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Parent Info | Helping Your Child | K-3 Sample Projects | G4-6 Sample Projects

There are several types of projects to choose from:

  • A Demonstration of a scientific principle where you show how something works.
  • An Experiment where you ask a question and then try to answer it by planning and doing an experiment.
  • An Invention that solves some problem.

Demonstrations

In a demonstration project, you show how something works, or you explain why something happens the way it does. Demonstration projects tend to have titles like "How ________ Works" (such as how volcanoes erupt or how the heart pumps blood). Other examples of demonstration projects are building a model of a geyser, creating a cloud in a bottle using compressed air, constructing an electric generator and measuring its voltage, and showing how the rudder of an airplane helps the airplane point forward.

Scientific Experiments

  1. Select a topic
  2. Select a question to be answered by the experiment. All experiments have variables. All things that can or will change are called variables. Variables can be divided into three groups: a manipulated variable, responding variables and controlled variables. An experiment must have a measurement. A measurement must be made to tell what effect a change in the manipulated variable has on the responding variable. The best measurements are objective: time, temperature, weight, length and so on.
  3. Form a hypothesis.
  4. Plan the experiment.
  5. Perform the experiment. Make changes in your plan as you do the experiment experiment to make a better experiment. It may be necessary to start over after making changes. So start your work early and then you will have time to make all necessary changes.
  6. Prepare the results. Review and organize the measurements to show what happened. Usually tables, graphs and charts are made to show the measurements in different ways.
  7. Explain the results. What does the resulting measurement mean? Are there other times or places when similar results would be expected to happen? Did the results turn out according to the hypothesis? If not, why did your hypothesis prove to be incorrect?
  8. Drawing the conclusions. Conclusions are general statements that can be made with confidence based on the results. They may include patterns, measured values, changes and so on. You should answer the experiment question at this time.
  9. Prepare your materials for the science fair. You need to include:
    • The display of the project
    • A brief written report about the project
    • A brief talk about the project

Engineering Inventions

While working as a scout it is important to keep a journal. Include the date, time and place you are making your entry. What should you invent? To answer this question, you need to practice looking, listening, brainstorming, and thinking. You need to be innovative. As a scout you can look for problems that need to be solved. Make a list of problems you encounter at home or at school that might be solved by inventing something.

Are you stuck? Try these activities to get you going. Find ten or more objects in your room and classify them into defined groups. Take two objects and compare them. How are they alike? How are they different? What is something useful that you could make by combining the two objects? Take an object and list all of its different uses. Try using the SCAMPER Technique. Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate a part of it. Reverse it or rearrange it.

Now pick one problem to solve and scout the market. Look for products that might already address the problem. Can you create something better? Something that solves the problem in a different, more efficient way?

While working as a wizard it is important to continue to write in your journal. Now that you have your problem, you have to find a way to solve it. Brainstorm a list of ways you could solve your problem. Make a list of materials needed for each of the solutions. List how each of your solutions will work. Make a list of the obstacles you might have to overcome. Now chose one of the solutions that make the most sense.

Now it's time to create a working model or prototype of your invention. Make sure you make diagrams and descriptions of materials in your journal.

While working as a critic make sure you make positive observations first, then work on the negative ones. There are questions you should ask yourself when evaluating an invention.

Make changes to your invention to make it better. Most inventions are evaluated and revised many times before they are put on the market.

  1. Become a scout
  2. Become a wizard
  3. Become a critic
    • What is the invention supposed to do?
    • What are the positive things about how the invention solves the problem?
    • What are some of the problems with the invention?
    • What could be changed to make it better?
    • Why do you think it would or would not be successful?
    • Will this invention be worth while over time?
    • How much would it cost to produce it?
    • Is the invention durable?
    • Have others try it out. What advice do they give?

G4-6 Sample Projects and Ideas

Demonstrations
  • How heat is transmitted
  • An energy-efficient home
  • What makes a hot air balloon rise?
  • Expansion of solids, liquids & gases when heated
  • How a thermostat works
  • How a toaster works
  • The steam engine
  • The periscope
  • Kaleidoscopes
  • How binoculars work
  • How a microscope works
  • How a telescope works
  • What makes rainbows?
  • Different types of mirrors
  • Lenses and what they do
  • How a camera works
  • How polaroid glasses work
  • What causes light to bend?
  • How photocells work
  • How a prism works
  • The pinhole camera
  • The Doppler effect
  • What causes echoes
  • How a record player works
  • How an electric motor works
  • How a generator works
  • Batteries, how they work
  • The telegraph
  • What is a transformer?
  • What is a transistor?
  • Electronic components and their functions
  • Hydroelectric power
  • The series circuit and the parallel circuit
  • How airplanes fly
  • How a wing works
  • Hero's engine
  • How rockets fly
  • Looping rollercoasters - how they work
  • How a canal lock works
  • Primitive clocks
  • Distillation
  • Solar still
  • Water filtration
  • pH and how to measure it
  • Acids, bases and pH
  • How elements combine to make compounds
  • Capillary action
  • Radioactivity and Geiger counters
  • The sextant (or quadrant)
  • What is density?
  • What is surface tension?
  • Weather forecasting
  • How a barometer works
  • Cloud chamber
  • Effects of air pressure
  • Fermentation
  • Osmosis
  • Phases of the moon (working model)
  • Eclipses
  • How a geyser works
  • Harvesting the wind with windmills
  • How clouds form
  • Different types of earthquake faults
  • Sedimentation
  • How a sundial works
  • How does the human heart work? (model)
  • The circulatory system
  • The ear
  • Tooth decay
  • Why a fish has fins
  • Bird wings, how they work
  • Photosynthesis
  • Hydroponics
  • The action of yeast in bread
  • How yogurt is made
  • How cheese is made
  • Paper recycling
  • Aluminum recycling
  • Glass recycling
  • Oil wells - how they work
  • The submarine

Experiments

* Denotes more difficult projects

Physical Science

  • Which metals conduct heat best?
  • * Measuring the calories in a peanut
  • Which material makes the best heat insulator?
  • *The efficiency of airspace as an insulator
  • Which color of liquid absorbs the most heat?
  • Which color container absorbs the most heat?
  • Which color container cools off the quickest?
  • How temperature affects the height at which different balls bounce
  • *How heat affects recording tape
  • Do black bottom pools keep the water warmer?
  • How constant is the temperature in my refrigerator?
  • How accurate is the temperature knob on my oven?
  • The effects of temperature on the strength of dry cells
  • The effect of light on dyed materials
  • *Calculating liquid density using light refraction
  • Materials that absorb sound
  • String telephones: what materials work best in conducting sound
  • Conductivity of various liquids
  • *How temperature affects the amount of electricity given off by a solar cell
  • How increasing the number of batteries affects the speed of a motor
  • What is the voltage range of the GE-14 bulb?
  • *The strength of a magnet vs. distance
  • *Do magnetic fields affect the sound quality on a recording tape?
  • The effects of washing on dyed materials
  • * Which fabrics are most fire-resistant?
  • * Which toothpaste is most abrasive?
  • *The amount of dissolved salt in drinking water
  • Can saltwater be desalted by freezing?
  • Popcorn: A graphical analysis of pops per second
  • *Strength of different woods
  • Ink evaluation with paper chromatography
  • Splat - a study in droplet patterns
  • *Chlorine levels in our drinking water
  • The effects of swimming pool water (chlorine) on hair
  • *Testing sugar in soft drinks
  • *Comparison of vitamin A content in frozen, canned and fresh peas
  • *Which foods have starch (or sugar, fat, protein, etc.) ?
  • *Testing various orange drinks for vitamin C
  • *How fire affects roofing materials
  • How well do various fabrics absorb dye?
  • *Who has greater body density, boys or girls?
  • *How strong is a spider web thread?
  • Think up your own special project idea
  • *How does the tail affect the flight of a kite?
  • *What shutter speed is needed to photograph a moving fan?
  • The velocity of water through different tubes (same size, different material)
  • The velocity of water through different tubes (same material, different sizes)
  • The velocity of different liquids through the same size tube
  • *Density of various liquids

Engineering

  • *Do oil additives reduce friction on engine parts?
  • *A frictionless magnetic bearing
  • *How many rotor blades give maximum lift for a helicopter?
  • Paper airplane performance
  • *Robots
  • *Using electromagnets to power a car
  • *Battle of the bridges
  • *"Computer projects
  • *Testing a car headlight as a satellite dish antenna
  • *Storing the sun's energy
  • *Power from rising air
  • *Power from the waves
  • *Testing different water turbine blades

Earth Science

  • *Charting the apparent motion of Polaris
  • Composition of Hawaiian sand
  • Water retention of different soils
  • Using a computer for mineral identification
  • How much dust falls on your lawn in a month?
  • How clean is our air?
  • How acid is our rain?
  • Speed of clouds using photography
  • The effect of wave action on different rocks (using a rock tumbler)
  • Wave barriers
  • Using feathers to clean up oil spills
  • Terracing and how it affects erosion
  • *The effects of water on different types of wood

Consumer

  • Which firewood gives the most heat per dollar?
  • *Which solar panel is most efficient?
  • Can a roof overhang cut summer cooling costs?
  • A comparative study of various packing materials
  • How much money can a pool cover save?
  • Which candle is the best buy?
  • *Which light bulb is most efficient?
  • Are TV commercials louder than regular programming?
  • Think up your own special project
  • The frequency and length of TV commercials during a one-hour program
  • Which battery is the best buy?
  • How much does it really cost to run a refrigerator?
  • Which stain remover works best?
  • Which detergent removes grass stains best?
  • Which detergent cuts grease the best?
  • Which detergent has the longes-lasting suds?
  • The effectiveness of pre-wash products
  • Waterproofing agents - which is best?
  • The effects of deodorants on clothes
  • Which paint protects wood the best?
  • The effectiveness of different wood preservatives
  • *Shampoo evaluation
  • *Water solubility of suntan lotions
  • *Meat, fat and moisture content of hot dogs
  • *Do sausages vary in fat and water content?
  • Which popcorn pops the most?
  • Up to bat - wood or aluminum?
  • Fishing lines take the strength test
  • *Sole traction - which sole is best?
  • *Skateboard wheels - which are best?
  • Leaky faucets - how much do they cost us?
  • Which uses more water, a shower or a bath?
  • Which container (or wrapping) preserves food best?
  • Which paper towel is most absorbent?
  • Which diaper is best?
  • Which lighter has the most fuel?
  • Comparison of locks - which is best?
  • Which nails have the best holding power?
  • *The best air pressure for an A.T.C. (3-wheeler)
  • How long are yellow lights at various intersections?
  • Do parking meters give us the right time?

 

 

 

Websites and More Project Ideas

Go to Science Resources for Science Fair related web sites and project ideas.

 

Life Science

  • Does a magnetic field affect the growth of beans?
  • Does electricity affect the growth of beans?
  • Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
  • How do plants react to different kinds of music?
  • *How detergents affect the growth of plants
  • Do plants grow better with tap water or distilled water?
  • The effects of rootbounding on plant growth
  • Do roots always grow down?
  • Do mirrors affect the way plants grow?
  • *Does leaf surface area affect plant growth?
  • Leaf size vs. location
  • Effects of artificial vs. natural light on plants
  • Under which color cellophane do plants grow best?
  • Can you give a plant too much fertilizer?
  • Testing different potting soils
  • Which mulch covering works best?
  • *Does the phase of the moon affect the germination of seeds?
  • Do seeds sprout better in cold or hot climates?
  • *How does gravity affect the growth of seeds?
  • *Does acid rain affect the germination of seeds?
  • Under which thickness of plastic do radishes grow best?
  • How the amount of light affects the growth of marigolds
  • Do avocados ripen more evenly with the stems left on?
  • *Which banana has the most sugar - green, yellow or brown?
  • "Comparing the moisture content of five varieties of apples
  • Effects of the environment on popcorn (heat, cold, moisture, time, etc.)
  • Does aspirin prolong the life of cut carnations?
  • *How detergents affect the growth of algae in pond water
  • *A study of marine growth on various surfaces
  • How fast does a mealworm (or snail) travel?
  • The speed of snails on different surfaces
  • *Horsepower of snails
  • The effect of different metals on snails
  • Effects of household pesticides on earthworms
  • Do earthworms help plants to grow?
  • *Can insects pull more than their own body weight?
  • *Ant control - natural vs. chemical repellants
  • Do goldfish grow larger in a larger tank?
  • Fish feeding - the effects of light
  • *Can mice see colors?
  • *Can mice distinguish shapes (squares, circles, triangles - associate one with food)
  • *Hamster activity and the phases of the moon
  • *Can the color of unborn rabbits be predicted?
  • How many grams of food does a rabbit eat per day?
  • Chickens and colored corn - which will they eat?
  • *Will a chicken lay more eggs with rock music playing?
  • Do pyramids preserve food?
  • *How does our vision affect our taste?
  • Light vs. vision - which color is best?
  • Night vision and the effects of colored objects
  • *The effect of color on depth perception
  • Does a blindfolded person walk in a circle?
  • The relationship between age and response time
  • *Can you recognize your own profile?
  • Left-hand, right-hand transference using a "mirror tracing"
  • Reading and remembering with different colored paper - which works best?
  • Flexibility: boys vs. girls
  • Do adults know U.S. geography? (or math skills, science concepts, etc.)
  • How do people react when seeing a teenager shoplift?
  • *How teeth react to different liquids
  • *Do taste buds grow weaker as you get older?
  • *Effects of coffee on a person's steady hand
  • *Effects of caffeine on blood pressure
  • Hot tubs and their effect on blood pressure
  • *Effects of foul smells on blood pressure
  • *Tar and nicotine in five brands of cigarettes
  • Smoking vs. lung capacity
  • Lung power of different age groups

 



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