What Is A Science Project?

Scientists all over the world make new discoveries by using the scientific method. Now, you can join their ranks! A science project is your chance to choose a subject of interest to you and study it in the exact way that a professional scientific researcher would.

You may choose to study a topic such as how lightning affects plants or how much of the air is oxygen. Whatever you choose to do, this guidebook will lead you through each step of the scientific method and through each phase of the project. The project is entirely yours. Your parents and teachers will be around to help if you need it. You’ll have plenty of tools such as timelines and progress reports to help keep you on track.

Explore your world. The whole point of a science fair is to give you a chance to explore on your own. Exploration can be a lot of fun. You may try to figure out what weather patterns would be like if the Earth were square. You can discover what types of plants attract butterflies. Maybe you’ll build a machine to test the difference between old golf balls and new golf balls. The fact is that your science project presents your creative solution to a question or problem. So good luck, and have a blast!

What Science Projects do for Students

They...

• Encourage observation.
• Stimulate experimentation.
• Emphasize objectivity. (do not have definite result in mind)
• Emphasize accuracy.
• Allow the development of specialization in a narrow area of interest yet encourage an objective view of the entire framework of science.
• Enable the student to see science as a method for solving problems.
• Promote a human interest in scientific discovery.
• Encourage the habit of withholding judgment until sufficient data are available.
• Reinforce that science does not provide final answers.
• Provide effective means for learning the processing skills of science.
• Provide the student with a relevant experience.
• Provide purpose driven library utiliztion and encourages reading.
• Promote the integration of in-school experience with the student’s experimental world.
• Allow the student to experience pride of accomplishment.
• Allow the student to attain recognition for personal achievement.
• Allow the student to meet and exchange ideas with fellow students having similar interests.
• Allow the student to become acquainted and exchange ideas with professional scientists and educators.
• Provides increased one-on-one opportunities between students and teachers--strengthening that relationship.
• Expands student experiences.
• Allow the student to gain a much better understanding of the role of science in our society.

Science Project Objectives

Knowledge

The student will

• become aware of one’s environment as created by God.
• learn the method of scientific thought and its application to logical thinking.
• become acquainted with the processes of research as a tool for life.

Skills

The student will

• use basic concepts in understanding while using modern technology.
• work independently on an area of his/her special interest.
• develop an inquiring mind.
• learn and use safety guidelines as he/she works in a specific discipline of science.
• report on and display acquired knowledge in a clear and precise manner.

Understanding

The student will

• learn how to cope with their environment.
obtain a basic understanding of concepts in all disciplines of science.
• observe how science plays a major role in culture.
• begin to understand how science applies to our every day lives.
• will develop a desire to grow intellectually and accept challenges as part of the growth process.

Attitude

The student will

• begin to appreciate, conserve and preserve the natural world.
• develop an awareness of humane treatment of living organisms.