Have you ever wondered about those kids who consistently win prizes at the science fair? What is it that makes them so special? Sure most people say it's because they're smart, and they can come up with projects no one else would have thought of, but the truth is you can be just like them! The one thing these kids have that you don't is that they probably know the secrets behind the best science fair projects, and those secrets are easily learned!
First secret is to stick to the rules, but learn how to bend them. Study the rules of your science fair so you know what you can and cannot do. Next, see if there are any loopholes in the rules. The truth of the matter is that rules for science fairs can often be stretched to your advantage. After you fully understand the basic rules, you can choose one of the best science fair projects you can think of and mold the rules around your project, making sure that your project follows all the rules. For example, there's a rule that the project has to be able to withstand some weather conditions, and the project you thought of uses cardboard. If that's the case, use plywood or plastic to create your project, making it qualify and well within the rules!
The second, and possibly most important secret is to study the old best science fair projects. Take projects from about six years ago or older. If the first place winner of that year received a lot of acclaim that people still remember it, choose the second place winner. Find out what they did and if they had any recommendations for future experimenters. Sometimes, following the recommendations of past experiments and tweaking the experiment up a bit can give you the edge that the old winner didn't have to make it to first place! If it's stated in your rules that past projects cannot be entered, try focusing on a different aspect of the project or completely changing the materials. Coming up with a different design or presentation flow can also throw people off.
For the third secret, remember to be neat. It's very seldom that the best science fair projects in all science fairs are messy. Being able to create a project that teaches and demonstrates a science concept that is neat and straightforward will always score extra points with the judges. Also having neat and easy to read data and graphs will be a plus with the judges. Your presentation has to be smooth flowing as well. Prepare a script for yourself and practice it several times. This will show the judges that your topic is well learned.
Finally, choose something relevant. Coming up with a project that can help the environment or can make life easier for a certain social group is always a winner. Social relevance is something a lot of good science projects forget to touch on, but you will find that many of the best science fair projects all talk about something socially relevant. So come up with something that will show the judges that you're aware of the needs of the environment and society, and you're a shoo-in for top prize!
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