Demonstrations vs. Experiments*
While demonstrations and models can help you learn many important concepts, this science fair requires students to do an experiment following a scientific method. Here are some examples of questions that do not require an experiment but can be answered by reading a book or making a model.
- Can I grow bread mold? This event can be shown by a simple
demonstration.
- Do plants need light to grow? This question can be answered
by a simple "yes" or "no" and a demonstration.
- How does a battery work? This question can be answered by a
model or demonstration.
Do not pick these kinds of questions! Instead, turn these demonstrations into experiments; the following examples are questions that can be answered by doing an experiment.
- What is the effect of different temperatures on growing
bread mold?
Manipulated Variable: Temperature
Controls: Light, moisture, kind of bread, location of
sample
Measurement of Responding Variable: Amount of mold
- Under what kind of light do plants grow best (grow lights,
fluorescent light, sunlight)?
Manipulated Variable: Kind of light
Controls: Kind of plant, location, moisture, kind of
soil, size of pot
Measurement of Responding Variable: Height of plant
- How does temperature affect the life of a battery?
Manipulated Variable: Temperature
Controls: Kind and size of battery, type of flashlight,
length of time battery will be kept at each temperature
Measurement of Responding Variable: Length of time the
battery will operate the same flashlight bulb
NOTE: The judges will be asked to classify the projects as demonstrations or experiments. An experiment must have something that is changed (manipulated variable) and a measurement.
*From Not Just Another Science Fair by Laura Vazquez, et al.
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