By fifth grade, children are ready to assume more responsibility in designing and conducting experiments for science fair projects, sparking their imagination while indulging their curiosity for discovery.
Students can experiment with fire and oxygen interactions using this simple experiment or use paper chromatography to break down black ink.
Volcano
Volcanoes are openings in Earth’s crust that allow molten rock (magma) to reach the surface and produce lava, tephra, and gases.
Volcanic eruptions typically form near the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates, which move at approximately 10 centimeters each year.
Volcanic eruptions can be spectacular sights, with fountains of glowing-red lava pouring forth like fountains of fire. But they can also be devastating, spreading ash over wide areas and inhibiting air travel.
Orange Plates
Crafting an engaging science fair project is a hallmark of fifth grade success for many students. Engaging hands-on experiments help motivate learning in ways that engage and excite pupils.
Use an orange to demonstrate plate tectonics through this simple experiment! The peel represents earth’s crust (both continental and oceanic lithospheres). Spread some jam over one section of peel and place back onto orange as a representation of an convergent plate boundary.
Eggshell Arches
By fifth grade, students are expected to take more responsibility in designing and conducting their own experiments. One such experiment uses simple ingredients to show students how arches and domes support heavy loads like bridges or roofs do.
Hold up two identical arches and ask someone which appears larger. This experiment illustrates how optical illusions work by dispersing weight over an expanded surface area – much like how an arch can hold a stack of books.
Airplane
Encourage student interest in STEM subjects with engaging experiments that bring STEM principles alive. These 5th grade science fair projects are easy to set up, require minimal supplies and deliver powerful results that can help your children understand new concepts more thoroughly.
Learn the difference between kinetic and potential energy with this engaging engineering challenge for kids! It also serves to facilitate their comprehension of friction vs force dynamics.
Hydrophobic Sand
Hydrophobic or “magic sand”, is beach sand that has been coated with a substance to repel water, similar to how wet sand doesn’t dry out over time. Don’t confuse this type of product with “kinetic sand”, however; which behaves more like wet sand than traditional hydrophobic material.
Do a test by pouring some onto a plate of water. It stays dry! This is an ideal way to demonstrate surface tension.
Bouncy Balls
Kids will learn all about polymers and chemistry with this simple experiment! Plus, they’ll enjoy seeing what their final creation looks like!
This easy DIY levitates a marker stick figure to demonstrate the insolubility of dry-erase marker ink – an engaging STEM challenge for kids with an interest in physics!
This free noise meter provides educators with an excellent tool for creating an ideal learning environment through classroom discipline. Its sensitivity can be tailored to meet any school setting.
Water Striders
These water-repellant legs of these little true bugs enable them to “walk” along the surface of ponds, streams, creeks, lakes and even puddles; they even skim across ocean surfaces!
They use their long back and middle legs like oars to row through the water while their short front legs regulate movement and steering. Furthermore, water striders generate ripple signals to communicate with other water striders; using these to identify sexuality, territory and species differences.
Mini Trampoline
Rebounding is a low-impact exercise that offers cardiovascular fitness benefits while simultaneously strengthening muscles and improving balance and coordination.
This mini trampoline features a sturdy steel frame with rubber feet to prevent floor scuffing, standing eight-10 inches off the ground and being easy to assemble.
It comes equipped with 32 springs that are covered by a thick mat to protect feet and legs from hitting against them.
Leakproof Bag
With just a zipper-lock bag and pencils, children can learn to create watertight bags – an engaging way of exploring polymers – long chains or molecules linked together by chemical bonds.
This acid-base science experiment is an engaging way for students to explore the chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda, providing a fun science activity in class or at home.
This classic fifth grade science fair project helps students observe and assess the effect of acid rain on the environment, as well as grasp acidity and pH levels.