Create a project
The science and engineering practices are part of the framework from the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences and are meant to help guide teachers, parents, and students through a science and engineering project. It is important to note that these practices are part of a dynamic process, and students may revisit each one more than once as they investigate their topic.
Imagination
Determine team size
Individual (1 student)
Team (2-3 students)
Group or class project (4+ students)
Choose a topic
Topics to avoid
Topics that are prohibited
Science or engineering?
Judging criteria forms used at SARSEF Regional Fair
Project categories
Preparation
Ask questions and identify problems
Background research
Determine a primary research question or problem
Plan investigations
Thinking about variables
Developing a plan
Making predictions
Approval before experiment
Investigation
Interpretation
Construct explanations and design solutions
Cause & effect versus correlation
What if predictions were false?
Engaging in argument from evidence
Presentation
Create a project presentation
Communicate your findings
Project presentation sections
Important notes for digital submissions
Resources
Judging criteria
Elementary school science and engineering judging criteria
Middle school science and engineering judging criteria
High school science and engineering judging criteria
Step by step process
Research project process broken down into 8 steps
Printable step by step process handout