Students in fifth grade science fair projects can explore an expansive variety of science topics by engaging in simple experiments that produce raw, measurable data. From investigating plant growth under different environmental conditions to solving an age-old debate, these exciting projects will engage ten year olds’ natural curiosity.
Discover fall colors through chromatography experiments designed to teach kids how to separate color pigments or have them build a model bridge using wood craft sticks and paper.
Hydrophobic Sand
Magic Sand, as its name suggests, is an intriguing material comprised of regular sand that has been treated with hydrophobic compounds to repel water molecules and remain dry when placed into a glass of water. Instead of dispersing evenly when dropped onto its surface, clumps form instead.
This material provides students with a way to better comprehend how molecular attraction and repulsion impact material properties, and explore physics concepts such as momentum and friction.
As part of an engaging density demonstration, have students layer honey, rubbing alcohol, and water slowly into a cup. Watch as these liquids slowly rise to the top! They will be impressed to witness this incredible phenomenon.
Bouncy Balls
5th grade science fair projects provide invaluable opportunities for engaging students in key aspects of the scientific process. With the guidance of an attentive mentor, these projects allow students to pose testable questions, experiment, measure results, analyze data, and create impactful science fair projects.
A bouncy ball (also called power ball) is a small polybutadiene rubber toy which bounces proportionally to any force exerted upon it, serving as an engaging laboratory demonstration of elastic properties as well as providing an introduction to mechanics for students at high school or undergraduate levels.
Water Striders
By fifth grade, students should be equipped to take on greater responsibility in designing and conducting science experiments. Students can use various materials for engineering projects that demonstrate scientific method.
Water striders (Family Gerridae) resemble large mosquitoes or spiders as they move across pond surfaces at incredible speed, darting back and forth across them with remarkable agility. They appear similar to mosquitoes or spiders when at rest but come alive when disturbed, appearing like large mosquitoes or spiders moving across surfaces with incredible agility.
This fun STEM activity allows children to explore how surface tension allows bugs to stay afloat on water’s surface and how waves and raindrops affect their behavior. They’ll also discover how waves or raindrops may change how these insects act.
Archimedes’ Screw
Archimedes invented the Archimedes Screw as an educational science activity to show students about simple machines’ power. When turned, the screw can lift water up an inclined surface. This science activity provides a fun way for children to discover this fact!
Water can flow downhill easily, but moving it upwards is more challenging. In this fifth grade science fair project students learn how to overcome gravity using Archimedes’ screw.
This classic science experiment provides an effective means of teaching about acids and bases as well as exploring plate tectonics.
Newspaper Engineering
Science fair projects give 5th graders an opportunity to use different materials and put together structures, which spark their creativity and problem-solving skills while teaching them about the scientific method and developing their creative potential.
5th graders may explore density by testing buoyancy of different liquids or measuring soil erosion; or they can discover how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop and observe how music genres impact memorization abilities.
As an introduction, students can take part in newspaper STEM challenges like building a tower, chair or vehicle using recyclable materials from newspapers. Such activities help foster teamwork, communication and innovation.
Safe Bridge
Safe Bridge is an engaging project for 5th graders that explores both physics and engineering. It demonstrates how structural engineers use many factors when designing bridges, as well as which shapes are the strongest.
Students can easily build different style bridges from books, placing weight on them until one breaks and showing their students that engineers are more than builders; they’re mathematicians! It is an engaging way to demonstrate forces at work on bridges while showing children that engineers aren’t just builders but are mathematicians!
An engaging science experiment for children to do is testing how much potential energy it takes to launch a marshmallow into flight. Kids can experiment with changing variables such as counterweight, arm length and shooting angle to observe any significant effects.
Microscope
A microscope offers children a world of discovery. Not only is it an engaging way to introduce science, but it’s also invaluable in terms of helping them gain points for science fair projects with never before seen images that they can display on boards and reports.
Use a kit like this one to provide your students with their own prepared microscope slides that they can stain and mount with specimens they choose – whether that be their cheek swabs under the microscope, comparing plants or insects, etc. They’ll have fun taking turns staining and mounting specimens! They’ll love observing themselves under a microscope!