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!
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Recommended Independent Research Ideas for 5th Graders [Elementary School Students] (41–50)
I tried making a Super Ball.
Super balls are attractive for their colorful appearance and exceptional bounciness.
Because they absorb impact and rebound strongly, many of you probably remember bouncing them high when you were kids.
How about making your own super ball by hand? This time, we’ll use a store-bought kit, so there’s no need to gather materials individually—you can easily make one by following the included instructions.
Since the process involves using hot water and fine metallic powder, be sure to work together with an adult.
Create a one-of-a-kind original ball and have fun playing with it over summer vacation!
Summary of Recommended Independent Research Projects for 5th Graders [Elementary School] (51–60)
Research brimming with love for Dragon Ball
I think it would be fun to choose Dragon Ball, an anime that’s extremely popular with kids, as the theme for an independent research project! Dragon Ball is loved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults.
You could count the sound effects that appear in the manga, present them with graphs and numbers, and note how many times the same sounds are used.
It might also be enjoyable to think about how powerful the Kamehameha is, or to research how nutritious senzu beans are.
Over the long summer vacation, incorporating something you’re interested in into your independent research could help deepen your knowledge.
The relationship between bread and sugar
Let’s explore how different amounts of sugar change bread by conducting a free research project on the relationship between bread and sugar.
Prepare several bowls, each containing the same amounts of cake flour, dry yeast, salt, butter, and water.
Vary only the amount of sugar in each bowl, then knead the doughs.
Carefully observe how the dough feels while kneading: what texture appears in doughs with more sugar, and what texture appears in doughs with less sugar? It might be helpful to record each stage—first proof, second proof, and baking—with photos to see how the dough responds at each point.
Enjoy this hands-on research project using everyday bread!
Let’s make rock candy
Let’s try making sparkling, magic-like rock candy for a science project.
Prepare granulated sugar, water, sticks, wooden chopsticks, glass cups, liquid food coloring, and a pot.
Put the granulated sugar and water into the pot and simmer until it boils.
Wet the tip of the stick with sugar water and coat it with granulated sugar.
Pour sugar water and your favorite color of liquid food coloring into a glass cup, then sandwich the stick between a pair of chopsticks and set it so the stick doesn’t touch the bottom of the glass.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave it for 3 days to 1 week while observing.
Take photos and keep records to track any changes you see.
Let’s compose music!
A must-see for kids who love music! How about trying to compose your own song? This time, we’ll create music using diatonic chords in the key of C major.
By using simple chords like C and G, you can have fun learning how music works.
Expressing familiar sounds and feelings through music can really boost your creativity.
And if you present your finished piece in front of everyone, you’re sure to get a big round of applause.
It’s a fresh and exciting independent project that lets you discover the new joy of not just “listening” to music, but “making” it—be sure to give it a try!
My first YouTube video
Children learn various information and have fun through videos.
Many of them even say they want to be YouTubers in the future.
So why not try making a video as a summer vacation research project? From planning and filming to editing, it will probably be much more challenging than you expect, but there’s nothing more valuable than the experience of actually doing it.
Since adult support is essential here, please work together to think about how to make the video better, and help the children create a film that truly reflects who they are.
Challenge in video production
It’s a great idea to incorporate video production into an independent research project, especially for today’s kids who are used to watching videos on YouTube and other platforms.
By switching roles—from watching to actually filming and creating their own videos—they can gain a deeper understanding of how videos are made.
It could be interesting to decide on a theme, such as who the video is for, what kind of video it should be, and how long it should be, and make that the focus of the project.
To keep it fun and engaging, it’s best to choose a topic they’re genuinely interested in.