How To Choose a Topic for your Science Fair Project

STEP ONE

Choose a category of science that interests you.

There are basically three different categories to choose from:

1. Life ScienceThis category involves all animal, plant, and human body topics. This also includes human and animal behavior. If you choose a topic that deals with animals (example: does a dog prefer homemade dog food?), please have an adult assist you. Remember it is absolutely against science fair rules to intentionally hurt an animal during an experiment!

2. Physical ScienceThis is the category for figuring out how things work! Physical science includes topics about matter and structure, electricity, magnetism, sound, and light. This category also includes the science experiments involving chemistry … those great bubbling, oozing, mixing   experiments. It's within this category that you'll likely ask, “How does it work?” and “If I do this to it, will it still work?” Remember, if you are experimenting with possibly dangerous things (like electricity), you need to have an adult on hand!

3. Earth ScienceThis category covers all sorts of topics that involve earth and space. Here's where you'll find topics dealing with rocks and soils, stars, the sun, water, weather … FUN! But take care –this is also the category where many kids end up doing a collection or a model (like a model volcano) instead of an experiment. So be very careful to find a testable question within this category!

  

STEP TWO:

Find a topic that interests you.  Are you curious about flowers?  Wind?  Stars?  Bones?  Colored light?  Rockets?  The speed of sound?

STEP THREE:

Come up with a good question.  Once you have found a topic that you are interested in, it’s time to form a question about that topic.  Here's a great way to practice what we mean!  You can start off by filling in the blanks using the following list of words as examples:

(courtesy of University of Texas Elementary School)

1. The Effect Question:

What is the effect of ________________on ____________________?

sunlight                           the growth of plants

eye color                          pupil dilation

brands of soda                 a piece of meat

temperature                     the size of a balloon

oil                                    a ramp

2. The How Does Affect Question:

How does the ___________________ affect _____________________?

color of light                           the growth of plants

humidity                                the growth of fungi

color of a material                  its absorption of heat

3. The Which/What and Verb Question:

Which/What ____________________(verb) ______________________?

paper towel                             is most absorbent

foods                                      do meal worms prefer

detergent                                makes the most bubbles

paper towel                             is strongest

peanut butter                          tastes the best

Now it’s your turn!

Think about your chosen topic.  Create your Science Fair question using one of the three options above.

Good luck everyone and remember to have fun!!!