Self-directed study that impresses your teacher! Recommended independent science study ideas for 6th graders
Independent science study can be a fun adventure for kids! Here, we introduce recommended independent science study themes for sixth graders that might even earn praise from teachers.
When you explore freely, learning becomes much more enjoyable.
Observe the nature around you, try simple experiments, and experience the joy of discovering all kinds of 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 reference and let’s jump together into the exciting world of science!
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Self-study that teachers will praise! Recommended independent science study ideas for 6th graders (21–30)
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.
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!
Self-directed study that earns praise from teachers! Recommended self-study science ideas for 6th graders (31–40)
An experiment to make natto
Many people are likely interested in experiments that use items that appear in our everyday meals.
This time, we’re introducing an experiment to make natto.
Natto, which has been eaten in Japan since ancient times, is said—according to various theories—to have existed as far back as the Yayoi period.
To turn soybeans into natto, you need natto bacteria (Bacillus subtilis var.
natto), and it’s said that straw naturally contains these bacteria.
Prepare steamed soybeans and boiled straw, then place the soybeans sandwiched between the straw.
Natto bacteria are heat-resistant, so boiling the straw is fine.
It’ll be exciting to see after the experiment whether the natto has successfully formed.
Color experiments with red cabbage
This is an experiment where you add vinegar, toner, lemon, and baking soda to a solution boiled from red cabbage and observe the color changes.
It’s recommended for sixth-grade students learning about “properties of water-soluble substances.” The experiment itself takes about an hour, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to finish their independent research quickly! If you have a color chart, you can predict how the colors will change as in the video while you experiment, which makes it even better.
Dent a plastic bottle without using your hands
Speaking of junior high school students, summer vacation assignments increase, so I think many end up prioritizing other subjects over their independent research projects.
But if you can finish an independent project in a single day, isn’t it worth a try? This time, it’s an experiment to dent a plastic bottle without using your hands.
What you need: a 500 ml plastic bottle, a measuring cup, and 150 ml of hot water.
The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Handmade Microscope
This is a handmade microscope using a plastic bottle and a bead.
The mechanism is simple, but you can see finer details than you might expect.
The bead acts like a large convex lens.
Try challenging yourself to see vegetable cells, such as the skin of an onion.
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.