Sample Project

not be acceptable for your project. Because you'll know so much more after doing the sample experiment and other research, let's wait before deciding on the title and problem question.

MATERIALS

As Figure 6.2 shows, all the materials for the sample experiment, like those for all the experiments in this book, can be found around the house or purchased without much money at a local grocery or hardware store. Collect the supplies before you start the experiment. You will have less frustration and more fun if all the materials are ready before you start.

Pick a topic. Each of the 50 project ideas in Part II begins with a detailed exploratory experiment. Read some or all of these easy experiments to discover the topic you like best and want to know more about. Regardless of the topic you choose for the science fair, what you discover from any of these experiments will make you more knowledgeable about science. How can you turn a project idea from this book into your own unique project? This chapter uses a project idea similar in format to those found in Part II. The detailed exploratory experiment will be referred to as the sample experiment, and is used for several purposes. Like all exploratory experiments, its main purpose is to provide research data on which to base a hypothesis. But in this chapter, it is also used as a model for a project experiment. During the experimentation phase of your project, you can use the following data-collecting techniques and other ideas to design, develop, and fine-tune your project KEEPING YOUR PROJECT JOURNAL Every step of the way, you will keep a journal in which to record the progress of the project. After experimentation has been completed, the journal will be very useful to you when you begin to write your project report. Chapter 7 explains how to write a project report. TITLE AND PROBLEM QUESTION The title and problem question for the sample experiment (see Figure 6.1) may or may	More Heat PROBLEM Which warms faster, water or soil? *Figure 6.1 Sample Experiment Title and Problem*
	Materials knife (to be used only by an adult) small box at least 10 inches (25 cm) square two 9-ounce (270-ml) paper cups light-colored soil tap water 2 thermometers ruler duct tape paper pencil timer desk lamp adult helper *Figure 6.2 Sample Experiment Materials List*
	not be acceptable for your project. Because you'll know so much more after doing the sample experiment and other research, let's wait before deciding on the title and problem question. MATERIALS As Figure 6.2 shows, all the materials for the sample experiment, like those for all the experiments in this book, can be found around the house or purchased without much money at a local grocery or hardware store. Collect the supplies before you start the experiment. You will have less frustration and more fun if all the materials are ready before you start.