Hands-on science experiments are an engaging way to promote curiosity and build enthusiasm for learning. With these 5th grade science fair projects, your child can explore biology, physics and chemistry while having lots of fun!
Encourage your children to select science projects based on what interests them personally; this makes the task less overwhelming for them and reduces frustration levels.
1. Mini Trampoline
Students will enjoy this STEM challenge, which tests their problem-solving skills by creating their own trampoline. It provides a great opportunity for them to learn about physics, chemistry and engineering while having fun!
Introduce your students to genetics with this fun scavenger hunt that helps them understand dominant and recessive genes, as well as how inherited traits are passed along from family to family through inheritance.
Your students can quickly gain knowledge about gravity and air pressure with this simple yet engaging experiment involving balloons, pinwheels, index cards and an acidity indicator made out of red cabbage and chalk. Finally, they’ll construct and launch bottle rockets to determine which can fly the highest.
2. Leakproof Bag
Leakproof Bag is an engaging science experiment for children that takes very little time or preparation – just resealable plastic bag, water and some pencils are needed! Kids love jabbing things inside it! Plus this activity gives them permission to jab things themselves, which adds extra fun.
Kids will be amazed to see what happens when they poke a water-filled ziplock bag with sharp pencils or bamboo skewers, an easy and enjoyable experiment that teaches about water molecules and surface tension. When they remove their pencils, a stream of water pours out! Just like magic from Las Vegas magicians! Once removed from pencils or bamboo skewers, stream of water flows out like it were from an aquarium! Once removed from pencils or bamboo skewers, kids can either play with or use it to water plants while this experiment also works with crayons – an easy and engaging way of teaching them about polymers!
3. Super Slime
Everything about slime is fun, including its educational potential: everyone loves making and playing with it; making 32 two ounce batches requires green 4% polyvinyl alcohol, enough sodium tetraborate solution to cross link, mixing cups and storage lids, measuring beakers, stirring sticks and an activity guide; this kit contains everything necessary.
Once students have created their initial batch and observed it, ask them to evaluate it individually in small groups and identify ways it could be improved. What could they change or add?
At 5th grade science experiments are hands-on and messy – whether its testing out dry ice bubbles or making invisible ink, they explore biology, chemistry, and more while teaching students about the scientific method! Best of all: most can be completed from start to finish within one or two weeks!
4. Water Conductivity
Students will be intrigued to witness how water conducts electricity in this simple experiment. They’ll soon discover that saltwater drops exhibit greater conductivity than pure water as their saltiness contains ions that help transmit electricity more efficiently.
Science can seem like magic until we fully grasp its principles, such as this simple pump known as Archimedes’ screw.
Encourage creativity and discovery among student engineers with this engaging science experiment that tests the strength of various materials to build a bridge. Plus, it provides an excellent opportunity for math practice!
Put student engineering skills through their paces with this classic experiment on acids and bases! Children will enjoy exchanging secret messages between classes as part of this acid-base science demonstration.
5. Popsicle Stick Chain
Experience an unforgettable chain reaction with this fascinating popsicle stick experiment! This engaging physics project will teach kids about potential and kinetic energies; each stick in the chain bends over and ties itself tightly beneath another stick to build tension and potential energy, only for all this potential energy to suddenly be released as an explosion of kinetic energy when you finally release your stick bomb!
Add extra fun and drama to your chain reaction experiment by trying it on carpet or another soft surface – does it still release equal amounts of energy?
Craft sticks make excellent construction material, and can help children explore acids and bases through creative lemon volcanoes or catapults. Or combine engineering with hydropower technology by building a catapult for a different perspective on mechanical power!