Yes. A science fair project follows the same steps your child colors through in the book, so the book works as a practice run. Use the chapters in order and your child will already know each step when it's time to build the board. I break this into five steps in Science Fair Success.
The five steps
- Choose a question (Chapters 1 and 2). Look back at the questions from Chapter 1 and narrow one down until you can test it. "Why is the sky blue?" is hard to test at home. "Do plants grow taller with music playing?" can be tested. Then find two or three facts at the library.
- Make a prediction (Chapter 3). Use "I think ___ because ___," write it on an index card, and tape it to the fridge.
- Design the experiment (Chapter 4). Write numbered steps. Ask: What am I changing? What am I watching? What am I keeping the same? Keep it to one change and one measurement. Your child can color the Checklist page and copy the idea for a materials checklist.
- Collect the data (Chapter 5). Set up a table before starting (date, measurement, notes). Write down what actually happened, not what you hoped for, then make a bar or line graph.
- Tell the story (Chapter 6). Lay out the board in this order: Title, Question, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Data, Conclusion. The conclusion answers three questions: What did I find? Was my guess right? What would I do differently?
A ten-week timeline
- Weeks 1 to 2: question and background reading
- Week 3: hypothesis
- Week 4: plan and gather materials
- Weeks 5 to 6: run the experiment
- Week 7: graphs
- Weeks 8 to 9: board, conclusion, and practice presenting
- Week 10: fair day
Tips for fair day
- Practice with a pretend judge who asks questions.
- Teach the phrase "The data showed..." rather than "I proved..." Researchers describe what they found.
- Bring the coloring book and set it beside the board as the place where the project started. The Squad's own poster on page 94 makes a fun model.
Kindergartners can take part with a lot of adult help. By second or third grade, most children can lead much of the work themselves. If there's no fair near you, the same steps make a great home showcase.