A+ Science Fair Projects

by Janice VanCleave

Whether your middle or high-school student is interested in demonstrating the greenhouse effect, sympathetic vibration (with a couple of soda bottles), or the breathing rate of goldfish, former science teacher Janice VanCleave provides helpful advice for designing experiments to impress judges at the science fair. In the first section, the author explains the importance of understanding the scientific method, selecting a topic, identifying its category, research, overview, experimental data, project summaries, the display, and presentation and evaluation. The second part of the book offers project ideas for 35 science fair topics within the categories of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, stressing that "The point is not to copy the projects in this book but to use them as exploratory experiments...." Each experiment is clearly presented with a brief introduction, a statement of purpose, a list of needed materials, a step-by-step procedure, a description and explanation of the results, and ideas for taking the experiment in different directions. Nine appendices provide additional information on random error of measurement, percentage error, sources of scientific supplies, and more, and a glossary and index conclude the book. Ages 11+

Paperback

First published August 8, 2003

About the author

Janice VanCleave is everybody’s favorite science teacher! With sales of more than 2 million copies, her books show just how fun and exciting science can be. They’re brimming with cool projects and experiments that use inexpensive household materials — and help turn ordinary young people into enthusiastic junior scientists.

A former school teacher, Janice VanCleave taught science in public schools, science method courses in college, and science curriculum development courses for numerous districts and organizations. In addition to writing, VanCleave also works directly with children and adults through her “Fun With Science” workshops held at libraries, schools, museums, and bookstores throughout the United States.

Janice VanCleave books appeal to kids, parents, and teachers alike because of her unique mix of science with fun activities, her simple explanations of science topics, and the way she uses everyday materials for all of her experiments.

Reviews

[Neal Boukaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

GoodReads-

Over two million Janice VanCleave A+ Science Fair Projects books were sold. The book teaches students how to do a science fair project. It consists of the scientific method, topic research, categories, the project research, the project review, the experimental data, project summaries, the display, and the presentation and evaluation. It also gives you ideas about science fair questions, and what are the most important aspects of each question. This book taught me what to put in my science fair, and how to make people understand my question and purpose. It also teaches what type of testable questions you could use, and shows the difference between a testable and a non testable question.

This book is useful for my science fair because it is the book I used to find my science fair question and purpose, it has all the useful information to help me design a decent science fair. During the past 2 years in middle school we have been trying to learn about how to make a science fair project, and this book is justifying what I have learned. Physical science is the branch of my content, because my project will have chemicals, and I will use different solutions.

I would recommend this book to every science teacher because it would help teachers give students ideas for science fair projects. I would also recommend this book to high school teachers because it consists of helpful information, and very good experiments that could be done by high school students.

Neal Boukaa