Help with Science Project Ideas

Updated on March 08, 2008
R.R. asks from Puyallup, WA
6 answers

My 4th grade son needs to start working on a science fair project for school. I thought it would be simple to come up with an idea, but most of the things he's interested in are WAY too complicated for this level. I have tried looking online but I thought I might ask other moms who have actually experienced this before. He basically needs something simple, but interesting. Please throw some ideas our way! Thanks so much.

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! It got our minds going in the right direction. My son wanted his OWN idea, however, so he ended up doing, "Which room has the most dust?" We collected dust from each room on taped cards, and he counted particles with a magnifying glass. Then we also got dust-bunnies from each area to put into bags and compare. He made a bar graph of the results, and I helped him type the procedure up. He ended up winning a trophy! At the science fair, there were a ton of volcanoes. I think the ones that did best were the ones with the nicest displays. Some poor kids had good ideas, but their presentation was awful, such as handwriting on posterboard with pencil. If anyone needs to do any of these in the future, I highly suggest large print (computer), colors, and pictures!

Thanks again everyone. We are so relieved the project is done!

More Answers

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C.S.

answers from Charlotte on

How about a project where you test which brand of batteries really does last the longest. This is easy, but fun and interesting. You just simply buy 4 different brands of batteries, energizer, duracell, etc. And then buy 4 of the same cheap flashlights (dollar store probably has them). Load up the batteries, be sure to label which flashlight has which battery and then leave them all on until they start burning out. You'll know which one lasts the longest. Just a thought.

You could also do one on growing grass seed. Which environment does grass seed grow best? Fill up 4 styrofoam cups with potting soil, sprinkle in grass seed, add water. Put the cups in different environments throughout your house. (refrigerator, sunny kitchen window, dark closet, the attic) See which one grows fastest.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.P.

answers from Johnson City on

R., this is an idea. How about you take 3 sodas in a can. Place one can in a container filled with just cold water or just ice. Place the second can in a container filled with water and ice. And the third can put in a container filled with water, ice and salt. Check to see which can will get the coldest fastest and why. You can check the temperatures after so many minutes. Well I hope this will work for you. Good Luck and Score an A!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Nashville on

I have four kids...let's think what were the science fair projects...

One child tested four kinds of fertilizers to see which one made the seeds grow faster. He used three different kinds of seeds and four different kinds of fertilizer that you would use on a vegetable garden.

One child tested paper towels to see which paper towel held the most marbles. We put the marbles in ziplock bags by weight and added a few at a time until the paper towel broke. We weighed the marbles at the meat dept at the grocery store. We tested wet and dry paper towels.

One child tested match box cars on different surfaces to see which surface made the matchbox car go the fastest.

One tested the effect of drought-never watering, watering daily, watering every other day, watering every third day, and watering several times a day until the soil was soggy on seeds they were trying to grow.

The paper towel testing won a first prize and a blue ribbon in the city wide Science Fair. But I think that was because the Science Fair display board was really good. She typed all the information in a big easy to read font, put construction paper behind each page of the printed information, included a graph of her results, and put a nice border around the display board. Her older brother gave her pointers.

Good Luck! I hate school projects! :o)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Raleigh on

how about the classic volcano Idea. place baking soda in vinegar with a little food coloring and the volcano erupts. Or you might look up and see why these ingredients react this way and just use a beaker to explain. another easy one is draw a diagram of the sun and its many layers. or make it even more fun and get modeling clay and make a model of the sun. Good luck !!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.J.

answers from Greensboro on

R.,
Been there done that already this year. Although my 4th grader chose not to participate, my 1st grader did. I did get to see several different projects. I'll list a few for ya and if you want more information on that particular project, I will do my best to help.

Who is smarter boys or girls, with testing on actual classmates using simple puzzles.

How effective is lotion on skin, using rose petals and different lotion type substances.

Creating a biosphere, completely self contained - rather simple

The effects of brush fires on the environment and what helps them to spread.

Using food coloring to create patterns in milk.
growing crystals in different solutions.

The affect of light and lack of light on plants.

I also have a book with SEVERAL projects listed according to the amount of time it takes till deadline that I would be willing to share if you still need to find one of interest.
Hope this helps

S. J AKA Shazzizme
__________FIGHT LYME DISEASE
www.ShazzArtisticVisions.com

1 mom found this helpful
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C.G.

answers from Greensboro on

What about a project with magnets and about their pull?

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