Science fairs
This guide is designed to be a starting point foryour science fair project, helping you work your way from researching a topic and formulating ideas through to completion.
Scientific method
- Research a particular topic
- Ask a question related to the topic
- Formulate a hypothesis that answers your question
- Create an experiment that will prove or disprove your hypothesis
- 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.
- Astronomy projects
- Biology projects
- Geography projects
- Natural history projects
- Science projects - children's non fiction
- Science projects - bibliography
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
The Source 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 here are a selection specifically for science projects.
The Source
Guiding students to great sources - science fair projects by Carol Marshall
Use at a library or enter your library card & PIN
Books
- 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.
- VanCleave, J. Janice Van Cleave’s Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects
Complete rules and display tips; helpful do’s and don’ts; fun, step-by-step experiments on 50 topics
Subject headings
Dewey numbers for shelf browsing
- 507.1 - Science experiments
- 507.8 - Science projects