Conducting Research
Check out the Science Fair resources page for a list of websites to start your research for your project. Use websites that are reliable, including websites that end in .org or .gov, as these sites are written by professionals. Other sites on the research page are reliable, kid-friendly websites to conduct research. **DO NOT use sites such as wikipedia, as these sites can be edited by the general public, and may include false information.
Research should be relevant to the topic. For example, if searching for information on bubble gum to determine the longest lasting bubble gum, you do not need to know when bubble gum was invented. Instead, you may want to research the ingredients of bubble gum, and research reviews on the different brands of bubble gum you are testing.
Research should be relevant to the topic. For example, if searching for information on bubble gum to determine the longest lasting bubble gum, you do not need to know when bubble gum was invented. Instead, you may want to research the ingredients of bubble gum, and research reviews on the different brands of bubble gum you are testing.
Research Cards
The index cards are a great way to organize facts found from research. Students should find at least five facts for their research so that they can turn the facts into a paragraph to include with their project. Information should be written in the student's own words to avoid cheating and plagiarism. Keep in mind that many topics may require more than five facts for the research portion. Here is an example below of how index cards should be set up for research.
Sciencebuddies.com R.A. 1A
_______________________________________________________________________
1. Fact one in own words
________________________________________________________________________
2. Fact two in own words
________________________________________________________________________
3. Fact three in own words
_______________________________________________________________________
1. Fact one in own words
________________________________________________________________________
2. Fact two in own words
________________________________________________________________________
3. Fact three in own words
Research/Report paragraph
Once your cards are complete and approved, you may begin writing your paragraph based on your research cards, this time in your own words. It is very important that your research is in your own words, as it is PLAGIARISM if you copy someone else's work. You will receive a zero if it occurs.
The report should be about a paragraph, or longer, depending on how much research you have, and your project. Your research should include KEY WORDS that are relevant to your project and your question.
The report should be about a paragraph, or longer, depending on how much research you have, and your project. Your research should include KEY WORDS that are relevant to your project and your question.