Some schools are gravitating to an Interest Fair instead of a science fair. What teachers have realized is the steps to researching a topic fall in line with the steps to the scientific method, so the topic for an Interest Fair does not have to be science. But uses all the same science investigation steps and ideas for a school project headed to a science fair.

• Topics can be hobbies like sports or music, you could look into food, sewing, yarn, video games, or famous people. There will always be science things too like fish and bugs and ecology stuff because kids are naturally interested in those things.

• Kids will still follow the same steps, they come up with a question and make a prediction about their topic. What do they already know, what do the wonder, why predictions can they make. Some times you create an experiment, Which yarn makes the softest scarf? What subject did Peyton Manning study in college? What is the difference in the sound of acoustic and electric instrument? Then then will need to so some research into the topic and write a report. In some cases a sample will be part of the display, other times there will be photos. In the end you will make an awesome display board that will have to show all the steps you took to look deeper into your interest.

• The advantage of this is that it gives kids who excel in other areas other than science a chance to shine and get excited about something they are interested in. The other advantage it is cross curricular so the librarian and language arts teachers get more involved. You have lots of choices of ideas for a school project this way, not just science.

• What this really would fall under is a research type of science fair, that will have some elements of experimenting or demonstrating, but focuses on the research steps. You break a topic up into teaching pieces, study it, analyze it and often find the answer to your question, or prove or disprove your predictions.

You will find you do this stuff all the time when your kids are home during holiday vacations, you look into things they are interested in. Kids will get ideas from each other and be able to use them in future fairs.

It might be a good thing to alternate between a science fair one year and an interest fair the next.   There are things about science that really can be made clear with a science experiment and using the scientific method in an investigation is an important skill, so I would never get rid of a science fair! Really, there just are never ending great ideas for a school project, no matter what the subject is!

Get your science ideas for a school project that are fun and you hardly know are science at 24 hour science fair projects.

I’ve been thinking a lot about 1st grade science projects and what can be done at that level to make things easier for science projects for 4th graders,  when kids are sent off to do a project on their own.

So I started keeping an eye out for tidbits on the subject…

I ran across an interesting article that caught my attention since the title was  “A Science Fair Makeover in Your School Library!”  Well you can imagine the pictures that went through my head of a library with exploding volcanoes, or mice in mazes or a worm farm so I couldn’t help but wondering what this librarian was thinking!

Once I got into the article, I realized they were emphasizing the importance of the librarian in any school level science fair project that follows the accepted educational standards for both library science and science teachers.

What section in any elementary school library is where your 1st graders gravitate to? It is the science section! They love books on bugs, animals, outer space, rockets, sea creatures, weather and all of that.

• When it comes to supporting your data with research, where is the most logical place for kids to go? The library of course.

• One of the largest collections a libraries science section is science fair ideas.

• Now beyond all of that, the library is also one of the largest rooms in a school. It also has build in counter tops and table that are perfect for  display boards and you don’t have to fight with the Phys Ed teacher about taking up their gym.

• Read the full article that goes into great detail on how to partner with the librarian for the science fair here.

So the article got me thinking more about First Grade.

Mostly a 1st grade science project is based on a theme, and you also want them to learn early on how research is a key element. The librarian as a partner from beginning to end, will help with surveying the literature, they can help focus their attention to one area, they can even teach kids how to take an idea an turn it into a good science question. Then there they would be again, to either help the child look for an appropriate project, or work with the teacher to find a list of books or online project in their theme and is designed for a 1st grader to do. They would work ahead of time to create a display of research support books, as well asd websites the kids can use for their facts.

I somehow think  1st grade science projects that followed some great  ideas for making a project look good from their school  librarian could be really cool! Not to mention how excited 1st graders can be about showing off anything they do!

Get your free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parents’ Guide to a Science Project” that goes into great detail on how to make a great display board. You can download right now through this link.

…and those 4th graders?

It looks like you really can build some good habits, and have some fun along the ways so science projects for 4th graders might go more smoothly and independently, not to mention the friendly librarian there to help them along the way. You will get some really great display boards by then!

Get your 1st grade science project ideas, or science projects for 4th graders or kids of any age  today at 24 Hour Science Project!

Here are some random thoughts to show how easy it is to hook one day science fair projects to the holidays.

Valentines Day- You think about red and chocolate. A project that figures out how much red food coloring is needed to bake a red heart cookie that ends up being red and not pink, will hardly seem like science. Doing something with chocolate should always be a hit, like seeing if there is a difference between how long milk chocolate and dark chocolate takes to melt.

St Patrick’s Day- Of course you think green. So use the green theme and do a simple environment kind of experiment. You might try a blind fold experiment to see if people really can tell the difference between Green Eggs and Ham and regular ones.

Mother’s Day and Fathers Day- For one could be a longer than one day science projects since it is the beginning of the growing season. Plant a variety of seeds and compare the results on Fathers Day. Plant annuals some with and some without fertilizer and compare the difference on Fathers Day.

As you can see, the holiday becomes the jump start for a fun or even silly idea to explore. Fourth of July brings comparing home made burgers to store bought, Halloween can test out all kinds of gross and gooey substances to use as props for costumes, and Thanksgiving could include a test to see how best to make sweet potatoes not taste like a vegetable.

The idea is to make simple one day science fair projects a part of everyday life, and not something just for science class. This will also teach kids that science is everywhere and a healthy curiosity about science means you are aware of the world around you.

Here is a link to a great digital resource for simple, easy to follow 24 hour science projects, weekend projects and demonstration projects. Often these digital products cost less than what you would pay for a pizza. Go to my Blog!
One Day Science Fair Projects
Look for great Middle School Science Projects too!
Step by Step Blueprints for Students and Parents

http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

You could also try using some fun math games.

http://www.thesue-teaching-tips.info

My name is Sue Gnagy Fegan and I used a structured, sequential multisensory teaching approach for the past 34 years. I saw first hand the benefits of engaging students in productive, hands on activities to make learning more meaningful and more fun.

Ready for a Science Project that can be done in just one day of your winter break? You got it!

What if our science fair is already over? These one day science fair projects are called “science fair” because they are the sort of experiments you might find in a science fair. Something specific, geared towards one thing, and that follows the scientific method where you observe and question something you notice in the world around you, develop some hypotheses or possible reasons why, and experiment to see if what you thought would happen does. Then you share the results. By using the term science fair, it give the project an educational standard.

Why should I make my kids do even more schoolwork when they are home? Science is really an every day, look at the world around you thing. If you use projects based on simple curiosity about things that are seen and used everyday, and you make it sound interesting enough, then it will not feel like school, but feel like a fun activity. Doing projects like this help develop creative problem solving steps that are used all of the time, not just in science class. Kids often feel that school and the rest of their life are two separate happenings. So the more kids can see that school work like science can be applied to every day life, the better it is for them in the long run.

What happens if they are old enough to be home alone without adult supervision? There are plenty of projects that use everyday materials that do not involve matches, using the stove, knives, standing on ladders or any of those things you do not want kids doing while home alone. Simple projects centered around everyday household experiences can easily be found online and downloaded to your computer. Digital products will even have built in spreadsheets in the download to enter the data and make nifty charts. All of this the older child will already have learned how to do at school.

Having some digital one day science fair projects on hand will at least give you some more options of things your child can do on that day they cannot go back to school while waiting for their temperature to stay normal for 24 hours. You will even have them on hand for other times you find your child needs something constructive to fill their time.

Here is a link to a great digital resource for simple, easy to follow 24 hour science projects, weekend projects and demonstration projects. Often these digital products cost less than what you would pay for a pizza. Go to my Blog! One Day Science Fair Projects Step by Step Blueprints for Students and Parents
http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

Look for great Middle School Science Projects too! (on the top right side bar!)
http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

My name is Sue Gnagy Fegan and I used a structured, sequential multisensory teaching approach for the past 34 years. I saw first hand the benefits of engaging students in productive, hands on activities to make learning more meaningful and more fun.

Got a Science Experiment Due? Need a Project? Get 5 Fast, Easy, and Winning Projects Here!

It shouldn’t have come as a shock to my family that I went to college and majored in a scientific field.  After all, I showed an early proclivity for experimentation, long before the days of chemistry class or science fair projects.  At the ripe age of 9, I conducted an “experiment” to see what types of materials burn faster.  (NOTE:  Do NOT try this at home, or at least not without extreme adult supervision!!)  All went well until I tested a Kleenex…which I promptly had to drop into the metal trash can…filled with Kleenex…well, you get the picture.  A few seconds later and after a mad fire stomp by several members of my family (Metal trash cans get hot when engulfed in flame and cannot be carried out of the house; that was my mom’s take home lesson), my first science lab was finished.  As was the carpet.  Not a stellar start to my science career, but it didn’t slow me down.  Much.

However, I would like to suggest some fun and SAFER “science-y” things to do at home.  These ideas can be used as a simple introduction to the scientific method, or you can take it further and use it as a starting board for a full-blown science project.  First off, we’ll start in the laundry room, since I seem to spend a large portion of my life there!

1)  What are the effects of hard/soft water on detergents?  Or, what are the effects of certain salts on detergents?  To do this experiment, create a universal stain on several cloth strips(all made of same material).  Be sure to leave some material unstained as a point of comparison.  To create a consistent stain, consider soaking in something like grape juice or coffee.  Stain all the material at the same time for the same amount of time.  Start with ½ liter of purified water in several 2 Liter bottles (this will be your washing machine).  Leave one “machine” as purified water only.  This is your control.  To each of the other two liters, add salts.  You can try different salts (Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium), OR try using different amounts of the same salt in different two liters.  Add a cloth strip and the same amount of detergent to each “machine.”  I recommend using only a teaspoon of detergent.  Count the number of shakes (do whatever your arms can handle; but do your best to shake each two liter the same amount of time/number of shakes).

Oh, my mind races with the possibilities with this one:  comparing detergents, amounts of salts, lather, time, etc.  However, try to keep it simple.  Only test one thing at a time.

Well, tune in next time for more laundry lab.  Who knows, if nothing else, you might get Suzie or Johnny interested in science and the upcoming science fair.  Or, at the very least, maybe they’ll do the laundry for you next time!

Yours in Science,
Cecilia
PS:  Want more details on a quick, easy science project….

Check out 24 Hour Science Projects

You could begin with talking to your child’s science teacher  to find a 7th grade science project that  is based on your what the science class is currently studying.  This will also help to assure that the project your child chooses fulfills the project requirements for the class. Their teacher might also be able to recommend a good science project book, which brings us to our next useful tool, the public library. The library is full of kid friendly science books, even books geared specifically toward science projects for any age. A great science project book might be helpful as you know you’d be using reliable information that will walk you through the experiment. 

Also, the internet is a great resource for finding a 7th grade science project. Either by searching specifically for a type of project i.e. “7th grade science project, chemistry,” or by searching for a database full of science projects like http://www.akronlibrary.org/DBS/SFDB/Default.aspx or http://www.youth.net/nsrc/sci/sci.index.html, you’re sure to be able to find an assortment of science experiments that your child will be interested. Another great find on the internet is the free science project guide at http://www.middle-school-science-projects.com/guide.pdf. 

For your science experiments

visit 24 Hour Science Project today!

 You can always start with a more general search for a project in your child’s area of interest. For example, “6th grade science projects, marine biology” or “6th grade science projects, earth sciences.” This route might yield some useful results, but you may be at risk of becoming overwhelmed with too many results, or too many projects that don’t suit your child’s curriculum or interests. 

 If you are having difficulty narrowing down your results, or if you’d like to browse several subject areas at once, you can try searching for websites that contain large inventories of science project ideas. Very often these databases, like the ones found at http://www.akronlibrary.org/DBS/SFDB/Default.aspx or http://www.youth.net/nsrc/sci/sci.index.html, are capable of being searched by grade level or subject, and have reliable science projects that are age appropriate for your student. This might be a better strategy than finding a project idea on an independently run website that might not be trustworthy. You can also find a free online 6th grade science project guide at http://www.middle-school-science-projects.com/guide.pdf. 

Check out 24 Hour Science Projects

and get your child’s science experiments now!

Public libraries or school libraries often carry books geared toward children full of fun and age appropriate projects. Be sure to look for one with good instructions and pictures to help you along. Your child’s teacher or science teacher might also be a great resource for finding a science experiment. Asking a teacher is also a good idea, as they might be able to help you find a kids science experiment idea that is relevant to what your child’s class is studying in science at that time. Finally, the internet has many websites geared toward science experiments for kids. Searching for kids science experiments will yield tons of helpful results, many of which are free like the science project guides you can find at  http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com/guide.pdf  Remember to have fun by doing a project your child is interested in, and always be safe!

Get your science experiments for your kid at

24 Hour Science Projects!

Finding a fun science project isn’t impossible. Whether you’re looking for an experiment or a demonstration, there are some great ideas that don’t cost a lot, are easy to do, and will teach your child basic scientific practices. We have four sons, and over the years we’ve done more projects than we can count. Here are some of our boys’ favorites:

• Find out which citrus fruit has the most Vitamin C? Make a solution with iodine and starch (it’s EASY to do!), and test different kinds of citrus juices to see which contains the most vitamin C.

• Take the shell of an egg – without boiling it. This wildly fun project is so cool you’ll do it over again for the sheer fascination of it! Soak a raw egg in vinegar, and the shell will come off. The egg membrane is so tough that the shell-less egg will bounce!

• Show how yeast gives of gas. Place a yeast and sugar solution into a bottle, put a balloon on top, and watch the yeast have so much gas that the balloon blows up!

• Watch static electricity work. Grab your wool socks, make a little piece of aluminum foil bounce between your finger and a pie plate.

• Use toy cars to find out about friction! Set up a hot wheels track, and find out how far they will roll across different floor surfaces.

• Are two ears better than one? Hide a ticking clock in a room, and send your friends in to find it – half using both ears, and half with one ear blocked with a cotton ball. (Birthday party idea?!)

These science projects are part of all the fun science projects in the 24 Hour Science Project package. They are easy to design on your own, visit 24 Hour Science Projects to find out how to purchase step by step instructions for each.

1. Find out what type of project your science teacher requires. There are many types of projects, and most elementary schools give a range of choices. Does your teacher want an experiment, a demonstration, a collection, a report, or a model? Knowing what kind of project you need will narrow down your choices considerably.

2. Make a list of things that interest your child. What subjects catch your child’s eye on television or in books – space, animals, buildings, computers, explosions? Does your child need instant gratification? Consider a chemistry experiment with dramatic results, such as “Which Fruit has the Most Vitamin C?” Is your child concerned about the environment? Find out which toilet tissue is most biodegradable, or which type of insulation works best.

3. Set your budget for money – and time. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, and if your time is limited, there is no need to look at anything that requires special metals to be imported from the Far East. Decide on how much cash you’re willing to spend, and create a generous time line for getting supplies. Keep in mind that you have to actually do the project after the supplies arrive.

4. Keep in mind that this is a science project for elementary school. Don’t choose a project with complicated instructions. You want your child to do the project with your help – and not the other way around.

5. Provide four or five science project choices. Ever notice how it takes longer to decide on an ice cream flavor when there are 31 flavors? Give your elementary school child a limited list of science project choices, and you’ll both be happier.

Parents, get a free guide to science projects- including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at Elementary Science Projects.

Our project guides are easy and fast, and will help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – science project for elementary school.