Here are the first steps to take as you brainstorm on your topics and build the road map for your project:

Your School Fair - Find out from your teacher when the date of the Science Fair is at your school.

Number of Students - Students may work in groups of up to 3 students. Students in grades K, 1, 2 & 3 may work together to send in a class project.

Choose a Topic - In the Science Fair, there are 5 basic project types:

1. A Collection - a group of objects or results that form some type of pattern
2. The Experiment - a problem that is investigated by performing a series of tests in which one thing is changed each time and all other things remain the same from test to test.
3. The Invention - a new way of making something or performing an action
4. The Model – a scaled down replication of a device or product.
5. The Observation - a series of events that you watch and try to explain and find common connections or occurrences

Gather Information - Begin gathering information about the idea, information that will give you a good understanding so that you become an “expert” about your topic. In other words, you become a detective and your idea becomes your case.

Research Plan - Write out a research plan, or outline, that includes:

• what you are intending to do -- your problem, and hypothesis
• the steps involved -- your procedures and list of materials
• what you think might happen -- your pre-research conclusion
• what safety measures you will employ.