Learners will explore biology, physics, chemistry and beyond through hands-on experiments and activities such as dry ice bubbles or invisible ink projects that will surely impress their peers.
Kids love slime! Let them enjoy making their own super slimy solution through this fun experiment and learn all about polymers at the same time! This activity also doubles up as an educational lesson!
Volcano
Volcanoes are openings in Earth’s crust through which hot lava, ash and gas escape, usually along tectonic plates that shift and pull apart. Some volcanoes may be active while others remain dormant or extinct.
This engaging experiment helps kids gain an understanding of surface tension. They create an example of quicksand with sand, water, and cornstarch to demonstrate this concept.
Students use vinegar and baking soda to conduct an experimental trial to simulate volcanic activity, then they observe and document their findings.
Convection Currents
By fifth grade, students are ready to assume more responsibility in designing and conducting experiments independently. Such projects will foster curiosity while fuelling an appetite for learning.
Explore convection currents with this easy experiment using steaming beverages. Students will gain an understanding of how the heat energy of water interacts with air to form clouds and precipitation patterns.
Students using homemade catapults will gain insight into potential and kinetic energies as well as gravity and surface tension. This project also allows them to practice developing skills related to surface tension.
Density
Fifth graders possess an insatiable appetite for learning, so hands-on experiments such as this density experiment provide an engaging way for them to understand new concepts. Students explore liquids that float or sink while discovering the relationship between mass and volume.
This science experiment employs water balloons and various liquids to demonstrate to students how paperclips float or sink in water using surface tension as an explanation for why objects don’t stay put.
Lava Lamp
Students of this age are expected to take more responsibility when designing and conducting science fair experiments. Students can explore how different household chemicals repel insects through this enjoyable project.
Edward Craven Walker created the lava lamp as an excellent demonstration of convection currents and mixing two immiscible liquids – in this instance colored wax globs dancing around is evidence of what’s called biphasic mixtures.
Lightning Storm
By fifth grade, students are expected to assume greater responsibility when it comes to designing and conducting science experiments. This hands-on learning approach gives students an opportunity to investigate topics like biology, chemistry and physics while exploring various disciplines like these.
Conduct an interesting experiment about lightning! On a cool, low-humidity day, use a foil-covered fork and balloon to simulate lightning storms in your classroom. Adjusting lighting settings gives a better view of any static electricity created during this experiment.
Put children’s engineering skills to the test with this paper airplane experiment! A classic science fair project, this activity introduces potential and kinetic energies as students explore potential and kinetic energy principles.
Bacterial Colonies
Grow bacteria with cotton swabs for an easy and engaging experiment! Use cotton swabs to sample germs on different surfaces before comparing their findings.
This exercise introduces students to bacterial colonies, including their colony morphology and identification of individual organisms within them. Furthermore, students gain an understanding of how colonies of bacteria can have different impacts on surrounding food sources than their bubble or sponge analogies suggest.
Each distinct bacterial colony represents one cell that has reproduced repeatedly. Most colonies appear white or creamy yellow in color and have circular shapes.
Newspaper Engineering
“Don’t go near the water; you could drown.” This STEM activity by Science Fair Projects helps explain why.
Use this exciting science experiment involving clothespins and wooden craft sticks to teach your students about potential and kinetic energies. They will build a paper airplane and test its range.
Kids will love discovering chromatography with this entertaining science experiment that divides fall leaves into their individual colors. Plus, this experiment makes an excellent way to incorporate math into science!
Biosphere
5th graders are eager to discover innovative science fair projects that spark their interest, spark their passion for learning, and encourage careers in STEM fields.
Find out how acid rain impacts chalk with this Earth science experiment! Students will also gain knowledge on the distinctions among acids, neutrals and bases.
Send students on an exciting mission to discover more about their genes and inherited traits with this intriguing project! Please note, however, that it requires supervision as it involves using dry ice.