Hocus, Pocus, Amaze!
The first step to make judges take notice starts way before the science fair. It comes when you are thinking about what project to do. It comes when you pick something that interests you; something that you wonder about, a question you want to know the answer to. When you pick your topic based on these ideas, then you can't go wrong and the judges will not only recognize it, but also appreciate it. So the first step is excitement about your project. Your enthusiasm will spill over and make the judges excited also.
So what interests you?
Are you interested in the environment and want to explore the power of the wind? Energy science fair projects are extremely popular now because people all over the world are looking for new renewable energy resoures.
You know, science fair projects do not need to be boring. One of the secrets of winning a science fair projects is to enjoy your project and the judge will see that you are really interested in the subject. So how about doing fun kids science fair projects such as creating gooey, slippery slime or making your own fizzy soda pop? YES! I bet you didn't know that science can be a whole lot of fun!!!
Another important aspect judges look for when it comes to science fair projects is the energy flow of both you and the exhibit. They notice this by how well everything is put together. When the pictures, text and graphs are arranged neatly and flow orderly from one section to another, this shows that you took the time needed to present properly. When you take the time, this tells the judges that you are serious about your work, and that you were motivated by your work. Motivation is critical to any successful endeavor. Motivation=dedication.
No matter how old you are, it's very important to prepare for your exhibit.
- Get enough sleep the night before--and every night!
- Eat a good breakfast--it's good for the brain.
- Give yourself plenty of time--for the project and for the fair.
- Dress comfortably--clean, neat and professional--no jeans.
When the preparation is complete, you know you've done all you can, RELAX and ENJOY!
Good science projects draw lots of questions. Have lots of answers.
- What made you choose this project and when did you first think of it?.
- Was this your first choice? If not, what were some of the others and what happened?
- When did you start this project and how long and/or often did you work on it?
- How many experiments did you do? Tell me about them.
Judges like to hear the ups and downs of projects. This proves you did the work.
Paperwork is an essential piece of the overall science project. Journals and abstracts outline all the research in black and white, and judges like to read these--so make enough copies to go around. Keep your journal notes neat and write down all of your observations--this helps to answer all the questions! Type your abstracts and spellcheck everything--with a dictionary, not just the computer spellchecker--it misses a lot. Keep your paperwork together in a binder and label the sections for easy reference.
Let's recap the important steps to make judges, teachers and other students take notice:
- Choose a topic that is interesting to YOU!
- Be motivated! Put time and energy into the activity.
- Sleep, eat, take your time and dress appropriately.
- Be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
- Keep neat, orderly paperwork.