Science Projects

If you're viewing this at the library please start by looking in the 507's in Children's, and see Pilger's "Science Experiments for Young People" at JR 507.8 and "Science Experiments on File" JR 507.8. Assuming everything of interest is checked out see the following sites:

AMATEUR SCIENCE! START HERE.
Lava lamps, Tesla, magnets, motors, maglev, etc & Links.

AskERIC Search An educational resource . Chem-4-KidsPeriodic table.Science Project Ideas Chicago Public Library Sources. Cyberspace Middle School Good, useful information. Discover Magazine Need an Idea? Dr. Al's Lab Growing Crystals, etc.Exploratorium San Francisco interactive, one of the most popular sites. Field Museum Exhibits, education and Science Franklin Institute Virtual Science Museum Online exhibits, living things curriculum, and educational Hotlist Gizmo Page Gadgets, that might become projects. Helping Your Kids Learn Science Helpful. JASON Project Science expedition in real time if you have the time. Jon Mason's Grade 8 Science Fair Home Page. Science fair projects for eighth grade. Math & Science Gateway Astronomy, biology, chemistry, etc. for grades 9-12. NASA No science projects but always worth a visit. Netteach Projects Simulations, math and the Transformation Project. Newton's AppleTry it! Nine Planets A trip through the solar system. Nye Labs On-lineThe Science Guy. Ontario Science Center Opening minds to Science. Science at Home Projects designed to not burn it down. Science FairsAn attempt to provide a single comprehensive list of every science fair through the WWW.Science Fair Home Page Lists of science fair projects for all grades and its companion the Stemnet Webinator search engine. Scientific American Learn about the latest scientific events. Sea World Water online. Vose Science Resource Links WWW Virtual Library: Science Fairs Science Fairs from around the world. Web Elements The periodic table and information about the elements.

Introductory and Intermediate Level Guide to Experimental Science Projects from David Morano. There is a very helpful example and Steps to Prepare. Other examples of student work are at My Science Project and at Frank Shapleigh's Impulsive Reactions.

The Science Learning Network has helped to link science museums with schools and some institutions are: Avocado Elementary School, Buckman Elementary School, The Exploratorium, Franklin Institute Science Museum, Hosmer School, Levering Science Magnet School, Miami Museum of Science, Museum of Science, National Science Foundation Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Ross School Science Museum of Minnesota Unisys Corp. It has created a library of science projects aimed at kindergarteners to eighth graders.

Science Fair Project Pointers
Provided by Robert Smith Whittier City School District and the Whittier Public Library

1. Use a nice sturdy backing material for your project. 2. Keep clear records of the results of your experiments. 3. Use hands-on materials to demonstrate what you did. 4. Be neat. 5. Write and draw carefully 6. Pick a project appropriate to your grade level. 7. Get books from the library. 8 Ask your parents for advice and occasional help but do the project on your own.9. Read everything you can find about your project and any famous people connected with it. 10. Use the general format shown below.

General Format for Writing Up Your Science Fair Project

I. State a problem to be solved. For example: - How do electric motors work? Why does a plane fly? What colors make up light? How do hamsters develop?

II. Make a hypothesis(scientific guess) suggesting a solution. For example: A plane of this design will fly. Light is made up of six colors. Hamsters need food, air, and water to develop. this design for a motor will work. Plants do need light to grow.

III. Test you hypothesis with an experiment or a model. For example: Make a model of an electric motor. Build a model of your plane and test fly it. Raise a pair of hamsters. Use a kind of prism to break up light. Grow one plant in light and one in darkness.

IV. Keep a record of your results. For example: Record the weights and behaviors of hamsters at regular intervals and other facts. Describe how your motor worked or didn't. Keep unsuccessful models for display. Describe what happened to your plant(s). Draw a colored picture of light and its colored components. Describe the flight characteristics of you plane.

V. Draw conclusions. For example: This motor didn't work because I needed a stronger battery. Light is composed of seven colors. They are... Green plants must have light to grow. Hamsters grow well if they are kept clean and fed regularly. A plane flies best when...