Project Summary: Grades K to 5

(Click here if you need to see the format for a grade 6-12 project report.)

NOTE: 3 copies of this summary must be turned in or mailed to the GPHSF Director one week prior to the fair!

It is important to have a written explanation of your experiment for others to read, even if it's just one page long. (A parent may write this summary from a young child's dictation.)

Although there is no set format for a K to 5 paper, all of the following should be included:

1. Project title, your name, and your grade
2. Question (What was my original question?)
3. Materials (What materials did I use?)
4. Procedure (What did I do?) Sometimes a drawing or picture may help show what you did.
5. Variables
   • Manipulated Variable (What did I change?)
   • Responding Variable (What changed as a result of what I did?)
   • Controls (What things did I keep the same?)
6. Results (What happened?) Graphs or tables may be included.
7. Conclusion (What is the answer to my question?)
8. Bibliography (What books did I use?)

Most K to 5 participants write just a one- or two-sentence answer to each question. (Some fourth and fifth graders sometimes submit "hybrid" reports mandated by their parents -- more complex than this, but not quite everything expected of a sixth grader.) Also, some elementary students submit computer-generated reports, while others hand-write them, both of which are acceptable, but remember that judges must be able to read it; please make it as neat as possible.

Note: Some fourth and fifth graders are eligible for their county science fairs. Such students who plan to compete at the county level should follow guidelines for grades 6 to 12.

More suggestions before you print out your paper...

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