Wonderful independent research

Self-study that impresses your teacher! Recommended science self-study ideas for 5th graders

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.

Independent science study can be a fun adventure for kids! Here, we introduce recommended self-study science topics for fifth graders that are sure to impress teachers.

Exploring freely makes learning even more enjoyable.

Observe nature around you, try simple experiments, and experience the joy of discovering new things.

As your interest in nature and science grows, it’s also fun to share what you’ve learned with friends and family.

Please use this as a guide and dive into the exciting world of science with us!

Self-study that impresses your teacher! Recommended independent science study ideas for 5th graders (21–30)

How to make jelly that sets instantly

How to make the instant-setting jelly candy from the sweets aisle yourself—how does it work?

How to make jelly that sets instantly

Here’s how to make a beautiful jelly with sparkling, colorful beads.

Make the jelly base with sodium alginate, then gently pour a liquid colored with shaved ice syrup or food coloring into water containing dissolved calcium lactate.

Like magic, soft jelly sets instantly.

This happens because alginic acid and calcium undergo a chemical reaction that forms a jelly-like membrane.

Shine a light on it for an even more enchanting effect.

By experimenting with color combinations and shapes, you can create pieces that are visually delightful for kids.

It’s a perfect idea for an independent study project full of wonder, blending science with crafts.

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Pop-up book

Handmade Picture Book: How to Make a Pop-up Book

Pop-up book

Let’s try making a pop-up book! Here are some ideas for pop-up picture books.

Are you familiar with pop-up books? Even if the term doesn’t ring a bell, many of you have likely encountered them when thinking back to picture books you read in childhood.

A pop-up book is a type of interactive picture book where three-dimensional illustrations or pages spring up when you turn the page.

This time, let’s make one of these unique pop-up books.

In the video, we carefully and clearly explain each step of the process!

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Pendulum Wave

[Huge Buzz] [All in Sync in 1 Minute?!] I tried making a pendulum wave (Pendulum Wave of marble)

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.

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Casein plastic

Future Divers #006: From Milk to Plastic! High School Students Tackling Marine Litter

Casein plastic

You can actually make plastic from a drink that’s close to all of us: milk.

If you add vinegar to boiled milk and mix, you’ll get a white, clumpy substance.

This is casein, a protein that serves as the base for plastic.

Remove the moisture from the casein, press it into a mold, and heat it in a microwave for one-minute intervals several times until it hardens.

In recent years, the issue of plastic waste has gained attention, and many of us are thinking about how we can reduce it.

This experiment could be a wonderful independent research project that points toward a future rich in nature.

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Let’s make a leaf vein specimen

[BCS Project] Let’s Make Leaf Vein Specimens! / Suzukake Science Day 2021

Let's make a leaf vein specimen

Let’s make a leaf vein specimen using leaves you can find around you.

First, bring water with 3 tablespoons of baking soda to a boil and add the leaves.

Simmer for about 15 minutes, then when the water turns brown and the leaves become limp, remove the leaves.

This softens the pigments other than the veins.

Next, rinse the leaves under running water and gently tap them with a toothbrush to scrape away everything except the veins.

Be sure to choose sturdy, relatively tough leaves for this experiment.

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pH measurement using vegetables

[Choko-Try] Science Experiment You Can Do at Home: Measuring pH Using Vegetables

pH measurement using vegetables

Let’s try a pH measurement experiment that tells you whether a liquid is alkaline or acidic.

For preparation, shred some red cabbage the day before and freeze it.

On the day of the experiment, knead it well in water to make purple cabbage water.

This colored water actually contains a pigment called anthocyanin that reacts to pH.

In the experiment, add the liquid you want to test to this colored water and observe the color change.

It turns red if acidic, purple if neutral, and blue or yellow if alkaline.

Gather different liquids and give it a try!

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Let’s make dinosaur fossils

[Elementary School Craft] Let's Make a Fossil

Let's make dinosaur fossils

Let’s make some exciting dinosaur fossils! First, think about what kind of fossil you want to create, then draw your fossil illustration on a sheet of foam board (styrene paper).

Cut out the fossil shapes with scissors.

Glue the cut foam pieces onto cardboard to form your design.

Paint it with acrylic paints.

When it’s finished, attach a decorative ribbon to the back so you can display it.

It’s also a good idea to round off the corners of the cardboard.

Have fun creating your very own original fossil!

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