Recommended for 4th graders! A collection of easy self-study ideas to try
For independent study in fourth grade, I recommend first finding what your child is interested in.
When they learn about what they like, they can keep going and enjoy it.
Here, we introduce simple daily study ideas that are helpful for independent learning.
When children and adults learn together, it sparks more curiosity and makes learning more enjoyable.
Learning opens up new worlds and helps build confidence.
Please use this as a reference to find areas of interest and enjoy independent study!
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- Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School Students]
Recommended for 4th Graders! A Collection of Easy Self-Study Ideas You Can Try (61–70)
cardboard sword
As an irresistibly exciting idea for a summer research project, let me introduce the Cardboard Sword.
This project involves creating a three-dimensional sword out of cardboard.
The appeal is that you can recreate swords from your favorite games or anime.
First, choose a design as your motif and make a template.
Then cut the cardboard, layer the pieces, and assemble the sword.
There are many tutorials online on how to make cardboard swords, so try working on it while using those as references.
It can also be fun to make other items using the same approach.
Let’s make chalk
Chalk, always paired with the blackboard at school.
Did you know that this familiar item, used in class almost every day, can actually be made by hand? The materials are eggshells, flour, water, and food coloring for tinting.
First, finely pulverize the eggshells.
Put them in a mortar and start by crushing them coarsely, then grind them down into a powder.
Once it’s fine, add flour and water and knead it together thoroughly.
When it comes together, divide it into portions, add color, and let it harden.
You can roll it in paper to make thin sticks, or use cute silicone molds.
Plankton Observation
Observing plankton is an independent research topic that lets you explore familiar nature in depth.
Peering into the world of tiny organisms through a microscope stimulates children’s curiosity and can spark a deeper interest in biology.
Scoop water from a pond or river into a container, place a drop of the collected water onto a slide with a dropper, and observe it under a microscope.
Record the shapes and movements of the plankton with illustrations or notes, and then look up their names and characteristics in field guides or on the internet to deepen interest in living things.
This is one of the recommended independent research themes for fifth-grade elementary students who conduct science experiments in class.
Art made with fruit
Here’s a great independent research project for elementary school students who love cooking and baking: creating art using fruits and vegetables! By getting creative with how you cut various fruits and veggies, you can make beautiful shapes or even carve them into animals.
One especially recommended idea is to cut an orange peel into the shape of a bear, place the fruit segments inside, and make it look like the bear is holding the fruit.
Projects like this can look like they were made by a pastry chef or top-class cook, yet they’re surprisingly easy to do! Because you’ll need to use a kitchen knife or fruit knife, be sure to do this together with a parent or guardian.
Blacklight Experiment
A blacklight experiment, which lets you enjoy a treasure-hunt-like atmosphere, is also perfect for an independent research project.
In a blacklight experiment, you find substances that glow under a blacklight and investigate them.
Common glow-in-the-dark items include Pine Ame candies, tonic water, and spinach.
Once prepared, put them into test tubes and shine the blacklight on them again.
You should be able to clearly see the colors change.
This is also a great opportunity to learn about ultraviolet light and fluorescent substances.
PET bottle water purifier
Many people are looking for simple science projects.
In such cases, a PET-bottle water purifier is recommended.
In this experiment, you create a purifier by filling a plastic bottle with materials like charcoal, gravel, and cloth.
You can test the purifier’s effectiveness and explore how it works, or focus your study on themes like designing a water purifier that’s easy to make during disasters.
Making a PET-bottle microscope
Microscopes are commonly used in science experiments, but they can be a bit expensive to buy for personal use.
In such cases, I recommend making a microscope using a plastic bottle.
You can easily make one with materials like a plastic bottle and glass beads, which are available at hardware stores.
For an independent research project, you could sketch what you observe with this microscope, or even make the mechanism of the microscope itself the subject of your study.