Guidelines

= Science Fair Guidelines = **(Adapted from the International Science and Engineering Fair Student Handbook)** The Florida State Science Fair will be held the on __in the Central Florida Region. The Pinellas Region Science Fair will be held on__ __. Our school fair will be held the week of__ 2/15/2010. To be eligible for the regional and state fairs, students in 4th-8th grade MUST first enter the school science fair.


 * WHY DO A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT? **A science fair project allows you to participate in the scientific process, understand the scientific method, and develop skills in writing, oral presentation, creative thinking and problem solving. Explore a subject that interests you and stimulates your curiosity. You are the scientist. HAVE FUN!


 * CONFUSED ABOUT GETTING STARTED? **Getting a topic requires some thought. Try looking through journals and magazines like //Natural History, Popular Mechanics//, //National Geographic, Consumer Reports, or Science News//. The Internet is also an excellent source of ideas and information. Choose a topic that interests you and then decide how you can do an experiment that deals with this topic. **Think how this project might improve the world and its inhabitants.** Questioning is probably the most important part of scientific creativity and is often followed by an “if...then” statement. Questioning usually leads to experiments or observations. Choose a limited subject, ask a question, and identify or define a problem.

1. A field (outdoors) investigation 2. A laboratory (indoors) study 3. A series of experiments or tests 4. A carefully collected set of observations
 * WHAT’S NEXT? **Decide what type of project suits your needs.


 * Reminder: A science project IS NOT a book report, a demonstration or simply building a model! **You may not experiment on a volcano. Building a model of one, or reporting on one is not a science fair project either.
 * THEN… ** You have to choose a problem or question to be investigated. It must be something the student can test so that it will yield measurable results. The student should ask if he/she has the necessary time, money, equipment, organisms, habitat, computer, technical expertise, etc. necessary to see the project through to its conclusion.

=ALL PROJECTS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: =
 * I. Data Notebook **
 * II. Written Report **
 * III. Display Board **