Science fair projects provide an enjoyable way to learn more about biology, physics and chemistry. Students gain the experience needed to make connections between their work and real world science.
Demonstrate surface tension with this eye-opening water experiment! Your kids will be delighted by how this simple trick works! Furthermore, use it to teach about erosion and how plants keep soil intact.
Volcano
By fifth grade, students can become more engaged with their science fair projects and take greater ownership over them. Experiments provide them with the freedom to explore areas of personal interest while still learning important scientific principles.
Magma is the molten rock found beneath Earth’s crust while lava is the melted rock emitted by volcanoes, creating this simple experiment which teaches children about chemical reactions and heat transfer.
Archimedes’ Screw
An Archimedes screw is a device used by engineers in 2001 to help stabilize the leaning Tower of Pisa.
Water treatment plants and chocolate fountains rely heavily on simple machines. This easy project provides children with an opportunity to explore simple machines; simply build one then test out its functionality from different directions!
Baking Soda Balloon
Are you looking for an entertaining and straightforward way to demonstrate an acid-base reaction? Try the baking soda balloon experiment. Kids can also use this experiment to discover more about the chemical properties of baking soda and vinegar.
Fill a balloon halfway with baking soda, and carefully stretch its neck over the opening of a bottle.
Gummy Bear Lava Lamp
Children will love playing this engaging science experiment! By dropping gummy bears into different liquid solutions, kids will learn all about osmosis while honing their observation skills – something all good scientists must possess!
This experiment will leave children amazed. It is an easy yet mesmerizing chemistry experiment that explores colored water and oil with an unexpected winter theme, making an impressive display. Plus, this activity provides an engaging way for teaching kids about ice crystals!
Popsicle Stick Chain
This engaging hands-on experiment provides students with an engaging introduction to potential and kinetic energies – it’s also an effective way to reduce boredom!
Start by placing two craft sticks in an X formation. Weave in a third stick through one end of the X and underneath another stick to complete this craft project.
Watch as the chain reaction unravels! Compare its effect when activated on hard floors versus carpet to understand why results vary.
Ball Run
Students will create a paper ball run with an added twist – the aim being for it to take as long as possible for the ball to reach the bottom of their run.
This project offers an engaging introduction to engineering design process. Students will work in teams to design, construct and test paper ball runs.
Unlearn about energy through this hands-on demonstration of potential and kinetic energies.
Catapult
Use craft sticks and elastic bands to conduct this engaging fifth grade science experiment that introduces kids to force, motion and energy transfer. Encourage them to explore how altering projectile size impacts its launch distance.
Encourage students to analyze the data they collected and use what they have learned to design an improved catapult design – perhaps similar to this one from Frugal Fun for Boys!
Static Electricity
Have your students explored the mysteries of static electricity? This physics experiment offers a fun and effective way to learn about imbalances of electric charges within objects.
Make engineering exciting for your students with this fun and creative project! They will use clothespins and wood craft sticks to build different airplane designs while learning about potential and kinetic energies.
Bacterial Colonies
Students gain knowledge about the types of bacteria found in petri dishes using nutrient agar and explore colony morphology as an identification technique for bacteria.
Colony morphology refers to characteristics of bacterial colonies growing on nutrient agar plates, including their shape, size (ranging from large colonies to tiny punctiform colonies), color, surface and shape. Other aspects may also include hemolysis, production of gas or migration patterns.
Newspaper Engineering
By fifth grade, children are ready for engaging hands-on experiments that spark their curiosity and ignite learning passions. You can encourage students to explore science topics like physics, biology and chemistry through these exciting experiments that require little to no prep time.
Team up and compete this STEM challenge of building a freestanding tower made out of newspaper. Your structure must be tall enough to support one member of your team as well as resist wind load lateral loads.