Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas

Sound experiment

[Environmental Experiment School] Let's experience how sound travels through 'things'

Learn how sound travels! Here are some ideas for sound experiments.

What comes to mind when you think of sound? You’re surrounded by all kinds of sounds, aren’t you? This time, let’s deepen our learning with the theme of sound.

In the video, it seems you can learn about what sound is and how people perceive it differently.

By studying the properties of sound, you might make new discoveries in your daily life! The experiments feature ones using test tubes and ones using different materials.

Give them a try!

Does the lead of a mechanical pencil shine?

[Independent Research] Do Mechanical Pencil Leads Glow?

Adults often tell you that it’s dangerous to stick a mechanical pencil lead into an outlet.

Why is it dangerous? What happens if you do it? This experiment lets you learn the principle behind it.

Without actually inserting anything into a real outlet, you can safely perform the experiment using this method—perfect for an independent research project.

Cardboard armor crafting and related historical research

Role-playing with cardboard!? Samurai armor of Sanada Yukimura! So cool!

This is a science project using the trendy cardboard samurai armor and helmet.

You can build a realistic armor model for just under 3,000 yen, so it’s something you can enjoy making together with your father.

Then, if you summarize on poster paper what kind of person used that armor and helmet and how they influenced their era, it will become a very high-quality science project.

Why are tunnels round in shape?

Pasta Arch Experiment: Tunnel Edition, Part 1

The ability to withstand weight applied from above changes depending on the shape.

In fact, the circle might be a very strong shape.

Investigating many such things can be very interesting.

Also, how common is this shape in the natural world? Let’s look for it.

That, too, can be turned into an independent research project.

Perseid meteor shower

Perseid meteor shower peak day on August 13, 2013

Around August 13 each year, many meteors can be seen radiating from the direction of the constellation Perseus.

The idea is to go observe them and compile your observations into a report.

It would be good to record the time each meteor appeared, its direction, length, and brightness, and summarize these along with a star chart.

If possible, observe from a location with minimal light pollution and a wide, unobstructed view for better results.

Lemon battery

We’ll make a lemon battery. A guide explaining how to do a summer vacation independent study on lemon batteries.

This is a fairly well-known science experiment that makes use of the properties of acidic fruits.

By using a strongly acidic fruit to mediate the energy transfer that occurs when metal oxidizes, you can make the reaction more effective.

Lemons are used because of their strong acidity and visual impact, but you can do it with any sour fruit—try various kinds and compare the results!

Let’s draw letters and pictures with light

Let's shoot starry landscapes! #01 Preparation

In summer, you often see photos where the stars’ paths look like circles or where fireworks are used to draw letters.

These are captured using a technique called long exposure, which records the movement of light in a photograph.

It’s a colorful way to create wonderful memory photos and, at the same time, a great science project that teaches you how cameras work—killing two birds with one stone.