Science Research » Science Fairs

Fifth Grade Science Projects That Rock

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:17:10 +0000

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

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Tornado Science Fair Projects

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:37:09 +0000

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

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Easy Elementary Science Projects – Physical Changes Science Projects

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:45:31 +0000

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

The Benefits Of Unique Science Fair Projects

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:04:27 +0000

Everyone has seen the tired old science fair project, such as the volcano or the styrofoam solar system, which have been favorites of many parents for what feels like generations. These projects are relatively simple and easy from the parent’s point of view, but they are incredibly bad choices for the children involved. Why?

These are the kind of projects that are so well-known that even the students know what is going to happen. And when that happens, the students are not learning anything, and their performance suffers during the presentation portion of science fairs because of it. Science fair judges have gotten bored with these types of projects, and that’s a big problem for students who endeavor to win prizes in their science fair. In the end, this kind of project is only really good for the parents, and surprisingly, these kinds of projects are not even particularly cheap!

What you need to find is a unique science fair project, or at least something that beats those tired old projects. Not only will this help your child learn more, it can give them a much better chance of winning the science fair. Often, these competitions can include a scholarship or a nice cash prize, and even those that do not can often lead to a science scholarship later on down the line. That’s a nice benefit, and aside from the grades, the knowledge, and the experience your child is getting with their participation, it gives you a great reason to try and do something unique.

So what kind of unique science fair projects are there? The internet seems like a decent first option, but given the prevalence of use, you can guarantee that large science fairs include a duplicate project, especially if you took your idea from a popular science fair blog or website. Even in a small science fair, or an in-class science fair, you have to guess that there are more than a few people who are visiting the same websites that you are, including the judges and the teachers who are grading your students. Duplicate projects mean trouble for the judges and the teachers, as it negates the true benefit of science fairs: having an exploratory experience. They want you to come up with something unique, on your own. In addition, you have to think about what kind of experience your child is having. A science fair is a chance for them to express their own creativity and interests, and plucking an easy or cheap project off of a website isn’t helping them out any.

You can try visiting the library for books, or looking at news sites as well, but these sources often provide out-of-date, boring, or incredibly difficult projects.

Have the child come up with something of their own, or if that doesn’t work, then have them add their own input into some aspect of an interesting and more unique science fair project. You can take some help from the internet, especially from the “members only” sites on the internet that have really solid projects, and books or suggestions with more unique ideas, but make sure to add something to them!

If your child needs help with their science fair project and you lack computer skills or scientific knowledge, don’t be afraid to look for help. Many of those members only sites will offer helpful downloads like ready-made charts and spreadsheets for your child’s use. You can also get help from online tutors, who are usually science majors in college who can help you out with some simple advice.

By: Robert Watson

How to Organize a School Science Fair

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:31:02 +0000

Elementary schools often organize many events to give students a hands-on experience of various topics and subjects. Science fairs have been one of the most common and educative school events. Most importantly, it gets even an unenthusiastic student interested in science. Moreover, it’s the best way to exhibit hidden talents and achieve something from healthy competition. Such school activities also enhance the child’s applications for colleges or jobs in future.

Looking at how important science fairs can be in shaping a kid’s future, special attention must be given to make sure it’s organized correctly and successfully. Here are some tips to help students and teachers sail through the event.

1.A healthy discussion between teachers and students should be the start of any science fair. It could either be within classrooms or special committees could be set up to discuss topics and assign them to students. Weaker students will need guidance to choose the right topic. A good bit of research on the topic is necessary before students plunge into the work.

2.Students should draft a plan for more than one topic and submit it to their science teachers. There could be circumstances when a certain project or experiment may not be feasible. In such situations, it’s sensible to keep a buffer topic ready.

3.Most schools keep a cache of projects conducted previously. Children should make maximum use of this facility and dig into the collection to learn from them. Pick out the best project from previous fairs and pick out valuable tips from there.

4.Judges chosen for the competition should have a background in science. They could be in-house science teachers or outside faculty, or even a university student studying science. Inform the judges about the judging protocols much before the event, and make sure they receive appropriate tokens of appreciation for their participation.

5.Once the date of the event is fixed, start off with the publicity work. Use the word of mouth, telephonic conversations and posters abundantly, since other methods are expensive and time consuming. Use an online organization tool to coordinate the whole event and the volunteers, which will make it easy to carry out the science fair as planned.

6.Stalls should be erected at a suitable location, with maximum visibility and space for students to display their skills and experiments. The drama hall, the sports ground or an amphitheatre (if any) would be great venues.

Schools should finish the event off with quality rewards for worthy students. It’s important to motivate talented students so they can perform better and aspire for higher goals.

By: ajax