Students entering fifth grade are ready to assume greater independence when conducting science experiments, enabling them to explore biology, chemistry and physics while cultivating curiosity.
Discover how salt increases water density with this simple physics experiment, while children can also observe how different liquids influence paperclip floatability and learn more about convection currents.
Lava Lamp Experiment
The Lava Lamp Experiment is an engaging way for children to understand liquid density. They will see that water and oil do not mix due to their different densities, creating an unforgettable demonstration.
Students will love watching the colorful globs rise and fall with convection currents as they add fizzy tablets into the mix – an engaging and innovative way of exploring Kinetic Molecular Theory! It’s sure to provide them with hours of enjoyment!
Volcano Experiment
This experiment is an engaging way for students to demonstrate how volcanoes erupt. Lava in this scenario represents magma seeping through Earth’s crust and reaching water where it becomes “lava.”
Kids of all ages will marvel as their homemade volcano erupts with red lava and explodes! This science experiment also allows kids to observe and record data. For example, how does its height or duration change when different chemicals are used?
Steaming Beverages Experiment
Fifth grade children typically become more independent and desire hands-on experiments that generate a strong impression. These exciting science fair projects will pique students’ curiosity while reinvigorating a passion for learning.
With this interactive experiment, children will see first-hand how drinking acidic sodas can damage teeth. Plus, this enjoyable chemistry project helps meet math standards by teaching surface tension concepts to students!
Catapult Experiment
Students explore physics through this entertaining and educational experiment. They measure the distance of a projectile launched from their own device before using graph paper to determine its optimal launch angle.
This engaging STEM activity helps children explore physics concepts such as fulcrums, stored (potential) energy storage, and kinetic energy transference. Plus it’s an excellent way to strengthen key math skills!
Static Electricity Experiment
Students entering fifth grade are fully prepared to assume more responsibility in designing and conducting scientific experiments, which spark curiosity while instilling an appetite for education.
This experiment provides an entertaining and educational way for kids to gain an understanding of static electricity, the difference between conductors and insulators, density and how materials behave over time.
pepper is an effective way to demonstrate how static electricity causes objects to jump, making this experiment an excellent complement to warm air rises, tornado in a bottle and paper airplane experiments.
Quicksand Experiment
If you have seen Tarzan movies, you might have witnessed the dangers of quicksand. A mixture of water and sand that appears solid but sinks beneath your feet.
This experiment will enable children to explore density and how leg movement can help you escape quicksand. Furthermore, it teaches how friction influences an object’s ability to float in liquid.
Paper Airplane Experiment
This fun paper airplane experiment is an effective way to introduce students to engineering, while teaching them aerodynamics laws.
Students should set up an indoor plane testing area. After designing and testing their first plane design, have them perform three test flights while recording distance and time on worksheets. Finally, have them design and test a second plane design.
Marshmallow Heartbeat Experiment
Learning how to delay gratification is an invaluable life skill – this hands-on experiment helps children understand why.
Use this science activity to teach kids about air pressure, Boyle’s law, and more! It makes an ideal follow-up activity to the warm air rises, cold air sinks, and tornado in a bottle experiments.
Bouncy Ball Experiment
If you’re searching for an engaging hands-on science project to teach kids about physics, this bouncy ball experiment could be ideal. Students can test various combinations of glue, cornstarch and borax until one produces the highest-bounce ball.
Glue is made up of long polymer molecules, but by adding borax to liquid glue there is a chemical reaction which shortens them and makes the material elastic, making it bounce back to life when hit with pressure.
Water Strider Experiment
These aquatic bugs, commonly referred to as water skimmers, pond skaters or water skippers, effortlessly travel across a pond’s surface. Students in this experiment will gain an understanding of their processes.
Create an insect that floats on water using aluminum foil, wire and Styrofoam to explore how surface tension pulls its legs up when they touch water – it’s almost magic!