Why Do I Need to do a SFP?
What good will it ever do me?

1.  Why do we have to do a science fair project? (In order to complete your science fair project successfully, it helps to first understand why you would want to do a project like this.)

A.  Research is very important in today’s society.

1.  Research is the cornerstone of modern society.

You must understand that research is extremely important in the society in which we live.  It is the cornerstone of all of our modern conveniences.  If you appreciate not having to kill animals with your bare hands and live naked in caves, you appreciate research.

2.  Research is the essence of longevity and second chances.

Research is the essence of our current long life spans and all of the second chances we have.  Think about how many people around you (and maybe even you) would be dead today if they hadn’t been treated by doctors for illnesses, injuries, and diseases. 

3.  Research is an important monetary and political topic.

Our livelihoods are dependent upon technology.  Your parents are most likely working in a branch of technology, or in a job that has now become completely reliant upon technology.  None of that technology would exist if it weren’t for research.  Many of the issues that we vote on today are research related.  So much of the governments money goes into doing research that it is important that we understand clearly what we are voting about.

            B.  It helps develop other skills that will be useful in life.

1.  SFP’s help you see everyday applications of the scientific method.

Deciding what clothes you wear in the morning based upon your assumptions is an example of your current use of reasoning.  Many of us don’t think as clearly as we could when we are trying to make decisions and make the wrong decisions.  Understanding how to apply the scientific method to your everyday decision-making can improve your quality of life by helping you to make better choices.

2.  SFP’s help you to develop your speech presentation skills.

When you have something important to say, it is important that you say what you are thinking instead of blabbering.  Presenting your research to your peers can be a stressful situation.  You will have the chance to be in front of people presenting what you know.  This is a great way to get better at communicating with others.

3.  SFP’s help you to develop your visual presentation skills

The ability to present your ideas in an organized fashion that others can quickly and easily understand is extremely important in any area of life.  Using visual images is one of the best ways to communicate ideas.  Learning to present data in a graphical format is a way that you can easily communicate with other people that don’t know as much as you do about a topic.

4.    SFP’s help you to develop your writing skills

Writing is one of the most important things we ever learn, but when we need to speak about things that are complicated we often give up.  You will be able to practice putting complex thoughts and ideas to paper.  Arranging your sentences and vocabulary in such a way as to communicate complex ideas with concise language is a skill that is important to practice.

5.  SFP’s help you to develop your organization skills

This is probably the biggest project you will have to do in high school.  In order to succeed you will have to plan to work one day at a time, piece by piece, bit by bit.  Accomplishing such a goal is paramount to being ready for other big projects that you will have in college or in the business that you will work at in the future. 

C.  Prestige, publicity, and pudding.

1.    Your brilliant mind yields a bright face.

There is nothing better than taking the skills and knowledge that God has given you and putting them to His glory.  To take the “talent” that he gave you and bury it is a good way to disappoint your Heavenly Father (Read the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew).  Take the skills and the abilities that God has given you and be happy to show off the things that He has helped you to do.  You are the cream of the crop—smile and be proud of it!

2.    You are helping others to find out how excellent your school is as an academic institution.

Your school is striving to be one of the premier academic institutions in your region.  They are striving to compete at a high level with public and private schools in the area of science and want the word to spread that getting an education from your school doesn’t mean compromising your academic education.

3.    The proof is in the puddding

Time and time again, students that have had to do a science fair project have come back to tell me how they were excelling in college while other students were struggling.  Many times they give credit to having done science fair projects.  I ask them if it was worth it and they repeatedly tell me that although it was really hard and that they didn’t want to do it at the time, it was most definitely worth it.