Recommended for 4th graders! A collection of easy self-study ideas to try

Experiment on the action of flowing water

Kimie Gangi, 5th Grade Science: “The Work of Flowing Water and Its Relationship to Water Volume” — Experiment Methods and Results #EducationalContent

In fifth grade, I think you also learn in class about the work of flowing water, such as erosion, transportation, and deposition.

Let’s actually observe these processes through an experiment.

For the method, build a slope out of collected soil, make a channel for water, and run water through it.

Try observing how erosion, transportation, and deposition actually appear, whether these processes change depending on the amount of water, and whether the way they appear differs between a straight channel and a curved one.

Test various conditions and summarize your findings in a report.

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Hane Keisuke

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Observation experiment of the liquefaction phenomenon

Liquefaction experiment during an earthquake: We simulated an earthquake and conducted a model experiment on the liquefaction phenomenon—also known as the quicksand effect. Going forward, the focus will be on liquefaction countermeasures. Ground investigation and warranty by Japan Home Shield of LIXIL (LIXIL Group).

Japan experiences many earthquakes, so liquefaction becomes a hot topic every time a major quake occurs.

Many people have heard of liquefaction but may not fully understand how it works.

So let’s make its mechanism the theme of a science project.

You can easily recreate liquefaction by putting water-saturated sand in a tank and applying vibrations.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Try making yogurt from milk

Super Easy! How to Make Homemade Caspian Sea Yogurt (Successive Culturing)

Many high school students eat yogurt regularly, but few have made it themselves, right? So how about a science project where you make yogurt from milk? In fact, making your own yogurt is as simple as mixing store-bought yogurt into milk and letting it sit.

If you want to dig deeper, it might be interesting to investigate the conditions under which it fails.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Make plastic from milk

Future Divers #006: From Milk to Plastic! High School Students Tackling Marine Litter

A slightly unconventional type of independent research project is “making plastic from milk.” Milk? Plastic?? Just hearing it leaves an impression, doesn’t it? Plastics are made of polymers—structures with repeating units.

By adding vinegar to milk, you create a substance called casein, then dry it to form that polymer.

Basically, all you need is milk and vinegar; it’s easier than you might think—even for middle schoolers! Many people are trying different approaches to making plastic, so try searching the internet or video sites.

I think it’s a study that also connects to natural and environmental issues.

Make compost from kitchen waste

Just 30 seconds of work! Odor-free, bug-free—let’s make high-quality kitchen-scrap compost! #cardboardcompost #foodwastecompost #Kiero

It’s an easy project you can do in a day, but with a change in angle it could turn into a grand investigation: “Making compost from kitchen scraps.” Basically, you just put soil in a storage bin, mix in food waste, and leave it.

You can add an extra step like pouring in rice-washing water or adding natto, but most of the time it’s just left alone.

If you want to make it a proper study, there are plenty of variables to test: swap rice-washing water for other liquids, replace natto with yogurt, and so on.

Exploring fermentation times also seems quite deep.

It’s a great science project for a passionate middle schooler who doesn’t want to settle for an ordinary summer!