A resource list designed to give students, grades 3rd through 6th, a starting place for science fair research.

Internet Resources

These Internet sites include a range of science fair related topics. The content of Internet sites frequently changes; material is often added or taken away. Sometimes it is not updated on a timely basis. Use this list as a starting point for Internet research.

• • Cyber-Fair : A Resource For and By Elementary Science Students
  A virtual science fair that allows students to read the results of student science fair projects, look for ideas for projects, and share results with other students. This site is targeted to students in grades 3-6.
• • Science Fairs Homepage
  This Canadian based site is designed to aid students in selecting a topic. It covers a wide age range and includes links to other science web sites.
• • Science Fair Preparation
  This site covers all aspects of creating a science fair project. It includes project selection tips by age level.
• • California State Science Fair
  A site that includes general science fair information as well as links to other related sites.
• • A Science Fair Project Resource Guide
  A site for beginner or advanced students that contains links to other sites covering all aspects of science fairs including samples of projects, project ideas, and a resource section.
• • Discovery.com
  This site, for grades 4-6, is a starting place for science fair projects. It includes information for teachers and parents.

Resources available from Rancho Mirage Public Library

General Science Fair Resources

These resources offer a general guide for projects. They provide information on choosing a topic, gathering material, performing experiments, completing the project, and presenting findings.

• • SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS by Bombaugh, Ruth - J 507.8 BOMBAUGH
• • Haduch, Bill SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS SECRETS: HOW TO WIN PRIZES, HAVE FUN, AND THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST - J 507.8 HADUCH
• • Voth, Danna KIDSOURCE: A SCIENCE FAIR HANDBOOK - J 507.8 VOTH

Ideas for Science Fair Projects

These books are useful when choosing a topic. Use them for ideas. They can help get you started or help narrow a topic that is too broad.

• • Adams, Richard C. IDEAS FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS - 507.8 ADAMS
• • Bochinski, Julianne Blair THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS (REVISED) - 507.9 BOCHINSK
• • Bonnet, Robert L. SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS: THE ENVIRONMENT - J 507.8 BONNET
• • Gardner, Robert SCIENCE PROJECTS ABOUT PLANTS - J 580.78
• • Ebner, Aviva JUNIOR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS ON FILE - J REF 507.8 JUNIOR
• • Katz, Phyllis GREAT SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS - J 507.8 KATZ
• • Loret, John EXPERIMENT CENTRAL - J 507.8 LORET
• • Rhatigan, Joe SURE-TO-WIN SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS - J 507.8
• • World Book SCIENCE FAIRS: IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES - J 507.8 SCIENCE
• • Tocci, Salvatore SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS IN THE HARDWARE STORE - J 507.8 TOCCI
• • Tocci, Salvatore SCIENCE FAIR SUCCESS USING SUPERMARKET PRODUCTS - J 507.8 TOCCI
• • VanCleave, Janice Pratt JANICE VANCLEAVE’S A+ PROJECTS IN EARTH SCIENCE: WINNING EXPERIMENTS FOR SCIENCE FAIRS AND EXTRA CREDIT - J 550.78 VANCLEAV
• • VanCleave, Janice Pratt JANICE VANCLEAVE’S GUIDE TO THE BEST SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS J 507.8 VANCLEAV
• • VanCleave, Janice Pratt JANICE VANCLEAVE’S GUIDE TO MORE OF THE BEST SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS J 508.8 VANCLEAV
• • VanCleave, Janice Pratt JANICE VANCLEAVE’S PLANTS: MIND-BOGGLING EXPERIMENTS YOU CAN TURN INTO SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS J 581 VANCLEAV
• • Vecchione, Glen 100 AMAZING MAKE-IT-YOURSELF SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS 507.8 VECCHION
• • Vecchione, Glen 100 AWARD-WINNING SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS J 507.8 VECCHION

Background Information

These resources offer general science background on a wide range of subjects. Use them for research after you have selected a topic.

• • Berger, Melvin SCHOLASTIC SCIENCE DICTIONARY J REF 503
• • BERGER THE GALE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE REF 503 GALE
• • THE KINGFISHER SCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA J REF 503 KINGFISH
• • Knapp, Brian J. SCIENCE MATTERS! J 500 KNAPP
• • Tesar, Jenny B. THE BLACKBIRCH ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE AND INVENTION J 503
• • World Book THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE J REF 503 WORLD

Other Resources

InfoTrac and Electric LibraryOnline magazine and newspaper databases, often full text, containing current information on a wide range of subjects. These resources can be used for topic selection and general information about your topic.

• • InfoTrac - InfoTrac is suitable for grades 6 and up.
• • Electric Library - Electric Library is intended for grades K-12.
• • Librarians - are available to help answer any questions you might have. No question is too small. Be sure to ask if there is something you don't understand. Librarians are here to help you.