This document provides templates and guidelines for students to document their science fair project. It includes sections for the project title, table of contents, problem statement, bibliography, hypothesis, materials list, and procedures. For research sources and data collection, it instructs students to summarize sources in their own words and record data on the provided pages. Students are directed to follow APA format and write objectively using third person throughout. Corrections are to be lined through instead of erased to maintain an accurate record.

1. Your Name on masking tape!
Project Title:
Awesome Science Project
Start Date: ___
End Date: ___

2. Title:
Awesome
Science
Project

3. Table of Contents
page
Problem ………………………….………………. 1
Research Source #1 ……………….………………2
Research Source #2……………….……..…..…….3
Research Source #3……………….…….…...…….4
Research Source #4……….…….…….………….5
Research Source #5………. …….……………….6
Bibliography………………… ….…………………7
Hypothesis…………………..…….………………8
Materials…………………………….……………..9
Procedure ……………………..…….………..….10
Procedure ……………………..…….………..….11
Procedure ……………………..……….……..….12

4. Table of Contents
page
Data….…………………………………………………. 13
Data……………. ………………………………………14
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….15
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….16
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….17
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….18
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….19
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….20
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….21
Data…………….…………………….………..…..…….22
Results……………………..………………….……..….23
Results……………………..……………………..……..24

5. Acknowledgements
The fourth page is for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of who
helped. Using complete thoughts and sentences, this is
where you thank any person involved in your project.

6. Problem
Page #1 (this will be your first numbered
page) will be titled Problem. This is where
you will write your approved problem.
1

7. Research Source #1
APA Format Bibliography will be written here. Please make
sure you are using APA and not any other format.
APA is indented after the first line.
Skip a line before you start your summary.
Summaries need to be in your own words. Printouts
of websites, books or other sources are
unacceptable.
This is where handwritten notes will be recorded from
all sources. Only use one page for each source.
2

8. Research Source #2
"Safety of Nuclear Reactors." World Nuclear Association.
World Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-andSecurity/Safety-of-Plants/Safety-of-Nuclear-PowerReactors/#.UlQz8iRGmTM>.
Skip a line before you start your summary.
Summaries need to be in your own words. Printouts
of websites, books or other sources are
unacceptable.
This is where handwritten notes will be recorded from
all sources. Only use one page for each source.
3

9. Research Source #3
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, and Ph.D.. "Materials That
Glow Under Black Light." About.com Chemistry Chemistry Projects, Homework Helm, Periodic
Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://
chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/f/
blblacklight.htm>.
Skip a line before you start your summary.
Summaries need to be in your own words. Printouts
of websites, books or other sources are
unacceptable.
This is where handwritten notes will be recorded from
all sources. Only use one page for each source.
4

10. Research Source #4
5

11. Research Source #5
6

12. Bibliography
"Safety of Nuclear Reactors." World Nuclear Association. World
Nuclear Association, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.worldnuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Safety-ofNuclear-Power-Reactors/#.UlQz8iRGmTM>.
This is where the student lists a minimum of 5 sources
(more is acceptable) in APA format.
At least one source should reflect safety measures
that will be followed during experimentation.
7

13. Hypothesis
This is where the student writes their approved
hypothesis in an if/then format. Absolutely no 1st person
should be used, it should be written in 3rd person.
8

14. Materials
8
This is where the student will list all materials and
quantities of those materials used. This list can either be
bulleted or numbered. This should also include any
safety equipment too.
For example, if 6 grams of sodium bicarbonate is used,
it should be listed as:
• 6g Sodium bicarbonate
or
1. 6g Sodium bicarbonate
** When instruments are used, the name, model
number, manufacturer and settings should be
recorded in the lab notebook in the Materials
section.
**When chemicals are used, the name, formula,
purity and manufacturer of the chemical should be
recorded in the lab notebook in the Materials
section.

15. Procedure
This is where the student writes a detailed explanation of how
to do the experiment. It should be so detailed that someone
unfamiliar with the project could repeat the experiment without
any help from the researcher. This should either be numbered
or listed as Step 1:, Step 2:, etc. Absolutely no 1st person
should be used, it should be written in 3rd person if necessary.
Ex. Step 1: Add 3 drops of Sulfuric acid to H2O.
Step 1 is not “gather all materials”! It is understood that to
begin any project, whether science fair, home improvement
project or cooking (to name a few), you would have
assembled all necessary items.
You may not have to use all three pages depending on the
length of your procedure.
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16. Example for what to do when you make a mistake.
numbered
I numered incorrectly.
2. If a page needs to be deleted, a single diagonal line should be drawn across it AND
a brief sentence or two should be added to explain the page deletion.
3. If an error is made, do not erase or obliterate it in any way. Draw a line through the
entry and write the correction as near to it as possible. NEVER write a number or
word over another one. Remember –blue or black ink ONLY. ABSOLUTELY NO
PENCIL ALLOWED!