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A Sample Project: Explaining Your Results
Let's Explore
This is the point at which you begin to ask different exploring questions as the basis for more research ideas, such as "I wonder, where on Earth does the sun reach its highest altitude?" or "I wonder, how does the latitude of a location affect the sun's altitude?" Wow! That last question is great. You'll find that the more you think about the sample experiment, the more exploring questions you'll be able to think of and the better your questions will be.
Figure 5.14 shows exploring questions and how to find their answers by changing the sample experiment. You could perform the experiments in this and the following sections and add the data to the research information, or you could use the sections as aids in designing your own project experiments. Before any further experimentation, read through "Show Time!" and "Check It Out!"
 Figure 5.14: Sample Experiment
"Let's Explore"Show Time!
The Show Time! section in Figure 5.15 shows two ideas related to the sample experiment. It offers different experimental ideas for further investigation of the topic, as well as more ideas for designing your own experiments. (When you design your own experiments, make sure an adult approves the supplies and procedures.) Again, these experiments can provide project research or ideas for designing your project experiments.
 Figure 5.15: Sample Experiment
"Show Time!" Back to Top
Check It Out!
At this point, you are ready for in-depth research on the topic. The questions asked at this point (see Figure 5.16) require some secondary research. A good place to start your research is the library. Earth science books have sections on the sun, its motion, its location, and the heat from its rays. Science experiment books are also a good source of information and provide experiments to use as well.
 Figure 5.16: Sample Experiment
"Check It Out!"You will discover from these sources that as the Earth revolves around the sun, the sun's maximum altitude during the day increases and decreases. The higher the sun's altitude, the more direct the rays and generally the higher the temperature. Wow! That's why it's so hot during the summer when the sun is so high in the sky. This is a real-life experience that you are using to help you with your project. You will want to draw from your personal experiences, not only when looking for a topic as discussed in Topic Research, but also during your project research.
From Janice VanCleave's Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects, Janice VanCleave (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997)
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