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.
Leisha Albaugh Family Engagement
For more information about participating in this exciting learning opportunity, please reach out to:
leisha.albaugh@epiccharterschools.org
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
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!
PROJECT CHECKLIST
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 1-3
VOCABULARY TO KNOW:
CONCLUSION – Your observations about what happened during the experiment and why. This is the last step of the scientific method.
CONTROL – Factors that remain the SAME during the experiment.
DATA/RESULTS – Observations and measurements taken from your experiment.
HYPOTHESIS – An educated guess you make based on information you already know.
PROCEDURE – A list of the steps you go through to perform your experiment from start to finish – very specifically laid out so someone can redo your experiment.
VARIABLE – Anything that can change or be changed within an experiment.
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 Does music affect animal behavior?
o Does the color of food or drinks affect whether or not we like them?
o Where are the most germs in your home?
o Does music have an affect on plant growth?
o Which kind of food do dogs (or any animal) prefer best?
o Which paper towel brand is the strongest?
o What is the best way to keep an ice cube from melting?
o What level of salt works best to hatch brine shrimp?
o Can the food we eat affect our heart rate?
o How effective are child-proof containers and locks?
o Can background noise levels affect how well we concentrate?
o Does acid rain affect the growth of aquatic plants?
o What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest?
o Does the color of light used on plants affect how well they grow?
o What plant fertilizer works best?
o Does the color of a room affect human behavior?
o Do athletic students have better lung capacity?
o What brand of battery lasts the longest?
o Does the type of potting soil used in planting affect how fast the plant grows?
o What type of food allows mold to grow the fastest?
o Does having worms in soil help plants grow faster?
o Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?
o Does the color of hair affect how much static electricity it can carry?
o How much weight can the surface tension of water hold?
o Can some people really read someone else’s thoughts?
o What light brightness makes plants grow the best?
o Does the color of birdseed affect how much birds will eat it?
o Do natural or chemical fertilizers work best?
o What brands of bubble gum produce the biggest bubbles?
o Does age affect human reaction times?
o What is the effect of salt on the boiling temperature of water?
o Does shoe design really affect an athlete’s jumping height?
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 1: Register for the event.
Step 2: Ask a question.
The first step of your project will be to ask a question. Once you’ve picked your question, you’ll need to create a hypothesis.
Make an educated guess about what you think will happen during your experiments.
My Hypothesis:
Step 3: Gather your materials.
Before you conduct any experiments you will need to consider what materials you need to answer your question. Write down a list to help keep track of what you need.
My question is:
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 4: Create your procedure.
Record the steps of your experiments from start to finish so they can be recreated.
First:
Next:
Then:
Finally:
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 5: Determine controls and variables. Remember, controls are things that remain the same during your experiment and variables are anything that can change or be changed during your experiment.
Controls:
Variables:
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 6: Test your hypothesis.
Conduct your experiment and collect data. Use the example to the right and the chart below to document your findings.
Be sure to record things such as time, weight, size, smell, day, color, etc.
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 7: Analyze your data.
What happened?
Why did it happen?
SCIENCE FAIR
INSTRUCTIONS: GRADES 1-3
Step 8: Create your visual display.
Create a poster on a three-sided display board to show the results of your experiments.
This board should include your hypothesis, purpose, materials, procedure, results and conclusion. Your display can be as creative as you want it to be. If you are unsure where to start, you can use the example below as a template for your display’s sections.
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.
