Synopses & Reviews
Your all-in-one resource for science fair success
Dont wait till the last minute to start preparing for this years science fair. This book makes it easy and fun to complete a project that you can take pride in, and maybe even take to national and international competitions. You get expert guidance in creating a great project from start to finish, with information on basic science fair procedures, tools, and techniques. Youll also find background experiments to try, pages for taking notes on each topic, and a personal project journal to help you keep track of every step as you choose your project, gather your data, report your findings, and prepare to make a spectacular presentation.
The topics covered span the science curriculum and include topics in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. All the activities can be done either at home or in the classroom with inexpensive and easy-to-find materials. So find out how enjoyable and rewarding completing a science project can really be, and have a great science fair experience!
Synopsis
From popular, bestselling author and educator Janice VanCleave comes this collection of science experiments for middle and high school students, supplemented with fill-in-the-blanks notebook pages and a personal project journal.
Synopsis
A great way to prepare for any science fair
This comprehensive workbook from Janice VanCleave promotes science success in school and at science fair time. It features 50 complete experiments from all areas of the science curriculum, supplemented with notebook pages and a personal project journal. Middle and high school students will find plenty of suggestions for changing the experiments and designing their own, along with unique projects on related topics. With lots of illustrations and explanations that make the subject matter easy to understand, the experiments can be done at home or in the classroom and require only easy-to-find materials.
Janice VanCleave (Riesel, TX) is a former elementary and high school science teacher who now spends her time writing and giving science workshops. She is the author of more than 40 children s science books, with sales totaling more than 2 million copies.
About the Author
Janice VanCleave is a former teacher whose science experiment books have sold over two million copies. Students and teachers alike have come to love her unique combination of serious education and hands-on activities.
Table of Contents
How to Use This BookI. A Guide to Science Fair Projects.
1. The Scientific Method.
2. Topic Research.
3. Categories.
4. Project Research.
5. Project Overview.
6. Experimental Data.
7. Project Summaries.
8. The Display.
9. Presentation and Evaluation.
II. 55 A+ Science Fair Project Ideas.
Astronomy.
1. Solar System Scale: Miniature Model.
2. Barycenter: The Balancing Point.
3. Orbital Eccentricity: How Circular a Celestial Body's Path Is.
4. Angular Separation: Angular Distance between Celestial Bodies.
5. Orbital Period: Time of Revolution.
6. Artificial Satellites: Man-Made Orbiters.
7. Rotation: The Spinning of Celestial Bodies.
8. Apparent Magnitude: Apparent Star Brightness.
9. Parallax: Apparent Shift of an Object.
10. Sunspots: Cooler Surface Regions.
11. Galilean Satellites: Jupiter's Largest Moons.
12. Meteors: Streaks of Light in the Sky.
Biology.
13. Meristematic Region: Growth Zone.
14. Seed Parts: Exterior and Interior.
15. Autotrophs: Food Builders.
16. Hydroponics: Growth without Soil.
17. Apical Dominance: Growth Inhibitor.
18. Geotropism: Plant Movement Due to Gravity.
19. Responses of Annelidas: Segmented Worms.
20. Aquatic Respiration: Breathing Rate of Goldfish.
21. Operant Conditioning: The "Aha!" Response.
22. Ecosystem: Interactions.
23. Preservatives: Food Additives.
Chemistry.
24. Phase Changes: Effects of Solutes.
25. Crystals: Natures Jewels.
26. The Best Plant Food: Nutrient Differences in Soils.
27. Acid-Base Indicators: Color Changers.
28. Enzymes: Chemical Controllers.
29. Triglycerides: Saturated and Unsaturated.
30. Vitamin C Content: Analysis of Food by Titration.
31. Minerals: Chemicals Needed for Life and Good Health.
32. Viscosity: A Difference in Stickiness.
33. Carbon Dioxide: Its Production and Uses.
Earth Science.
34. The Hydrologic Cycle: The Movement of Water from Place to Place.
35. Minerals: Distinguishing Physical Characteristics of Minerals.
36. The Rock Cycle: Processes That Change One Rock Type into Another.
37. Soil Texture: Effects of Regolith Size.
38. Crustal Bending: Deformation of the Earth's Crust.
39. Faulting: The Earth's Crustal Breaking Point.
40. Plate Tectonics: Floating Crustal Structure.
41. Topography: Highs and Lows of the Earth's Surface.
42. The Greenhouse Effect: Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere.
43. Barometric Changes: The Cause and Measurement of Air Pressure.
44. Soundings: Mapping a Profile of the Ocean Floor.
45. Resonance: Sympathetic Vibration.
46. Thermal Conduction: Transfer of Vibrational Energy.
47. Static Electricity: Stationary Charges.
48. Series Circuit: Sequential Path.
49. Parallel Circuit: Divided Pathways.
50. Electromagnetism: Magnetism from Electricity.
51. Static Fluids: Fluids at Rest .
52. Friction: Force that Resist Motion.
53. Work: Force through a Distance.
54. Newton's Third Law of Motion: Action-Reaction.
55. Polarization: Vibrations in One Direction.
Appendix 1. Random Error of Measurement.
Appendix 2. Relative Error: Percentage Error.
Appendix 3. Planet Facts and Figures.
Appendix 4. Random Sampling in an Open Ecosystem.
Appendix 5. Cross-Staff.
Appendix 6. Preparing Test Solutions.
Appendix 7. Manometer.
Appendix 8. Trigonometric Functions.
Appendix 9. Science Project and Experiment Books.
Appendix 10. Sources of Scientific Supplies.
Project Journal.