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

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.

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 look at the light of water and sugar!

[Independent Research] Let's Look at the Light of Water and Sugar!

To us humans, the light from the sun or fluorescent lamps only looks white, but did you know that we’re actually seeing a blend of many colors that appears whitish? This experiment lets you experience that.

By using water and sugar water, it’s a curious experiment that allows you to extract and see a portion of the light from a fluorescent lamp.

Let’s measure buoyancy!

[Independent Research] Let's Measure Buoyancy!

This is an experiment to see what happens when you put a “light metal” and a “heavy weight” into water! You’ll need the weight, the metal, a plastic cup, and water.

Objects generate an upward force when placed in water, and they effectively become lighter by the amount of buoyant force.

Try various other items too and enjoy some surprising experiments!

Let’s research road signs.

Question Mark on a Road Sign

There are many road signs installed even in the areas where we normally live.

These are not only messages for drivers, but also for cyclists and pedestrians.

It might be a good idea to look into the meanings of the road signs around you, and along with that, to research roads with heavy traffic or dangerous roads.

Survey of food origins

Vegetable relay Kanagawa “Komatsuna” Komatsuna

There is always a label showing where the foods we casually eat are made.

This activity involves checking that label and investigating what kind of place they’re produced in.

By looking into it, you might start to see where most of the items are made.