[For 2nd Graders] Make it with everyday materials! Irresistibly engaging ideas for independent research projects

Well-flying! Paper Airplane

[Paper Airplane] How to make a super well-flying paper airplane: How to fold a square paper airplane that flies far — fun origami that even kids can fold!

Paper airplanes have long been beloved as a children’s pastime.

There are many ways to fold them, and the way they fly can vary greatly depending on the size and material of the paper you use.

If you make different kinds of paper airplanes and investigate their flight paths and distances, it will not only be a fun independent project but also one that’s sure to capture people’s interest.

Since you can apply your research to make better paper airplanes for your own play, it’s a perfect summer vacation project that will also come in handy when playing with friends.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Origami diary

Picture diary with origami art

Summer vacation is exciting, but homework is a bit… you know.

If you think of it as something you’re being forced to do, homework can feel endlessly painful and boring.

So why not make it fun? How about turning the drawing part of your summer diary into origami to give it an original touch? Even lower graders could handle this.

If you went fishing, make fish out of origami; if you went to a fireworks festival, try making fireworks with patterned chiyogami.

You’d be surprised how many memories can be recreated with origami! Creating a big ocean scene across a two-page spread would also be really impressive.

If you rush, it stops being fun, so give yourself plenty of time to make it.

Let’s make gemstone soap

[Independent Research] How to Make Gemstone Soap – Easy for Elementary School Students

This is a craft idea for making gemstone soaps using glycerin soap.

Making soap can seem dangerous or difficult because it involves chemicals, but glycerin soap is easy to handle: you just melt it in the microwave, pour it into a mold, and let it harden.

You can add color to the melted glycerin soap with dyes, or you can color some soap, cut it into small pieces, and embed lots of colors before letting it set.

After it hardens, trim the edges to shape it like a gemstone, and you’re done.

The result is a beautiful soap you’ll want to give as a gift.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Let’s make colored water with purple cabbage

[Independent Research] Color-Changing Water 🎨

Red cabbage, with its beautiful, stylish deep purple, is an indispensable side player in cooking.

In this experiment, we’ll make colored water using red cabbage and observe how its color changes.

Making the colored water is very easy: tear the red cabbage into small pieces, put them in hot water, and simmer to extract the color.

After it cools, pour the colored water into glass cups or clear plastic cups so the color is visible, then add household items like baking soda, salt, citric acid, or vinegar to experiment with and record the color changes.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Let’s make a skeleton egg

Summer science project: Make transparent eggs using vinegar [Research]

It’s a very simple experiment that produces a mysterious effect: if you soak an egg in vinegar… it turns into a skeleton-like egg.

The white, hard, clicky eggshell transforms into a squishy, bouncy, water-balloon-like texture after just two days in vinegar.

The egg becomes slightly larger than the original and lightly bounces on the table.

Curious, isn’t it? Let’s summarize why it becomes “skeletonized,” what properties cause this, and what happens if you break it open.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem