Science Fair Experiments: General Pathfinder Last updated: November 2008 The purpose of this pathfinder is to introduce some of the resources available at the Charles County Public Library in the subject area of science fair experiments. The various types of library materials which may be useful are described along with a few examples of each type.

A good place to start your research is with the library’s CATALOG, which can be accessed online at: http://cosmos.somd.lib.md.us. Books on science fair experiments may be located by using the following SUBJECT searches:

• Science Experiments
• Science Experiments Juvenile Literature
• Science Projects Juvenile Literature
• Science Exhibitions Juvenile Literature
• Experiments
• Experiments Juvenile Literature

BROWSING through the library’s books in the following call number areas may also be helpful:

• 500’s (science)
• 507’s (science experiments)
• J 500’s (juvenile science)
• J 507’s (juvenile science experiments)

REFERENCE books which may be helpful
include:

R 500 New Book of Popular Science. Grolier, 2002.

R 503 Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Bridget Travers, ed. Gale, 1996.

R 503 McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science &Technology. McGraw-Hill, 2002.

R 507.8 Experiment Central. John T.
Tanacredi & John Loret, ed. UXL, 2000.

R 507.8 Science Experiments on File. Judith A. Bazler, ed. Facts on File, 2000.

R 507.8 Science Projects for All Students. Marty Berda & Mary Jean Blaisdell, ed. Facts on File, 1998.

JUVENILE REFERENCE books which may be helpful include:

JR 507.8 Janice VanCleave’s Science
Experiment Sourcebook. John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

JR 507.8 Junior Science Experiments on File. Facts on File, 1993.

JR 507.8 How to Do Successful Science
Projects. Norman F. Smith. Julian Messner
Publishing, 1990.

JR 503 World Book Encyclopedia of Science. World Book, 1997.

INTERNET SITES can offer a great deal of information. Some to try are:

Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide
A variety of website resources, leading you through the necessary steps to successfully complete a science
experiment.

Thinking Fountain
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf
Activities and ideas from the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Science Fair Primer
http://users.rcn.com/tedrowan/primer.html
Have to do a science project and don’t know where to start? Check out this site for great how-to information!

Discovery’s Science Fair Central
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral
A comprehensive guide to creating your science fair project from the Discovery Channel.

Franklin Institute Science Museum
http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/act-summ.html
A wealth of educational and exciting information from the famed Philadelphia Museum.

ONLINE DATABASES are another resource for helpful information and are available from home with your library card number! You may wish to try:

Gale Science Resource Center:
Contains thousands of topic overviews, experiments, biographies and information on the latest scientific developments.