Independent study that impresses your teacher! Science self-study ideas recommended for third graders

pinhole camera

[Experiment 127] Handmade Camera / Summer Vacation Independent Research Craft / Pinhole Camera – Denjirō Yonemura [Official] / Science Experiments

Let’s try making a pinhole camera, a classic for independent research projects.

A pinhole camera is a camera that forms an image using a tiny pinhole instead of a camera lens.

There are methods using a milk carton or a paper cup, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.

If you choose a pinhole camera for your project, after building it you should observe how the image actually appears, think about why it appears that way, and compile your findings into a report.

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Hane Keisuke

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plastic bottle rocket

[Summer Vacation] A University of Tokyo Student Tried Launching a Plastic Bottle Rocket [Independent Research]

Another classic for independent research projects is the plastic bottle rocket, which I highly recommend.

Not only is the building process fun, but launching it is thrilling, too.

By the way, there are craft kits for plastic bottle rockets available for purchase, so you can make one easily.

After you finish, try thinking creatively about how to make it fly farther.

One of the appeals of plastic bottle rockets is that you can experiment freely.

Try various methods, like using carbonated water instead of regular water.

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yamamoto

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Let’s observe the reflection of light

[Independent Study] Let's observe light reflection using a mirror!

How about doing an independent study observing the properties of light? In elementary school science classes, you probably do experiments to confirm light reflection, but let’s dig deeper into that for your project.

Shine a flashlight inside a box to check the direction the light travels, place a mirror, and observe the angles of reflection.

It could also be interesting to compare the flashlight’s brightness with the number of reflections.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Handmade claw machine

[Challengers Wanted] Win lavish prizes with our handmade claw machine

Crane games that let you grab candy, plush toys, and figures are popular with kids.

Let’s try making a homemade device so you can enjoy the excitement of “I wonder if this prize can be picked up with this arm movement…” at home.

Build the main body using cardboard or empty boxes.

Next, create the crane arm with straws or wooden chopsticks, and connect it with thread so it can move.

Prepare prizes you like, such as small toys or snacks.

By researching how crane games work as you build, you’ll also discover the fun of crafting.

This is a science project idea that’s enjoyable not only during the building process but also when you play with the completed game.

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mutō

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Bubble experiment with carbonated water

[Independent Research] A Second Grader’s Summer Vacation: Making Fizzy Bubbles in Sparkling Water in Various Ways

A free study project where students can have fun experimenting and then compile and submit their results seems like something kids would get excited about.

In this experiment, you place various items into carbonated drinks or sparkling water to see which one makes the most fizz and which substances produce lots of bubbles.

Try using familiar items like laundry soap, ramune candy, baking soda, sesquicarbonate, salt, and sugar.

You can also test differences in the carbonation itself—how about a sweet soda? Does strong carbonation make a difference? Try comparing those as well.

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utatane

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Let’s make kohakutou (amber sugar)

[Independent Research by a Former Private Tutor & Cram School Instructor Mom] Easy! Make Kohakuto (Amber Candy) for a Tasty Science Project

How about choosing kohakutou—beautiful and cute to look at, and delicious to eat—as the theme for your independent research project? It takes time, but you can summarize the changes over that period as your research findings.

Kohakutou is easy to make: dissolve sugar and agar in water, transfer the mixture to a container, add color with food coloring or shaved ice syrup, then once it sets, cut it and let it dry.

Depending on how much it dries, the texture will range from bouncy and soft to crisp.

You can record which number of drying days you found the most delicious and summarize your results.

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utatane

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Plant dyeing with vegetables

Plant dyeing with onion skins: Let’s make handkerchiefs with different patterns

Would you like to try natural dyeing with vegetables? This time, let’s give onion dyeing a try.

First, as preparation, get a plain white towel and soak it in a mixture of 1 part soy milk to 2 parts water, then let it dry.

For the dye bath, place onion skins in a mesh bag and simmer for 20 minutes to make the dye.

Fold the towel and tie it with rubber bands—changing how you fold it and where you tie it creates different, interesting patterns.

Put the towel into the dye bath and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, then rinse with water and let it dry.

Finally, fix the color using a mordant solution, and you’re done! Why not enjoy this as a free research project by exploring different perspectives, such as variations in patterns, results without the initial prep or mordant, and differences in color depth depending on simmering time?

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sasashina

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