By fifth grade, students know that science is a process of asking questions that can be answered by observing, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. Fifth graders use math and science skills they have previously learned and apply them to design scientific experiments and make observations. Since students study physical science, life science, and earth science, experiments can involve a variety of scientific topics and projects. Below are just a few ideas for fifth grade science projects.
- Does a plant sprout more quickly in a polluted environment? Plant two pots of bean seeds. In the first one, fill with garden soil, water the seeds with tap water, and keep it in a clean environment. Fill the second pot with a mixture of soil and the seeds, a bit of trash, and some polluted water with oil in it. Next, pollute the pot’s environment by spraying chemicals around it. Observe which plant sprouts faster in a few days.
- Do fields and forests have different soil composition? Study the amount of water in different soils, soil salinity, and pH organisms that live in the soil by collecting samples from two or more locations. Soil without gardening or other development is best to study its natural composition. Dig soil 5-6 inches below the surface (away from large plants) and fill a clean jar halfway with it. Label the sample with the location name on the jar in permanent marker. Fill the jar with water at home, close it, and shake lightly until the soil breaks up in the water. Keep the jar in a safe place for a week and all soil components will settle. When rocks, pebbles, sand, silt, clay, and organic remains settle, measure the relative thickness of the layer and compare soil composition from the different locations.
- Does the relative wetness of soil from various depths differ? Using the above procedure, measure the relative wetness of soil from different depths. Compare soil composition of the surface layer, a sample from 10 inches deep, and a sample from 2 feet deep.
- Does the starting temperature of water affect how long ice takes to freeze? Make ice cubes with varying starting water temperatures and time which cube freezes first, second. . . and last.
- Does colored light affect seed growth? Put seeds in three pots and place red colored lights in the first, white lights in the second, and blue lights in the third. Wait about a week and see which seeds grow more quickly. If the white light helps the plant grow more quickly (hint, hint!), why?
- Does ice shape affect melting time? Put equal amounts of water into different shaped containers and freeze. Time how long it takes each piece of ice to melt.
