By fifth grade, students are ready to assume greater responsibility in planning and carrying out science experiments. Help them select projects that match their interests and skill levels.
Kids will delight in discovering how gravity and air pressure work as they explore them with this DIY barometer. Plus, engineering-minded youngsters will get to put their engineering knowledge to use by building a mini trampoline or trying a glow stick experiment!
Create a Lightning Storm
Science fair projects are an excellent way to learn STEM topics. Through hands-on experiments, these projects foster curiosity and ignite a passion for knowledge.
Explore how lightning storms form with this fascinating experiment from iSparkLabs! Kids will gain insight into how electrons move between ice and liquid water during thunderstorms to form lightning bolts.
Put your student’s engineering skills through their paces with this exciting project to explore potential and kinetic energies! A perfect follow-up activity after Warm air rises, Cold air sinks or Tornado in a Bottle experiments!
Collect Bacteria
Exploring bacteria is one of the most exciting science fair projects for 5th grade. You can test things like which public door handle has the most germs or whether hand sanitizer truly works.
Gather materials and use a bacteria growth kit for this fun experiment, to test if your hypothesis is true; for instance, does the handle of the nurse’s room contain more bacteria than any other location?
Make a Newspaper Chair
Students will put paper to the test with this newspaper STEM challenge! Teams are challenged to engineer their designs while learning the importance of using resources efficiently.
Kids will get to show off their engineering talents with this project that explores how different materials impact bridge strength, while teaching them the principles of gravity and force.
Build a Catapult
Physics experiment to get kids thinking about potential and kinetic energy. Older students can record their results from firing different objects such as candy pumpkins or plastic spiders.
Explore how the position and strength of your catapult affects how far its projectile flies in this STEM challenge, perfect for teaching children about gravity and velocity.
Create a DIY Barometer
Students can gain an interactive lesson in atmospheric pressure through this DIY project. Students can measure air pressure — one factor meteorologists use to predict weather – by creating their own air pressure gauge!
To create a barometer, stretch a balloon over an open-topped metal or glass jar or can and secure it using tape or glue before inserting a straw to place a pin at its center.
Create a Wind Direction Art Project
Discover how wind affects objects with this engaging hands-on science project! It is an excellent way for students to gain knowledge about weather patterns and creativity while at the same time exercising their mind and enhancing creativity.
Children of all ages will have fun building their own device to measure wind speed with this engaging physics experiment! It’s one of the easiest and most engaging projects in our collection!
This fascinating chemistry experiment utilizes paper chromatography to dissect black ink into its constituent parts – it will make an impressive statement at any science fair!
Break Down Black Ink
Students can put their engineering skills to the test with this exciting paper construction challenge that fosters creativity and teamwork while teaching about polymers science.
By fifth grade, children have developed enough independence to take more responsibility when designing and overseeing projects independently, so they tend to favor projects they can complete quickly within several weeks.
Make Your Own Slime
5th graders will discover all about polymers through creating their own slimy concoction. This fun science experiment also helps them understand what makes materials bouncy, stiff or stretchy.
Students participating in this scientific investigation will test the viscosity of glues to identify which one makes the best slime. Measurable results (such as distance and time) should be collected; to make this project even more fun for themselves and their classmates, pair students together.
Test Water Conductivity
Experience how water conducts electricity with this engaging experiment from The Homeschool Scientist! Children will also gain more knowledge on state of matter and gas behaviors.
Put your students’ engineering skills to the test with this exciting physics experiment using clothespins and wooden craft sticks! Not only will it teach them about potential energy and kinetic energy, but this science fair project requires minimal preparation time.
Make a Marker Stick Man
Fifth graders are ready to embark on independent experiments that foster curiosity and ignite learning passions. These exciting projects inspire creativity while exploring concepts like chemistry, biology, and physics.
This experiment uses dry-erase markers to demonstrate the role oxygen plays in combustion, while helping students understand resin separation power. A floating stickman makes for an adorable demonstration of this scientific principle!