results and write a three-paged (top to bottom margin), APA formatting,
explaining your findings. Investigate how your results conflict or concur with current research.
Cite at least 3 sources. Please attach raw data (questionnaires) and a cover page onto your paper.
I highly encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Lab. If they assist you with your work,
please attach their signature page to the back of your paper.

2. 5. Hands-on Experiment
During class you will have an experiment ready in which each group of students will participate.
Procedure for Getting Started
 The Scientific Method
 Your Question
 Laboratory Notebook
Doing Background Research
 Background Research Plan
 Finding Information
 Bibliography
 Research Paper
Constructing a Hypothesis
 Variables
 Hypothesis
Testing Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
 Experimental Procedure
 Materials List
 Conducting an Experiment
Analyzing Your Data and Drawing a Conclusion
 Data Analysis & Graphs
 Conclusions

3. Lab Notebook for Research Project
Joanne Rebbeck, Ph.D., edited
A lab notebook is a crucial part of any research project. It is a detailed account of every phase of
your project, from the initial brainstorming to the final research report. The lab notebook is proof
that certain activities occurred at specific times.
1. Use a durable hard-bound loose leafnotebook
2. Label your lab notebook with the name of your project, group members and professor’s
name in a prominent location. Make lab notebook entries in pen not in pencil. This is a
permanent record of all of your activities associated with your project.
3. Number the pages in your lab notebook.
4. Always date every entry, Entries should be brief and concise. Full sentences are not
required.
5. Don't worry about neatness. It's a personal record of your work. Do not re-do your lab
notebook because it looks sloppy.
6. It should be used during all phases of your project, jotting down ideas or thoughts for
your project. Diagrams, graphs, figures, charts, sketches, or calculations. Remember that
it's documentation of your work.
7. Use it regularly and write down everything, even if it seems insignificant, it could later be
extremely useful. For example, it is the middle of the night and you are frantically
preparing that final report but you cannot find the title of that crucial reference. Make sure
that you describe things completely, so that when you read your notes weeks later you will
be able to accurately reconstruct your thoughts and your work.

4. 8. Glue, staple or tape any loose papers,photocopies of important items. Loose papers or
other unsecured items are prohibited as they tend to fall out and can end up missing.
9. Organize your lab notebook. Make a table of contents, index, and create tabs for different
sections within your lab notebook. This helps keep you organized for different activities.
Below is an example:
Table of Contents Tab Color Page #
Deadline Schedule Red 1
Research Notes & Reflections White 2
Background Research, Library, APA, peer reviewed articles attached Blue 20
Information? Green 26
Experimental Setup, what is not covered in paper Yellow 35
Data collection, all raw data Purple 40
Results (pictures, graphs, summary tables) Orange 50
Final Paper Black 55