School Science Expo Projects
- It isn't about getting the right answer. Think method and presentation.graph 3 image by chrisharvey from Fotolia.com
The point of a science fair is to give each of the participants an opportunity to participate in the scientific method. Accordingly, your project should be one that illustrates that method--a guess (or hypothesis), a test and a conclusion. The presentation of your project at the fair must make it clear that you have done this. - Keep one eye on the time, the other on that balloon.watch image by Karol Grzegorek from Fotolia.com
Explore the relationship between age--particularly during years of great growth and development--and lung capacity. One hypothesis: Lung capacity increases significantly through the years 10 to 14. Involve your younger and older siblings, or your friends and their siblings. A simple test of lung capacity such as blowing up a balloon will suffice. How long does it take a 10-year-old child to complete this task? What about a 12-year-old? A 14-year-old? The more subjects there are for this experiment, the more interesting the charts and graphs will be in which it is displayed. - Oil-covered pelicans were on television a lot after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Question: What materials are most effective in cleaning oil off feathers? One hypothesis: Some dishwashing soaps will clean more feathers more thoroughly in a given amount of time than others.
As a complementary test, ask: What kind of material is best for absorbing oil floating on the surface of water? Polypropylene is often used for this purpose. It is easy to obtain, and you can compare its effect with that of cheesecloth and cotton balls. - You'll be using solid natron for convenience, not a solution.temple of hatchepsut image by Christian Schoettler from Fotolia.com
This project involves science and history. Egyptians mummified their Pharaohs. The way they did so involved dehydration, and that in turn involved what is known as a "natron solution." You can make your own.
Your hypothesis is that the procedures that were employed upon recently deceased human tissue can have an analogous impact upon a piece of fruit. Mix 1/4 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of sodium carbonate and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Don't use water. (The Egyptians did, but this will be easier and safer with the dry stuff.) Mix the natron in a plastic bag. Then get an apple--carve a face into it in jack-o-lantern style to make it seem a bit corpse-like. Put a popsicle stick into the apple (so you can dip the apple in the natron without touching it yourself). Mix the apple in the natron, then leave the apple inside the bag. Do not seal the bag. Let the air flow.
Leave the bag with your "corpse" standing upright in a safe place for up to two weeks. (Important: Put it somewhere safe from toddlers and pets.) Observe the results day by day. How long does it take your apple to look like a mummy?
