If your child needs resources for a science fair project but waited until after the library closed to tell you about it, don’t despair. Articles and eBooks to flesh out that bibliography are just a few clicks away.
Science Online is great for finding definitions, diagrams and in-depth descriptions of scientific concepts written at an upper-elementary to high school level. I find it invaluable for helping countless kids better understand the “why” of their science fair projects. For example, a clear definition of absorption is useful for a project testing diaper absorbency. Science Online also includes sample experiments that may relate to your child's project, such as this one on oil, water and absorption. And don’t forget the helpful citation tool that will help your child give proper credit to the resources they've used and avoid plagiarism problems.
“But, Dad, my teacher said it has to be a BOOK.”
Never fear… e-books are here to save the day! Gale Virtual Reference Library is full of trusted reference books that just happen to be available online. The collection includes encyclopedias as well as eBooks on specific areas of science like animals, chemistry and even How Products Are Made, which is incredibly handy for science projects using common household materials like diapers.
Give these resources a try and find success in wrapping up those last-minute projects. Or use them earlier in the game for the next science assignment!
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