Fifth graders relish engaging with science fair projects that awaken curiosity and ignite a passion for learning. These fantastic science fair projects teach core concepts through exciting, immersive experiences that engage their curiosity and spark passion for discovery.
Students using chromatography can explore the colors found in leaves while learning separation processes. Furthermore, this experiment can demonstrate air properties and water boiling.
Archimedes’ Screw
Do you ever notice how screws aren’t only for holding things together, but can also lift objects? An ancient invention called an Archimedes screw or water screw is still commonly used today to pump liquids uphill.
This simple machine works using positive displacement, which means each time you twist the screw it scoops water from its lower container to fill its higher one. While this experiment takes some turns to complete, it provides students with a great way to learn how it all works!
Bile
Bile is a yellow-green digestive fluid produced in your digestive tract that breaks up fats so they can be absorbed by your intestines, as well as clearing away waste products like worn-out red blood cells and excess cholesterol. Bile acids that contain the pigment bilirubin may lead to jaundice-related conditions.
This messy science fair experiment uses diet soda and Mentos candy to teach children about gas molecules and surface tension, providing an engaging way for students to grasp how acidity impacts things like chalk and soil.
Bottle Rockets
Fifth graders are expected to take greater responsibility in designing and carrying out their science fair projects with guidance from teachers and parents. Such projects introduce students to biology, chemistry, and physics concepts.
Two-liter pop bottle rockets are an exciting and classic science fair experiment that help students discover force, acceleration and flight. Students can change aspects of the rocket to see if they can increase its flight distance or stay aloft longer.
Discovering autumn colors using chromatography is an engaging, interactive, and cost-effective way to teach about chemical reactions and plate tectonics.
Catapults
Catapults have long been used as siege engines in medieval castles or as modern devices to launch projectiles, using similar principles. Catapults rely on tension, torsion and gravity forces to produce potential energy that’s stored until its release with the pull of the trigger; then when launched it transforms to kinetic energy.
Students should construct catapults from wooden craft sticks and experiment with various variables. For instance, they could experiment with changing the position of the fulcrum to see how that affects how far a pompom travels.
Hydrophobic Sand
An engaging science experiment, this project shows the surface tension between water and sand. Coated with polymer coating that repels liquid, kids can use this hydrophobic sand to build castles or underwater sandcastles!
This material was initially developed to clean up ocean oil spills by scattering it onto floating petroleum, where its non-polar oil molecules bond seamlessly with non-polar sand particles until it becomes heavy enough to sink. Students can investigate its many uses through this science fair project.
Bouncy Balls
By 5th grade, students should take on greater responsibility in regards to their science fair projects. They should be able to design and execute experiments without needing too much assistance from adults.
This experiment offers children an engaging way to investigate convection currents by mixing hot and cold liquids. Furthermore, this activity provides an effective means of teaching density concepts.
With just a few household ingredients, students can craft their own bouncy balls – an engaging way to explore polymers! Plus they make excellent presents or party favors!
Surface Tension
Students can use this easy experiment to gain insight into surface tension and its causes. Surface tension arises due to cohesive and adhesive forces between liquid molecules – these forces account for why needles stick to glasses of water or bugs fly across surfaces like ponds.
To measure surface tension, place a needle atop a glass of water and use a single beam balance to determine how much force is required to lift it from its surface. This experiment provides an easy and fun way to gain insight into chemistry, physics, and biology!