Recommended for 5th graders! A collection of easy self-study ideas you can enjoy while learning

Cooking with an original recipe

[Rin the Dragon’s Independent Project] A 5th Grader Tried Cooking with an Original Recipe

By the time they’re in fifth grade, many kids handle knives well and start getting interested in cooking.

So why not try creating and making your own original recipe? First, think up a recipe that makes you say, “If I do this, it should be delicious!” and actually try cooking it.

If you summarize how the taste differed from what you imagined and what you could improve next time, it will make a great independent research project.

It’s also a good idea to grow summer vegetables in plastic bottles or planters and use them in your cooking.

If you’re using heat, be sure to work with an adult.

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sasashina

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Solo Camping Experience

[Bicycle Solo Camping] An Overnight Elementary School Student’s Two-Day Camp Touring—We Followed Along! Did Everything All by Myself!

Here is an idea for an independent study project with the theme of solo camping, where children can have the valuable experience of spending time alone surrounded by nature.

By handling preparations, travel, and meals by themselves, children can enjoy an extraordinary experience and a sense of accomplishment.

In practice, they won’t actually stay completely alone—parents or guardians should watch from a distance or participate as the person filming the experience.

Travel to the campsite by bicycle or train, and upon arrival, set up a one-person tent.

Once you’ve lit a prepared fire pit using dry branches and charcoal, you can cook rice with solid fuel and heat up retort pouch foods.

At night, sleep in a sleeping bag and welcome the morning, completing a one-night, two-day overnight program.

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mutō

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Plankton Observation

Observation of plankton

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.

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mutō

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Making solid fuel

Now you can use solid fuel as much as you want! Here's a secret trick to make your own solid fuel for super cheap!

A solid fuel made by compacting combustible materials to make it easy to carry and handle.

Here we introduce a method for making fuel at home that you can also buy at hardware stores or online.

Put 15 grams of soap shaved with a knife into a cup, then pour in 150 grams of denatured alcohol (fuel alcohol).

To completely dissolve the solids, warm it in a hot-water bath at a temperature that does not bring the methanol to a boil.

While it is still warm, pour it into a can to set; once solidified, the fuel is ready.

Methanol is highly toxic, so be careful not to ingest it.

The solidification speed varies depending on the size and shape of the can, so it’s also a great idea to make various solid fuels as a science project.

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mutō

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Making Colorful Flowers

[Simple Experiment] Let's dye white flowers in colorful colors!

Make Colorful Flowers: a fun experiment to learn what happens when you place flowers in inks of different colors.

Through experiments that make use of flowers’ natural features, you can deepen your knowledge while having fun.

Fill test tubes or plastic cups with printer ink or water mixed with food coloring.

Then simply place white flowers—such as roses, gerberas, or baby’s breath—into the solutions and leave them for 1 to 24 hours.

You can also split a stem in two to create a two-tone flower.

This experiment shows that plants draw water up through vessels called xylem, which carry the pigments.

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mutō

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Making biomass plastic

[Recommended for independent research] Let's make bioplastics at home!

We’ll introduce how to make biomass plastic using renewable resources such as plants.

Warm some milk in the microwave, then add lemon juice and stir until white curds appear.

Pour the mixture through a strainer lined with parchment paper to separate the liquid from the solids.

Once the liquid has drained and only the solids remain, transfer them to a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and let them dry to complete your biomass plastic.

Making eco-friendly plastic can also serve as a great opportunity for children to learn about environmental issues.

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mutō

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Let’s make a Japan map puzzle

Get a head start on your independent research! Let's make a Japan map puzzle.

It’s a puzzle where pieces cut into the shapes of Japan’s prefectures are arranged correctly to complete a map of Japan.

You can have fun while learning what each prefecture looks like and where it’s located in Japan.

It’s easy to make: prepare a colorful map of Japan with prefectural borders drawn, and attach magnet sheets to the cut-out prefectures to finish.

It’s also recommended to include the prefecture names and local specialties on the pieces so you can learn the shapes and locations together with key information.

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kappamaki

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