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How to Start a Science Project
Performing a science project is an excellent way to better understand and reaffirm new scientific principles or previously learned science fundamentals. Before you start an experiment, you need to decide the topic of your experiment. After you choose a topic, you need to frame a hypothesis. Once you have a hypothesis, you have to plan the appropriate experiment to prove or disprove the hypothesis.Selecting a Project:
This is the most challenging part of a science project. Before you decide on a specific science fair project, you need to be confident that you will be able to do the project either yourself or with the help of some one else. It may also be a good idea to do a combined project, as you may be able to discuss your observations, problems and doubts with your group. If you have never done a science project you must discuss with others who have done this before. You may also consult your science teacher. You should go to library and take few books on science projects. Browse the internet and see what others have done and what others recommend. After this extensive study you will get a general idea on the broad area that you will be able to choose. You may find something interesting in magnetism and electricity, or you may want to do something with plants. You should think about a question that you can ask, such as whether sunlight is essential for plant growth. During this time, you may also consider whether you will be able to do this project in your home laboratory. After identifying the question, you have to frame a hypothesis.Hypothesis:
After you have identified the specific question to ask, study the problem in your question. Once again you may go to your library or browse the internet. Try to understand and think more on the scientific principles involved in your potential science fair project/experiment. Keep a separate notebook to write down important points that you read. You may also use this book to write down the ideas that may come across your mind- however crazy that may be. Along with each point that you noted, it will be good idea to write down the source of the information. This will later help you to compile a list of references to be placed at the end of your report and poster.The hypothesis is basically the answer to your question. It is a proposition based on the knowledge you have gathered. The hypothesis must be testable. That means, your project will be to propose an appropriate experiment to test this hypothesis. So your hypothesis may be "Plants need sunlight for growth"
Now take your pen and notebook. On the left hand corner put the date. On the top of the page write down your question (example, Is sunlight essential for plant growth?).
On the next line write "Introduction". Here you write a paragraph on the knowledge you gathered. This paragraph will also explain how you arrived at your hypothesis and why you wanted to do this experiment.
Next you write "Hypothesis" and write the hypothesis that you have formulated.
Aim:
You need to be very clear about the aim of the project. So here you very clearly state your aim. Your aim is to test the hypothesis. So you can write some thing like "To determine that sunlight is essential for the growth of plants". Now on the next line you can write a sentence about how you will test your hypothesis. Write what will you do to test the hypothesis. Example, "I will test this hypothesis by growing one plant in the dark and another plant in the day light for two weeks and measuring the growth of each plant". You can specifically mention which plant you will use.Experimental Plan:
At this point you clearly know what is going to be the project and how will it be done. Think about the project and carefully craft an experimental plan. You have to be very specific on how each step of the experiment will be carried out. Write down step by step on the notebook. If you are writing down on different dates, put the respecitive dates on the left margin. In this section you will carefully elaborate exactly how you plan to do the experiment. If you later alter the experimental plan, you should come back to this page and make the necessary changes on the margin. Do not erase off your original plan.Materials and Methods:
When you have completed writing the experimental plan, you are ready to perform the experiment. But you need to gather necessary materials to perform the experiment. This section will be essentially a shopping list. Write down every thing you need, however small or simple the item is. If you need to procure it from somewhere else, write down the source. For example, if you need to buy it from the local CVS store, write it there. (Note: When you have bought the material, come back to this page and note down the source and the price, make sure to keep all receipts and invoices). Now you are ready to do the experiment.CAUTION: If your experiment involves vertibrate animals or biological materials obtained from them, you may need permission from the appropriate government agencies or local authorities. Some experiments may also involve an element of risk. Therefore you should always consult your teacher before doing such experiments. See the next article on the pros and cons of doing an experiment in your house.
Other articles:
How to do a science fair project experiment
How to write an abstract.
To cite this page, the link is http://www.sciguru.com/science-projects/