Guiding Your Students in Science Projects
Science projects not only help develop your students’ knowledge and skills. Investigating the answers to a scientific question also builds your students’ enthusiasm for science.
Introducing and implementing science projects in the classroom is easier if goals, activities, and schedules are clearly set. Below are some tips which can help you in guiding your students in their science projects.
Set goals and timeline.
What are the objectives of the science fair project? What activities or output do you want your students to accomplish? Decide the characteristics of the project and set attainable goals. Plan the format and activity flowchart that your students will follow.
Determine the project timeline for you and your students. Organize a teacher timeline (this one will help you monitor the progress off all the objectives and activities that you planned) and a science project student schedule (this one will serve as your students’ guide in preparing and submitting their final outputs). Provide enough teacher-student consultation time and specify the assignments and expected outputs in every schedule.
Also take into consideration the expenses. Advise your students that science projects need not be expensive. You can even choose science project topics which will involve improvisation or recycling.
Determine the scope and limitations of the project.
What topics and scientific methods can and cannot be used for the science project? Set specific topics which your students can choose from for their science projects. Also, prepare a set of rules and guidelines in doing research, writing the scientific paper, and reporting results.
How will the students be grouped? Group students strategically so both teamwork and individual contributions can be graded sensibly.
Educate and motivate.
Explain the project goals. Students will be more able to meet project expectations if they clearly understand the purpose and goals of the science project. To motivate your students, state the benefits (grade percentage, chance to join in local and international science expos, etc.) that they can get from the project.
Constant communication with your students can help you monitor their activities and troubleshoot difficulties that students may encounter along the way. You can also communicate with parents so they can also give support to the students.
Finish and follow-up.
Guide your students from start to finish. After the science project, do follow-up exercises such as project evaluation tests. Students can also recommend further studies related to their projects – let these be the topics for your next investigatory projects.
Science Buddies, a nonprofit organization which provides free science fair project ideas for teachers and students, recommends an easy-to-use teacher timeline. Links to other Science Buddies Science Project guides are also given in the table below.
Time | Planning Activity | Teacher Task | Teacher Due Date |
At least one month before start | Do initial planning.
Part I. Set goals. | Decide on goals and requirements. | |
Part II. Set the schedule. | Determine program start and end dates. | |
Optional: Make initial expo plans. | See Science Buddies Expo Planner | |
Week | Student Assignment | Assignments to Grade / Other Teacher Tasks | Student Due Date |
1 | Ask a question.
Part I: Find a project idea. | - Introduce the project goals and schedule.
- Send information to parents.
- Grade Topic Selection Wizard (PDF) results/science project questions
| |
2 | Part II: Do project proposal. | Use Science Project Proposal Form (PDF) as guide.
Assess safety and practicality. | |
3 | Do background research.
Part I: Collect information. | Use Background Research Plan Worksheet (PDF) as guide.
Use Bibliography Worksheet as guide. | |
4 | Part II: Write a research paper. | Check drafts and final paper.
Use Research Paper Checklist (PDF) as guide. | |
5 | Construct a hypothesis. | Use Variables & Hypothesis Worksheet (PDF) as guide. | |
6 | Optional: Do advance expo steps. | See Science Expo Planner Guide | |
6 | Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment.
Part I: Design an experimental procedure. | List of materials
Experimental Procedure | |
7&8 | Analyze the data and draw a conclusion. | Data, Graphs, Analysis
Conclusions | |
Communicate the results. |
| Option A: Display Board | Display Board | |
| Option B: Final Report | Final Report
(Use Final Report Checklist (PDF) as guide) | |
| Option C: Class Presentation | Presentations | |
| Option D: Science Expo | Use Science Expo Planner Guide (PDF) | |
Table 1. Teacher Timeline. (taken from Science Buddies, http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/teachers-guide-to-science-projects.pdf)
For more resources, visit the links below:
Teacher’s Guide to Science Projects (by Science Buddies)
Teacher Resources (by Science Buddies)
Source:
n.d. Teacher’s Guide to Science Projects. ScienceBuddies.org. Retrieved January 8, 2008 from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/teachers-guide-to-science-projects.pdf
