Self-study that impresses your teacher! Recommended science self-study ideas for 5th graders
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!
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Self-directed learning that earns your teacher’s praise! Science self-study ideas recommended for 5th graders (31–40)
Let’s make salt crystals
This is an easy science project you can do with common table salt and water found at home.
Just add more table salt than can dissolve into a glass of water and stir.
Then carefully transfer a little of the water from the upper part into another container, making sure not to include the undissolved salt settled at the bottom, and simply wait for the water to evaporate naturally.
It takes several days, but I think it will make for a substantial science project.
Observation diary
When it comes to independent research projects, this is the classic choice.
Thanks to its versatility, which allows it to be applied to plants, animals, and many other subjects, this style of project has long been popular among elementary school students.
Since it’s a “journal,” though, the drawback is that it takes a certain number of days to complete.
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.
Self-made game in Scratch
Scratch is a game creation tool that makes it easy to give children opportunities to learn programming.
It’s free to use and runs in the browser—why not make game development your independent research project theme? Choose a game stage from a wide variety of backgrounds and give the stage a name by changing the costume name.
After creating three costumes for the stage, use a new message to set up character selection.
Prepare a character from “Choose a Sprite” and rename it.
By duplicating and modifying the code you create, you can experience programming.
With intuitive drag-and-drop operations, it’s a tool that helps you learn how to use a computer and how to make games.
Make a storm glass and observe it
Have you ever heard of an instrument called a storm glass? These days, you can sometimes find it in variety shops as a home decor item.
A storm glass is a glass container filled with a special liquid that changes its appearance depending on weather conditions such as temperature and humidity, and in the 19th century it was used for weather forecasting.
If you look into it, you’ll find it can be made with items available at drugstores, so give it a try.
Observe the completed storm glass and put together a report by making a table of the day’s weather, temperature, humidity, and the appearance of the liquid inside the storm glass.
Self-directed study that will impress your teacher! Recommended independent science study ideas for 5th graders (41–50)
pinhole camera
Let’s try making a pinhole camera, a classic for independent research projects.
A pinhole camera is a camera that forms an image using a tiny pinhole instead of a camera lens.
There are methods using a milk carton or a paper cup, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.
If you choose a pinhole camera for your project, after building it you should observe how the image actually appears, think about why it appears that way, and compile your findings into a report.
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.