GUIDES & RESOURCES
Science Fair Projects
A quick guide containing links to selected websites, books, movies, magazines, online databases and other resources to help you find what you are looking for.
Websites
- Bill Nye the Science Guy
- Web-based version of this popular PBS show.
- The Amateur Scientist
- Index (1952--) to projects listed in "The Amateur Scientist" column printed in the Scientific American.
- American Library Association's Sites For Children: General Science
- Experimental Project Guide
- A good site for explaining the design of an experiment.
- Frank Potter's Science Gems
- Large index to useful science sites by category.
- Chem4Kids (also biology and physics)
- A good background in chemical notions like matter, atoms and chemical reactions.
- Homework Center--Science
- Multnomah County Library's index to the best science sites by category.
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- The top science fair competition for grades 9-12.
- Kids World 2000: Science Around the World
- An index to science sites by category.
- Science Fair Project Index
- Electronic database index of science experiments published after 1989. From Akron-Summit County Public Library.
- National Science Teachers Association
- Takes students from ideas to competition.
- National Student Research Center
- Links to websites with info and examples for science fairs.
- Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab
- This site distinguishes itself by having instructions for actual experiments which you can perform.
- Your Science Fair Project Resource Guide
- An introduction breaks the problem of doing a project down into parts; then separate pages dealing with each subject provide annotated links to many other sites.
- The Science Club: Amateur Science
- Scads of science sites from the Society for Amateur Scientists.
- Science Fair Primer by Ted Rowan
- Ideas from an experienced science teacher on such things as choosing a topic, designing an experiment, and analyzing data.
- The Ultimate Science Fair Resource
- Links to other science fair sites, science fair chat room, and info for teachers.
Library Materials
Online Databases
- Science Full Text Select
- A great database that has lots of full-text articles from popular science magazines, professional journals in science as well as the New York Times science section on general science topics including astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, environment, health, mathematics, oceanography, physics, and zoology.
- Masterfile
- Masterfile is a good general magazine database, and has full-text of many popular science magazines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How does a student choose a science project?
- You're going to be spending a lot of time and effort on this project, so try to pick a branch of science you find interesting. Biology or botany might be good if you like tromping through the out-of-doors, and enjoy looking at plants and animals. Interested in space travel? Fascinated with hurricanes? Wondering why ice freezes? Wonder why rocks come in so many varieties? Pick the corresponding sciences of astronomy, climate, chemistry, or geology. Once you have picked a branch of science, try to come up with an experiment.
- What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a method of logic and experimentation which has five basic steps:
1. State the problem
2. Form a hypothesis
3. Observe and experiment
4. Interpret the data
5. Draw conclusions- What are the steps of a science fair project?
- Cyber-Fair's Virtual Science Fair Page has a good explanation of the steps involved.
- Are there any Science Magazines that might be helpful?
Each of the following magazines are available at the Library and may have ideas as well as answers for your science fair project:
American Biology Teacher
Journal of Chemical Education
Physics Teacher
Popular Mechanics
Science News
Scientific American
Sky and Telescope
