Great Science Fair Projects
The degree of complication for a science fair project depends on the grade level your child is in. During the lower grades, simple projects are usually accepted because younger students are not expected to have extremely complicated projects and procedures. This does not mean, however that there are no available projects for the lower grades, and if there are that these projects do not stand a chance to win at the fair. Simple projects, because they are simple stand a chance to win because this means anyone can do it, and that means the science behind it can be easily learned.
Great science projects for younger students involve incorporating what they learned in class and practicing the theory or concept in a real life situation. So a study of the weather can lead to a project that creates weather instruments out of materials found around the home. Home made weather instruments that can accumulate data and can be compared to actual weather data taken from the Internet will be a sure contender at the science fair. If the project can come with a demonstration (as what is usually required of such fair projects) then it is even better!
For mid-elementary students, great science fair projects are also projects that they can have fun with. So powering a light bulb by harnessing electric power from lemons is one way to get a child both interested in science, and contend for a prize. Though the lemon light bulb, potato clock, or potato light bulb, and lemon clock have all been done, try tweaking the experiment to see if you can harness enough electricity to power something else. The study of electricity is always a winner at any science fair, for as long as the child comes up with a more original twist to the old favorites.
Older and more serious students joining the fair can get great science projects from the Internet. Creating their own solar oven, or photographing the inside of an insect’s head through materials and chemicals easily found in anyone’s home are both great projects to include in the fair. Your child can photograph an insect on the spot or bake brownies for the fair judges. Whatever you do, just be sure that the project you choose has something original to it. If you can introduce something new to a project that is also relevant to what you learned in school, then you are very likely to place in the science fair.
By: Ethan Jeremy
Tags: Chemicals, Contender, Demonstration, Electricity, Elementary Students, Great Science, Insect, Lemon Light, Lemons, Life Situation, Light Bulb, Old Favorites, Potato Clock, Science Fair Project, Science Fair Projects, Science Projects, Solar Oven, Tweaking, Weather Data, Weather Instruments