Recommended for 6th graders! A collection of easy self-study ideas you can enjoy while learning

plant dyeing

Plant-dyeing: Basic dyeing method

Kusaki-zome is a traditional technique for dyeing fabric using natural plants.

By using familiar leaves, roots, flowers, and more, you can create your own original colors, letting you enjoy learning both science and home economics at the same time.

Once you’ve prepared the fabric you want to dye and the plants to use as dye, wash the fabric thoroughly in lukewarm water.

Add protein to the fabric to perform a deep-dye (mordant) treatment, then soak the washed and dried fabric.

After carrying out a mordanting process that induces color changes through chemical reactions with metals, place the dye material in nonwoven fabric and submerge it in water.

Put the prepared fabric into the liquid, wait about 15 minutes, then rinse it well with water to finish.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

Plant dyeing with vegetables

Plant dyeing with onion skins: Let’s make handkerchiefs with different patterns

Would you like to try natural dyeing with vegetables? This time, let’s give onion dyeing a try.

First, as preparation, get a plain white towel and soak it in a mixture of 1 part soy milk to 2 parts water, then let it dry.

For the dye bath, place onion skins in a mesh bag and simmer for 20 minutes to make the dye.

Fold the towel and tie it with rubber bands—changing how you fold it and where you tie it creates different, interesting patterns.

Put the towel into the dye bath and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, then rinse with water and let it dry.

Finally, fix the color using a mordant solution, and you’re done! Why not enjoy this as a free research project by exploring different perspectives, such as variations in patterns, results without the initial prep or mordant, and differences in color depth depending on simmering time?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

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!!

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

Make gum using flour

[Experiment] Apparently you can make gum with ◯◯! I tried it to see if it’s true!

You can easily make gum yourself using things you have at home.

Let’s try making gum with bread flour.

In this experiment, we’ll explore gluten.

Prepare 50 g of bread flour, a bowl, a measuring cup, a scale, and 20 cc of water.

The gum you make can actually be eaten, but it doesn’t have any flavor, so you might want to mix in a sweetener or fruit juice.

Let’s make paper from various ingredients

[Research] Making paper from various ingredients [Experiment]

Paper is something we’re always surrounded by—whether it’s notebooks or toilet paper, there are many types of paper closely tied to our daily lives.

This is a free research project that shines a spotlight on paper: let’s try making paper from food and other materials! First, use a blender or similar tool to grind the food into a fine paste.

If it’s hard to blend, try adding a little water.

Use a tofu container and a mesh net like those for sink strainers to press out the moisture, then let it dry for at least a day in a memo-pad size sheet.

Put together your results with photos: which foods turned into something paper-like, and which ones didn’t?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

pinhole camera

[Experiment 127] Handmade Camera / Summer Vacation Independent Research Craft / Pinhole Camera – Denjirō Yonemura [Official] / Science Experiments

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hane Keisuke

Report a problem

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!

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem