Science & Engineering Fair

Title:
Your Name
Date
hour

Table of Content
Abstract
...3
Question or
Problem.....4
Research
..5
Hypothesis or
Solution.....6
Variables or Design Criteria and Possible Solutions..6
Materials
..7
Procedure
...7
Data
....8
Storyboard....
...9

Conclusion
10
Analysis
..11
Bibliography
...12
Acknowledgements
..13
Appendix (information and help
pages).14

Abstract
What is an Abstract? The Abstract is a summary of your science fair project. Your abstract is
made up of a brief statement of the essential, or most important, thoughts about your project.
Abstracts should summarize, clearly and simply, the main points of the experiment. Spelling,
grammar, punctuation, neatness, and originality are important. It should be 250 to 300 words
in length. It is one of the last parts of your science fair project that you will complete.
Include the following to create your abstract:
1. Your project purpose statement.
2. The hypothesis or best solution
3. A description of your variables and the control / constants or design criteria
3

4. A description of what variable you are manipulating (changing) in your experiment or

testing and redesigning.
5. How you went about measuring and observing the variables / controls or testing and
redesigning.
6. Your results and data collected from your experiment.
7. Your conclusion statement.
Fill in the following lines to create a successful Abstract:
The purpose of my project was ________________________
My hypothesis or solution for this project was______________________________

The constants and control or design criteria in my experiment was____________________

The variable in my experiment was _____________________________
The way that I measured the responding or dependent variable was _____
The changes and why I made those changes ____________
The results of this experiment/prototype were ___________________________
The results show that my hypothesis or solution should be (give brief reason why to accept or
not)___________________________________________
If I were going to do this experiment again in the future or expand on this project I would
_______________________________________

State your question: A question that can be answered

through an investigation
How does (independent variable) effect (dependent variable)?

or
Define the problem: A statement that of the problem or
need.
(Who) needs (What) because (Why)?
4

WHO has the problem or need?

WHAT is the problem or need?
WHY is it important to solve?

Research
Five or more paragraphs explaining your TOPIC. What is the science
behind your science/engineering fair topic? Include all important terms,
concepts, theories, facts, review of literature and relevant math formulas
(possible solutions, what is already out there).
1st paragraph: Introduction- What is your topic.
2nd-4th paragraphs: terms, concepts, theories, facts, review of literature and
relevant math formulas.

6th paragraph: Conclusion- Summarize your findings, state your purpose or

problem and lead into your hypothesis or solution to your problem.

**Provide enough information to predict what will happen in

your project and understand WHY it happened.**
Paper:
default font
double spaced
12 font
3 or more sources
bibliography

Hypothesis: Based on your research

Write an IF THEN BECAUSE statement.
List your variables:
Independent:
Dependent:
6

Control:

OR

Choose the best solution based on the design criteria

and constraints. (see Decision Matrix Worksheet)
List 3 ways to solve your problem

Materials
List of materials and quantity.

AND

Procedures
List of procedural steps of how the independent variable
was changed and how the dependent variable is
measured. OR How the prototype was designed and
developed.
Numbered steps that describe the exact actions you did
to complete your project.
3 or more trials
metric units
Repeatable

Science Data
At least one data table:
Trials

Distance (cm)
Time (sec)

Calculate averages

At least one graph:

title

The title of the line graph tells us what the graph is about.

labels

The horizontal label across the bottom and the vertical label along the side tells us
what kinds of facts are listed.

scales

The horizontal scale across the bottom and the vertical scale along the side tell us how
much or how many.

points

The points or dots on the graph show us the facts.

lines

The lines connecting the points give estimates of the values between the points.

Useful websites: nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph and http://onlinecharttool.com/

Engineering Data
Data table to show what works. Does the product do
what it was built to do?
Storyboarding
A series of graphic illustrations or images.
9

This will provide evidence of the changes made and

the reason for the changes.
useful website:
http://www.storyboardthat.com/

Conclusion
Claim: Statement that answers your question or solves
your problem
Evidence: Use your data to provide evidence for your
claim. What is the relationship between the
independent and dependent variables?
10

Scientific Reasoning: What is the science or engineering

behind your claim? Why did you get these results?
Look in your research

Analysis
Compare your results to your hypothesis or best
solution.
Explain sources of experimental or design error.
What would you change next time?
11

What is your next question?

How is this project related to the real worldcareers,
scientist, products, situations...

Bibliography
A list of all the sources you used to complete your
project. Be sure to include all web sites, books,
magazines, and people. Some useful websites:
Bibme.org
12

Easybib.com

Acknowledgements
Gives appropriate credit to those persons whom may
have helped you with your project. ( 5-7 sentences)

13

14