Science Fair Projects - Making a Winning Science Project Step 1b - The Scientific Method Part 1

If you are getting ready to prepare your very own science experiment for the science fair, it's time to make sure you know everything you need to about the scientific method. The scientific method provides a basic structure that you will use when conducting your experiment. It describes the background of the experiment, the process that you will use during your research, and the steps you will take in order to come up with a conclusion to your project. Plus - During the science fair, you'll have to show the judges that you have followed the scientific method and that you understand what each step means.

No matter what type of scientific research you are conducting for your science project, you will have to use five scientific steps. Cool fact: these scientific steps are also the steps that professional scientists use when they conduct their experiments - including scientists at NASA that build space ships! Here they are:

Research
Problem
Hypothesis
Project Experimentation
Project Conclusion

Now, here's what you need to know about each of these steps in order to create a really cool science project: Research During this step, you are deciding what experiment you want to conduct by researching different things that interest you. Research means that you get more information that might help to plan your experiment. There are many ways to get information during research. For example, you can use your own experiences, you can look information up in a book, or you can use an experiment that you may have already done in class as a starting point. I got the idea for one of my science fair projects while eating dinner one night. I realized that I could taste salty foods in one part of my mouth and sweet foods in another. I asked my dad why this happened and he said that different taste buds taste different foods and are located in different parts of the mouth. We looked online for information about where the taste buds were exactly and compared the pictures online with our own tongues in the mirror. That year, my project was about finding out where taste buds are in the mouth for everyday foods, like milk and bread, and vegetables. From that example, you can see that I started with a question that I had through simple observation. My dad and I researched the answer to my question together using books and by looking at our tongues in the mirror. Heads up: When you do your research for your own scientific experiment, make sure that you are doing the research on your own. I might have used my dad to help answer my question at first, but I used library books, experiments, and interviews (I called my doctor) in order to do my project on my own. Problem The problem part of the scientific method provides the whole purpose for the research and experiments. The problem is usually an open-ended question that you need to solve through the experiment. An open-ended question is one that cannot be answered in one or two words, such as, "Are there taste buds in the mouth." In my particular case, my problem was that I wanted to find out where taste buds were for different foods. So my open-ended question was "Where are specific taste buds for common foods?"

Expect to be surprised when writing your question. When I came up with my problem, I realized that I couldn't limit the answer to what I thought I'd learn. For example, I knew that my tongue had taste buds, but my dad had also mentioned that taste buds can occur in other parts of my mouth. That's why my question didn't say, "Where on the tongue are specific taste buds for common foods?"

Make sure you can answer your question through experimentation. Your experiment should help you to come to a conclusion about your initial problem.

Hypothesis A hypothesis is my favorite part of the scientific method because it is a statement about what you think will happen. You write the hypothesis after you have already done some of your research, but before you perform your experiment. Your experiment will prove whether your hypothesis is right or wrong. Here's an example of the hypothesis I used in my experiment: "I believe that different parts of the mouth respond to different tastes. I base this hypothesis on:

The front of the tongue tastes sugar, but the sides do not.
The sides of the tongue taste salt, but the front does not.

Here are some tips to help you with your hypothesis.

When creating your hypothesis, it is okay to state why you think your experiment will have a particular conclusion. Remember: you have already observed through research that different parts of the tongue taste different things.
As you go through your experiment, you might discover that you were wrong in your hypothesis. If this happens, congratulations! You've experienced something that professional scientists experience everyday...and that's why you're doing the experiment after all! Don't go back and change your hypothesis, though. It's expected (and absolutely fine) to discover that your hypothesis was wrong (sometimes the science fair judges like to see that, too!)
It might also help to write the hypothesis down so that you remember what it is. Write it down before you start the experiment, just in case the experiment turns out differently than you thought it would.

Now you're ready to do your experiment. To learn how to do this cool next step, you'll want to read part 2 of this article. Visit this link to finish learning how to do an great science fair project. Or if you are really serious about doing an awesome project, just download your free copy of "Easy Steps to Award-Winning Science Fair Projects" from the link below right now.

A great resource for science project ideas, as well as how to do them, is the science project blog. Definitely worth bookmarking.

Be sure to look for my other articles on science projects. Now go get going!

About the Author Aurora Lipper has been teaching science to kids for over 10 years. She is also a mechanical engineer, university instructor, pilot, astronomer and a real live rocket scientist (You should see the lab in her basement!) She has inspired thousands of kids with the fun and magic of science.

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Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas For A Super Scientific Birthday Party

Get Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas so your next kids birthday party will be filled with scientific facts and fun games. It is easy to plan a science theme kids party when you know how to and I can show you something about that! Sid the Science kid is a popular children's TV show that teaches everyday science to anyone who watches it.

Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas

You can get some great party ideas from this kids TV show. Look at the experiments the show talks about and see which ones you can use as a party activity. Set up a Super Fab Lab in your kitchen and imagine how exciting it will be for your party guests when they make a homemade volcano erupt with mentos and soda or create a cyclone in a soda bottle. Serve kids something scientific like ice cream and talk about how it gets frozen or serve up something from space like freeze-dried ice cream for astronauts. You can decide to make slime and let the kids take it home as a party favor.

There are also some great science experiments you can buy like instant snow, tasty science kits and even glow chemistry sets in case you want to get really into this science party theme. You can also find aprons for the kids to wear over their party clothes just in case the science experiments get a little messy

Science Party Supplies

You can find science theme party supplies with Sid and the TV gang on them. These party plates, cups, napkins, table cloths and streamers are perfect to set up a lab and serve party foods and cake. The party favor box for this theme has a sticker sheet, a notepad and some crayons, a temporary tattoo, a magnifying glass, some candy Pop Rocks and a glow putty egg. These fun favors will thrill your party guests.

There are also some really cool party decorations for this kids theme. Check out the giant wall decals of Sid and the kids from the show...May, Gerald, Gabriela, Susie the Teacher. There is even a personalized birthday banner you can hang across the doorway or in your party room. Don't forget to add some colorful latex helium filled balloons to float around your party room. Why not explain what helium is and does to the kids. They will be able to see science in action with these floating balloons.

Sid the Science Kid Party Games

Play games that ask questions...trivia is always fun. Science asks the questions how, why and what...at least that is what the Science decal decorations for this party theme says, so your games should ask questions as well.

Get the 25" pull string magnifying glass pinata and fill it with candies and goodies. Let the kids have a blast pulling the strings on the pinata until it bursts open and spills out all it's hidden treasure for the kids to gather up. There are some very special party favor pinata fillers you can find just for this party theme. The fillers include tops, yo-yo's, toy guns, kazoos, mazes and plastic glasses for the kids to play with.

These fun party games combined with some of the really cool science experiments for kids I told you about are going to make this a party the kids will remember for a long time...and that means it was a successful birthday party.

Science can be lots of fun when you use the wonderful ideas you will find from Sid the Science Kid and the kids will have a blast with this colorful party theme. It's a winning kids party idea and it is easy for you to plan and host!

Find everything you need to plan and host a birthday with Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas. You can find crafts, favors, supplies and most important...fun ideas for all your kids party needs. Find more kids party themes at Party Ideas Parade.

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Using Scientific Method For Science Fair Projects With Science Kits

Using the scientific method and good science kits can help you succeed with any science fair project. It can make the difference between failure and success. So to help you get started, we've compiled the following list of a few crucial steps.

The first step is to identify the question you are seeking to answer. Your question should ask how, what, when, who, where or why regarding something you have observed. The question becomes the foundation for the science fair project. Answering this question becomes the goal of the project. The scientific method will guide you through the project as you gather scientific evidence through various steps of observation, research, trial and error, and measuring, all for the purpose of substantiating any conclusions you will make.

The second step is doing background research to gather information that will help you answer the question you identified in step one. These research findings will become evidence that you will use to prove or disprove a theory. Research can incorporate your local library and the internet. It can also include science kits related to the topic of your question. For example, if your question is related to crystal growing, you can find science kits filled with valuable materials and information that can be used as part of your evidence.

Here is a tip for any research: it's entirely possible someone else before you has attempted to answer the same question. You don't want to retrace another's steps. Your goal is to blaze your own trails while using the knowledge and evidence that others have already uncovered. Even if you utilize science kits prepared for the masses, you can add your own unique approach to how you use it in your science fair project.

Third, after completing the background research, you'll then form your hypothesis. This means you consider all of the information you've gathered, and make an assumption of its outcome. This is also called an "educated guess". You'll want to form your hypothesis in such a way that you can not only prove it, but measure your findings that lead you to the answer of your hypothesis.

Fourth, you must test your hypothesis. This can truly be the fun part of your project. You've developed your question, completed your research and formed your hypothesis. Your goal now is to prove that hypothesis with experiments. This is another step where good science kits can help by providing you with the materials and information needed to conduct a meaningful test. A good science kit can provide scientific tools and other items that are not normally found around the house.

Here is a tip regarding the testing step. Ideally, you will be able to prove your hypothesis as true, but every good scientist has had his share of projects that disproved his hypothesis. Some scientists have made impressive advances by proving their hypothesis is false. It's how we move forward and progress. Still, if your hypothesis isn't proven via your experiments, you will need to backtrack and redefine the hypothesis to one that can be proven successfully.

Finally, every good scientist knows the importance of communication. You will need to document your findings and then communicate your results to others. One way to do this is by displaying your project at a science fair. Displaying colorful posters at the science fair can help better communicate your project. Another method of communication is written reports and articles.

The greatest realizations and inventions throughout history began when someone asked questions and set out to find answers supported by evidence. A science fair is a great place to practice and refine natural traits of curiosity and determination, traits that have caused mankind to keep advancing through the ages. By using the scientific method combined with good science kits, you may just be the next inventor of something amazing that will propel the human race forward.

Joe Kanooga is a father of two kids, a successful business owner and the author of numerous articles about science kits. Click here to download our free science fair [http://www.learningthings.com/articles/science-fair-projects.aspx] guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.

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Scientific Fields - Natural Sciences Vs Social Sciences

Science is a thought process combined with data. But, what is a natural science and what is a social science?

What is science?

Science, all science, the process of gaining knowledge through experimentation. Science is a methodology used to understand our world.

Natural sciences and social sciences are different only in what they study.

Natural sciences

Natural sciences are sometimes called the hard sciences. These are subjects such as chemistry, physics, astronomy, biology, earth science, atmospheric science, materials science, and oceanography.

These fields all study the world and how it works.

Chemistry is the study of matter. When you study chemistry, you learn about what makes up matter, atoms. You learn about atomic structure and how molecules form and bond. You learn how matter reacts and changes state.

Earth science is the study of planet Earth. This field studies soil, geology, minerals, rocks, precious stones, plate tectonics and volcanoes, among other topics.

Physics is the study of what composes the universe and how the forces interact with matter and each other.

Astronomy is the study of the formation and development of the universe, planets, comets, stars, galaxies, celestial mechanics, red shift, blue shift, and everything else that happens in space.

Biology is the study of living things. How to bodies work? What's different between a plant and a monkey?

Social science

Social sciences still use the same methodologies as natural sciences. Data is found and analyzed. The biggest difference for social sciences is, however, that social sciences deal with people.

Anthropology deals with how people interact with other people and how our cultures work.

Archaeology studies remnants of buried civilizations.

Economics is the study of money, the production of goods, and the distribution of those goods.

Human geography studies how humans are distributed on the earth and how we change and manage the earth.

Education can be a science too. People study which methods are best for learning.

History is the study of the past. Since history requires the written records and anything before then is prehistory, history is also the study of people-people of the past.

Linguistics is the study of human language. How did language develop? When do kids learn to speak? How do we learn multiple languages? How are the sounds and syntax different between languages? How does language evolve over time?

Political science deals with politics. Politics concerns itself about how stuff is distributed among people. Who gets what?

Psychology is the study of our brains. How do we think? What can go wrong with the brain? How can we fix our thoughts and behaviors?

Sociology is the study of our societies and how people relate and interact with each other. How do humans behave in society?

So, again, the natural sciences deal with the study of the universe and the earth. Social sciences deal with people.

Gwen Nicodemus has two children that she's been homeschooling all their lives. Gwen also teaches science and math classes in a local homeschooling cooperative. As a temporarily retired engineer, Gwen keeps her brain active by writing unit studies and little books for her kids whenever someone gets interested in a new topic. Check out the great free resources, including unit studies, videos, tutorials, and little books at http://UnitStudiesByGwen.com

©2010, Gwen Nicodemus

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