Epic Charter Schools - Science Fair - Grades 4-8

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Updated October 2025

Introduction Calling all curious minds and budding scientists! Epic Charter Schools is thrilled to invite you to our statewide Science Fairs, where the magic of hands-on learning comes alive.

Imagine a place where you can roll up your sleeves, test your ideas and watch the wonders of science unfold right before your eyes. That’s what our Science Fairs are all about!

At Epic, we believe that science isn’t just about textbooks. It’s about exploration, discovery and having a blast along the way. Our fairs are designed to be a fun, positive journey into the heart of the scientific method. You’ll have the chance to ask big questions, design your own experiments and see firsthand how science shapes our amazing world.

This isn’t about competing for first place.

It’s about your journey, the cool things you’ll learn and the experiences you’ll take with you. Whether you’re already passionate about science or just curious, we want to see where your interests take you.

For more information about participating in this exciting learning opportunity, please reach out to:

Kristi Rich Family Engagement

kristi.rich@epiccharterschools.org

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 RECOMMENDED TIMELINE

PROJECT CHECKLIST

WEEK 1 o Brainstorm potential research topics or questions for their science fair project. o Select a specific research topic and develop a focused research question. o Gather project materials.

WEEK 2 o Conduct background research to gather relevant information and understand the context of the chosen topic. o Begin planning the experimental procedure, identifying variables, materials needed and safety considerations.

WEEK 3 o Implement the experiment according to the planned procedure. o Collect data, make detailed observations and record results.

WEEK 4 o Create a visual display and presentation materials for the science fair, such as posters, diagrams or digital presentations. o Practice presenting their project to peers and teachers, refining communication skills and receiving feedback for improvement. o Participate in your local Science Fair!

Register to participate in the Science Fair.

Choose an experiment. Ask a question, then make an educated guess.

Gather materials, create a procedure and determine the controls/variables.

Test your hypothesis and analyze data.

Create a display to share your findings.

Participate in the Science Fair!

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 VOCABULARY TO KNOW:

CONCLUSION – A statement based on experimental measurements and observations.

It includes a summary of the results, whether or not the hypothesis was supported, the significance of the study and future research.

DATA/RESULTS – Observations of everything that happens during the experiment. Use metric measurements. Repetition (repeated trial) provides convincing results. Final results are displayed in the form of tables, graphs and photographs.

HYPOTHESIS – An educated guess presuming the outcome of the experiment. This follows background research and defining the problem.

MATERIALS – A detailed list of all items used in the experiment. List exact measurments.

PROBLEM – The specific problem that is going to be investigated. State this in the form of a question.

PROCEDURE – Step-by-step instructions describing the entire experiment. Steps should be

explained so that another person could duplicate the experiment. Any changes must be added as an addendum to the procedure.

VARIABLES – These are the factors that have an affect on your experiment. o Independent- the one factor that is changed. o Dependent – the factors that will be measured. o Control- factors that are kept the same.

SCIENCE FAIR RESOURCES & IDEAS If you need help coming up with ideas, you can use one of the ideas listed below or ask a parent to help you scan the QR code to look online at Sciencebuddies.org.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Does music affect animal behavior?

Does the color of food or drinks affect whether or not we like them?

Where are the most germs in your home?

Does music have an affect on plant growth?

Which kind of food do dogs (or any animal) prefer best?

Which paper towel brand is the strongest?

What is the best way to keep an ice cube from melting?

What level of salt works best to hatch brine shrimp?

Can the food we eat affect our heart rate?

How effective are child-proof containers and locks?

Does acid rain affect the growth of aquatic plants?

What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest?

Does the color of light used on plants affect how well they grow?

o o o o o o o o o o o o

What plant fertilizer works best?

Does the color of a room affect human behavior?

What brand of battery lasts the longest?

Does the type of potting soil used in planting affect how fast the plant grows?

What type of food allows mold to grow the fastest?

Does having worms in soil help plants grow faster?

Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?

How much weight can the surface tension of water hold?

Do natural or chemical fertilizers work best?

What brands of bubble gum produce the biggest bubbles?

Does age affect human reaction times?

What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water?

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Step 1: Register for the event.

Step 2: Identify the variables and create your hypothesis.

Craft your hypothesis to make it testable. Think about the independent variable (what you’ll change) and the dependent variable (what you’ll observe). Many strong hypotheses follow this format: “If I change the independent variable, then the dependent variable will also change.”

Identify the Variables: 1. Identify all of the variables in your experiment that need to be controlled or stay constant.

2. What is the independent variable in your experiment? (What are you going to test?)

3. How are you going to manipulate this variable? (What will you be changing about it?)

4. What is the dependent variable in your experiment? (What will change as a result of your experiment?)

5. What tools do you need to use to measure your dependent variable? (stop watch, meter stick, thermometer, etc.) What units will you use? (meters, liters, grams, etc.)

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Form your hypothesis: Write an if-then statement in the space below, think about the variables you identified. For example: If I do this (state your independent variable), then this will happen (state how your dependent variable will change).

If

,

then

.

Step 3: Gather your experiment materials.

Think of your materials list like a recipe for your experiment. It’s where you get to share all the tools and ingredients you used for your investigation. This should include any equipment, chemicals, measuring tools and safety gear.

Take a look at what a materials list might look like for an experiment on how pH levels impact radish seed growth. o o o o o o o o o o

Radish seeds.

Distilled water. pH buffer solutions (acidic, neutral, basic). pH paper or pH meter.

Soil with different pH levels.

Containers for the soil (e.g. plastic cups).

Ruler or measuring tape.

Stopwatch or timer.

Light source (e.g. sunlight, grow lights).

Thermometer Paper and pencil for observations and data collection.

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Step 4: Create experiment procedure.

The procedure is the heart of your experiment. It’s where you explain how you’ll conduct your investigation. Here’s what you need to include: o Number each step of the procedure. o Be very detailed. Pretend someone who has never done the experiment before is going to follow your instructions. o Include any safety precautions that need to be taken. o State how you will collect and record your data.

Remember, the goal is to be so detailed that someone else could replicate your experiment exactly as you described it.

Below is a sample procedure for a science fair experiment on how pH affects the growth of radish seeds: 1. Prepare the Soil. Measure equal amounts of soil into each container. Use the pH buffer solutions to adjust the pH of the soil in each container to a different level (ex: very acidic, slightly acidic, neutral, slightly basic, very basic).

2. Test pH. Use the pH paper or pH meter to verify the pH of each soil sample. Plant five radish seeds about 1 cm deep in each pot.

2. Plant the Seeds. Plant an equal number of radish seeds in each container, at the same depth. Water each container with distilled water.

3. Provide Conditions for Growth. Place the containers in the same location, with the same amount of light and at the same temperature. Water the pots with the same amount of distilled water each day.

4. Measure and Record. Start the timer. Every day, measure and record the length of the radish seedlings in each container. Continue for several days, until the radish plants have reached a good size or the experiment needs to be concluded. After five days, observe and record any differences in radish growth between the pots.

5. Analyze. Compare the final length of the radish plants in each container. Which pH level resulted in the most growth? Was there a pH level that prevented growth?

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Step 5: Test your hypothesis.

This is the heart of the scientific method. Carefully conduct your experiment, making sure to collect data that will help you answer your question. Good note-taking is crucial. Write down everything that happens, even if you don’t think it’s important. This will help you analyze your results and draw conclusions.

Experiment notes:

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INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Experiment notes:

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INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Step 6: Analyze your data.

Calculate Key Stats: o o o o o

Mean: The average.

Median: The middle value.

Mode: The most common value.

Range: The difference between the largest and smallest values.

Standard Deviation: Measures how spread out the data is.

Explore Your Data: o Identify patterns and trends. Were there any increases, decreases?

Did it stay the same? o Outliers: Were there any data points out of line?

Reflect on Your Hypothesis: o Does your data support your hypothesis? Were you surprised? o Consider Errors: Did any errors affect your results?

Draw Conclusions: o What do your findings mean? Relate your results back to your question and the realworld issue. o What conclusions can you draw? Ensure they’re supported by your data.

Visualize Your Data: Graphs are a powerful way to see patterns, trends and outliers. Choose the right type of graph for your data: o Bar Graphs: For non-numerical variables and comparisons. o Circle Graphs: For comparisons with percentages. o Line Graphs: For numerical variables and showing change.

NEED HELP MAKING A GRAPH? NCES Create a Graph is a great resource to help with graphing. Scan the QR code to create a graph for your project.

SCIENCE FAIR

INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 4-8 Step 8: Create your visual display.

Create a compelling three-sided display board showcasing your experiment’s results.

Required Items: o o o o o o o o

Title: Craft a unique title.

Research Paper: Attach your paper so all pages are readable.

Problem: Clearly state the problem your experiment addressed.

Hypothesis: Outline your initial hypothesis.

Procedures: Carefully explain the steps you took during the experiment.

Data: Include graphs and charts summarizing your findings.

Conclusion: Explain your results and suggest improvements for future experiments.

Photographs: Label and mount your images.

Step 9: Present on the big day!

You will be presenting to parents, students and teachers. Remember to bring your poster, props and anything else you need to display your project.