[For 4th Graders] Fun Independent Research Ideas You Can Do With Everyday Materials

Butter Even Elementary School Students Can Make

@nonno.chan

I recreated a summer vacation science project I made a long time ago: homemade butter!#Summer VacationIndependent Research#HandmadeButterHomework#tiktoksummerbreak#meijiMeiji Delicious Fresh Cream

♬ 3 minutes cooking style pop / cooking / sweets(957554) – ArcTracks

Here’s a summer vacation science project idea for making authentic butter at home using heavy cream, salt, and a plastic bottle.

Put heavy cream and a pinch of salt into a plastic bottle, close the cap tightly, and shake it vigorously.

After shaking for a while, the contents will separate into liquid and solids.

This is the sign that butter and buttermilk have separated.

Pour off the liquid, cut the bottle open with scissors, and take out the contents—the butter is ready.

Spread it on bread to enjoy a special flavor that really lets you feel you made it yourself.

Watching the cream change teaches about dairy processing and fat separation.

The hands-on, energetic shaking is fun and gives a sense of accomplishment, making this a great idea for elementary school students.

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mutō

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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.

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mutō

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A piggy bank that helps you save while having fun

http://www.lemon8-app.com

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.

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mutō

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Making Konpeito (traditional Japanese sugar candy)

http://www.lemon8-app.com

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.

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mutō

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desk lamp

@gakky_07

How about this for your summer vacation project?Summer Vacation Craft#Summer VacationDesk lamp

♬ Fun Isono Family / Sazae-san [Cover] – Sound Works

Here’s an idea for making a desk lamp that uses a magnet-mountable LED light.

The stand is entirely wooden, and the arm is movable so you can adjust the angle.

First, think about what size you want and what kind of structure you’re aiming for, and try drawing a design plan.

Once the plan is ready, figure out the lengths and quantities of wood you’ll need and source the materials.

These days, you can even find small pieces of wood at 100-yen shops, so those might work as well.

One of the joys of woodworking is choosing the finish—whether to go for a natural look with varnish or oil, or paint it your favorite color—so definitely consider a variety of options.

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Hane Keisuke

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Ice that freezes in 3 minutes

[Independent Research] “Ice Cream That Freezes in 3 Minutes!?” Science Experiment: How to Make Science Sweets

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.

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mutō

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Original T-shirts made with stencil printing

Perfect for summer vacation crafts and DIY! How to make an original T-shirt with stencil printing!

How about making your own T-shirt over summer vacation? We’ll use a technique called stenciling to create an original T-shirt.

You place a cutout of letters or illustrations on the fabric and paint over it with ink or other pigments.

Since you’ll wear the T-shirt, you’ll likely wash it too.

When stenciling on T-shirts or fabric, be sure to use fabric ink that won’t wash out.

While this can be a summer vacation homework project, it can also become a fun summer memory.

You might even make matching T-shirts for the whole family.

There are stencil T-shirt kits available online, so why not give them a try?

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Nakajima Junko

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