7th Grade Science Project Expectations

Overview
The 7th Grade Science Fair Project is an exciting opportunity to branch out
as a scientist and investigate something you are interested in! You will work
in groups of one, two, or three to complete this investigation. There will be
class time set aside to plan, collect data, prepare a visual display and an oral
presentation and to reflect. Basic science classroom supplies will be
available. You may need to provide some materials yourself (this depends on the project your group
chooses, check with your teacher if this is a concern). Below is a list of required elements of the
Science Project:

Visual Display
Your visual display will be a poster. Class time will be given to complete this. You may also want to
include as part of your display some kind of demonstration or artifact from the experiment. This is not
required, but may be appropriate and interesting depending upon your experiment.
Your Visual Display must include the following elements (see your QPOEE booklet for a more detailed
explanation of each section):
Question - You must state the problem in the form of a question.
Knowledge Probe - This section will include information regarding the scientific principle(s) that is
involved in your experiment.
Prediction - The hypothesis should be written as an If...then... statement. The prediction also must
include reasoning from the scientific knowledge portion of the investigation.
Investigation Plan - The investigation plan includes materials list and procedure.
Observation - This section will include both qualitative and quantitative observations. Quantitative
observations must be organized in a data table.
Data Analysis - This section will include appropriate statistical analyses along with charts and graphs.
Explanation - Share what you learned from the investigation using claim, evidence, reasoning format.
Application - In this section you will discuss the connection between your project and the real world.
Works Cited - Include a list of all of the sources that you used during this project.

In-class oral presentation

Every group/individual will be required to give an oral presentation of their project. This will be similar to
a present and defend, so students should expect to defend their investigation. During this presentation,

you will utilize your visual display and any other artifact or demonstration you wish to display. Be sure to
practice who will be saying what, so everyone feels prepared!

Reflection
The reflection will be completed individually by all students. It will require you to summarize your
project, create graphs and write an evaluation of your investigation. This reflection will be graded for
understanding.

Science Fair Topic Selection

Below is a list of topics that can be investigated for the 7th Grade Science Project:
1. Brand Comparison Experiments
a. popcorn
b. nail polish
c. anything that wasnt part of the X Games
2. Gender Comparisons - How does gender affect reaction time/short-term memory/color
preference?
3. Cut Flower Investigations
a. How does the type of water (salt/fresh/etc) affect the time a flower stays fresh?
b. How does the type of flower affect how fast dye travels up a flower?
4. How does the type of shoes affect how fast a person can run (or how high you can jump)?
5. How does the amount of air in a basketball/volleyball/etc affect how high it bounces?
6. Citrus Fruit and Voltage Investigation
a. How does the type of fruit affect the amount of voltage it can produce?
b. How does the size/amount of fruit affect the amount of voltage it can produce?
7. Distraction and Performance Ability
a. How does playing music affect a basketball players free throw shooting average?
b. How do loud noises affect a persons concentration when reading?
8. What materials can block a Wi-Fi signal?
9. Can people tell the difference between natural and artificial smells/tastes?
10. How does the color of a persons eyes affect how well they see?
11. Color and Memory Experiments
a. How does the font/color of text affect memory?
b. How does the paper color (or screen color) affect memory?
12. Is sensitivity to heat/cold/etc heightened on your dominant side?
13. How does music affect mood?
14. How does the type of liquid affect evaporation rate?