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Welcome to our Science Fair Board! Here, you will find all the necessary information to complete your project. Be sure to review the materials, explore helpful resources, and check out the science project ideas posted below.

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1st place science fair ideas- 10 ideas and tricks to WIN!

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The Scientific Method: Steps and Examples

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Key Info

For almost every science fair project, you need to prepare a display board to communicate your work to others. In most cases you will use a standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. Display boards can be found atAmazon and other retailers.

Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background research, and so on.

Use a font size of at least 16 points for the text on your display board, so that it is easy to read from a few feet away. It's OK to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on picture and tables. For more details see:Everything You Need to Know About Fonts for Display Boards

The title should be big and easily read from across the room. Choose one that accurately describes your work, but also grabs peoples' attention.

A picture speaks a thousand words! Use photos or draw diagrams to present non-numerical data, to propose models that explain your results, or just to show your experimental setup. But, don't put text on top of photographs or images. It can be very difficult to read.

This sample shows how difficult it can be to read text when you print it on top of an image. Don't do it!

Check the rules for your science fair. Here is a list of items that some science fairs allow (or even require) and some science fairs don't require (or even prohibit):

Your name on the display board

Pictures of yourself

Captions that include the source for every picture or image

Acknowledgements of people who helped you

Your laboratory notebook (some science fairs want you to have it only during judging)

Equipment such as your laboratory apparatus or your invention

Materials and Construction Techniques

Use a self-standing display board like these. Display boards in black or white-colored "foam core" (a sandwich made up of two pieces of smooth surface paper with a polystyrene (plastic) middle) or corrugated cardboard are readily available at many retailers ranging between $4 to $14 per board depending on the material.

Print out or write your information on white paper that you will attach to your display board. Be sure to proofread each sheet before you attach it.

Instead of regular paper, use cover stock (67#) or card stock (110#). These heavier papers will wrinkle less when you attach it to your display board.

Matte paper is preferable to glossy because it won't show as much glare- glare makes your display board difficult to read.

Glue sticks (use plenty) or rubber cement work well for attaching sheets of paper to your display board. Use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue.

Add simple visual accents to your board. Do not make the board too busy or it becomes difficult to read. Try these simple techniques instead:

Use color construction paper to add accents to your display board. A common technique is to put sheets of construction paper behind the white paper containing your text.

Use borders to draw the audience's attention.

Color construction paper can accent your board.

Samples

Not sure what your project display board should look like? This Science Fair Display Board Gallery is full of good examples to get you started.

Science Fair Project Display Board Checklist

What Makes for a Good Science Fair Project Display Board?

For a Good Science Fair Project Display Board, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question

Does your display board include:

Title

Abstract

Question

Variables and hypothesis

Background research

Materials list

Experimental procedure

Data analysis and discussion including data chart(s) & graph(s)

Conclusions (including ideas for future research)

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

Yes / No

Are the sections on your display board organized like a newspaper so that they are easy to follow?

Yes / No

Is the text font large enough to be read easily (at least 16 points)?

Yes / No

Does the title catch people's attention, and is the title font large enough to be read from across the room?

Yes / No

Did you use pictures and diagrams to effectively convey information about your science fair project?

Yes / No

Have you constructed your display board as neatly as possible?

Yes / No

Did you proofread your display board?

Yes / No

Did you follow all of the rules pertaining to display boards for your particular science fair?

Yes / No

Explore Our Science Videos

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Please ensure you have JavaScript enabled in your browser. If you leave JavaScript disabled, you will only access a portion of the content we are providing. Here's how. For almost every science fair project, you need to prepare a display board to communicate your work to others.

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Download this FREE project plan template for Word and follow the steps to ensure your project management plan is set up for success.