Engaging Science Fair Project Ideas for Students
School
Harvard University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
SCIENCE AN 123
Subject
Biology
Date
Dec 12, 2024
Pages
8
Uploaded by ConstableRaccoon4031
Science Fair Ideas:Biology1.What’s the best way to keep fruit fresh?oTest how long fruit stays fresh in different conditions (likein the fridge, on the counter, or in a bag).2.Can plants grow without sunlight?oGrow one plant with sunlight and another in the dark to see the difference.3.How do different liquids affect plant growth?oWater plants with different liquids (like water, soda, and juice) and observe how they grow.4.Do people’s heart rates change with different types of music?oMeasure heart rates while listening to calm music versus fast music to see if there’s a difference.Chemistry1.Which soda makes the most fizz with Mentos?oTest different sodas with Mentos to see which one has thebiggest reaction.2.Does temperature affect how fast sugar dissolves?oTry dissolving sugar in hot, warm, and cold water to see the difference.3.What materials make the best insulators?oWrap containers in different materials (like cloth, aluminum foil, and plastic) to see which keeps water warm the longest.4.Can vinegar clean pennies better than water?oTest how well vinegar and water clean tarnished pennies.
Physics1.Which type of ball bounces the highest?oTest different balls (like a basketball, tennis ball, and rubber ball) to see which bounces the most.2.How does the shape of a paper airplane affect how far it flies?oTry different airplane designs and measure how far each one flies.3.Does the height of a ramp affect the speed of a rolling toy car?oRoll a toy car down ramps at different heights and measure the speed.4.Does adding weight to a paper helicopter affect how fast it falls?oAdd paper clips to a paper helicopter and time how long ittakes to reach the ground.Environmental Science1.How long does it take for different materials to decompose?oBury items like paper, plastic, and food scraps in soil, then check on them after a week or two to see if they start decomposing.2.How does light affect mold growth?oPlace bread in different environments (like sunlight, darkness, and a fridge) and observe how mold grows.3.Does salt water freeze as quickly as regular water?oPut salt water and regular water in the freezer and see which one freezes first.4.Which type of soil holds the most water?oTest different types of soil (sand, clay, garden soil) to see which absorbs the most water.
Health and Psychology1.How does sugar affect energy?oCompare how students feel after eating sugary snacks versus healthier snacks.2.Do smells affect mood?oHave people smell different scents (like lemon, lavender, or vanilla) and ask how each one makes them feel.3.How well do people remember items in different colors?oShow people items in different colors and see if they remember one color better than others.4.Does chewing gum improve memory?oTest if students remember things better when they’re chewing gum versus when they’re not.Engineering1.What design makes the strongest paper bridge?oBuild bridges from paper and test which design can hold the most weight.2.Can you make a working flashlight with a battery, bulb, and wire?oUse simple materials to create a basic flashlight.3.Which paper towel is the most absorbent?oCompare how much water different brands of paper towels can hold.4.How can you make a simple water filter?oTry filtering dirty water through different materials (like sand, rocks, and cotton) and see which works best.
1. Ask a QuestionThink of something you’re curious about and want to find out.2. Do Background ResearchLook up some basic information about your question to understand it better.3. Make a HypothesisMake an educated guess about what will happen. Use “If... then…” to write your guess.4. Test with an ExperimentTry out your hypothesis by doing a test. Keep everything the same except for one thing (the variable).5. Collect DataWrite down what you observe or measure in your experiment.6. Analyze the ResultsLook at the data to see if it matches your hypothesis. Did things turn out like you thought?7. Draw a ConclusionDecide if your hypothesis was correct or not. Summarize what you learned.8. Share Your ResultsTell others what you found out, usually by explaining or showing your project.
Vocabulary Definitions (Simplified)1.DNA: The “instruction manual” inside cells that tells them how to buildand operate everything in our bodies. It’s a long molecule made of two strands and has the “recipe” for making all our traits.2.RNA: A single-stranded molecule that helps carry out the instructions in DNA. Think of it as a “messenger” that helps make proteins.3.mRNA (Messenger RNA): The “copy” of DNA instructions that carriesinformation from DNA to the part of the cell where proteins are made. It’s like a recipe card that goes from the “book” (DNA) to the “kitchen” (ribosome).4.tRNA (Transfer RNA): The “helper” molecule that brings the right ingredients (amino acids) to build a protein. It “reads” the recipe and delivers the correct pieces to make the protein chain.5.rRNA (Ribosomal RNA): Part of the “kitchen” (ribosome) where proteins are made. It helps put the ingredients together based on the mRNA recipe.6.Codon: A “word” on mRNA made of three letters (bases) that tells the cell which ingredient (amino acid) to add next in making a protein.7.Anticodon: The matching “word” on tRNA that connects with the codon on mRNA, helping bring the correct amino acid to the protein chain.8.Protein Synthesis: The process of making proteins by following instructions from DNA. It happens in two steps:
oTranscription: Copying DNA’s instructions into mRNA.oTranslation: Using the mRNA instructions to build the protein at the ribosome.Quiz: DNA Vocabulary - Answer KeyPart 1: Multiple Choice Questions1.a) A molecule that carries the code for proteins2.c) To help in the synthesis of proteins3.c) Serves as a template for building proteins4.b) It carries amino acids to the ribosome5.b) Making up the ribosome6.b) Assembling amino acids into proteins7.b) A sequence of three RNA bases on mRNA8.b) tRNA9.b) The process of copying DNA into RNA10.b) Assembling amino acids into a protein based on mRNAPart 2: Transcription, Translation, and Amino Acid IdentificationInstructions:For each DNA sequence, write the corresponding mRNA, tRNA,and identify the amino acid.
1.DNA Sequence:TAC GGA CATomRNA:AUG CCU GUAotRNA Anticodon:UAC GGA CAUoAmino Acid:Methionine-Proline-Valine2.DNA Sequence:GCT TGA ACTomRNA:CGA ACU UGAotRNA Anticodon:GCU UGA ACUoAmino Acid:Arginine-Threonine-Stop3.DNA Sequence:CAG TTT GGAomRNA:GUC AAA CCUotRNA Anticodon:CAG UUU GGAoAmino Acid:Valine-Lysine-Proline4.DNA Sequence:ATA CCG GAComRNA:UAU GGC CUGotRNA Anticodon:AUA CCG GACoAmino Acid:Tyrosine-Glycine-Leucine5.DNA Sequence:TTT GCG AATomRNA:AAA CGC UUAotRNA Anticodon:UUU GCG AAUoAmino Acid:Lysine-Arginine-Leucine6.DNA Sequence:CGA TAC AAAomRNA:GCU AUG UUUotRNA Anticodon:CGA UAC AAAoAmino Acid:Alanine-Methionine-Phenylalanine7.DNA Sequence:AGC TTT ACComRNA:UCG AAA UGGotRNA Anticodon:AGC UUU ACC
oAmino Acid:Serine-Lysine-Tryptophan