Recommended for elementary school students' independent research! Experiment and observation ideas using everyday materials

Observation of stars

Poplarpedia Great Encyclopedia WONDA ③ “Stars and Constellations” Summer Vacation Independent Research

Choose your favorite summer star and actually look up at the sky to find it.

It’s easier to locate using a star chart or planisphere.

Research and observe the constellation’s mythology and how the star moves, then compile your findings on poster paper or in a sketchbook.

Summer offers clear stargazing, so it’s perfect for an independent research project over summer vacation!

Insects that gather at tree sap or lights

Daytime insects gathering at the sap of the sawtooth oak

Various insects gather daily at places like tree sap oozing from trunks and around streetlights.

This is a free research project where you investigate the insects that congregate there.

Compare the differences between insects that gather during the day and at night, and summarize the spots where they gather most.

Since venomous insects may also appear, it might be safer to go with an adult.

Let’s observe how ice melts.

Casual experiment: Comparing how ice melts (time-lapse)

This is another simple experiment that uses ice and can easily be done at home.

Try sprinkling salt on the ice or adding a little water to change the conditions slightly, and observe how each one melts at different speeds.

You could also compare the results by placing the ice in different locations.

Observation diary

Hirarin’s Green Curtain Observation Diary 2014: Summer Vacation Edition

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.

Research and summarize about typhoons

[Independent Research] Are Changes in Air Pressure a Massive Source of Energy? The Mechanism Behind Typhoon Formation! [Yukkuri Explanation]

You learn about weather changes and typhoons in fifth-grade science, right? In that case, how about researching typhoons more deeply and putting together a report? Specifically, you could look into how typhoons form and where they come from, where they move to and what happens to them in the end.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about typhoons.

You could also investigate the strength of typhoons and the damage they cause, and use that information for disaster preparedness.

That would make your independent research even more meaningful.

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Hane Keisuke

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Summer stargazing

“The Most Beautiful in Kansai”: The stories of people who come to gaze at the summer night sky night after night [Midnight time-lapse observation]

Since it’s a special opportunity, why not try something you can only do in summer? Observing summer constellations is a classic and highly recommended idea! After all, the topic is space, so the more you research, the more new knowledge you’ll gain.

What stars make up each constellation, who discovered them and where, the origins of their names, and the myths associated with them—you might even find there’s too much to cover in just one summer.

For your final elementary school independent research project, go for a masterpiece! By the way, summer constellations include Sagittarius, Scorpius, and Cygnus, among others!

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Araki Jakkan

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Color water experiment with morning glory flowers

[Summer Vacation] Color Water Experiment with Morning Glory Flowers! The Color Changed When We Added Something!? [Independent Research]

Experiments where the color of water changes are visually striking and fun, aren’t they? A perfect one for a summer vacation project is a colored-water experiment using morning glories.

First, fill a bowl with water and gently knead morning glory flowers in it.

The water will take on a pale tint.

Next, pour this colored water into separate containers and add baking soda, citric acid, or lemon juice.

You should see the color change before your eyes.

You can use this to paint pictures or dig deeper into the reasons behind the changes—it would make a wonderful independent research project.

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yamamoto

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