Steve Spangler had two talented and amazing scientists join him this week on his television segment at 9News. Both Elli and Bryce had science fair projects that tested and used different types of oils.
Elli is a 4th grader. Her science fair project caught our eye because of all of the bubbling potions. Her project was to test which oil worked the best in making a homemade lava lamp.
She tested Wesson Oil, Crisco Oil and a generic oil. After adding water to a large amount of the oil, Elli dropped food coloring into the solution and then added an Alka-Seltzer tablet. The Alka-Seltzer separated the water and the oil and caused a bubbling reaction. All three oils performed well.
“It’s science fair time!” Those words cause many parents to panic and ask questions like, “How are we going to have time for this?” ”What experiment should my child do?” ”I have no science background–how am I going to help?” ”Where do we begin?”
Don’t panic… help is on the way. Completing a science fair project is not as difficult as you might think and, believe it or not, it can even be really fun! Here at Steve Spangler Science we’ve created an entire science fair section on our website to help students, parents, and teachers through the science fair process. We take you through the process step-by-step, starting with the challenge of choosing a topic and ending with suggestions for the display board and presentation tips. We discuss the scientific method in detail and guide you through the requirements of any good science fair project. We also have a science fair experiment library for you to browse and some excellent sample science fair projects.
Most of the time, when you don’t win, a science fair there isn’t any feedback on why your project was not selected as one of the best. Here is a list of the 5 most common reasons a project, that might otherwise seem like a “winner” does not even place in the top tier.
1. Violation: Gadgeteering
Explanation: Projects that do not follow the scientific method to solve a problem will usually be dismissed as a demonstration or a gadget. This is particularly common with a new technology. For example, a project that demonstrates how a solar cell (or DNA extraction kit or hover-craft etc.) works is not sufficient for a competitive science fair project because there is no experimentation. The project might win at school level for the “wow” factor, but will not be considered for awards at higher levels. HOWEVER, the exception to this violation is for science fairs with a specific category for Engineering and/or Technology. In this case, learn and follow the engineering design principles, which are similar to scientific method.
2. Violation: Failure to follow scientific method
Explanation: The most common errors that fall under this violation are:
It’s January and it’s Science Fair season. The keywords, “science fair projects,” “easy science fair ideas,” and “science fair help” are some of the top searched terms on Google in the month of January as students and their parents get online to look for help on their science fair projects.
Participating in the school science fair is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the scientific method, ask new questions, discover new science facts, conduct experiments and gain a new understanding of how science works. It also builds self confidence and public speaking skills.
My favorite part of the science fair is the bright smiles and prideful faces of the students who participate. In my daughter’s school, participating in the science fair is strictly extra-curricular. I am always so proud of each and every student who dedicates the time and
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