Amazing discoveries with everyday materials! Fun summer vacation independent research ideas

Let’s make rock candy

[Independent Research] Why Does Rock Candy Form? ~With Summary~ [Experiment Time]

Let’s try making sparkling, magic-like rock candy for a science project.

Prepare granulated sugar, water, sticks, wooden chopsticks, glass cups, liquid food coloring, and a pot.

Put the granulated sugar and water into the pot and simmer until it boils.

Wet the tip of the stick with sugar water and coat it with granulated sugar.

Pour sugar water and your favorite color of liquid food coloring into a glass cup, then sandwich the stick between a pair of chopsticks and set it so the stick doesn’t touch the bottom of the glass.

Cover with plastic wrap and leave it for 3 days to 1 week while observing.

Take photos and keep records to track any changes you see.

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Let’s compose music!

[Let’s Compose!! vol.3] Easy for elementary school kids!! Compose with “C Major Diatonic Chords”!! Let’s nurture human qualities and creativity through music!!

A must-see for kids who love music! How about trying to compose your own song? This time, we’ll create music using diatonic chords in the key of C major.

By using simple chords like C and G, you can have fun learning how music works.

Expressing familiar sounds and feelings through music can really boost your creativity.

And if you present your finished piece in front of everyone, you’re sure to get a big round of applause.

It’s a fresh and exciting independent project that lets you discover the new joy of not just “listening” to music, but “making” it—be sure to give it a try!

My first YouTube video

[Recommended for Independent Research] An elementary school student tried filming their first YouTube video!

Children learn various information and have fun through videos.

Many of them even say they want to be YouTubers in the future.

So why not try making a video as a summer vacation research project? From planning and filming to editing, it will probably be much more challenging than you expect, but there’s nothing more valuable than the experience of actually doing it.

Since adult support is essential here, please work together to think about how to make the video better, and help the children create a film that truly reflects who they are.

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Handheld fan made from scrap materials

[Summer Vacation Craft] How to Make a Handheld Fan Using Recycled Materials — Great for Elementary School Science Projects

Let’s make a realistic-looking handheld fan out of recycled materials! It won’t produce wind, but you can enjoy watching it spin.

First, poke a hole in the center of two popsicle sticks, thread a bamboo skewer through them to make the propeller, and connect two toilet paper rolls, covering them with origami paper to create the handle.

Cut a circle from thick paper, cover it with origami paper, and punch a hole in the center to make the part behind the propeller.

Slide a short piece of straw onto the bamboo skewer of the propeller, then pass it through the circular part and attach the circle to the handle.

Let the bamboo skewer extend out above the handle, wrap kite string around it, then cut a slit in the handle to guide and secure the string.

Make a hole on the side of the handle, thread the kite string through, and add a bead to the end of the string—and you’re done!

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Surprisingly addictive study of shapes

[Math for a summer project!?] Surprisingly addictive! 3 free-research ideas using shapes

Here’s a great recommendation for anyone looking for an independent research project that blends learning with fun! How about studying shapes? Shapes are everywhere in daily life—origami, buildings, even sweets—so they feel familiar, and engaging with them in a playful way can help overcome anxiety about math and build confidence.

In your research, it’s important to narrow down your theme and explore it in depth, and to actually see, touch, and experience things firsthand.

Use the videos as a reference, find a topic that interests you, and give it a try!

Water and Oil Experiment

[Elementary School Science Project] A Lively Little Sister and a Laid-Back Older Sister: A Water-and-Oil Experiment

Here’s an experiment with water and oil that transforms into mysterious water.

Gather a bottle, small figurines, salt, oil, and food coloring.

After putting salt and oil into the bottle, add a small figurine and begin the experiment.

See how the figurine floats in salt water, and compare it with plain water to observe what state the figurine is in—these comparisons can lead to new discoveries that elementary school students will enjoy.

It’s also interesting to see what happens when you mix water and oil.

Try coloring the water and get creative as you enjoy your independent science project!

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Musical instruments made from empty cans

[WakuWaku-san’s Craft Class] Make “can instruments” out of empty cans—build them and play them! (We’re introducing two can instruments!)

Let’s have fun making can instruments from empty cans.

Here, we introduce two instruments: an ocarina and another instrument that produces a scale alongside it.

Use an aluminum can for the ocarina and a steel can for the other instrument.

First, here’s how to make the ocarina.

Remove the pull-tab from the can, and tape a slightly thick straw to the mouth opening.

On the side of the can near the mouth opening, use a punch to make five holes spaced 2 centimeters apart.

Make one more hole at the top on the opposite side, and it’s done! For the other instrument, remove the can’s pull-tab and rub the bottom with something hard like a chopstick.

The pitch will change, so adjust it to the notes you want and line them up.

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