[5th Grade Elementary School] Independent Research Themes & Crafts | A Collection of Ideas That Lead to Learning
Elementary school students, have you decided what to do for your independent research project this year?
Since you can choose any theme for independent research—experiments, crafts, observations—it can be hard to decide what to do each year.
So in this article, we’ve gathered a variety of independent research ideas to help you not only search for ideas but also expand on any interests you come up with.
Because this is aimed at fifth graders, we’re introducing topics that lead to deeper learning.
Feel free to use this as a reference and keep making new discoveries!
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[5th Grade Elementary School] Independent Research Themes & Crafts | A Collection of Ideas that Lead to Learning (21–30)
Milk Carton Rolling Tower
@silk_haru3mama [Summer Vacation Craft/Independent Study] I made a rolling ball tower out of a milk carton 🌻#Summer VacationSummer Vacation Independent ResearchSummer Vacation Crafttranslation#HandmadeToysworkIndependent ResearchScrap Material CraftingSimple craft#AtHomePlay#craft
♬ Electro Swing Jazz – Retro, strange, mysterious(1137053) – Ponetto
Let’s reuse empty milk cartons to make a fun rolling tower where a ping-pong ball tumbles down! Cut the milk cartons and connect two of them to create a long cylindrical base.
Make holes and slits in paper plates, attach them in a stepped arrangement, and adjust the angles so the ball rolls smoothly through.
Add slits to the side of the cylinder so the ball won’t stop midway and will drop all the way to the bottom.
If you wrap the whole thing with a tube-shaped cover made from a clear file, the ball won’t fly out and it’s safer to play with.
A bonus is that kids can learn about gravity and incline through the speed of the rolling ball and the fun sounds it makes.
It’s an eco-friendly idea that uses recycled materials to create a moving, interactive project.
A piggy bank that helps you save while having fun
Let’s use Daiso’s 3-tier drawer case to make a fun, game-like piggy bank over summer break.
First, flip the second and third drawers upside down and reassemble them so the flat sides face the front.
Next, cut corrugated plastic (plastic cardboard) into any shapes you like and attach it to the outside of the drawers to create a design that looks great.
Inside, apply double-sided tape so coins pause partway and drop slowly as they travel down.
With a piggy bank you made yourself, saving money becomes fun and easier to turn into a habit.
It’s a unique, practical idea that can change your everyday life through creativity and ingenuity.
Making Konpeito (traditional Japanese sugar candy)
Let’s try making handmade konpeitō—colorful, cute sugar candies—for a summer vacation science project.
Boil sugar and water to make syrup, then gradually add small amounts of konpeitō cores; as you do, little spikes will slowly form on the surface.
By adding food coloring or flavorings during the process, you can customize the taste and color to your liking.
Even without special equipment, you can keep stirring and improvising with a frying pan or a bowl; it takes time, but the candies will gradually take on the characteristic konpeitō shape.
Because the results change depending on the temperature and timing of sugar crystallization and how you stir, it’s also enjoyable as a science experiment.
It’s a rewarding idea that nurtures both confectionery skills and observation.
Ice that freezes in 3 minutes
This is a science project where you make cool, tasty ice cream in a short time.
Put heavy cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate chips in a zip-top bag and seal it tightly, then place it inside another larger bag filled with ice and salt.
Adding salt lowers the temperature of the ice, quickly freezing the cream inside the bag.
Wrap it in a towel and shake well, and in about three minutes the ice cream is ready.
The crunchy chocolate bits are fun, and the flavor is very satisfying.
Scientifically, the key is that salt lowers the melting point of ice, causing an endothermic process that absorbs energy and freezes the contents.
It’s an idea packed with both deliciousness and learning, letting you experience the relationship between cold and chemistry.
Bird call making
As a craft project perfect for children who love nature observation, I recommend making a bird call.
Prepare a hand-sized wooden branch and drill a small hole in the center.
Screw in a metal part called an eye nut, and when you twist it so the wood and metal rub against each other, it produces a sound like birdsong.
Real birds may sometimes respond to this sound, so trying it out in a park after making it is part of the fun.
The volume and pitch change depending on the type of wood and the depth of the hole, so by experimenting and recording the differences, you can enhance the quality of the project as an independent study.
It’s a hands-on idea that lets kids connect with nature while sparking curiosity about how sound works.
How to make jelly that sets instantly
Here’s how to make a beautiful jelly with sparkling, colorful beads.
Make the jelly base with sodium alginate, then gently pour a liquid colored with shaved ice syrup or food coloring into water containing dissolved calcium lactate.
Like magic, soft jelly sets instantly.
This happens because alginic acid and calcium undergo a chemical reaction that forms a jelly-like membrane.
Shine a light on it for an even more enchanting effect.
By experimenting with color combinations and shapes, you can create pieces that are visually delightful for kids.
It’s a perfect idea for an independent study project full of wonder, blending science with crafts.
Portable water experiment
Some kids might be struggling to come up with an independent research project for their summer vacation homework.
How about making portable water with a bit of experimentation? You might be thinking, “Portable water?” It’s true that if you put water in your palm, it just spills out.
But if you add a certain ingredient, it turns jelly-like.
The ingredients are food-grade calcium lactate and food-grade alginic acid (sodium alginate).
Because alginic acid readily bonds with calcium ions, the water solidifies into a gel.
It’s a fun experiment where water becomes a wobbly jelly, so give it a try!
