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^{If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at jfogelson@sjvschool.net.}

Thank you,

^{Jen Fogelson}

"I believe that bread mold does not need light for reproduction on white bread. I base my hypothesis on these facts:

Organisms with chlorophyll need light to survive. Molds do not have chlorophyll.

In my exploratory experiment, bread mold grew on white bread kept in a dark bread box."

Do write down your hypothesis before beginning the project experimentation.

Don't change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not support it. If time permits, repeat or redesign the experiment to confirm your results.

Project Experimentation

Project experimentation is the process of testing a hypothesis. The things that have an effect on the experiment are called variables. There are three kinds of variables that you need to identify in your experiments: independent, dependent, and controlled.

The independent variable is the variable you purposely manipulate (change). The dependent variable is the variable that is being observed, which changes in response to the independent variable. The variables that are not changed are called controlled variables.

The problem in this section concerns the effect of light on the reproduction of bread mold. The independent variable for the experiment is light and the dependent variable is bread mold reproduction. A control is a test in which the independent variable is kept constant in order to measure changes in the dependent variable. In a control, all variables are identical to the experimental setup—your original setup—except for the independent variable. Factors that are identical in both the experimental setup and the control setup are the controlled variables. For example, prepare the experiment by placing three or four loaves of white bread in cardboard boxes the size of a bread box, one loaf per box. Close the boxes so that they receive no light. If, at the end of a set time period, the mold grows, you might decide that no light was needed for mold reproduction. But, before making this decision, you must determine experimentally if the mold would grow with light. Thus, control groups must be set up of bread that receives light throughout the testing period. Do this by placing an equal number of loaves in comparable-size boxes, but leave them open.

The other variables for the experimental and control setup, such as the environmental conditions for the room where the boxes are placed—temperature and humidity—and the brand of the breads used must be kept the same. These are controlled variables. Note that when designing the procedure of your project experiment, you must include steps for measuring the results. For example, to measure the amount of mold growth, you might draw 1/2-inch (1-cm) squares on a transparent sheet of plastic. This could be placed over the bread, and the number of squares with mold growth could be counted. Also, as it is best to perform the experiment more than once, it is also good to have more than one control. You might have one control for every experimental setup.

Do have only one independent variable during an experiment.

Do repeat the experiment more than once to verify your results.

Do have a control.

Do have more than one control, with each being identical.

Do organize data.

Project Conclusion

The project conclusion is a summary of the results of the project experimentation and a statement of how the results relate to the hypothesis. Reasons for experimental results that are contrary to the hypothesis are included. If applicable, the conclusion can end by giving ideas for further testing.

DON'T change your hypothesis.

DON'T leave out experimental results that do not support your hypothesis.

DO give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results.

DO give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution.

You might say, for example, "As stated in my hypothesis, I believe that light is not necessary during the germination of bean seeds. My experimentation supports the idea that bean seeds will germinate without light. After seven days, the seeds tested were seen growing in full light and in no light. It is possible that some light reached the 'no light' containers that were placed in a dark closet. If I were to improve on this experiment, I would place the 'no light' containers in a light-proof box and/or wrap them in light-proof material, such as aluminum foil."

Keep a Journal
Purchase a bound notebook to serve as your journal. This notebook should contain topic and project research. It should contain not only your original ideas but also ideas you get from printed sources or from people. It should also include descriptions of your exploratory and project experiments as well as diagrams, graphs, and written observations of all your results.

Every entry should be as neat as possible and dated. A neat, orderly journal provides a complete and accurate record of your project from start to finish, and it can be used to write your project report. It is also proof of the time you spent searching out the answers to the scientific mystery you undertook to solve. You will want to display the journal with your completed project.

Your science fair display represents all the work that you have done. It should consist of a backboard, the project report, and anything that represents your project, such as models made, items studied, photographs, surveys, and the like. It must tell the story of the project in such a way that it attracts and holds the interest of the viewer. It has to be thorough, but not too crowded, so keep it simple. You want a display that the judges will remember positively. So before you glue everything down, lay the board on a flat surface and arrange the materials a few different ways. This will help you decide on the most suitable and attractive presentation.

Safety

Basically, anything that is or could be hazardous to other students or the public is prohibited and cannot be displayed. The following is a list of things unacceptable for display. Your teacher has access to a complete list of safety rules from your local science-fair officials. Your project topic should be approved by your teacher before you begin.

This prevents you from working on an unsafe project and from wasting time on a project that would be disqualified. Models or photographs can be used instead of things that are restricted from display.

Unacceptable for Display

Live animals

Microbial cultures or fungi, living or dead

Animal or human parts, except for teeth, hair, nails, and dried animal bones

Liquids that are hazardous

Chemicals and/or their empty containers, including caustics, acids, and household cleaners

Open or concealed flames

Batteries with open-top cells

Combustible materials

Aerosol cans of household solvents

Controlled substances, poisons, or drugs

Any equipment or device that would be hazardous to the public

Sharp items, such as syringes, knives, and needles

Gases

Science Fair Project Categories

Botany – Agriculture, plant growth, plant anatomy, plant diseases, plant behavior, plant cells, plant genetics, microbiology including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, etc.

Consumer Product Testing – Testing of products, i.e. soaps, paper toweling, batteries, bubble gum, etc.

Earth and Space Science – Geology, geography, meteorology, astronomy, rocks, minerals, soils, volcanoes, weather, fossils, gravity, atmosphere, petroleum, comets, stars, planets, solar system, etc.

Engineering, Computers and Math – Application of scientific principals to practical ends such as design, construction, and operation of efficient and economical structures equipment and systems, including civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, automotive, heating and refrigeration transportation, power transmission and generation communications, architecture, lasers, rockets, computer an information sciences, programming, computer systems, statistics and probability, mathematics, etc.

Environmental Science – Pollution (air, water, land), pollution sources, waste disposal, environmental change (heat, light, irrigation, erosion), ecology, etc.

Medicine and Health – Medicine, dentistry, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, disease, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, biochemistry, food additives, human genetics, cells, etc.

Physical Science – Optics, acoustics, electricity, magnets, simple machines, plastics, fuels, crystals, chemistry

Zoology and Humans – Animal genetics, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and other invertebrates, animal cells, anatomy, physiology, behavior of any vertebrate, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, learning, public opinion, surveys, educational testing, etc.