These simple 5th grade science projects provide children with hands-on experience in coming up with hypotheses, testing variables, gathering data and drawing conclusions.
Students gain insight into surface tension with this great acid-base experiment and learn about gravity and air pressure with this paper airplane challenge!
Volcano
Students in fifth grade take more responsibility for designing and conducting their own science fair projects, like this volcano experiment which makes learning about plate tectonics a simple yet engaging endeavor.
Magnesium magma may erupt either gently (effusive) or explosively depending on its viscosity; when rising quickly to the surface it may create rope-like flows known as pahoehoe lava flows.
Volcanoes often release gases, ash, and rock that benefit the environment – one such effect being that volcanic ash adds nutrients to soil.
Orange Arch
The Orange Arch is an impressive Roman triumphal arch located in Orange in southeast France. Erected between 10-25 AD during Emperor Augustus’ rule, it stands as one of the most striking provincial triumphal arches from this era.
This structure boasts three arches with the central arch being taller than either of its side arches, decorated with reliefs depicting various military themes such as naval battles, spoils of war and combat between Roman foot soldiers and Germanic and Gaulish peoples.
Paper Airplane
Most children have made paper airplanes at some point, yet few understand why different designs fly differently. This project explores forces influencing flight including drag, gravity, lift and thrust.
Long and balanced planes tend to have low wing loads that help them remain aloft for extended periods. Conversely, planes that are short in the front might struggle to remain airborne at all and even nose dive straight down toward the ground.
Encourage your students to test a range of plane designs, noting how far each one travels. Make sure they have access to a large open area where they can test out their creations.
Static Electricity
Static electricity can be both amusing and fascinating. At its heart is its atomic level manifestation: all physical items contain negative charges that sit tucked neatly within them, with some electrons resting on materials’ surfaces at different intensities to create static charge.
By rubbing materials together, these charges can be separated via the triboelectric effect. Static electricity also arises when balloons rubbed against walls become negatively charged and attract positively charged particles that adhere to them – an effect known as static electricity.
Static Density
By fifth grade, students should be ready to assume greater responsibility in designing and conducting their science fair project. Students should select an interesting project they can carry out fairly independently with assistance from teachers as necessary.
Learn the science of rainbow rainclouds with this straightforward yet visually impressive experiment! In addition, you will gain insight into static density – the property of fluids which allows them to maintain their height regardless of temperature or pressure changes – with this experiment.
Kids love this messy but engaging experiment to discover surface tension and gas molecules while applying scientific methodology and employing mathematics while they observe their results! Plus, this experiment gives kids an opportunity to practice observation!
Bacterial Colonies
Bacterial colonies are an engaging microcosm that can reveal much about their inhabitants, including color, size and growth pattern. Other important characteristics to look out for in bacteria colonies include hemolysis, gas production and migration growth patterns.
Numerous studies have examined how bacteria colonies develop and distribute on solid media, as well as their behavior with neighboring species of the same or different species. One such process, known as “quorum sensing”, causes this behavior when certain colonies release chemical signals which prompt other colonies to coordinate their actions in accordance with these chemical signals.
Newspaper Engineering
At 5th grade, children are ready to assume more of the responsibility for designing and conducting their own science experiments. A good science fair project provides students with a hands-on STEM challenge that encourages independence.
Surprise them with this incredible physics experiment which shows how water’s surface tension can lift a stick figure from its base using surface tension alone! Not only can you learn about polymers chemistry but this budget friendly experiment provides great value too!
Students must use creativity to engineer a freestanding tower out of newspaper. This STEM challenge encourages teamwork and communication while offering great preparation for harder challenges ahead.