What are appropriate science projects for 4th graders? This is the question that you, the parent, might find yourself asking when your child brings home the annual science fair handout. Obviously, you cannot do the volcano every year. But what should you do instead? What kind of other projects are there? Don’t worry. You do not need to be a scientist to figure this out.
Here is one of many science projects for 4th graders:
Materials (what is needed for the experiment)
Adults might want to help the child handle some of the equipment.
-cup of muddy water
-cotton balls
-scissors
-tape
-plastic drinking straw
-clear vase
-paper towels
-electric drill
-an empty, liter soda bottle (plastic)
- rough gravel
-fine gravel
-large grained sand
-fine grained sand
-camera
Procedure
1. Adults might want to help with this step. Take the electric drill and drill a hole in the cap of the soda bottle. You want the plastic drinking straw to fit snugly into this hole. You can use tape to get the straw to stay.
2. Take the soda bottle and put it upside side down into the vase. (Enter the straw end first.) The straw should reach halfway between the top of the vase and the bottom of the vase.
3. Take scissors and cut the bottle of the soda bottle off. Make sure to get rid of the four protrusions that are commonly found on most soda bottles. With the bottom gone, you can now place things into the bottle.
4. Fill the neck of the soda bottle with cotton balls.
5. Now it is time to put our rocks into the bottle. First put in the coarse gravel. Then put in the fine gravel. Next comes the large grain sand. On top of that is the fine grained sand. And finally, all the way on top, layer some paper towels.
6. Take a picture of the glass of muddy water next to your man made filter. These pictures can be used in the results section.
7. Pour the muddy water into the soda bottle. Watch the water drip from the straw and into the vase. What color is it?
8. Time how long it takes the water to come through. Take pictures showing the results.
9. Using rocks, you have created a filter for muddy water! – And science projects for 4th graders!
By: Alan Wagner
Posts Tagged ‘Volcano’
Science Projects For 4th Graders
April 9th, 2010The Benefits Of Unique Science Fair Projects
January 29th, 2010Everyone 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
Original Science Projects
January 29th, 2010Everyone who has ever been to a science fair has seen the boring old science project such as the sanderupting volcano or the paper space project. These types of displays are very simple and easy from the parent’s point of view, but these displays are very unwise choices for the students who must participate. Why is that?
These basic experiments are the type of experiments that are so ubiquitous that even the children understand what is going to occur. When that happens, then the children are probably not learning much, if anything. Judges have gotten bored with these styles of experiments, and that’s a major problem for kids who endeavor to win awards in their science fair competition. When it’s all said and done, this type of project is only really good for the parents who are buying the materials, and surprisingly these kinds of projects are not even cheap.
It is your role to find is a creative and original science fair project, or at least a project that is more educational than those repetitive experiments. Not only will this aid your child achieve more, it can provide the child an increased opportunity of becoming the winner of the the exhibition. Often, these competitions will include a scholarship or a nice cash prize{{{, and even those that do not provide one can certainly lead to a science scholarship later on down the line. Those which do nothave a scholarship attached can occasionally lead to a science scholarship later on down the line. This can be a nice added opportunity, and in addition to the high grades, the knowledge, and the experience your student is receiving with their entry, it provides you a wonderful reason to do something special.
What type of unique science projects are available? The world wide web appears to be a very good primary alternative, but because of the ease of use, one can all but guarantee that large science exhibitions include a similar project, especially if you took your exhibit from a popular science project website. Even when only participating in a small science fair, or an in-class science fair, you have to presume that there are a few other parents who are using the same websites that you have, including the judges and the teachers who are grading your children. These duplicate projects mean problems for the teachers, as this approach to the science fair buries the true benefit to the science fair exhibitions: having an exploratory experience. The people who run these exhibitions are hoping for you to come up with something original, on your own. In addition, you have to think about the of experience the student is going through. A competition is their chance to display their own interests, and selecting an easy or inexpensiveproject off of an internet site is not helping them learn.
You can check out the library for books, or looking at downloadable ebooks as well. These sources are in general the better places for pre-made ideas because there is a greater variety of choices, and a smaller number of competitors will be able to find each source, giving you a better shot at uniqueness.
Have the student create their own experiment, or if this does not go over well, then have the child add their ideas into some aspect of some other science fair experiment they have discovered. You can borrow a little bit of ideas from the websites, especially from the “members only” websites that have really good experiments, and books or suggestions with more unique ideas, but make sure to supplement them with an idea of your own!
If your kid needs help with their science project ideas and you are lacking in computer and spreadsheet knowledge, do not be afraid to look an expert for help. A majority of those members-only internet sites will give helpful downloads such as ready-made charts and spreadsheets for your child’s use. You ought to obtain help from an online tutor, who are almost always biology students in university who are able to assist you out with a little easy advice.
By: Jordan Matthews
