Easy Science Fair Project Ideas
Need an easy science fair project? Try one of these proven winners for your next science fair. Make science fun and easy with interesting science projects! What holds your interest -- sports, the environment, astrology, aircraft? There is a great science fair idea in all these topics. The trick to a winning science fair project is to choose a topic you like and find a project to match it. Take a look at these easy science fair project ideas. Start and finish your science fair project tonight! Each science fair project includes 15 pages of easy-to-follow directions to help you create your project step-by-step.
Also included in each project:
- Details about the scientific method
- List of needed materials
- Vital information on how to make your presentation
- Details about "What the judges are looking for"
As a bonus, every project includes 16 free original science games that you can play with all your friends!
In addition to these winning science fair ideas, you can choose from over 200 winning science fair project ideas . Every subject is covered including chemistry, physics, biology, computer and environmental sciences, and more. Choose it and print it now; start your science fair project right away!
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Where did the word "philatelist" come from? Easy science fair project ideas.
The word "philatelist" means a person who practices philately or stamp
collecting. It comes from the French word philatelie, which was derived
from the Greek words "philos", meaning loving, and "atelia", meaning
exemption from tax (which also came to mean "postage is prepaid").
Philately has come to mean, specifically, the collection and study of
postage stamps, postmarks and stamped envelopes and the study of postal
history. Easy science project ideas.
Q. What are cachets? Easy science fair project ideas.
A cachet is a design placed on an envelope, usually commemorating the
event for which the cover, as that envelope is known, is being prepared.
For first day covers, the design is usually closely related to the subject
of the newly issued stamp. The cachet usually appears on the left side of
the envelope. Easy science project ideas. Cool science project ideas.
Q. What are stamp hinges and where can I buy them? Easy science fair
project ideas.
Stamp hinges are thin rectangular pieces of paper which are used to hold
stamps in an album. One side of each hinge is coated with a special
adhesive that becomes sticky when it is slightly moistened. Hinges may be
purchased from stamp dealers or hobby stores. Hinges come in two
varieties, flat and pre-folded. Easy science project ideas, and cool
science project ideas.
Q. What are coil stamps? Easy science project ideas.
Coil stamps are stamps made for use in vending or affixing machines and
are sold in rolls. They have perforations on two parallel sides only
(either the horizontal or vertical side). The other sides of the stamps
are cut straight.
Q. What is a mint stamp? Easy science fair project ideas.
Mint stamps are stamps that remain in their original state of issue,
unused and with full gum (if so issued).
Q. What is a joint issue? Cool science project ideas.
A joint issue occurs when two countries each issue a stamp or stamps on
the same date to commemorate the same subject. This happens frequently
when the person or historic event honored has a special meaning for both
countries. For example, on June 1, 1976, the U.S. Postal Service and the
Canadian Post Office jointly issued stamps honoring Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin had been the first Postmaster General of both Canada and the
United States. Both stamps were designed by the same person and looked
nearly identical.Easy science project ideas and cool science project
ideas.
Q. What is an overprint? Easy science project ideas.
An overprint is any printing added to the face of a stamp after it has
been manufactured. This is usually done to make stamps suitable for use
not originally intended. Precanceled stamps represent one kind of
overprinting. Whenever an overprint changes the value, it is called a
surcharge.
Q. Why and how are stamps watermarked?Cool science project ideas.
A watermark is a special design or pattern pressed in to the soft paper
during the manufacturing process. These impressions take many forms, such
as letters, animals, fruit, emblems, and combinations of these and others.
They are frequently hard to find under normal inspection. Watermarks help
provide protection against forgery. Easy science project ideas and cool
science project ideas.
Q. What is a semipostal? Easy science project ideas.
A semipostal stamp frequently carries two denominations on its face often
separated by a "+" and is used to pay for postage and make a charitable
contribution. One denomination is the amount of postage that stamp pays
for and the other, usually smaller in size than the first, is the amount
that will go to support charitable organizations or help pay for health
programs. The United States has issued only one semipostal stamp to
support breast cancer research in 1998. Easy science project ideas and
cool science project ideas.
Q. What is meant when a stamp is said to be "off-centered"? Easy science
fair project ideas.
The term "centering" refers to the stamp in relation to the perforation
surrounding it. Perforations should be equal distances from the printed
area. When they are, the stamp is well centered. When they are not, the
stamp is off-center. A very badly centered issue may actually have the
perforations intruding into the printed design. A stamp's condition and
value is determined, in part, by the quality of the centering.Easy science
project ideas and cool science project ideas.
Q. How can you tell if a stamp is a commemorative or a regular issue?
Regular or definitive issues are the stamps you are most likely to see on
your mail. They are usually one color, relatively small and printed in
large quantities to stay on sale for several years. They most often depict
famous persons from history, the U.S. flag or historical artifacts.
Commemorative stamps are issued in honor of an important event, person, or
special subject. They are generally larger and more colorful than
definitives. Commemoratives are only sold for limited periods of time. If
you are in doubt about the type, consult a catalog or ask a stamp dealer.
Q. What does "aerophilately" mean? Cool science project ideas.
Aerophilately is the hobby of collecting air mail stamps, and envelopes
(covers) that have been sent by air mail -- including by airplane, balloon
or other types of aircraft.Easy science project ideas and cool science
project ideas.
History Easy science project ideas, cool science project ideas
Q. How much did the first United States stamp cost? Easy science fair
project ideas.
The first United States stamps were issued in 1847. One featured a picture
of Benjamin Franklin and cost five cents. The other featured a picture of
George Washington and cost ten cents. (A U.S. Postage Rates listing is
available for you to see postage rates and when they have increased.)
Q. Why does the United States of America put only dead people on stamps
when other countries picture people who are still living?
Each of the world's stamp-issuing nations has its own set of rules
governing selection of subjects for stamps. The United States does not
consider putting an individual on a stamp sooner than 10 years following
his or her death. The exception is former Presidents of the United
States, each of whom is honored with a memorial stamp on the first
birthday following their death. The United States believes the impact of
a person's life cannot be assessed until it has ended and that at least
10 years after death are required to make a fair evaluation. Most
historians would agree that this is a sound policy. Easy science project
ideas, cool science project ideas.
Q. How did stamp collecting start? Easy science fair project ideas.
Shortly after adhesive postage stamps were introduced by Great Britain in
1840, people began collecting them. In 1841, a women even placed an
advertisement in the London Times in which she requested help in
collecting stamps so that she could paper a bedroom wall.
Q. In what state was the first U.S. post office built?
The first post office was established in 1639 at the home of Richard
Fairbanks in Boston, Massachusetts. The first building created to serve as
a post office was built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1683.
Q. How and why did the use of stamps get started? Easy science fair
project ideas.
The use of adhesive postage stamps, as we know them today, began in 1840
with the British postal system and was largely due to the efforts of Sir
Rowland Hill. The 1840 stamps were created as a means of abolishing
delivery charges based on distance and the number of pages. Weight of
letters became the basis for delivery charges and stamps were used to
indicate prepayment at a uniform minimum rate of one penny for a ½ ounce
letter. Sir Rowland Hill believed lowering the rate would increase
postal revenues through increased mail volume. History proved him
correct.
Q. In what year did the U.S. start printing stamps of different designs on
one sheet? Easy science project ideas.
The Christmas issue of 1964 was the first year different designs were
printed on the same pane of stamps. Four different stamps featuring holly,
mistletoe, poinsettia and a sprig of conifer were issued in panes of 100
stamps, each pane containing 25 blocks of the four different stamps.
Q. Where were the first U.S. airmail stamps used?
The United States began airmail service on May 15, 1918. Special stamps
were issued to indicate prepayment of mail carried on the first flights.
The first route, flown by Army pilots in Army planes, linked Washington,
DC and New York City via Philadelphia, PA. The rate was 24 cents an ounce.
This rate included special delivery to the addressee. Easy science project
ideas, cool science project ideas.
Q. What was used before stamps? Easy science fair project ideas
Prior to the use of stamps, the person receiving a letter paid the
delivery costs. Since rates at the time were very high, many people
refused to accept a letter. Thus, the post office often suffered the cost
of both delivery and return of the letter. Mainly for this reason, it
turned to a means of prepaying postage.
Q. When was the first time that meter stamps were used on mail?
Meters to pay postage were first used in New Zealand in 1904. The first
use in the U.S. was on December 10, 1920 at Stamford, Connecticut.
Q. When was Zip codes first used?
The Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code -- a five digit number -- began on
July 1, 1963. The first number designates the state or area; the next two
numbers, the area within that state or area; and the last two digits, the
office itself. Mr. ZIP was created to help people remember to use the ZIP
code to help the Postal Service move the mail. He was printed on the
margins of many U.S. stamps issued between 1964 and 1986.
Q. Who appears most on U.S. stamps?
Since 1847, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington have appeared on more
stamps than any other Americans.
In General
Q. What makes a stamp valuable and how do you determine that value?
The value of a stamp is determined by the quantity available, the demand,
and its condition. Approximate values, for both mint and used items, can
be obtained from a stamp catalog. Easy science project ideas, cool science
project ideas.
Q. Is it better to collect canceled or mint stamps? Easy science fair
project ideas.
This is a decision that collectors must make for themselves. Canceled
stamps with light markings can make a beautiful and, of course,
educational collection. They also usually are less expensive to obtain. It
must be noted, however, that in general mint stamps will have a greater
value in later years. This is not always true. One of the most valuable
stamps, the 1 cent British Guiana, is a heavily canceled stamp.
Q. What are the rarest or most expensive stamps?
There are more than ten stamps of which only one copy is known. And while
rarity is one factor in determining value, the history behind the stamp
often is more important. Some of the most famous and valuable stamps
include:
· 1 cent 1856 British Guiana (Sold for $935,000 in 1980)
· 1d and 2d 1847 Post Office Mauritus (1d & 2d valued at $500,000 used; 1d
at $1,100,000 unused)
· Sweden 1857 3 skilling Banco Yellow (Approximately $2,000,000)
· Hawaiian Islands 1851 2 cent Missionary ($660,000 unused; $200,000 used)
· British Guiana 1851 2 Cent Cottonreel ($70,000 used)
· Western Australia 1854 4d Inverted Swan ($60,000 used)
· United States 1868 1 cent Z Grill (Sold for $935,000 in 1988)
· Canada 1851 12 pence Victoria on Laid Paper ($80,000 unused and $50,000
used)
· United States 1918 Inverted Jenny ($150,000 unused)
The above values are based on catalog values or last known sales.
Q. Why isn't there just one stamp with all different prices? Easy science
project ideas, cool science project ideas.
If all stamps appeared the same, Postal clerks and customers would be more
likely to confuse them. In fact for a period of years the Universal Postal
Union required that stamps had to be a particular color based on the rate
they paid.
Another important consideration is that stamps give us an opportunity to
honor our great citizens, commemorate important events in our history and
encourage our citizens to do things that help our society to work well,
such as register to vote, and to give blood.
Q. Why do people collect stamps? Cool science fair project ideas.
People collect stamps for many different reasons. Some like to learn about
the designs. Others enjoy them as little art works. Still others like to
try to get all the stamps of one country. But most of all, stamp
collectors have fun with their stamps because no collection is ever
complete, so there is always a challenge. Besides, your stamps belong to
YOU, and that is a nice feeling. And, of course, stamps are one way of
sharing an interest with other people -- your friends, a parent or perhaps
a neighbor. Even strangers can be instant friends when they discover that
they both collect stamps! Easy science project ideas, cool science project
ideas.
Q. How old must a stamp be before it's worth more than face value? Easy
science fair project ideas.
A stamp becomes valuable because there are fewer copies of it than there
are collectors who want it. Age of the stamp is only one factor. Also
important are how many were printed and how many collectors there are.
There are some stamps that are 100 years old but a billion or more were
printed. They will never be rare.
Q. How and where do you get stamp catalogs, tools, and mounts?
Most often, people get stamp supplies, catalogs and stamps from stamp
dealers. Visit the dealer listing on this website or look in the yellow
pages of your telephone book under "stamps" or "stamps for collectors,"
and call before you visit to make sure that the dealer carries the things
you need. Easy science project ideas, cool science project ideas.
If there is no local dealer, you need to find adult collectors who can
tell you where they get what they need -- usually by mail. Sometimes a
member of a local stamp club (see listing on our site) will order supplies
for the club members, and you can submit your order with the club order.
Q. Why are stamps canceled? Easy science project ideas.
Stamps represent money that has been paid to the Postal Service. The money
that is collected from selling stamps is used to pay the expenses of
transporting and delivering the mail. Once stamps have been used, the
cancellation makes them into a receipt for the service that the Postal
Service has given. If more service is asked for in the form of a new
letter, a new stamp must be used.
Q. Where can I put my stamps if I don't have hinges or mounts?
Without hinges or mounts it will be difficult to display your stamps in
an album or on home made pages because tape or glue will damage your
stamps. You could use glassine envelopes or stock cards, but stamp
hinges are less expensive. Self-stick pages sold for photographs should
not be used, as the stamps may be hard to remove, and when the adhesive
dries, it may discolor your stamps.
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