Do some brainstorming. Write down any ideas you have or problems that you’d like to solve. [1] X Research source Pick a topic that is appropriate for your age level. It’s okay to be ambitious, but make sure you have enough time to finish everything by the deadline. Keep track of all of your sources so you can cite them in your final report.
Spend at least 1 week researching your topic and gathering information. Spend another week analyzing data, writing the report, and designing the board. Choose an experiment that fits within your time constraints. Some experiments can take at least 1 week, including gathering materials.
If you will need to use any mathematical formulas or equations to answer your question, research these as well so that you understand them before you begin. Research experiments that may have already addressed some aspect of your question. Designing the experiment will be easier if you have a previous framework to build upon. Ask your teacher or a parent to help you better understand the topic you’ve chosen by asking them if it looks like you have any gaps in your knowledge.
The independent variable is the condition that the scientist changes. You should only have 1 independent variable. The dependent variable is the condition that’s measured in response to the changes in the independent variable. It’s the one that gets observed throughout the experiment. The controlled variables are all of the conditions in an experiment that remain constant throughout the duration of the experiment.
For example, in an experiment about the growth height of a plant in different light levels, your hypothesis might be: If plants need light to grow, then they will not grow as high in low light or no light conditions.
Answering these questions will help you make a materials list and develop a clear procedure. Make sure your experiment can be performed safely or with adult supervision. [5] X Research source
Write the steps with an action verb at the beginning, such as “Open the container. ” Avoid statements such as, “I opened the container. ” Let a parent, sibling, or classmate read your procedure and see if they have any questions. Add more steps if necessary.
If an item is particularly cheap or fragile, you might want to gather extras just in case you need them. Take all of the necessary safety precautions before starting the experiment.
Make a note if you altered the procedure in any way during the actual experiment. Take pictures during the experiment to use on your display board.
Keep all of your observations and data in your lab notebook. For long-term experiments, date each observation so you know exactly when you made it.
For example, start an experiment with 3 plants in different light conditions. Use plants with the same starting height or just subtract the original height at the end.
You might be able to glance at your data and see if it supports or disproves your hypothesis, but understand that you can’t make any firm conclusions until the data has been properly analyzed.
For example, your 3 plants in low light may have grown 3. 0 inches (7. 6 cm), 4. 0 inches (10 cm), and 3. 5 inches (8. 9 cm), respectively. The average growth height for low light is (3+4+3. 5)/3 = 3. 5 in.
Bar graphs and line graphs are a great way to visualize your data. You can draw a graph by hand, but it looks much cleaner and more professional to make it on the computer. For our example, graph the light levels on the x-axis and the growth height on the y-axis.
Give the graph a title that tells you exactly which data are represented. For example, “Plant Growth Height in Various Levels of Light. ”
At the high school level, you might be able to run some statistics on your data to see if there truly are significant differences between the independent variables.
Some reports may require an abstract, which is just a short summary of the entire project. Proofread your entire report before turning it in. Cite all of the sources used for your report. Do not copy and paste information from sources, but summarize it in your own words.
Make subheadings that are bold and large enough to read at a distance of 2–3 feet (0. 61–0. 91 m). Too many colors on the board can be overwhelming and look chaotic. Stick to 1 or 2 colors to make everything pop. Print the necessary information on white paper and then layer the colored construction paper underneath. Avoid using wrinkled paper and leaving glue marks on the board. Make sure your fonts and font sizes are consistent throughout each section.
Include pictures that were taken during the experiment to show exactly what you did. Avoid using giant blocks of text. If you do have some that are large, break them up with pictures or figures.
Write some note cards with key points in case you need to refer back to them when speaking with someone.
