Science fair experiments foster inquiry and experimentation while building creativity. Use these hands-on projects to help students grasp STEM topics like biology, physics and chemistry.
With this project, kids can explore how much electrolytes are found in their favorite sports drinks while also learning about volume and surface tension.
1. Ball Run Challenge
Students in this project will design and construct a ball run, then test its duration by passing a ball through it. This provides an excellent opportunity to practice engineering design techniques such as iteration.
Help students unlock the mysteries of rainbow rainclouds through this hands-on experiment and learn chromatography for sorting colors within materials.
2. Airplane
Put your students’ engineering abilities through rigorous testing with this fun STEM challenge! Let them use their engineering design process to construct more permanent plane-launching devices and track flight times and distances.
Encourage them to keep a scientific log, recording the progress of their experiment day-by-day and noting its outcome. This allows judges to judge whether a student’s research was thorough and well conducted.
3. Leap of Faith
Students develop scientific questions and use library and Internet research to design an experiment, before conducting it and evaluating its results.
Avoid predetermined experiments (like seeing how long batteries will last or how well laundry detergent remove stains) since these don’t promote creativity and problem-solving skills.
Students’ engineering abilities will be put to the test with this STEM challenge! They’ll discover how to levitate a stick figure using surface tension and ink density.
4. Glow Sticks
Glow sticks provide an effective and fun way to demonstrate chemiluminescence – an attractive chemical reaction which stores energy for later use. They’re an easy and entertaining way to demonstrate stored energy concepts!
Bend and snap glow sticks together to activate them, then place one each in hot and ice water on separate tables for comparison and recording results. Encourage students to record results and compare them, providing an opportunity for discussion regarding conservation of mass.
5. Quicksand
Have you seen those movies where someone wanders through a marsh without incident, only to become trapped in quicksand? In reality, such moments of panic are rare.
When trying to escape quicksand, it’s best to remain calm and not struggle. Struggling can only cause more liquefaction of the sand, making it harder for you to break free. Instead, lie back and continue breathing normally; that way your lungs will stay filled with air for as long as your breathing continues uninterrupted.
6. Marshmallow Jump
Students get hands-on with science by building a tower that supports a marshmallow. This fun challenge teaches the same principles used by engineers when creating structures.
Separate groups into teams of four and provide them with 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string and a marshmallow. Ask them to construct the tallest free-standing structure topped by their marshmallow in 18 minutes.
7. Water Striders
Explore surface tension with this fun science project that illustrates how water striders can walk on its surface. Materials used include aluminum foil, wire, Styrofoam balls and pipe cleaners for this endeavor.
Experience chromatography first-hand by conducting this engaging hands-on experiment that separates the colors of different leaves. Or try it with other objects such as fruit.
8. Hot Plate Experiment
Young engineers will enjoy this fun challenge to explore momentum and energy transfer. Please follow these directions at this link in order to complete this fun project!
Create a model of Newton’s Cradle to explore how potential and kinetic energy transfer between cells. This science fair experiment will be easy and fun!
9. Bridge
Students work together in teams and build model bridges using straws and tape as construction materials. They experiment with various geometric designs in an attempt to identify which design is strongest.
Ask students to vote by show of hands for which shape feels stronger – triangles or squares. Explain that when applied force to either shape, an open square may twist while one made of inner triangles can withstand greater strain.
10. Heat Capacity Experiment
Preparing for a science fair provides children with an excellent opportunity to practice conducting independent research and prepare themselves to be independent researchers in school and beyond. Even if their entry doesn’t win, preparing it can teach valuable lessons which will aid them throughout life.
Do not create projects that follow a prescribed experiment (like baking a cake from a recipe). Such activities tend to be less effective at teaching problem-solving skills.