What are High School Science Fair Projects?

High school science fair projects are a presentation of an experiment that are put in competition with other student experiments. Using the scientific method, a student will create a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, and record the results. High school science fair projects are limited only by a student's interests and the available resources. Teachers, friends and family can provide advice and guidance in putting together a project; the project must be the student's own work, though.

Experiments represent the foundations of high school science fair projects, but presentation is also a key component. Creating an attractive and informative display is crucial to putting together a winning project. Depending on the fair, competitors may also have to speak to the judges about their project and will be judged on their composure and knowledge of the subject.

Students usually get their start in science fairs in elementary school. They begin as class assignments and eventually become voluntary efforts, with teachers sometimes offering extra credit. As the years go by, fewer and fewer students remain interested in taking the time to design and create a project on their own. Those who continue to enter the competition are truly interested in science and experimentation. For this reason, high school science fair projects can be quite complex and impressive.

High school science fairs are held on the class, school, district, county, state and national level. Usually, a student must place highly at one competition to move on to a higher level. In cases where a school or county science fair doesn't exist, though, students may be allowed to go straight to the higher levels of competition.

There are prizes available for the top competitors at all levels. Students who win ribbons and certificates locally are eligible for trophies, trips and scholarships at the national high school science fair level. But beyond the tangible benefits, high school science fair projects prove to be enjoyable learning opportunities for the science enthusiast.