Conducting a Science Fair Project
Library Research
No matter what the topic or purpose of your project, the next step should be library research. What we mean is this: find books, encyclopedias, magazines and any other source that contains information pertaining to your chosen topic.
At first you should look for general information. If the project deals with plants, for instance, then you must know something about plants: their structure, nutrients needed for growth, scientific names, photosynthesis, and other general characteristics of plant life. Your teacher may be able to suggest what you need to know about your topic.
Encyclopedias offer general information about many topics. Try looking up your topic in an encyclopedia. If there is an entry about your topic area, read through it to get an idea of how much there is to learn about the subject. Look for cross-references and listings of related articles.
Some widely used encyclopedias that give good information in the sciences are--
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica. This is a scholarly reference with long articles signed by specialists.
2. Collier's Encyclopedia. Collier's is a general reference for the layman. It is strong in contemporary science.
3. Encyclopedia Americana. This encyclopedia is especially strong in science and technology.
4. World Book Encyclopedia. World Book is a general reference with easy-to-read articles in the sciences. Some science project ideas are included with some of the science articles.
