science fair projects

[LimeGreenCheri]

DD is wanting to do a science project for the science fair. It's a lot of work, but I feel I must encourage her if she wants to do something extra. She is in the 3rd grade and I'm looking for suggestions for a project.

MargaretJ gave me a great one that DD liked! I've also looked on the internet. I'm looking for ones that you may have done that were realitively easy.

Thanks for the help!

[BuzzsMom]

Last year my son who was in Grade 3 at the time did a project about optical illusions. I found lots of them on the web and he had to understand how each one worked.
Two years ago he did the tornado one where he made a tornado with two 2 lt pop containers. We also made a fabulous one with a big glass jar and used a little dish detergent. We even put little monopoly houses in it so they would spin in the tornado. He used the Magic Tree House tornado research guide to help him with that one.
Susan

[frisbee]

Gregory did one on nutritional value of dog food vs taste. He tested 6 dogs for 5 days with several kinds of dog food, then found the nutritional info and compared it to the one the dogs liked the best. It was a unique one...actually taking Grand Champion and sending him to the District Science Fair.

Email me if you want more info.

Wendy

[BriarRose]

We did a science project on the effectiveness of laundry detergent alone, with bleach added, with bleach alone and water by itself to remove a ketchup stain.

We also did another one to see if you really can fry and egg on a hot sidewalk! But it was 100 degrees the day we did that one.

[Bookwood]

We've done lots of projsects- here's the list (our always had to prove a hypothesis not just be something you made)
- Proving whether water, soda, coffee, or ??? (can't remember 4th item) was better for growing plants
-Testing different tooth pastes on egg shells (hard boilied) for cleaning and whitening abilities
*- testing whether hot or cold water freezes first (kindergarteners did this one)
*-natural fertilizers ( tried growing plants with water,maple sap, oj, and a 4th item
- testing different carpet cleaners
-testing different laundry detergants
*-testing ways to reclaim soil when polluted with oil products

all of these projects qualified for our regional science fair and the * ones won prizes at that science fair (unfortunately none of my kids ever qualified for the national science fair)

Cheri- I'm thinking with the internet and digital cameras Science Fair Projects would be so much more fun these days! Have fun with the project- that's the main thing- and follow whatever directions they give!

[LimeGreenCheri]

What great ideas everybody! Thankyou so much. I'm always hestiate for "projects" because it's a lot of extra work. But, if my children want to excel academically, I can't tell them "no".

I'm hoping to decide on a project by Friday and get started!

If you have any more ideas or websites, I'd love to have them!

[BetsyBoo]

Cheri,

One of the most popular projects we do is chromatography (the study of color). It is fun because you get a new set of markers or a couple of sets if you want to compare marker brands. Then get and absorbant paper towel, have your daughter draw a circle on the paper towel and then add drops of water to the circle to draw the colors out. Beside making an attractive display it also is fun for the kids to try out at the science fair. We usually only take the brown and black marker because the kids love seeing the colors seperate out. Our school science fair is really simple and every child medals.

Betsy

[BetsyAnn]

Science fair projects - I remember doing those.

* What plants need to live? 3rd grade project - took several plants - tomato I believe - one plant gave water and light, one light - no water, one water - no light and one no water - no light - compared outcomes seemed to impress someone - got age level award and 2nd for fair - I thought it was boring :D

* Paper making from pulp - this one was more fun - got to play in water, use the iron, demonstarte to most classrooms -- also lots of hands on for the other kids.

*And the famous - fruit fly experiment - well maybe not - mom never forgave me for introducing the flies to the refrigator! :rofl:

Good luck - hope DD finds one that is fun for her to do -- winning is not everything!