For 6th Graders: Unique and Fun Ideas for Independent Research Projects

Newton’s cradle

[Science Experiment] Perfect for Independent Research! A Newton’s Cradle You Can Make Using Only 100-Yen Shop Items [Budget-Friendly Craft]

Have you ever heard of Newton’s cradle? It’s a device where about five small steel balls are suspended on strings in a row.

When you lift and release one ball at the end, only the ball on the opposite end is knocked outward.

This is related to the conservation of momentum and the conservation of mechanical energy.

Let’s write a report summarizing the results of changing conditions—for example, what happens if you lift and release two balls instead of one, or what happens if you change the size of the balls.

Another nice point is that after the experiments, the Newton’s cradle you made can be displayed as interior decor.

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Hane Keisuke

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Try making a train with copper wire and a battery

Summer science project: “Battery train running through a coil” [Research]

Let’s try making a train that runs using magnetism by applying the properties of electromagnets.

Wind copper wire into a long coil and place a battery with magnets attached to it inside the coil.

Then the magnetic force generated in the coil and the magnets’ magnetic force repel each other, causing the battery to start running through the coil like a train.

By changing conditions—such as why the battery starts moving, when the moving battery will stop, and whether changing the way you wind the coil affects how the battery runs—and summarizing the results in a report, you can create an excellent independent research project.

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Hane Keisuke

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A study on easy ice cream you can make in one minute

@nonno.chan

Summer vacation independent research, part two! Ice cream made in 1 minute using the power of chemistry. I’d be happy if you find it helpful!#Summer VacationIndependent Researchtranslation#HomemadeIceCream

♬ 3 minutes cooking style pop / cooking / sweets(957554) – ArcTracks

Have fun with it! Here’s an idea for a simple ice cream experiment you can make in just one minute.

Not many people have actually made ice cream themselves.

How about trying a fun and easy experiment where you can also enjoy delicious ice cream? All you need is milk, sugar, ice, salt, and resealable bags.

The steps are simple and easy to follow, so kids will likely jump right in! And since this is for learning, don’t forget to keep records of what you do!

Fizzy Ramune Experiment

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Why not try making fizzy ramune tablets for your summer break science project and enjoy their colors and sounds when dropped into water? After thoroughly mixing ingredients like powdered sugar, cornstarch, and food-grade citric acid, add food coloring to make them visually fun.

Press the mixed dough with two spoons to shape it just right.

Let them dry for about half a day to finish the ramune.

When eaten, they fizz in your mouth, letting you experience the curious chemical reaction of carbonation.

It’s a safe project even for children, using the carbon dioxide produced by the reaction between lemon juice’s acid and baking soda.

You can boost originality by changing the colors and flavors.

It’s a great idea for learning chemistry with familiar materials.

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mutō

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Let’s learn about sugar crystallization while making canelés.

http://www.lemon8-app.com

Let’s make an experimental piece using a canelé mold for sweets.

Put powdered gelatin into a container filled with water and heat it in the microwave.

After heating, add sugar, color it with edible food coloring, and heat it in the microwave again.

Pour it into the canelé mold, and once it sets, remove it from the mold.

Your beautiful, colorful sugar canelés are ready.

At first, they look jiggly, but after a week, the sugar crystallizes and they turn into sparkly, crystal-like pieces.

You can enjoy watching the sugar change over time.

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Nakajima Junko

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Independent study at the play park

A play park where children can fully immerse themselves in nature is perfect for a hands-on independent study project.

It’s packed with activities that are hard to experience in everyday life, such as tree climbing, chopping firewood, and making campfires.

Rather than just spending a day playing and calling it done, you can turn it into a solid research project by recording what activities you did, what you enjoyed, and what ingenuity you used, together with photos or drawings.

It’s important to summarize in your own words what you learned and felt through play.

Learning how to use tools, paying attention to safety, and understanding how to interact with nature can also be part of the project.

This is an action-observation style idea that lets you deepen your experience by engaging all five senses.

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mutō

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Milk Carton Rolling Tower

Let’s reuse empty milk cartons to make a fun rolling tower where a ping-pong ball tumbles down! Cut the milk cartons and connect two of them to create a long cylindrical base.

Make holes and slits in paper plates, attach them in a stepped arrangement, and adjust the angles so the ball rolls smoothly through.

Add slits to the side of the cylinder so the ball won’t stop midway and will drop all the way to the bottom.

If you wrap the whole thing with a tube-shaped cover made from a clear file, the ball won’t fly out and it’s safer to play with.

A bonus is that kids can learn about gravity and incline through the speed of the rolling ball and the fun sounds it makes.

It’s an eco-friendly idea that uses recycled materials to create a moving, interactive project.

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mutō

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