There are many different types of science projects you can do with your 5th-grade class. This article will list five other examples of science projects that you can try, ranging from easy to complex. There is a brief description and the materials needed to complete the project…
These fifth-grade scientific exercises introduce children to biology, physics, chemistry, and various other subjects. Try one at your local science fair, or incorporate a few into your lesson plans.
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40 Mind-blowing Fifth Grade Science Projects
1. Race Down a LEGO Zip-line
In this experiment, you will use a LEGO zip-line to test whether the force of gravity is stronger than the friction between an object and a surface. What You Need: Two large flat pieces of cardboard, Two 16-inch long dowel rods, Two 8-inch long dowel rods, Two 6-inch long dowel rods, Six 1×4 LEGO bricks, One 2×6 LEGO brick. Scissors, Tape, Hot glue gun, and glue.
2. Slow Your Roll
In this experiment, you will learn more about the physics of rolling down a hill on a small object. What You Need: A pencil, Three 2×4 LEGO bricks, One 4×4 LEGO brick, One 2×6 LEGO brick, One ruler, Pencil, or pen with an eraser.
3. Erupt a Salt Dough Volcano
You will learn about the science of volcanoes and volcanism in this experiment. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick with White Elmer’s glue, One tablespoon of salt, Dough that is no more than twice as thick as the LEGO bricks (you can use flour or play-dough), A piece of paper to hold up your volcano if it collapses.
4. Peel an Orange to Understand Plate Tectonics
You will learn about geology and plate tectonics in this experiment. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One bowl of water, three large plates, eight small plates Scissors Piece of paper with the word “Eurasia” written on it.
5. Discover the Strength of Eggshells
Learn about eggshells and how they protect developing chicks during the first few weeks of life in this experiment; what You Need:
- One 2×6 LEGO brick
- Two plastic eggs
- One piece of PVC pipe
- A small funnel with a handle
- One cup of water
6. Fly Clothespin Airplanes
In this experiment, you will learn about flight and the physics of wing design. What You Need: One 16-inch by 6-inch piece of cardboard Two clothespins Tape Scissors One paperclip One piece of paper
7. Observe Lava Lamp Dynamics
Lava lamps are fascinating. Learn more about their internal dynamics in this experiment. What You Need: One lava lamp (at least 20 inches tall) One 2×6 LEGO brick Paper Clothespins or a binder clip A cup of water A small jar or cup of clear ketchup with a lid
8. Demonstrate the “magic” Leakproof Bag
Do you want to see how the bag can stay fully intact while continually being filled with water? Try this experiment and see how the pack works. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, A bag of some sort (such as a Ziploc bag), Scissors, Tape Two 9-inch-long pieces of PVC pipe.
9. Explore the Science of Glow Sticks
Learn about the science behind glow sticks and how they function in this experiment. What You Need: Two 2×6 LEGO bricks, One empty plastic bottle with a lid, One glow stick, One 8-inch long piece of PVC pipe (optional)
10. Stop Soil Erosion with Plants
Plants can help stop soil erosion in this experiment. What You Need: One sunflower seed, One piece of poster board, One 6×6 LEGO brick, A large flat rock or piece of slate, A pencil, and an indoor watering can
11. Fill a Bubble with Dry Ice Vapor
In this experiment, you will use a dry ice “bomb” to create a bubble that contains high amounts of carbon dioxide, what You Need:
- One 2×6 LEGO brick.
- Two 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe (one bent into a “U”).
- One cup of water.
- One small plastic bottle with a lid.
12. Grow Crystal Snowflakes
This experiment will use a few basic chemicals to grow a beautiful crystal snowflake. What You Need: One tablespoon of borax, one cup of water, Two 2×6 LEGO bricks, Paper Scissors, Safety goggles (optional)
13. Spin a Candle Carousel
You will put up a carousel of candles in this experiment to determine whether their positioning influences their melting speed. Three candles are required. A single 6×6 LEGO brick Scissors Made of Paper Tape A identifier
14. Escape from Quicksand
In this experiment, you will test whether quicksand and water will affect sinking in quicksand. Experiment with different sizes of Lego blocks to determine the size needed to sink in the quicksand. What You Need: One piece of PVC pipe, One 6×6 LEGO brick, One 3-2/3 x 1-1/5-inch poster board Scissors Tape.
15. Write in Invisible Ink
In this experiment, you will write messages in invisible ink and see whether they can be read. What You Need: One notebook (A5 size) Two pieces of cardboard Two pieces of paper Two sticks Two markers Pencils Sharpie fine point markers or black permanent marker (optional)
16. Set off a Chain Reaction
In this experiment, you will set off a chain reaction to determine whether the speed or strength of the trigger is more influential. You will also test how many eggs are needed to set off a chain reaction; what You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One egg, One piece of poster board, Two 9.5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe.
17. Play Catch with a Catapult
In this experiment, you will test the physics of catapults and how they can launch objects farther than arm strength alone can accomplish; what You Need: One 2×8 LEGO brick (2×6 brick and two 1×4 bricks can be used if a 2×8 brick is not available). Two 5-inch pieces of PVC pipe, One rubber band, Scissors Tape, and One paper clip.
18. Find out if Water Conducts Electricity
In this experiment, you will test various materials to see which conducts electricity the fastest. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One 3-inch piece of PVC pipe (optional), and Two 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe (one bent into a “U”). A potato or other small, dry object Water in two containers with holes in the sides. Paper clips A fresh potato.
19. Bounce on a Trampoline
Learn about trampolines and their construction in this experiment. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick A yardstick or meter stick A large piece of cardboard Two 18-inch long pieces of PVC pipe One metal pan or can (about 1 inch in diameter) Scissors The main instructions will be on the paper that’s taped to your yardstick.
20. Float a Marker, Man
In this experiment, you will test how buoyancy and the fibreglass resistivity of water influence marker men floating in the water; what You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One marker man (water-resistant marker), Scissors, Tape Water in a container with a hole in the side. A pen or pencil.
21. Build a Solar Oven
In this experiment, you will use the sun’s power to cook an egg. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, Two 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe, and One piece of paper taped around a pencil with two pieces of paper clips. Electrical tape or duct tape (optional) An egg, A cookie sheet.
22. Launch Your Own Bottle Rocket
Launch a bottle rocket to determine whether high-level wind can make a difference in the rocket’s velocity what You Need: A 4×5 LEGO brick, One 4×8 piece of paperboard Scissors, Tape, A sharp knife (optional), An empty bottle (optional), and One 2×6 LEGO brick.
23. Build a Snack Machine
In this experiment, you will test how different parts of the machine can influence how steady the snack machine is; what You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, Three 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe, One piece of poster board, Scissors Tape, One paper clip.
24. Explode a Soda Geyser
In this experiment, you will test whether the incidence of a geyser’s rise can be influenced by moving its base what You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One large piece of poster board, Two 18-inch long pieces of PVC pipe, Two pieces of paper Scissors Tape Water in two containers with holes in the sides.
25. Watch the Heartbeat with Marshmallows
In this experiment, you will test to see whether your body heat can be detected with marshmallows, paper, and a stopwatch. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One marshmallow, One piece of poster board, Three 9.5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe Scissors Tape.
26. Build a Catapult and Launch a Rock
Build a catapult and launch a rock in this experiment to determine whether the speed of the launch is influenced by the height from which the projectile is launched. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, One 3-inch piece of PVC pipe (optional) Rubber band (optional), An egg Scissors Tape A rock.
27. Discover the Delights of Decomposition
Decomposition is when the remains of plants and animals are returned to the soil. Learn about this process in this experiment. What You Need: A glass jar (the lid should have a hole in it), Two pieces of paper Scissors Tape, A pencil or pen.
28. Mix up some Magic Sand
With a little bit of imagination mixed with your science skill, you can make your DIY magic sand! What You Need: One 20-gram sachet of corn starch (can be substituted with flour), Two tablespoons of baking soda, A teaspoon of salt Water Two tablespoons of cream, and oil. Work out how much water and baking soda to use for the amount of corn starch you plan on using in this experiment. Mix your ingredients. It’s going to be very sticky, so work carefully so that it doesn’t spill everywhere.
29. Make Your Bouncy Balls
In this experiment, you will test how mass, density, and temperature affect the formation of bouncy balls. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick Three 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe Two rubber bands Scissors Tape Four 1×4 plates (square plates are fine) A plastic bottle or jar.
30. Make a Foil Bug Walk on Water
This experiment will test how adding foil to a bug’s feet can help it walk on water. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick Two 9-inch long pieces of PVC pipe Three 9.5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe (one bent into a “U”) Scissors Tape Newspaper A small ball.
31. Assemble Archimedes’ screw
In this experiment, you will test whether the force applied to a screw can be increased by adding weight to it what You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, A piece of poster board, Two pieces of PVC pipe, Twenty-four washers (2 inches in diameter), Sixteen nuts Scissors, Tape Wood glue.
32. Blow up a Balloon – without Blowing
In this experiment, you will test how air pressure can be changed. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick Eighteen rubber bands (two-inch diameter rubber bands are recommended) One balloon One piece of poster board Two 9.5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe Sixteen nuts Scissors Tape.
33. Use Rubber Bands to Sound out Acoustics
In this experiment, you will use rubber bands to test the science behind how instruments are created and where they are placed. What You Need: Empty paper bag, A piece of poster board, Scissors Tape, Rubber bands
34. Study Water Filtration
In this experiment, you will test how water filtration works to filter bacteria from water. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick, A piece of poster board (or two pieces of paper taped together), Two 9.5-inch long pieces of PVC pipe Scissors Tape Water in a container with a hole in the side Paper towel.
35. Discover Density with Hot and Cold Water
With this experiment, you will test how density is affected by temperature. What You Need: One 2×6 LEGO brick Two pieces of paper A pencil A glass jar (the lid should have a hole in it) Water (hot and cold)
36. Learn to Layer Liquids
This density demo is more difficult, but the results are stunning in a glass, layer of honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol. Your 5th-grade science students will be delighted when the liquids magically float together (except it is real science).
37. Light(ing) it up Indoors
This experiment shows how static electricity builds up indoors. It is really simple, too! Just rub a balloon on your head and on the carpet to charge it up with static electricity. Then take this charged balloon outside and see what happens when you bring it near another charged balloon. This is because the negative charge on your hair transfers to the other balloon (which is positively charged). Don’t do this in the rain!
38. Find out If a Dog’s Mouth is Cleaner than a Human’s
Dogs are man’s best friend, but they also have a reputation for having cleaner mouths than humans. This experiment tests whether this is true by having participants place their mouths on a dog’s tongue and a human’s tongue.
39. Recycle Newspaper into an Engineering Challenge
You can use a variety of containers such as boxes, cups, and bowls to test the strength of paper. First, cut the paper into rectangular strips. Then arrange them on the inside of the container according to your design. Take a few steps back and evaluate how your design holds up to weight. If you feel ambitious, try putting a cup or two on top of the paper. You can also put some filler paper in between or underneath your container and see what happens when it gets weighed down.
40. Preserve Apple Slices
The lactic acid in the lemon juice inhibits bacteria from decomposing the apple slices. This activity allows your students the opportunity to see the science behind food preservation.
