How to Create a Tri-Fold Science Project: Easy Steps for Kids

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Get an A+ with these amazing ideas for a science fair project
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When entering a science fair or completing a science project for a class doing the experiment is just the first part. Once you have finished your experiment, you will have to display the work you did and the results that came from that work. The typical science experiment is displayed on a white tri-fold board and includes many sections. Proper placement of the sections is crucial to the success of your board.

Creating a Tri-Fold Science Board

  1. Place the title of your project at the top of the center panel.
  2. Place your introduction, abstract, and any relevant literature on the left panel.
  3. Put the bulk of your work (i.e., materials and procedure) in the center panel.
  4. Put your final analysis and conclusion on the right panel.
  5. Make sure that the organization looks balanced and that the headers are readable.
  6. Carefully glue all of your sections to the board, and add relevant photos.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Deciding What Information to Include

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  1. You should choose a catchy, but appropriate title. You want to draw the attention of the judges and visitors to your table, while keeping the integrity of your experiment. The more noticeable you are, the more likely you are to get positive attention.
    • A good title might be “Volcanic Explosions” as opposed to just “Volcanoes.”
    • When you can, use vivid, specific titles like “Bioluminescence in Crystal Jellyfish” in place of generic titles like “Glowing Jellies.”
  2. An abstract is a preview of the work that you have done. It introduces your experiment to potentially interested readers. A hypothesis section is a statement that describes what you are going to test. [1]
    • Follow the guidelines of the assignment or fair to know if you need an abstract or a hypothesis section.
    • A hypothesis must accurately describe what is to be tested in the experiment, and what the expected outcome is. For example, a statement such as “The baking soda will react with the vinegar in a neutralization reaction, evolving gases and building pressure inside the volcano replica. This pressure will cause fluid to spew from the top of the replica.”
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  3. Whether you have a hypothesis section or your hypothesis is included in your abstract, you will still need to justify why you are doing this experiment. This justification comes from showing literature where others have done similar experiments that suggest that your experiment might be of interest. Gather scientific materials related to your project and post them in the literature section on your board. Make sure to follow the proper citation protocol for this section.
    • Cite previous experiments that indicate that there is a reason to expect the results that your hypothesis predicts. For example, you could cite a lab experiment that states that acids and bases give off gas when they neutralize each other to support the hypothesis that baking soda and vinegar will go through such a reaction.
  4. The experimental (or procedure) section will detail what you actually did. In this section, you should show the steps you took (in order) and note any significant details such as changes in color, bubbling gases, etc. The procedure section is often the largest section.
  5. In any experiment, you will use some materials. This section allows you to detail the resources that you used and display them. This is important to show that you understood the products and steps involved in your project, and it makes it easier for anyone interested to replicate the experiment.
  6. The results section should detail what happened during the experiment. Any data that can be shown on charts or graphs should be added to the board in that way. Visuals such as charts and graphs allow visitors to quickly understand your results. [2]
  7. Your conclusion should tell the reader why your results matter. The conclusions section is not a place to regurgitate your results, but instead you should expand upon them. You can even describe how your results might be relevant to future projects or other areas of science.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Organizing the Information

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  1. You should start in the top corner of the leftmost panel. Place sections down the left side, until you get to the bottom. Move to the center panel and do the same. Place your last sections in the rightmost panel moving from top to bottom.
  2. Your introductory section should come first (either the abstract or hypothesis). Next, you should show your literature that justifies the experiment. Follow the literature with the experimental procedures and materials used. End the project with the results and conclusions sections.
  3. The abstract/hypothesis and literature sections should be on the leftmost panel. Your work is highlighted in the procedure and materials sections that should be placed in the center panel. Your results and conclusion should be placed on the right panel to conclude the board.
  4. Your title is the attention getter for the entire project. It should be displayed in large letters in the top center of the board. This will maximize the visibility of your project. [3]
  5. You want to use good combinations of colors, for example, white and green go well together. [4] It is okay for your fonts to vary a little in size, but try to be consistent with the font style you use. For example, the board’s title should have the largest font, the section titles should be the next largest, and the sections themselves should be typed in the smallest font on the board.
    • All fonts should be easily readable. If the font is too small or unclear, this will discourage people from reading the information.
    • Use bullet lists, multiple paragraphs, and white space on your board to avoid an overwhelming amount of text.
  6. Use a gluestick and trace the perimeter of each item that you will glue to the board. This will help keep corners from pulling away from the board. Press the items firmly onto the board in the place you want them. [5]
    • If you prefer not to use glue, it may sometimes be acceptable to tack items to the board.
    • Double sided tape is a good way to stick on things that do not stick well with glue.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Going Above and Beyond

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  1. Pictures will help make your project stand out. Choose photos that are relevant to your experiment, or take your own photos during the experiment. Be sure to read the rules regarding photos. Sometimes, you will be required to provide sources for every photo. You may or may not be allowed to use photos that include yourself (or other people).
  2. Again, read the rules first. Your lab equipment can provide a hands on component to the experiment, but it isn’t always allowed. If you used several different pieces of equipment, only bring one or two pieces that are interesting and appropriately sized to fit in front of your board without distracting visitors from your project. [6]
  3. Having a notebook is sometimes optional, but other times it is required during the judging process. Your notebook is the first hand account of your experiments and should be kept tediously. Have it with you in case you need to refer back to it to answer a question or provide additional details. [7]
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What are some good science expo ides?
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I joined a science expo and I'm looking for ideas.
wikiHow Editorial Team
Science expos are really fun and a great opportunity to do some fun research and projects! There are tons of experiments that you can try out, but here are few ideas to get you started from the easiest to the most complex:
  • Grow your own bacteria: Show how bacteria naturally forms and grows on its own. Fill a Petri dish with an agar gel, and press your fingertip onto the surface when it hardens. After a few days in a warm, dark place, more bacteria will grow inside the dish.
  • Make hot ice: When you boil vinegar and baking soda, it creates sodium acetate that freezes quickly and releases hot air. Boil the liquid, cool it on ice, and then touch the liquid with a finger to make it freeze instantly.
  • Test ways to purify water: There are multiple ways to purify water at home, but which way is the most effective? Try purifying water by boiling it, adding bleach, and using filters like activated charcoal to see which removes the most contaminants and makes it safest to drink.
  • Build a solar oven: Show off how you can use solar energy to cook food and build a homemade oven. Line a box with aluminum foil and black paper, and place it out in the sun. Place a pot of food inside the box and let the sunlight heat the box.
  • Make a model suspension bridge: Use popsicle sticks and glue to create a minitature version of a suspension bridge to see what design supports the most weight. Show how different bridge designs work better than others to show your trial and error.
If you want to try a different idea, then check out our article How to Create a Science Fair Project !
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  • Question
    What is a good checklist for a science project?
    Community Answer
    Your topic is clearly stated; if there is a problem, list the solution; visual aid; color; easy to read; include pictures; additional specifications made by your teacher.
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 15
  • Question
    Would one small mistake mess up the whole project?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the mistake. If it's a small mistake on the design aspect (i.e. your coloring or image placement looks sloppy) it's probably no big deal. But if you get any information/facts wrong, that could be a big problem.
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  • Question
    What should if I do if my conclusion is wrong?
    Qamar
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    Edit your conclusion or redo the project. Your conclusion is the final result of what you learned and observed from your project. If you feel like you did something wrong, you can redo the project or edit the conclusion to adjust it to the actual outcome.
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      • Display Board (Tri-fold preferably)
      • Paper
      • A computer with word processing and printer
      • Glue stick or double-sided tape
      • Paper cutter (optional, if not using, replace with scissors)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FbyDJXYT9s
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FbyDJXYT9s
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FbyDJXYT9s
      4. ↑ https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/top-ten-tips-project-display-board
      5. ↑ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml#materialsandconstructiontechniques
      6. ↑ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml
      7. ↑ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml

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