Science Fair Wizard

    Planning

  1. Pick a topic
  2. Determine a problem
  3. Investigate your problem
  4. Formulate a hypothesis

    5. Experimenting

  5. Design an experiment
  6. Test your hypothesis
  7. Compile your data

    8. Presenting

  8. Write your research paper
  9. Construct your exhibit
  10. Prepare your presentation
  11. Show Time! Pre-science fair checklist
  12. Submit your paperwork

Budget Your Time
Worksheet

Science Fair projects can take up to three months, make sure your work pays off by taking a few minutes to schedule your time and write down deadlines you have to meet.

View budget your time worksheet
PLANNINGEXPERIMENTINGPRESENTING
Step 1Step 1aStep 1bStep 1cStep 1dStep 2Step 2aStep 2bStep 2cStep 3Step 3aStep 3bStep 3cStep 4Step 5Step 5aStep 5bStep 5cStep 5dStep 5eStep 6Step 6aStep 6bStep 7Step 7aStep 7bStep 7cStep 5dStep 8Step 9Step 10Step 11Step 12

Start your science fair project now. Begin with phase one, Planning. Move through each of the steps and then go on to Experimenting phase. Once you have completed all the phases in the wizard, you will be ready to turn in your science fair project.  [Get started now]

Phase 1  [2–4 weeks]

Planning

Getting started is the hardest part, but once you have your topic, problem, and hypothesis, the rest of the process is a lot of fun. Have a topic? Jump to step 2.

  1. PICK A TOPIC
    1. Find an area that interests you
    2. Categorize your topic
    3. Investigate your topic
    4. Narrow your topic
  2. DETERMINE A PROBLEM
    1. Brainstorm questions
    2. Research your questions
    3. Analyze your questions
  3. INVESTIGATE YOUR PROBLEM
    1. Develop a research strategy
    2. Research your problem
    3. Research your process
  4. FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS

Phase 2  [4–6 weeks]

Experimenting

Ready to investigate? Jump ahead to design an experiment and test your hypothesis. Need help? Remember you can always ask a scientist.

  1. DESIGN AN EXPERIMENT
    1. Define the problem
    2. Select your variables
    3. Draft your hypothesis
    4. Write your procedure
    5. Get permissions
  2. TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS
    1. Data collection
    2. Documenting data
  3. COMPILE YOUR DATA
    1. Presenting your data
    2. Using Statistics to Analyze Data
    3. Writing up your conclusions
    4. Re-testing your hypothesis

Phase 3  [4 weeks]

Presenting

Make sure you give yourself enough time to make a great presentation. You want all your hard work to shine when it comes to the big day!

  1. WRITE YOUR RESEARCH PAPER
  2. CONSTRUCT YOUR EXHIBIT
  3. PREPARE YOUR PRESENTATION
  4. SHOW TIME! PRE-SCIENCE FAIR CHECKLIST
  5. SUBMIT YOUR PAPERWORK

Chicago Public Schools
Student Science Fair 2010

The Fair will take place at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, from March 24th to March 29th. [Visit Website]