Time. It’s something we all experience. But, when you have a science fair rapidly approaching and you still haven’t got any idea what to do for a project, time seems to go faster than ever!
Coming up with a science fair project is no easy task. If you’re stressing about it, then many others in your class will be too. The only difference is that you’re reading this article to get a head start on potential ideas.
Thinking of a science fair project can be more challenging than the project itself. Once you have an idea in mind, you can focus primarily on that and give yourself the best chance of winning the fair.
If you’re suffering from “writer’s block” and your usual creative flair is lacking inspiration, we have you covered. In today’s blog, we will be taking a look at previous science fair-winning projects to help get those creative cogwheels turning.
While we do not recommend copying any projects, some of the following winners from the past may inspire you into creating something similar but obviously better!
So, sit back, relax, and get inspired as we summarize hundreds of previous winning science fair projects for 6th graders through to 12th graders.
Why Partake In A Science Fair Project?
We understand that participating in a science fair project isn’t always your choice alone. Although many students decide to enter these fairs of their own volition, many must enter as part of a class.
Sometimes, pressure from parents makes students participate while others just like to challenge their scientific capabilities and simply have some fun.
Whatever motivates people to enter science fairs, the joy they can bring is what matters most. Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons to do a science fair project below.
The main reasons students participate in science fairs are:
To challenge themselves
To learn more about science
To design and make something that could possibly help the world
To explore new and exciting technology
To participate and do something that they can be very proud of
To win prizes. Sometimes, money is included!
The majority of students at science fairs are there as part of their class. While these science fairs are usually on a smaller scale, there are national competitions with over 1,000 participants.
If you take your science seriously and/or have a project in mind that you think could make a real difference to the world, then entering these national competitions could be the kickstart to a life of science!
There are also numerous maker events, engineering fairs, and hackathons out there, waiting for people like you to join. There has never been a better time to be a scientist with modern-day technologies and understandings growing every day.
Below are some of the national events that happen every year in the U.S:
Google Science Fair
JSHS Program
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Conrad Challenge
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
Exploravision
Do a little research into each competition to see if any would suit your potential science projects.
Previous Science Fair Winning Projects
Okay, you are entering a science fair, either as part of a class or because you want to. But, you’re struggling to come up with ideas for your science project. Here’s a list of previous winners to help you get an idea of what it takes to win a science fair.
Microbial fuel cells: Food waste as a sugar source
A natural anti-bacterial solution using rainwater and persimmon calyx
How to harvest tree vibrations energy
How can you win at rock, paper, scissors?
Are fingerprints hereditary?
Does chewing gum improve concentration?
Effect of clothing on perceived intelligence
Improving speaking ability after hearing loss with bone conduction and diaphragm voice-training techniques
How much fat is in your food?
Which accent is most appealing?
Which fruit generates the most electricity?
Do introverts have better memories than extroverts?
Water Recycling: The Effects of Soapnut Grey Water on the Environment
Detecting and removing of pesticides from produce
Effect of baseball bat material on the distance of a hit ball
How does iPad use before bed affect sleep?
How does acid rain affect plants?
Do air temperatures affect candle burning rates?
How does temperature affect magnetic strength?
Oral Health Advisor with a sensor, mobile cloud application, and machine learning
Can a low-carb diet change cardiovascular markers?
Facial recognition alert system for Alzheimer’s patients
How does sleep duration affect the body?
Engineering algal bio-scrubbers to prevent global warming
Apple Watch vs. Fitbit vs. Garmin – which wearable offers the best heart rate accuracy?
How does music type affect customer purchases in a store?
Effect of fabric softener on the flammability of fabric
Effects of heat on enzyme activity
Which propeller is best at harnessing the wind?
Testing antimicrobial effects of spices
How do shellfish adapt to new environments?
Are kids that eat school lunches more likely to be obese than students that eat food from home?
Google Science Fair Idea Generator
If you’re still struggling to think of a science fair project, Google has a tool to help you. This idea engine takes advantage of a few search terms. This comes up with patents, websites, news stories, and more to help inspire you in creating a new project.
This tool allows you to combine certain things that you love with others that you are good at doing. You can create a project aimed at solving climate change issues or fuel-saving techniques. The possibilities are endless!
While this tool sounds amazing, it may not be the answer to your science fair prayers. When you type in various texts, the number of results can be overwhelming. Hundreds can come back instantaneously which can be hard to comprehend and understand.
Before you use the Google Science Fair Idea Generator, we suggest writing down “why does…” and “I wonder if…” questions for a week or so. This may help you come up with something more original than Google could muster.
Keep track of various questions you may have about the world around you. Keep a notepad on you or record your ideas on your phone. Other people may ask interesting questions too, which could spark some creativity in you. The more ideas you have, the better!
Review your list of ideas at the end of the first week and try brainstorming some potential experiments to answer your questions. If you’re still struggling, try turning to Google.
In Summary
The best science fair projects and, science experiments for that matter, attempt to answer a specific question.
As you can see with our list of previous winners above, many of them are simple questions such as “Dog or human: Who has the cleaner mouth?” or “How does sleep duration affect the body?”
Try not to pick something too difficult unless you want a real challenge. Choose a fun topic. Something that interests you and excites you. If you have fun doing the project, it will usually show and give you a better chance of winning!
Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. Through teaching, I have discovered that children learn in many different ways, and have seen the positive impact both STEM and Montessori toys have on children.
Through this site I hope to educate parents and adults about these toys, providing them with useful information on how they can be used, and provide some in depth reviews of different toys to consider too.
Pingback: Guide To Buying The Best STEM Robotics Kits - Spiral Toys