Wonderful independent research

Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School Students]

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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 Students] (21–30)

paper lampshade

[Paper Lampshade] Let's try it together at home: 'A Cute, Round Lampshade'

paper lampshade

A paper lampshade that brightly illuminates a room is an item whose warm atmosphere and rounded form bring a sense of comfort.

Brush a glue mixture thinned with water onto a balloon, then apply layers of shoji paper.

Leave an opening where the light will go, and decorate with thin confetti paper used for paper showers or paper flowers.

Hang it with clothespins and let it dry for 1–2 days.

Pop the balloon with a toothpick or similar tool, place the light inside, and the lampshade is complete.

You can choose materials in your favorite colors, and kids will enjoy the process of sticking on the paper, making it a fun, original project.

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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!

Making solid fuel

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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Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School] (31–40)

Handmade claw machine

[Challengers Wanted] Win lavish prizes with our handmade claw machine

Handmade claw machine

Crane games that let you grab candy, plush toys, and figures are popular with kids.

Let’s try making a homemade device so you can enjoy the excitement of “I wonder if this prize can be picked up with this arm movement…” at home.

Build the main body using cardboard or empty boxes.

Next, create the crane arm with straws or wooden chopsticks, and connect it with thread so it can move.

Prepare prizes you like, such as small toys or snacks.

By researching how crane games work as you build, you’ll also discover the fun of crafting.

This is a science project idea that’s enjoyable not only during the building process but also when you play with the completed game.

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String art

Simple and Fun! How to Make Basic String Art (No Nails) – DIY Basic String Art Tutorial

String art

String art that spreads into beautiful petal-like patterns.

Traditionally, you need to hammer nails into a board to make it, but there’s an easy method you can try using paper by making small cuts.

After drawing evenly spaced lines on a circular piece of thick paper, align it with construction paper and cut them together.

If you write numbers on the cut sections, you can work without mixing up the order.

Hook the thread in sequence toward the cut opposite each number, and once you’ve gone all the way around, cut the thread.

From the second round, change the thread color and shift the starting position by one notch.

Repeat this process until the threading is complete, then attach construction paper to the back to finish.

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Making a maglev train

Done in 10 minutes! Make a linear motor car with a magnet and aluminum tape! Clearly understand the relationship between electricity and magnetism!!

Making a maglev train

Introducing how to make a linear motor car using dry batteries.

Attach two layers of magnets to a plastic sheet with double-sided tape.

The key here is to control the repelling force of the magnets and stick them on without any gaps.

Cut a melamine sponge for the vehicle body, and apply aluminum tape so it forms a U-shape.

Once you hook the magnet-mounted sheet onto the tape, connect clip wires to the rails.

Sandwich the lead wires in the aluminum tape, and connect the batteries in series to finish the setup.

It’s a great independent research project theme that lets you enjoy both a science experiment and toy-making at the same time.

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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

Experiment on the action of flowing water

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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Investigating rheotaxis in medaka

Two experiments using medaka fish: “Water Flow” and “Rotation of Striped Patterns”

Investigating rheotaxis in medaka

The topic of fish reproduction is also covered in the fifth grade, right? So, in connection with that, let’s look into rheotaxis, a behavior characteristic of medaka.

Rheotaxis is the tendency to move in a specific way in response to water flow; in the case of medaka, they swim against the current.

For the experiment, gently stir the water in a circular motion in the tank where the medaka are swimming to create a flow, and observe how they swim.

Additionally, related to this, you can cover the outside of the tank with striped paper and rotate it to observe how the medaka swim.

Combining these observations should make for an interesting report.

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