Science fair project planner
Question, hypothesis, materials, method, results and conclusion, laid out step by step.
| Step | What I will do or write | Notes and checks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| My question | |||
| What I think will happen and why (hypothesis) | |||
| What I will change | |||
| What I will keep the same | |||
| What I will measure | |||
| Materials | |||
| Method (steps) | |||
| Results | |||
| Conclusion | |||
| What I would do differently |
Using this page
Planning an investigation
Start with a question that you can test, such as Does the temperature of water change how fast sugar dissolves? Write what you think will happen and why. Decide which thing you will change, which things you will keep the same to make it a fair test, and what you will measure. List your materials and write the method as numbered steps.
Recording and concluding
Repeat the test at least three times and record every result. Use the results section to write numbers in a table, and draw a graph if you can. In the conclusion, say whether your results supported your hypothesis and what you would change next time. A fair test and clear records matter more than getting the result you expected.
Choosing a good question
A good question has a measurable answer. Instead of Which paper towel is best? ask How much water does each brand of paper towel absorb in one minute? Pick something you are curious about and can test safely with household items. Check with an adult before you start, keep a record of everything you do and take photos along the way. Practise explaining the project in one minute, because judges and visitors will ask you about it.
Using the planner
Print the planner and fill in each row in order, starting with the question. Writing the hypothesis before the experiment makes it easy to see later whether the results matched your prediction. Use the notes column for things to check, such as safety, materials to buy and questions for the teacher. When the project is finished, the completed planner is a useful outline for the poster or presentation. Keep it with your results table and photos.