Science fair projects give fifth graders an opportunity to explore topics that interest them. Students learn to conduct experiments and communicate the results to judges.
Encourage students to present experiment data visually using charts, graphs, photos and other visuals such as borders, title headers and section dividers on display boards.
Volcano
Volcanoes are fissures in Earth’s crust that allow hot lava, volcanic ash and gases to erupt from within it. Most active volcanoes can be found on Earth’s Ring of Fire where tectonic plates collide, pushing together against each other.
A pyroclastic flow is a hazardous mixture of solid to semi-solid debris and hot gases that rushes down a volcano at hurricane force speeds, often producing explosive flows which threaten lives, animals and buildings alike.
Kids will have loads of fun participating in this intriguing acid-base science experiment with paper message boards and common kitchen ingredients! Not only is this cool science project educational, it demonstrates potential energy and kinetic energy as well.
Arches
Students can study local weather patterns, organisms in an ecosystem nearby or perform experiments using household materials to explore physical science concepts. Tying these ideas directly back to students’ own environments makes the subject matter more meaningful and engaging for learning.
Students can conduct experiments to observe how long it takes for ice to melt with different insulating materials, providing valuable lessons on physics and engineering principles.
Mentoring young scientists through the scientific process requires engaging in thoughtful dialogue about interpreting results and assessing hypotheses. This guide offers key advice for selecting an experiment, gathering and recording observations, creating effective presentations, as well as attending science fairs to build confidence and develop critical thinking abilities.
Paper Airplanes
By fifth grade, students should assume more responsibility in designing and conducting their own science fair projects with guidance from teachers.
Conduct experiments on paper airplanes to gain knowledge about aerodynamics – the forces that affect how planes fly. You should focus on understanding factors like rudders, wing span, and weight that contribute to flight performance.
Make a paper airplane that flies longer and better than others in your class, just as engineers rely on trial-and-error when designing planes capable of transporting people or cargo.
Static Electricity
The 5th grade is an ideal time for students to discover scientific principles such as gravity, density, forces and energy. You can use common household materials to conduct experiments that demonstrate these scientific principles.
Rubbng different materials against one another will lead to the exchange of electrons that causes one material to become positively charged and attract or “cling” to an object – known as the triboelectric effect. Students can rub fur against acrylic rods to observe static electricity before using a balloon as evidence for Coulomb’s Law (where attraction between objects is proportional to square root of their distance apart).
As part of an additional hands-on experiment, have students examine the effects of various liquids on egg buoyancy or observe plant growth under various lighting conditions. Support constructive discussions around interpreting data and analyzing hypotheses.
Insects
By fifth grade, students can undertake more independent research projects that utilize the scientific method and their personal interests – whether that be plant growth effects of different soil types or how different music affects memorization. These projects give them an opportunity to discover topics they find intriguing.
Students gain knowledge of insects by exploring how to recognize them using three body segments, six legs and two antennae. Students explore what sets insects apart from spiders, scorpions or centipedes by using clues such as wings and hard exoskeletons as indicators of identity. Finally, this knowledge allows students to create their own insect-shaped models.
Newspaper Engineering
Strive to make an impressionful STEM challenge that taps students’ creativity and engineering expertise. Teams design structures made from newspaper and tape in order to support one team member above the ground without their feet touching it for five seconds – creating something big!
Use this simple experiment to introduce children to chemistry, engineering and surface tension – perfect for cool and dry days!
Encourage students to record qualitative observations using detailed notes, drawings, or photos. Teach them how to take precise quantitative measurements using tools like metric rulers and scales before leading them in analyzing their recorded data with user-friendly online apps and charts.