Agricultural Science Fair Projects

Agriculture topics make great science projects because they relate to things that affect us every day - and better yet, they are fun!

Be interested in the topic - it should be something you like to think about.
For your topic, you need to be able to do a test to answer a question. A good Science Fair project is an experiment - it's a test to find an answer to a question you have. Demonstrations or reports don't use the scientific method.
It doesn't have to be complicated. Students often select complicated projects and then end up not fully understanding the concepts or even giving up on the project.
Do it with only a little help from parents, teachers and friends. Having someone else help too much takes away some of your fun and you don't learn as much. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you really need it.
Your project should make you think of new things you want to know, even after you are done with your experiment. Did doing the project, or reading or seeing what happened, make you think of other questions you are curious about?

Check out these sites for some great ideas!

After selecting your topic, learn everything about it. Books on your topic can most likely be found in your local library or bookstore. A great source for current information is on the Internet.

Once you have your background information, make a plan how you will conduct your experiment. Your plan should include:

The purpose of your experiment
The variable(s) or the things that you are going to change during the experiment.
Your hypothesis or what you think the outcome of the project will be.
A detailed procedure outlining how you will conduct the experiment.

The next step is to follow the plan that you have written. Make sure you keep detailed notes on everything that you observe. You may even want to take pictures or make sketches of your observations. These notes are important to your experiment because they are needed when you write your report and make your display.

Once you are finished with the experiment, organize your notes. Then, analyze them. Ask yourself, what happened, did the results agree with your hypothesis, and so on. Make graphs and charts to represent the data to help you analyze it.

Write a detailed report about your project. Tell exactly what you did, how you did it, and what you discovered. Be sure you write all about your plan and your experiment. Include your data, and perhaps some charts and graphs to help readers interpret the information. Be sure you also include some of the background information you learned.

The Display is crucial to your success at the fair because it tells about your project. The display must be neat and well organized. It should include background information, the problem, your hypothesis, your procedure, your results, your conclusion, your report, and graphs and charts. You can also include photos or drawings of your experiments.

By rehearsing your presentation, you get an opportunity to 'work the bugs out' and feel comfortable talking about your project. Start out rehearsing by yourself and then find volunteers to be mock judges and present it to them. You will be calmer and more composed on the science fair day if you are prepared and know what you are going to say.

At the science fair, try to be as calm and professional as possible. Know what you are talking about and be confident, you will do great!

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc.