Some science fairs or teachers require that projects have an accompanying project display board with specific rules or guidelines in terms of what should go on it. Usually this includes your title, name and school as well as a background section and your hypothesis statement with results and conclusions as well as charts or graphs (if required).
There are also a few standard layouts that work effectively for projects.
Visual elements
Science fair project boards present a visual representation of student experiments. Their purpose should be to capture the attention of judges while showing what has been learned and how. Display boards should be on hard surfaces such as poster board or foam core and contain titles (usually at the top) outlining research questions, materials used, methods followed, results achieved and conclusions drawn; additionally they may feature graphs, pictures or other visual aids as necessary.
Color can add an eye-catching visual element to a project board, but should be used with caution. People subconsciously associate certain hues with different emotions or concepts; therefore students should select them carefully when selecting colors for use on their boards.
Charts, graphs and tables are an effective way of presenting data on a project board. When designed well with clear descriptions and summary captions, charts can be an engaging visual display for viewers – especially if presented from top to bottom and left to right.
Text
Some science fairs and teachers may impose specific rules regarding what information must be included on a project board. Usually, the title of the project should be at the top of the board with information such as its purpose or hypothesis, materials used, procedures followed, data analyzed, results displayed and conclusions drawn on its surface.
Use of images, diagrams and charts is an effective way of presenting data collected during an experiment. They will make your board more visually stimulating for judges and viewers. Text should also be easy to read without competing with visual elements – most people read left to right as they scan the board; font size should also be appropriate so as to allow distance reading without becoming difficult for readers.
Layout
Science fair project boards often contain numerous visual elements. But these shouldn’t overwhelm or become confusing to read; one effective way to achieve visual balance on your board is by including photos or diagrams with relevant captions.
Before beginning to make prints or glue anything down on your board, it’s essential that the layout be planned carefully. A blank sheet of poster board or free project display templates available online are excellent ways of planning this stage of the process.
Science fairs usually have rules about the size and shape of project boards, so be sure to review these carefully prior to getting started. A tri-fold board is usually the go-to choice and can easily be found for purchase at most stationery and office supply stores; you may even be able to source one through your school science department or online sources.
Materials
Science fair project boards are large sheets of poster paper or foam core that serve to present research at science fairs. Their shapes may range from rectangular to circular; single or double sided designs should allow ample room to present all necessary data.
Use of varied visual elements can add variety and interest to your science fair project board, and having a solid outline before beginning construction of the poster is helpful. Use scratch paper to make draft copies of various sections and lay them out to see how they fit together.
Tri-fold poster boards are great choices as they’re self-standing and stable; alternatively, cardboard boxes may work too. Always consult the science fair instructions when determining what board to use; single-sided projects usually need one sheet while double-sided projects will need two. In either case, glue sticks such as rubber cement or Aleene’s tacky white glue may come in handy to attach decorations to your board.