Registration for the 2019 Estabrook Science Fair is now open!  Are you interested in recycling? Would you like to explore and learn more about renewable energy? Is there something you know about the link between pollution and biodiversity that you can’t wait to share? Register for the 2019 Estabrook Science Fair, February 8, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Please read the rules carefully and ensure that you can follow them before registering. The rules can be found at this link: Estabrook Science Fair Rules 2019

To register, fill out the form at this link: goo.gl/forms/AZm4FLSOSyGCfcZj1 and view the project overview information below.

Final project names are due January 25th. All students in all grades are welcome to participate.

Estabrook School Science Fair 2019 Project Overview

A Science Fair project consists of two phases:

• Performing your experiment at home
• Making a display board or presentation for the Science Fair night

For the Estabrook Science Fair, you should do a project related to a question you find interesting. Need help deciding on a project? Consider the following tips:

1. Look at the website resources and books listed below. Think about the ideas you may have had at the December kick-off meeting.
2. Do some research on the area of interest you identify
3. Find a project/question which can be answered by an experiment.
4. The simpler the better. There are so many potential topics that the toughest part is narrowing down the topic and asking a very specific question. Parents can help by working with the student to narrow down the topic and formulate an appropriate question.

Once you have identified a question, determine all steps you’ll need to execute for each of the parts of the scientific process:

1. Ask a Question: Once you have chosen a topic or project, ask a relevant question you are interested in and are able to answer through experimentation.
2. Formulate a Hypothesis: After posing your question and doing some research, scientists usually formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a “best guess” or prediction of the outcome of the experiment. This hypothesis will help you to design your experiment.
3. Procedure: Once you have a prediction or hypothesis for your question, figure out what procedure or experiment you will use to answer your question.
4. Data Collection: Carefully record the data from your experiment. Make sure the data you collect supports or helps answer the question you are attempting to answer.
5. Results: What happened and what does it mean? Once you have collected your data, you should summarize it and produce your final results. The results of your experiment might be totally unexpected.
6. Conclusion: Write a brief statement that compares your results to your original hypothesis. This is the answer to your original question and doesn’t need to be more than one or two sentences.

Display Exhibit Format

• Each display may include two parts:

1. The write-up and
2. Objects used in performing the experiment.

Both parts must fit in a 30”w x 30”d space. The purpose of the display is to show visitors what you did and what the results of your experiment mean.

The Write-up should be on some type of paper (cardboard, poster board or regular paper) and may be handwritten or typed. You may use a tri-fold cardboard for displaying your written material. The size of the display area should not be larger than 36” high by 48” wide, then folded so that it stands up. You may purchase a display board or use an old cardboard box. Just be sure it fits in the allotted space.

• Write-up includes:
  • Question or problem
  • Hypothesis
  • Description of experiment conducted (procedure)
  • Data collected
  • Results of experiment
  • Possible future research that would build upon your project

Objects used in performing the experiment may be displayed to enhance your display. Bring things that will help you explain what you did and add interest to the exhibit. You can put these items in front of your presentation board and refer to them while talking about your experiment.

Remember: No messy or hazardous displays or demonstrations are allowed and there will NOT be power supply available.

Illustration of an exhibit display:

Estabrook Science Fair Resources

Websites
www.sciencebuddies.org
www.sciencefairadventure.com
www.thehappyscientist.com
www.tpt.org/newtons
www.ipl.org/div/projectguide
www.all-science-fair-projects.com
www.madsci.org

Estabrook Library: The Estabrook library catalog is available to everyone online (no password necessary). Go to: lps.lexingtonma.org and choose Estabrook School, then Estabrook Library Catalog under Quick Links or click HERE. Below are a few books we found, but we encourage you to do your own searches related to your interests.

Science fairs: ideas and activities. Call #: 507 SCI PB

The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition. Call #: 507.8 COL

Janice VanCleave’s Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects. Call # 507.8 VAN PB

Science Project Ideas About the Moon. Call #: 523.3 GAR

Science Project Ideas About Air. Call #: 533 GAR

The Complete Science Fair Handbook. Call #: 537.07 FRE PB

Ivy & Bean, What’s the Big Idea? Call #: FIC BAR

Cary Library: The Cary Library catalog is available to everyone online. If you want to actually request or reserve a book, you need to log in with your library card account. Go to: www.carylibrary.org and choose “Catalog” in the upper left corner of the site. Below are a few books we found, but we encourage you to do your own searches related to your interests.

Weather projects for young scientists : experiments and science fair ideas. Call #: j551.507 C

Ace your human biology science project : great science fair ideas. YA 507.8 G

Championship science fair projects : 100 sure-to-win experiments.  j507.8 B