Project Guides (Page 2)

Science Fair Project Background Research Plan

Project Resource

Why the Need for Background Research? So that you can design an experiment, you need to research what techniques and equipment might be best for investigating your topic. Rather than starting from scratch, savvy investigators want to use their library and Internet research to help them find the best way to do things. You want to learn from the experience of others rather than blunder around and repeat their mistakes. A scientist named Mike Kalish put it humorously like this: "A year in the lab… Read more

How to Use a Multimeter

Project Resource

Multimeter Overview Not sure what a multimeter is or what you can do with one? Then you're in the right place! Below is an overview of what multimeters are and what they are useful for. To learn how to use a multimeter, to find multimeter usage ideas, or to find labeled photographs of assorted multimeter models, click on the quick links in this multimeter tutorial. This section includes answers to the following questions: What is a multimeter? What can multimeters… Read more

Acids, Bases, & the pH Scale

Project Resource

What is an acid or a base? Whether a liquid is an acid or a base has to do with hydrogen ions (abbreviated with the chemical symbol H+). In water (H2O), a small number of the molecules dissociate (split up). Some of the water molecules lose a hydrogen and become hydroxide ions (OH−). The "lost" hydrogen ions join up with water molecules to form hydronium ions (H3O+). For simplicity, hydronium ions are referred to as hydrogen ions H+. In pure water, there are an equal number of hydrogen… Read more

Science and Engineering Project Laboratory Notebooks

Project Resource

Keep a Great Science or Engineering Project Laboratory Notebook Whether you are a research scientist, an engineer, or a first-time science fair student, you should use a lab notebook to document your science investigations, experiments, and product designs. A lab notebook is an important part of any research or engineering project. Used properly, your lab notebook contains a detailed and permanent account of every step of your project, from the initial brainstorming to the final data analysis… Read more

Experimental Procedure

Project Resource

Overview Now that you have come up with a hypothesis, you need to develop an experimental procedure for testing whether it is true or false. The first step of designing your experimental procedure involves planning how you will change your independent variable and how you will measure the impact that this change has on the dependent variable. To guarantee a fair test when you are conducting your experiment, you need to make sure that the only thing you change is the independent variable. And,… Read more

Writing a Research Paper for Your Science Fair Project

Project Resource

Overview Year after year, students find that the report called the research paper is the part of the science fair project where they learn the most. So, take it from those who preceded you, the research paper you are preparing to write is super valuable. Read more

Science Fair Directory

Project Resource

How to Find Science Fairs and Other STEM Competitions There are hundreds of science fairs, engineering fairs, and other STEM competitions held locally, nationally, and internationally every year. Some competitions require students to start at the local level and win in their category to advance. Other competitions are open to all students. The listings below include a collection of regional and state level science fairs for middle and high school students across the US. Each entry notes… Read more

Genomics %G~C Content Calculator

Project Resource

Calculator Swipe left to see more Enter your DNA sequence in the box: Total count, all bases: … Read more

Data Analysis & Graphs

Project Resource

Overview Take some time to carefully review all of the data you have collected from your experiment. Use charts and graphs to help you analyze the data and patterns. Did you get the results you had expected? What did you find out from your experiment? Really think about what you have discovered and use your data to help you explain why you think certain things happened. Calculations and Summarizing Data Often, you will need to perform calculations on your raw data in order to get the results… Read more

Define the Problem

Project Resource

Finding an Idea for Your Engineering Project You know that you want to do an engineering design project, but how do you come up with an idea or find a problem to solve? How do you uncover a new problem that no one has tried to solve yet? Or how do you pick and choose, from all of the products, systems, and environments already out there, one that you might want to improve? This process of uncovering a problem, or identifying the need for change or improvement to an existing solution, is… Read more

Project Guides (151 results)

Explore Our Science Videos