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TubesScience fairs

This guide is designed tobe a starting point foryour science fair project, helping you work your way from researching a topic and formulating ideas through to completion.

Scientific method

  1. Research a particular topic
  2. Ask a question related to the topic
  3. Formulate a hypothesis that answers your question
  4. Create an experiment that will prove or disprove your hypothesis
  5. Draw a conclusion from the result of your experiment

Finding background material

The first step in any project is to choose and research a particular topic. The following links provide ways of finding background information to enable you to formulate the question that will be the basis of your topic.

Books and other library resources

Catalogue subject headings: use these links to our catalogue to find books and other library resources.

Browse the library shelves in these sections. Our guide to the Dewey system may also help you here.

500 - General science
510 - Maths
520 - Astronomy
530 - Physics
540 - Chemistry
550 - Geology
570 - Biology
580 - Plants
590 - Animals
600 - Technology and inventions
610 - Human body

Electronic journals and databases

Our databases may provide useful background information for science projects, especially those dealing with science and technology topics and the general encyclopedias. They are particularly useful for current scientific information and "hot" topics as they are regularly updated.
N.B. These databases are only available in our libraries or to library members with a PIN on their membership card.

Internet resources

Use these web site directories to find science web sites for kids, teens and general audiences.

Internet gateway: Kids: Science
Selected science websites for kids
Pulse: Study: Science
Selected science websites for teens
Internet gateway: Science & Technology
Science websites
Te Puna Web Directory
The Te Puna web directory is a good place for background material on websites in New Zealand. You can browse by subject.

Putting the project together

Once you have decided on your subject and you have completed your background reading it is time to put it all together. The resources listed hereare a selection specifically for science projects.

Subject headings

Dewey numbers for shelf browsing

  • 507.1 - Science experiments
  • 507.8 - Science projects

Electronic journals and databases

Guiding students to great sources - science fair projects by Carol Marshall

Books

Van Cleave, J. Janice Van Cleave's Help! My science project is due tomorrow: easy experiments you can do overnight
This wee gem is for those of us that leave everything to the last minute. A life saver for parents of the disorganised or disinterested.
Vecchione, G. 100 award winning science fair projects
At the other end of the scale this book is for children who are interested in producing outstanding projects. The book encourages students to take the ideas and to redesign the experiments and do some experimenting on their own.