![Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School Students]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/99FpCpB7mm8/maxresdefault.webp)
Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School Students]
Among summer vacation assignments, the most challenging one is often the independent research project.
Many elementary school students probably struggle each year with what topic to tackle.
So in this article, we’ll introduce independent research ideas especially recommended for fifth graders.
We’ve picked ideas mainly related to what fifth graders actually learn in science, social studies, and home economics.
You can choose a field that interests you from what you learned in the first term at school, or it’s also a good idea to work on something related to a topic that caught your attention while reading the textbook.
Now, let’s dive into the recommended ideas!
Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School] (1–10)
Pendulum Wave
In fifth-grade science, students learn about the motion of pendulums, so let’s apply those properties and try making a pendulum wave.
A pendulum wave is a phenomenon in which multiple pendulums with different periods come into phase after a certain amount of time.
The period is the time it takes for a pendulum to complete one full swing.
If you set pendulums with different periods in motion at the same time, they initially move out of sync, but with careful adjustment, their periods will align after a certain interval.
It would be a good idea to build a pendulum wave while thinking about how to adjust a pendulum’s period, and then summarize the conditions in a report.
An experiment in which we made a filter
Let’s build a filtration device and try filtering different liquids! Prepare two plastic bottles: cut off the mouth of one, and cut off the bottom of the other.
Pack cotton into the mouth of the bottle with the bottom removed, cover it with gauze, and secure it with a rubber band.
Stack this bottle (the one covered with gauze) onto the bottle with the mouth cut off.
From the bottom opening, add layers in this order: small stones, gauze, activated charcoal, gauze, and small stones.
Your filtration device is complete! Try filtering muddy water, water mixed with paint, coffee, and more.
Summarize in a report what can and cannot be filtered.
Specific gravity experiment: “Rainbow Juice”
It’s a juice with a mysterious, rainbow-like look, where beautiful layers of color appear in a single glass.
The key is the amount of sugar added to each color, using differences in liquid density to build the layers.
You’ll make three colors—red, yellow, and blue—varying the sugar content, and pour them into the glass in order from heaviest to lightest.
While creating some blended transitions between layers, it’s important to pour slowly over the back of a spoon so the colors don’t mix completely.
As-is, it would just be sugar water, so I also recommend adding flavorings or similar ingredients to make it taste good.
Comparing how salt and sugar dissolve in water
In connection with the way substances dissolve, which is studied in 5th-grade science, let’s compare how salt and sugar dissolve in water.
For the same amount of water, which dissolves more—salt or sugar? Also, as the water temperature increases, how does the amount that dissolves change for salt and for sugar? Summarize the results you obtain through experiments in a report.
In addition to salt and sugar, look for other substances that dissolve well in water, substances that dissolve better when the water temperature is raised, and substances whose solubility does not change much even when the water temperature is increased.
Let’s take a photo with the magnifying glass camera.
When you take photos, you probably use a smartphone or a digital camera, but you can actually make a camera with everyday materials.
Prepare an outer tube made of cardboard with a magnifying glass attached to its bottom, and an inner tube made from a milk carton with tracing paper attached to its bottom.
Insert the inner tube into the outer tube, and your camera is complete.
You can focus by moving the inner tube.
When taking a photo, first adjust the focus, then attach photosensitive paper to the tracing paper, fix the camera in place, and wait.
Take out the photosensitive paper and apply heat with an iron, and the image will appear.
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.
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.