Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas
Speaking of summer vacation, choosing a topic for the independent research project can often be tough.
Science experiments and crafts are both fun! If your child is good at crafts, we recommend crafts because they can enjoy the process as they go.
When they get absorbed in it, they might even finish in just a few days.
Here, we’ll introduce a variety of ideas for independent research and crafts! If you’re struggling to pick a theme, please use these as a reference.
To create fun summer memories, make a one-of-a-kind project of your own!
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- Recommended for lower elementary school students! A collection of plastic bottle craft ideas made with everyday materials.
- Simple and cute summer project crafts! A collection of ideas for girls that will make you want to create
- [Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Science Projects and Crafts Ideas
- Toys you can make from cardboard crafts! Authentic ideas you can build and play with
- Simple but awesome! Craft ideas for upper-grade girls
- Crafts parents and kids can enjoy together. Recommended craft ideas to keep children entertained.
For lower grades (111–120)
What sticks to a magnet?
A quiz-style independent research project is fun because you can later get lively with your classmates.
Here are some quiz-themed ideas.
For example, how about a quiz like “What sticks to a magnet?” Using money as the topic is especially recommended.
Line up several coins and a 10,000-yen bill, and test which ones stick to a magnet.
Surprisingly, the one that sticks is the 10,000-yen bill.
It would also be fun to make similar quizzes with other objects.
You could also look into the reasons why they stick.
For lower grades (121–130)
Let’s try dyeing flowers with food coloring
This is an experiment to dye white flowers using food coloring.
Not only is the result beautiful, but by adding food coloring to the water the flowers are placed in, you can clearly see how the water is drawn up into the petals, which is fascinating.
By varying the amount of food coloring dissolved in the water little by little, you can determine the optimal amount.
In the video, the experiment is conducted with quantities ranging from one to five spoonfuls, and three spoonfuls produce the most balanced and attractive coloring.
After the experiment, you can enjoy displaying the flowers in your room.
Music video with a ukulele
A long summer vacation.
How about recommending the ukulele to your child? For younger kids, the size will probably feel more comfortable than a guitar.
If they capture lots of summer memories in photos and create a music video with ukulele performance—such a detailed independent project would surely be fun for both the creator and the teacher!
Soap bubbles made with a uchiwa (Japanese fan)
If you suddenly feel like playing with soap bubbles, the fan-frame bubble idea is perfect.
All you need are an old uchiwa fan and bubble solution.
First, peel off all the paper from the fan so that only the frame is visible.
Next, make your own bubble solution and dip the fan into it—that’s it.
When you wave the fan, bubbles will appear through the gaps in the frame.
It’s great because there are no complicated steps, and you can start right away.
rubbing dyeing
For those growing morning glories, I recommend leaf-and-petal rubbing (rubbing dye).
First, prepare morning glory petals and leaves, plus thin paper.
Place a petal between sheets of the thin paper, then rub over it with something that glides easily, like a spoon.
Apply enough pressure to transfer the color evenly without tearing the paper.
You should see the morning glory’s color transferred onto the paper.
Do the same with the leaves.
Then cut out the dyed sections, and you’re done.
It’s great for customizing postcards, too.
Spill-proof water
Some of you may be looking for an easy science project you can do with things you have at home.
Here’s an idea to explore a curious phenomenon where water doesn’t spill.
First, fill a glass with water and cover it with a postcard.
Strangely, even if you turn it upside down, the water won’t spill.
Try using different materials as the cover in the same way.
Toilet paper or a clear file folder are good options.
Make predictions about whether it will spill as you experiment.
Let’s make canned space
Shall we try making a beautiful, dreamy “bottled cosmos,” a lovely interior decor item that’s popular overseas? You’ll need an empty jar, craft cotton, water-based paint, a brush, and your choice of glitter, star-shaped beads, or sequins to create a space-like vibe.
You can make it with items you already have at home or from a 100-yen shop.
First, pack the cotton firmly into the empty jar.
Since it’s fluffy, it may look full right away, but gradually add a little water and press it down tightly.
Spread 2–3 colors of paint bit by bit around the cotton, add glitter, and you’re done.
