NASA Climate Kids

Do a science fair project!

Test, answer, or show?

Your science fair project may do one of three things:

• Test an idea (or hypothesis.)
• Answer a question.
• Show how nature works.

Topic ideas:

These are just the beginning of ideas. Ask a parent, teacher, or other adult to help you research the topic and find out how to do a science fair project about it.

• Measure the cloud cover in the sky.
• Test the effect of a mild acid on sea shells. (Test lemon juice or vinegar, for example.)
• Demonstrate how Earth's water cycle creates fresh drinking water from sea water.

• Investigate the greenhouse effect outdoors, over one week using two thermometers, two shallow open boxes lined with soil, with one covered tightly with clear plastic wrap, and a notebook for taking temperature readings through the day and night. Or use a different, but well-controlled method of comparison.

• Make a do-it-yourself rain gauge. Measure the rainfall during one storm or over several days.
  
• Make a cloud in a bottle.
• Demonstrate why the equator is warmer than other parts of Earth (unequal heating of Earth's surface) using a flashlight, graph paper, a ruler, and masking tape.

• Compare the freezing point of fresh water with the freezing point of seawater or salt water, with varying amounts of salt.

By the way, what is science anyway?

1. Pick a topic.
2. Try to find out what people already know about it.
3. Do one of these:
   
   • State a hypothesis related to the topic. That is, make a cause-and-effect-statement that you can test using the scientific method.
   • Explain something.
   • Make a plan to observe something.
4. Design and carry out your research, keeping careful records of everything you do or see.
5. Create an exhibit or display to show and explain to others what you hoped to test (if you had a hypothesis) or what question you wanted to answer, what you did, what your data showed, and your conclusions.
6. Write a short report that also states the same things as the exhibit or display, and also gives the sources of your initial background research.
7. Practice describing your project and results, so you will be ready for visitors to your exhibit at the science fair.

Follow these steps to a successful science fair entry!