A science fair project involves investigating a question using the scientific method. Students conduct experiments to answer their question and gather data. They then prepare a final report and display board to showcase their work. The final report includes an abstract, background research, methods, results, and conclusion sections. It comprehensively documents the project from question to findings. The display board visually summarizes this for judges and viewers at the fair. Strong projects have a clear question and testable hypothesis to generate meaningful results.

1. What is a
Science Fair Project?

It is an investigation that is designed to
solve a problem or answer a question.

It is a 'science' fair project because you
use a procedure called the scientific
method to answer the question.

The 'fair' part takes place when everyone
who has done a project gathers together
to showcase their work.

2. The Scientific Method

3. Reporting Results:

Final Report: A combination of all of the information you
have gathered, all of your planning, the data you
collected, and the analysis of your results. This will be
put together like a book.

Display Board: An eye-catching display summarizing
everything in your final report; allowing your audience to
easily gain a general understanding of your project.

4. Final Report:

Title page

Abstract: An abbreviated version of your final
report.

Table of contents

Question, variables, and hypothesis

Background research: The research paper you
wrote before you started your experiment.

Materials list

Experimental procedure: Including logs of your
process, photos, etc.

5. Final Report Continued:
Data and Results: Your observations, data table and graph(s)
will be included here.
Conclusion: An analysis of your data as it relates to your
hypothesis. Perhaps you include information about further
steps you could take in your experiment in the future.
Acknowledgments: This is your opportunity to thank anyone
who helped you with your science fair project: someone in
your family, a friend, a business, etc.
Bibliography: Acknowledging the origin of any research /
information you used from outside sources.

6. Final Report Continued:
• Write the abstract section last, even though it will be one
of the first sections of your final report.
• Your final report will be several pages long, but don't be
overwhelmed! Most of the sections are made up of
information that you have already written. Gather up the
information for each section and type it in a word
processor if you haven't already.

7. Display Board:
You will use a standard, three-panel display board
that unfolds to be about 91cm X 122cm.

8. 
Organize your information like a newspaper so that your
audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment
by reading from top to bottom, then left to right.
Include each step of
your science fair project
Use at least 24pt font
for titles of each section
and 16pt font for text
Project title easily read
from across the room
A picture's worth a
thousand words!

9. Examples

10. Title
• Ideally the title of your project should be catchy; an
"interest-grabber.” But it should also describe the project
well enough that people reading your report can quickly
figure out what you were studying.
• You will want to write your Title and Background sections
AFTER you have come up with a good question to study.

11. Background or Purpose
The background section is where you include
information that you already know about your
subject and you tell your audience why you
chose the project you did.
What were you hoping to find out from the
project?

12. The Question
(Or Selecting Your Subject)
Probably the most difficult part of a science fair
project is coming up with a good subject to research.

Think about WHAT INTERESTS you.

Think of a TESTABLE QUESTION
about the subject.

13. Hypothesis
• As soon as you come up with a testable question,
you will probably instantly have a hypothesis
(prediction) about what the results will be from your
testing. (Isn't the human brain an amazing thing?!)
It's a good idea to write this down before starting,
because it may change as you go about your
experiment.

14. Materials

This section should include a list of everything that was
necessary to conduct your experiment.

Did you need to develop a survey?...Or make a chart? Did
you use a camera to document and analyze your results?
Think through the process thoroughly!

15. Methods

Explain the procedure thoroughly

GET STARTED EARLY! You may run into
complications or “surprises” and have you modify
your project. The more time to work with, the better!

Keep detailed records of EVERYthing that you do! A
project log of each step you take (even the mess-
ups, as well as pictures of the process, should be
included in your final report and represented on your
display board.

16. Results or Data
• Tell your reader the actual numbers (or other data)
that you got as you were doing the experiment.
• This will probably be best represented in a
chart/table or graph.
• But you do not tell your interpretation of the data -
that's for the last section!

17. Conclusion
• Here, you finally get to tell your readers what you
found out from the experiment, or how you interpret
your data.
• This section should be focused on what you
learned about your original question and
hypothesis.