Projects
that demonstrate experimental methods
I have used all the following in my classroom as whole class demonstrations with time in centers afterwards for the students to prove it for themselves. Almost all of these projects here have a set A and set B. Most use simple and cheap materials that you can find at the grocery store, drug store or hardware store. For some I am hoping you have the materials in your closet, kitchen or garage.
These lessons and activities were very popular with the students and these yielded some very good projects this year in our school Science Expo. A few lessons here are best with grades 2-5 but still very useful to K-2.
Experiments that germinate seeds
Volcano lava recipe experiment
Air pressure balloon flight trials and graph-
Dissolving solids in hot and cold liquids-
Growing sugar and salt crystals-
Will magnetism pass through glass? Wood?
A static electricity test - including data collection sheet.
Comparing the heating power of sunlight
A recipe for rocks and a test to break them.
Sink and Float trials (density)
Build a simple circuit and switch-
Soil identical shirts and test laundry detergent as a consumer trial.
Other Science Fair Resources on the web for grades 4 through 12:
ScienzFair - The best guide for upper grade project ideas and resources.
Science Fairs from Mary Lightbody, Columbus Public Schools.
By Ted Rowan at Falmouth High School. A great source of guidelines and ideas for projects.
The Ultimate Science Fair Resource A thorough guide to fair projects. Link to other idea pages.
There are thousands of other ideas. Follow this format and you'll have a winner no matter what scientific principle you wish to demonstrate:
1. Start with at least 2 things (case "A", case "B")that are exactly alike.
2. Introduce only one difference between the two or more cases. (Independent, Control)
3. Predict what will happen. (Hypothesis)
4. Measure the difference between the two cases.(Dependent)
5. Show the difference in a chart or graph. (Data)
6. Write one page or less about three things: a. What you did, in the order you did it. (Materials, Procedure) b.What happened? (Results, conclusion) c.What do you think about it now?(current inquiry)
7. Package a presentation: Revise and post the written work and the graph. Include pictures or diagrams and decorate with color.
For K-2 several science process skills can be included in projects that the students comprehend:
1. Observations
2. Communication
3. Classifying and collecting
4. Measuring
(A more sophisticated process involves three other skills:)
5. Using space/time relationships
6. Inferring
7. Predicting
Keep it simple-
1. Find a question, inquiry or problem
2. Decide how the question could be answered. Decide on a strategy.
3. Execute the plan.
4. Check again that the question was answered. Summarize what happened and conclude. Relate what happened to something found in nature or the world in general.
Email to send or receive other science fair entry suggestions. mailto:kboyle@airmail.net