Science Fair Project Resources

Internet

Some of the best resources are currently found on the Internet.

The MSSEF Student Guide: How To Do A Science Fair Project is now available for download a a PDF. There is also a How To Guide for Students By Students (PowerPoint).

The Society for Science & the Public, organizer of the INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) - "Resources for Independent Student Research"   (Please note that Massachusetts Laws are in a few cases more limiting than federal laws, thus ISEF may accept some research plans that MSSEF cannot.)

The Internet Public Library – Science Fair Project Guide - A resource guide providing a variety of excellent web resources. This site has excellent reour, "A Science Fair Project Resource Guide" which is available at: http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide. It has all kinds of information and links to many other sites and publication listings.

The Science Buddies Website offers a variety of resources including: help with topic selection, how to do a science fair project, ask an expert, as well as additional resources.

The Archimedes Initiative - An effort formed to promote science literacy and increase the number of scientists and engineers in the United States -- includes videos.

Dr. Shawn's Science Fair Projects is an excellent source of science projects, complete science kits, and expert advice. The creator, Shawn Carlson, Ph.D. is the only person ever to win a MacArthur Fellowship for science education. This site has resources for parents, teachers and students, including a science club called Labrats that sends free science lessons to families every two weeks.

The Washington University School of Medicine sponsors a website at: http://www.madsci.org It is an interactive science teaching and community outreach tool. It fields questions in 26 different subjects.

Polymer-Search, the Internet search engine for polymers and plastics, maintains a Top Science Project Ideas page that has proved particularly useful to a middle school science teacher we know.

Videos & Vimeos

• Statewide Middle School Fair on You Tube!   See how  students get to sample what it is like to do the work of a STEM professional while still in middle school!  (From the Central MA STEM Network)
• Students at Two High Schools Prepare for Success at the MA State Science & Engineering Fair at MIT, 2010 -- "A Tale of Two Schools"  Produced for MSSEF by photographer Ed Malitsky.
• Preparing a Successful Science Fair Project and other films about the steps involved in preparing a science fair project, emphasizing the importance of selecting a topic early, careful background preparation, and proper documentation.  Meridian Films.

"How To" Project Guides

• How To Do a Science Fair Project   The MSSEF Student Guide
• Project Development for the Student Scientist. Nancy Twichell, Falmouth Academy, (508) 457-9696
• How to Start a Science Fair. Diane Giordano, Norton Middle School, (508) 285-0140
• How to Fund a Science Fair. Mary Young, North Quincy High School, (781) 834-7102

Books

While many reference books and guides are available, following is a partial list with contact information if available:

• Bochinski, Julia. 1996. The Complete Handbook of Science Fair Projects. John Wiley and Sons. New York.
• Brisk, Marion. 1994. 1001 Ideas for Science Projects. Simon and Schuster. New York.
• Cothron, Julia, Giese, Roland, and Rezba, Richard. 1996. Science Experiments and Projects for Students. Kendell-Hunt, Dubuque. Iowa.
• Cothron, Julia, Giese, Roland, and Rezba, Richard. 1996. Science Experiments by the Hundreds. Kendall- Hunt. Dubuque, Iowa. Teacher and student volumes in this publication.
• Cothron, Julia, Giese, Roland, and Rezba, Rebecca. 1993. Students and Research Strategies and Science Classrooms and Competitions. Kendell-Hunt, Dubuque. Iowa. Designed for teachers. Features strategies for student analysis, improvement, and redesign of lab activities and demonstrations.
• Fredericks, Anthony and Asimov, Isaac. 1992. Science Fair Handbook. Harcourt and Brace, New York. Good for grades 4 – 8.
• Insights. 1994. Science projects and Fairs, Tips for Teachers. Insights Visual Productions, Inc., Encinitas, CA. Tel (619) 942-0528
• Insights. 1994. You be the Judge. Insights Visual Productions, Inc., Encinitas, CA. Tel (619) 942-0528.
• Tocci, Salvatore. 1986. How to do a science Fair Project. Frank Watts. New York.
• Van Cleave, Janice. 1993. A+ Projects in Chemistry. John Wiley and Sons. New York.
• Van Deman, Barry and McDonald, Ed. 1991. Nuts and Bolts – A Matter of Fact Guide to Science Fair Projects. Jossey-Bass. San Francisco.
• How to Prepare a Science Fair Project. Discovery Education (formerly United Learning, Inc.)
• Williams, David B. Writing Science Fair Research Papers. BioTech Publishing. Angleton, TX. Tel (713) 369-2044.

Catalogs

• Educational Products Catalog for Science Fair Materials, Display Boards, and Other Materials. Tel 1-800-365-5345.
• Showboard Catalog. Tel 1-800-323-9189.