Armstrong, Valerie

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to get started on a project for next year? Use the resources below to help you get started:

 

• Choose a simple topic that you like.
• Make sure you are doing an experiment, not just an activity. (What's the difference?)
• Winning projects are meaningful.
• Collect lots of data.
• Winning projects are unique.

• What testable question do you want to answer?
• Choose or design a procedure to help answer your question.
• Write a background research report.
• Develo your hypothesis.
• Do your experiment; collect data.
• How to Make a Data Table
• Use your data to write a conclusion.
• Make a presentation board to display all the parts of your project.

If you are doing a project that involves humans, animals, electricity, or potentially dangerous chemicals, you MUST get approval BEFORE you begin your actual experiment. 

1. Have your final procedure approved by Mrs. Armstrong.
2. Fill out the appropriate form for the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair.
• Human Subjects
  Any experiment that involves people as the subject of research must be approved, even if you are only asking them questions. You must show what steps you will take to protect people's safety and privacy.
• Other Vertebrates (animals with backbones)
• Electricity or Dangerous Chemicals
3. Wait for approval before beginning the experiment.

 

The Renaissance was a time of cultural revival in many aspects of European life including philosophy, art, and technology. Toward the later half of the Renaissance, another revolution of thought began. It is called the Scientific Revolution. Many of the ideas and discoveries that are essential to our modern understanding of science took root at that time. We invite you rediscover what the giants of science learned back then ... read more and see project ideas

 

 

How to Do a Science Fair Project, from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) 

 

Preparing for the Science Fair, by Kevin Temmer

 

• Project ideas
• Project guides
• Connect with experts to ask questions
• Doing a fair test
• Measuring plant growth

Have you every been to a cool hands-on science museum like the Discovery Cube? Well San Francisco's Exploratorium was the first museum like that, and it continues to be a leader in creating super fun exhibits that teach kids science. Some things you have to do at the museum, but they have a lot of cool activities online as well. Many of these activities can be a good starting point for developing an experiment. Check it out and have fun!

 

 

 

Barack Obama Fires a Marshmallow Cannon 

 

 

Many students like to do experiments that require growing plants. You need LOTS of data for your experiment, which means growing LOTS of plants. Since large plants can be expensive, it is often better to do experiments with germination (when seeds sprout) or seedlings (baby plants). Radish seeds and beans sprout relatively quickly and are relatively inexpensive. This page will give you detailed background information about how to grow seeds in gelatin, proper laboratory procedures, and experiment ideas.