A Fifth Grade Science Project can be one of the most fun school projects that a parent and child can do together. Here are some really good science project ideas that our family has done. The projects are easy to do, yet they meet the requirements of most science fairs and most fifth grade teachers. Check out the ideas, and find out how to get step by step instructions at the end of this article.
These are investigative science projects, which involve a science experiment:
o Does the shape of ice affect melting time? Use the same amount of water, place into different shaped containers and freeze. Then see how much time each piece of ice takes to melt.
o Which toilet tissue is most biodegradable? Take samples of different types of toilet tissue, and soak them until they fall apart. Run the samples through a strainer, and see which sample leaves the most paper undissolved.
o Which citrus fruit has the most Vitamin C? Make an indicator solution with iodine and starch (it’s EASY to do!), and test samples of citrus fruit or juice to see which one has the most vitamin C.
o Which brand cereal stays crunchy longest? Weigh different brands of the same cereal, soak in water, and then weigh again to see which one absorbed more water.
These are demonstration science projects – when your teacher wants you to demonstrate a scientific principle to the class.
o Demonstrate that yeast gives of gas. Place a yeast and sugar solution into a bottle, put a balloon on top, and watch the yeast give off gas so that the balloon blows up!
o Demonstrate how static electricity works. Make a ball of aluminum foil dance between your finger and a pie plate. Watch this one on www.youtube.com/watch
o Demonstrate how chemical reactions can be sped up. Put alka seltzer into a cup, and watch it fiz. Then do it again with crushed alka seltzer, another time with warm water, and yet another time with TWO alka seltzers.
We’ve done all of these science projects with our four boys, and they are fast, affordable, and easy to design on your own. We also provide illustrated, step by step instructions on these projects at our website! Whatever you do, remember, fifth grade science projects really can be fun and a learning experience at the same time. So grab your slide rule and your test tubes, and get started on your project now!
By: Kayla Fay
Posts Tagged ‘Science Fairs’
Fifth Grade Science Projects That Rock
March 28th, 2010Tornado Science Fair Projects
March 5th, 2010
Creating a tornado science fair project has been quite popular at science fairs. Of course, it isn’t possible to create a life-sized tornado for obvious reasons! However, miniaturized versions may be created using simple models like the one about to be demonstrated. It is to be remembered that proportions matter a lot, while creating the models. Therefore, these exact proportions need to be followed. The following is possibly the simplest tornado science fair project that can be made with daily household materials. This experiment demonstrates the formation of the eye of the tornado – the central zone of calmness known as the vortex – within ordinary bottles.
The tornado science fair project requires simple ingredients:
- Two large bottles – the larger the better. Soft drink bottles made of plastic are recommended.
- Water colored using food coloring. The lighter the color is, better the demonstration will be. Glitter dust or confetti result in a dazzling display.
- A drill.
- Duct tape and silicon caulking.
- A steadily spinning surface, an old record player if possible.
The apparatus can be set up quite easily. The first step of tornado science fair project is to make half-inch wide holes at the center of the caps. These caps may then be joined together using the silicon caulking, keeping the holes connected. The bottles may be filled with the colored water now. The second step of the tornado science fair project is to attach each end of this double cap to each bottle. Finally, the two caps may be firmly fastened using the duct tape. The entire apparatus takes a shape and form similar to that of an hourglass.
Now, the entire apparatus of the tornado science fair project may be placed upside down, the bottle with the water being at the top, on the spinning surface. It will be observed that as the water slowly drains out to the lower bottle, a vortex is formed in the midst of the spinning water. This vortex is similar to the structure of the vortex formed inside a tornado.
Precautions to be taken during this tornado science fair project are few, but important. The joints must be made perfectly airtight, so that there is no leakage of water and air bubbles don’t enter the bottles. Moreover, the spinning surface must have a steady motion. Otherwise, the entire rhythm of the tornado would be disrupted. The steps are few; however, are important in a tornado science fair project.
The project, as it stands, is a very simple, elegant, and elementary science fair project that judges see all of the time. What you must do in order to stand out is to make this project a little bit different than everyone else’s science fair project. The fact is, with a project like this, you won’t get a really stunning A+ grade simply because this project didn’t involve too much individual thinking. However, by taking this model as a start and exploring some related concept or by looking at some specific aspect of the model, you can really earn a fantastic grade, and maybe even win the science fair with this simple tornado science fair project.
By: Jordan Matthews
Easy Elementary Science Projects – Physical Changes Science Projects
March 1st, 2010
Doing easy elementary science projects with the kids can be fun and it does not only have to be done for science fairs. Kids love learning in a fun “Play” way and we can use easy elementary science projects to teach them about the wonders of science without them actually realizing that they are learning. Doing easy elementary science projects with the kids is also a great way for homeschoolers to teach the kids science. I think we must start doing a lot more “little” projects with the kids. Here are a few short fun ones to do with the kids.
Physical changes easy elementary science projects
Physical changes can happen when two substances interact or when energy is applied to one or more of the substances. In this easy elementary science projects we are going to see how substances change and then we are going to reverse the physical changes.
The salt solution physical change experiment
What you need for this science project:
Salt A measuring cup A teaspoon A heatproof glass or container Water
How to do this easy elementary science experiment:
Pour
