How to make a display board or poster

Here are some examples of how to make a display board or poster for the Science Fair.

Research Plan

Ask yourself some questions: What do you want to find out? What are you most interested in studying? Is it possible to do this in the time available? Are there resources? Would it be possible to find all the necessary tools?

Choose a topic and gather the tools.

Come up with a hypothesis.

Carry out the plan, make observations, maintain a journal and record everything.

Note what happened. Did you expect this? Why or why not?

Organize your thoughts. Label 5 sheets of paper with the following headings:
Problem (or question) and Hypothesis
Materials
Method
Results
Conclusion

Fill in the information for each of these sheets. Start designing and printing finished versions of these.

Record all results, numbers, and data that would work in a chart. Design charts or graphs to show your results.

Write a description that includes plan, procedure, observations, data, conclusion.


The Display

Make several models of the overall display on regular white paper. Place the title across the top of one poster (if you use tri-fold). Arrange your information in a logical order, left to right and top to bottom. Ideally you should place the introduction at the top left and your conclusions on the lower right.
Create short, factual explanations to display on white or pastel paper. Use a sensible font.

The display should include the description, hypothesis, the methods and procedures, the results, and conclusions.

Here are some websites to help with ideas:

http://www.makeitsolar.com/science-fair-information/02-science-fair-board-layout-1.htm

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~breads/sfp7.htm

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/SciF_Project_Guide_Display_Board.pdf

Here are some great Websites to check out!

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

http://www.cosi.org/educators/activities/ Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, Ohio

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ San Francisco's Exploratorium

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Getting-Started/Investigation.html

http://www.msichicago.org/online-science/activities/ Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

http://www.amnh.org/ology/ New York City's American Museum of Natural History

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/projects.html

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/scizone/ Ontario Science Center

Some Book Suggestions

"Paper clip science : simple & fun experiments" by Steven Moje available at Fernwood Library.

"Exploratopia" by Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

"Sports science : 40 goal-scoring, high-flying, medal-winning experiments for kids" by Jim Wiese available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

"Simple kitchen experiments : learning science with everyday foods" by Muriel Mandell available at Sno-Isle and King County Libraries.

Making things float and sink / Gary Gibson

Hands-on science : forces and motion, matter and materials, sound and light, electricity and magnets / John Graham

How come? : in the neighborhood / by Kathy Wollard