PROJECT IDEAS
KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE 1
| Category | Idea |
| Aerodynamics | Parachutes: Does size matter? |
| Animal behavior | Which kinds of food do dogs (or any animal) prefer best? |
| Animals | Create a model of an animal’s habitat. |
| Chemistry | Which food will mold the fastest? |
| Chemistry | Do some colors absorb more sunlight than others? |
| Engineering | Which paper towel brand is the strongest? |
| Engineering | Design a boat that can carry a heavy load without sinking. |
| Meteorology | How are clouds formed? |
| Meteorology | How are tornadoes formed? |
| Physics | How do balls of various weights and sizes move on inclined planes (ramps)? |
| Physics | How high do different sized/different material balls bounce? |
| Plant biology | How many seeds do different types of fruit produce? |
| Plant biology | Demonstrate the life cycle of a plant. |
| Plant biology | Do plants need sunlight to grow? |
GRADES 2 AND 3
| Category | Idea |
| Animals | Demonstrate the life cycle of a butterfly or frog. |
| Astronomy | Measure the phases of the moon. |
| Chemistry | Big Pieces or Small Pieces: Which React Faster? This project explores what effect the particle size of the reactants has on the speed of a chemical reaction, such as the production of carbon dioxide gas by an Alka-Seltzer tablet |
| Energy | Do incandescent and fluorescent bulbs produce the same kind of light? Do incandescent and fluorescent bulbs produce the same amount of heat? |
| Engineering | Compare the strength of different materials to build your own structure. |
| Environmental science | Does recycled paper break down in the environment faster than regular paper? |
| Meteorology | What is the difference between the temperature in direct sun and in the shade? Is the difference always the same? |
| Physics | Conduct Galileo’s Famous Falling Objects Experiment – Investigate whether a heavier object falls faster than a lighter object. |
| Physics | Create a balloon-powered car. |
| Plant behavior | Does music have an effect on plant growth? |
| Plant biology | How old are the trees in your backyard (or neighborhood)? |
| Water cycle | Create your own water cycle. |
| Water cycle | Does the amount of ice in a container affect the amount of condensation produced? |
GRADES 4 AND 5
| Category | Idea |
| Aerodynamics | How far will it fly? Build and test paper planes with different drag. |
| Biology | Decomposition: what do worms eat? |
| Biology | How does moisture affect the color of soil? |
| Biology | How does the digestive system work? |
| Chemistry | Can you make Alka-Seltzer fizz faster or slower by changing the temperature of the water? How big of a difference in the rate of a chemical reaction can temperature make? |
| Chemistry | How does light make color? |
| Energy | How can hydropower be used to lift an object? |
| Energy | Use the Sun’s Energy to Heat Your Own Water – Which color of plastic bag heats up the water the most? |
| Energy | Which materials make good insulators? |
| Geology | Create a model of the Earth’s layers. |
| Physics | Investigate how the distance of stretch in a rubber band at rest relates to the distance the rubber band travels after being released. |
| Physics | Which materials are the best and worst conductors of electricity? |
| Physics | How do you make a magnet? |
| Plant biology | Why do plants turn brown? |
| Robotics | Make a robot hand using everyday materials. |
| Technology | Create a game by writing computer code. |
| Weather | Create your own wind meter to measure the speed and power of wind. |
| Weather | How do yearly rainfall or snowfall statistics in your area compare with corresponding numbers of traffic accidents? |
| Weather | How do changes in air pressure affect the weather? |
ALL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED ON SCIENCE DAY