research projects 5th grade

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Independent research projects in upper elementary, independent research projects in upper elementary ela.

Every year, I plan to give my students more choice, voice, and independent project work. Of course, we also have to deal with state testing and loads of other requirements. However, giving your students independent research projects not only helps them demonstrate learning and mastery of standards, it also gives them some choices and ability to share their own unique voice! Here are some independent research projects in upper elementary ELA that your 4th through 6th graders will love!

Genius Hour

You may have heard of Genius Hour or Passion Projects. Genius Hour is considered project-based learning, and it starts with a question. Students choose their own research question about anything really, and they study it at least an hour a week. After reading/researching about their question, their final project can be something as simple as an explanatory slideshow or building their own dollhouse. The possibilities are endless.

Genius Hour can require some scaffolding at the beginning. For example, you may ask your students to research a question related to a certain topic. If you’re reading Watsons Go to Birmingham, for example, they may ask a question surrounding the Civil Rights Movement or the 1960s. The topics can be open-ended to give the students some choice but still have an overarching theme.

Once students get practice researching and coming up with their own final project, they can choose a Genius Hour topic about anything. Some example questions may include:

• How do I promote healthy eating in elementary school?
• How do I prepare for middle school?
• What is the best place to take a family vacation, and how can I plan one for my family?
• How do you start a small business as a student?

Genius Hour gives students choice and voice in the classroom, and you’ll love learning about their passions!

Author Studies

This is one of my favorite projects to use for upper elementary ELA students! I first implemented this project with fifth graders after state testing. This is the perfect time of year for an independent study, and it reinforces reading, writing, and research concepts used throughout the school year!

This project includes almost everything you need for your students to complete a research project on the author of their choosing . It sets them up to brainstorm, research, take notes, plan, and then complete a research paper on their selected authors. I have also made sure to leave some of the note-taking more generic so that you and your students can use as little or as many pages as they need.

Start by giving students the included list of possible authors to research or let them choose their own. This author may already be a favorite or one they want to know more about! Once the author is chosen, your job is to facilitate. Remind them of resources to use for research, note-taking skills and options, and let them learn and explore!

The author study resource includes everything your students need to get started. You’ll have the author examples, note sheets, rubrics, and an example research paper to help guide your instruction and student learning!

Differentiate by having students work in groups to research an author together or study different authors within the same genre. This is also a great way to culminate literature circles by having students research the author they read!

These independent research projects in upper elementary ELA are some of my favorites to provide choice while differentiating for all learners. What research projects have you tried in your ELA classroom?

• Read more about: Upper Elementary Reading

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50 Fantastic 5th Grade Science Projects, Experiments, and Activities

For the classroom or science fair.

There’s something so fascinating about hands-on science experiments and projects. They make learning so meaningful and so much fun! These 5th grade science projects help kids explore biology, physics, chemistry, and a whole lot more. Try one at the 5th grade science fair, or use a few to liven up your lesson plans.

To make things even easier, we’ve rated every one of these 5th grade science projects based on difficulty and materials:

Difficulty:

• Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

5th Grade Science Fair Projects

Stem challenge 5th grade science projects, 5th grade matter and energy science activities, more 5th grade science projects and activities.

Choosing a science fair project means finding a subject that really interests you and coming up with a unique question to answer. Use some of these 5th grade science fair project ideas to create a cool experiment all your own.

Stop soil erosion with plants

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

Soil erosion is a serious problem that can lead to natural disasters like landslides as well as causing problems for farmers, who lose valuable topsoil. Try this experiment to learn how plants help keep soil in place naturally, and change up the variables like soil composition or types of plants.

Learn more: Soil Erosion Experiment at Life Is a Garden

Blow square bubbles

Bubble science experiments are always a hit! In this one, kids construct a device to see if they can blow a square bubble instead of a round one.

Discover the delights of decomposition

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

This is a good chance to apply the scientific method and practice your observation skills, using only basic kitchen supplies. Ask the question: “Which food will rot (decompose) the fastest?” Have students hypothesize, observe, and then report their findings. Get a printable observation sheet at the link below.

Learn more: Food Decomposition at No Time for Flash Cards

Mix up some magic sand

What if you could make sand that was “afraid” of water? This 5th grade science experiment uses waterproofing spray to create you-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it hydrophobic sand.

Learn more: Hydrophobic Sand at Teaching Mama

Make your own bouncy balls

Students learn about polymers as they mix borax with cornstarch, glue, and water in this playful experiment. Experiment with size, shape, and ingredients to see which work best.

Learn more: DIY Bouncy Balls at Babble Dabble Do

Study water filtration

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

See the process of water purification firsthand. Layer coffee filters, sand, and gravel in the bottom of an empty cup punched with holes. Place the cup in an empty jar, pour in dirty water, and watch what happens. Mix up the variables, and you’ve got a cool 5th grade science fair project.

Learn more: Water Purification at Teach Beside Me

Find out if a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s

Settle an age-old debate with this 5th grade science fair project. Collect saliva from both humans and canines with cotton swabs and place each sample in labeled petri dishes. Check the bacterial colonies in each and compare the results.

Learn more: Dog’s Mouth Project at Sciencing

Explore basic genetics

Send your students on a quest to find out more about their genes and inherited traits. The link below includes a printable chart they can use to learn about recessive and dominant genes.

Learn more: Inherited Traits at Education.com

Design a biosphere

This project really brings out kids’ creativity and helps them understand that everything in a biosphere is really part of one big whole. You’ll be overwhelmed by what they come up with!

Learn more: Biosphere Project at Laney Lee

Measure heat capacity of different liquids

Your students will venture into the world of chemistry with this experiment that tests the heat capacity of different liquids, such as salt water, olive oil, and liquid soap, using a hot plate . They’ll incorporate math into their experiment when they plot their results!

Learn more: Heat Capacity at Education.com

A good STEM challenge can spark a terrific science fair project too. These also make terrific classroom activities for 5th grade science students.

Assemble an automatic water fountain

Water fountains were around long before humans harnessed the power of electricity to make pumps. Learn how they worked with this STEM challenge science project for 5th grade.

Race down a LEGO zip line

Every kid loves LEGO bricks, so incorporate them into your 5th grade science activities! Challenge kids to design and build their own zip line. You can set the parameters, like distance and slope, then let students get to work.

Learn more: Zipline at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Slow your roll

Ball-run challenges are always fun, but this one has a twist. Your goal is to build a run that gets the ball to the bottom taking the longest time possible! This requires kids to think about friction, slopes, and other creative features.

Fly clothespin airplanes

Put your 5th grade science students’ engineering skills to the test. Provide them with clothespins and wood craft sticks , and challenge them to build a realistic airplane. Bonus points if it can actually fly!

Learn more: Clothespin Airplane at STEAMsational

Spin a candle-powered pinwheel

Prove that hot air rises by using candles to spin a homemade pinwheel. Then experiment to see how the number of candles affects the spinning speed. (As always, make sure kids use fire under safe conditions.)

Set off a chain reaction

Learn about potential and kinetic energy when you try this cool 5th grade science experiment. All you need are wood craft sticks and a bit of patience.

Bounce on a trampoline

Kids love bouncing on trampolines, but can they build one themselves? Find out with this totally fun STEM challenge. Plus, check out more 5th grade STEM challenges here.

Learn more: Trampoline STEM Challenge at Student Savvy

Build a solar oven

Learn about the value of solar energy by building an oven that cooks food without electricity. Enjoy your tasty treats while discussing ways we can harness the energy of the sun and why alternative energy sources are important. ( Love edible science projects? Get more ideas here. )

Learn more: DIY Solar Oven S’mores at Desert Chica

Launch your own bottle rocket

Blast off with a few supplies and a little help from the laws of motion. Encourage kids to design and decorate their rockets first and see which one can fly the highest!

Learn more: Bottle Rocket at Science Sparks

Peer through a cardboard microscope

Microscopes can be pricey, so make your own at home! This is the kind of 5th grade science fair project that will really wow the judges.

Build a snack machine

Incorporate everything students learn about simple machines into one project when you challenge them to build a snack machine! Using basic supplies, they’ll need to design and construct a machine that delivers snacks from one location to another. ( Get more candy experiments here. )

Learn more: Snack Machine Challenge at Left Brain Craft Brain

Use rubber bands to sound out acoustics

Explore the ways that sound waves are affected by what’s around them using a simple rubber band “guitar.” (Your students will absolutely love playing with these!)

Learn more: Rubber Band Guitar at Science Sparks

Assemble Archimedes’ screw

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

It’s amazing how often science looks like magic—until you understand the principles behind it. Such is the case with the simple pump known as Archimedes’ screw. It’s easy to build your own and makes for a cool 5th grade science fair project.

Recycle newspaper into an engineering challenge

It’s amazing how a stack of newspapers can spark such creative engineering. Challenge students to build a tower, support a book, or even build a chair using only newspaper and tape.

Learn more: Newspaper Tower at STEM Activities for Kids

Construct a sturdy bridge

To design a safe bridge that meets the needs of the community, engineers must understand the capabilities and limitations of the bridge. This project is great for budding 5th grade engineers as they simulate constructing a bridge that serves its purpose and keeps community members safe.

Every 5th grade science curriculum is different, but many include some common concepts. Learn about the states of matter, matter and its interactions, and energy science with these neat 5th grade activities.

Model the states of matter

Create simple models to show the arrangement of molecules in solids, liquids, and gasses. Ping-Pong balls are perfect for this. ( Find more states of matter activities here. )

Drink root beer floats

This is our favorite way to learn about the various states of matter! Treat time becomes a learning lesson with this 5th grade science matter activity.

Learn more: Teaching Matter With Root Beer Floats at Learning Lab Resources

Fill a bubble with dry ice vapor

Discover the science of sublimation by turning dry ice from a solid directly into a gas. Then play around with surface tension as the resulting vapor fills a giant bubble. This one is so cool to see in action!

Discover density with hot and cold water

There are a lot of cool science experiments you can do with density. This one is extremely simple, involving only hot and cold water and food coloring.

Learn more: Hot and Cold Water Density at STEAMsational

Learn to layer liquids

This density demo is a little more complicated than other science projects, but the effects are spectacular. Slowly layer liquids like honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol in a glass. Your 5th grade science students will be amazed when the liquids float one on top of the other like magic (except it is really science).

Learn more: Liquid Density at Wonder How To

Light(ning) it up indoors

On a cool, low-humidity day, use a foil-covered fork and a balloon to create a “lightning storm” in your classroom. Turn down the lights to give students a better view of the static electricity you’re creating.

Learn more: Indoor Lightning at Education.com

Create convection currents

This easy experiment uses hot and cold liquids and some food coloring to explore the thermal and kinetic energy that creates convection currents. Take things a step further and research how convection currents work in large bodies of water, like oceans.

Learn more: Heat Convection at Education.com

Sink or swim with soda cans

Here’s another easy density experiment. Place unopened cans of regular and diet soda into a bin of water to see which float and which sink. The differences are due to the use of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Learn more: Sink or Swim at Cool Science Experiments HQ

Find out if water conducts electricity

We always tell kids to get out of the water as a storm approaches. This 5th grade science project helps explain why. (Conductivity vs. non-conductivity is one of the properties of matter too.)

Learn more: Electricity and Water at Rookie Parenting

Blow up a balloon—without blowing

This is the classic science experiment that helps you teach the reactions between acids and bases, plus what happens when you mix different substances together. Fill a bottle with vinegar and a balloon with baking soda. Fit the balloon over the top, shake the baking soda down into the vinegar, and watch the balloon inflate.

Learn more: Balloon Experiments

Use these hands-on science activities to spice up your lesson plans or as enrichment projects for science-loving kids to try at home.

Erupt a baking soda volcano

Need a 5th grade science fair project? Go with a classic: the volcano ! This one’s made from salt dough, which is easy to work with and inexpensive to make.

Learn more: Baking Soda Volcano Experiment (With Free Printable Student Recording Sheet)

Peel an orange to understand plate tectonics

If students are learning earth science, use an orange to make plate tectonics easier to understand. Peel it, then reassemble it and look at the pieces as plates floating on the Earth’s mantle.

Learn more: Orange Tectonics at Science Sparks

Discover the strength of eggshells

We think of eggshells as very fragile, but their shape makes them surprisingly strong. Try this experiment to learn why arches are such a useful shape in architecture.

Demonstrate the “magic” leakproof bag

So simple and so amazing! All you need is a zip-top plastic bag, sharp pencils, and some water to blow your students’ minds. Once they’re suitably impressed, teach them how the “trick” works by explaining the chemistry of polymers.

Learn more: Magic Leakproof Bag at Paging Fun Mums

Explore the science of glow sticks

Glow sticks are always a big hit with kids, so they’ll have a terrific time learning about the chemical reactions that make glow sticks work.

Learn more: Glow Stick Science Experiment at A Dab of Glue Will Do

Grow crystal snowflakes

Kids love crystal projects, and this one results in winter decorations for your classroom. Your students will learn about supersaturated solutions and crystallization. ( See more winter science activities here. )

Learn more: Crystal Snowflakes at Little Bins for Little Hands

Escape from quicksand

Dive deep into the science of quicksand and learn about saturation and friction along the way. You’ll create a small “quicksand” pool from cornstarch and water, then experiment to find out the best ways to escape.

Learn more: Quicksand Experiment at Education.com

Watch the heart beat with marshmallows

If you can get your 5th grade science class to quiet down enough for this one, they might be able to see a marshmallow jump with each beat of their hearts!

Learn more: Heartbeat Marshmallows at Growing Grade by Grade

Make a foil bug walk on water

Surface tension allows water striders to dance across the surface of the water. Re-create this scientific phenomenon with little “bugs” made of aluminum foil.

Learn more: Foil Water Strider at The Homeschool Scientist

Find out how bile breaks down fat

Learning about the digestive system? This 5th grade science demo explores the purpose of the bile produced by the liver, which breaks down fat.

Learn more: Bile Experiment at Simple Southern

Construct a homemade lava lamp

This 1970s trend is back—as a 5th grade science project! Learn about acids and bases while putting together a totally groovy lava lamp.

Learn more: Homemade Lava Lamp at Education.com

Investigate osmosis with gummy bears

Gummy bears are not only tasty, but they can also help teach your 5th graders about the concepts of osmosis and equilibrium as well as solvents and solute.

Replicate a sunset

With just water, milk powder, a flashlight, and a glass dish, your 5th graders will investigate why the sky appears to change colors as the sun sets.

Learn more: Sunset Sky at Rookie Parenting

Defy gravity with floating water

This one might cause a bit of a mess, but it’s only water, and it’s all in the name of your students discovering air pressure. All you’ll need is a cup, index card, water, and crossed fingers that your classroom doesn’t become a puddle!

Model constellations

Space delights students of all ages. The mystery and mystique is intriguing, and creating a constellation out of pipe cleaners is a fun STEM activity to explore the night sky.

Learn more: Constellations Model at STEAM Powered Family

Continue the STEM learning with these 5th Grade Math Games for Teaching Fractions, Decimals, and More .

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The Big List of Science Fair Project Ideas, Resources, and More

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Are you looking for science activities to do with your 5th graders? No sweat. We have you covered. Check out our list of 26 science projects and experiments that you can try with your 5th graders this month.

• Hand-Eye Coordination and Age | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 2-5, Use a stopwatch and ping-pong ball to find out how hand-eye coordination changes as children get older.
• What Do Yeast Eat…and How Can You Tell? | Education.com – Grades 2-5, The objective of this project is to examine which foods yeast cells eat.
• How Do Antacids Work? | Biochemistry Discovery Lab – Grades 3-6, Simulate out how antacids work to treat heartburn by using fake stomach enzymes.
• Mice & Music | Hubpages.com – Grades 3-6, Find out if music affects the performance of mice in a maze.
• A Magnetic Primer Designer | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 3-6 Biology project that utilizes magnets to mimic the process that scientists use to replicate DNA, using the polymerase chain reaction.
• Growing Bacteria in Petri Dishes | Stevespanglerscience.com – Grades 3-6 biology In this science fair project, you must find samples of bacteria from an assortment of surfaces to find the surfaces that are the dirtiest.
• Effects of Ozone on Plants and Health | Julian’s Science Fair – Grades 4-6, Environmental conditions can dramatically impact plant growth and germination. Does increased ozone stunt germination and plant growth? Grow some plants and find out.
• Making Batteries from Fruits and Vegetables | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 4-7, Use veggie power to build a simple battery from a variety of vegetables. Which ones are the most powerful?
• How Water Beats Rock | Education.com – Grades 1-5, Discover how water is more potent than rocks.  Experiment with ways that water can break the stone.
• Soil Type and Liquefaction | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 1-5, Experiment with sand, clay, and loam and find out which type of soil dissolves most easily.
• Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Static Charges | Education.com – Grades 1-5, Use balloons, a rubber ball, and a scarf to investigate why those socks stick together when you take them out of the dryer and how conditions in the air affect static electricity.
• Dig This: Biodegradation | Education.com – Grades 2-6, How do organic materials become soil? This science experiment measures which materials biodegrade.
• Geology 101 | Education.com – Grades 2-6, Water carries lots of soil and minerals in a creek. In this project, you’ll examine the behavior of water and gravel in creek beds and the formation of sedimentary rocks.
• Geothermal Power Plant Model | Energyquest.ca.gov – Grades 3-6, Use a pinwheel and a can of boiling water to simulate geothermal power production. Determine how to generate the most energy from your “power plant.”
• Egg Substitutes | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 3-6, Many people avoid eggs because of allergies or diet preferences. But eggs play a vital chemical function in baking and cooking. Evaluate the ability of egg substitutes to mimic their binding, leavening, or thickening properties.
• How Much Water is Required to Cook Pasta? | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 3-6, We’re used to cooking our pasta in a big pot of boiling water. Do you actually need that much water, time, and energy to cook pasta? Perform some experiments to find out.
• Building the Best Bridge | Education.com – Grades 3-6, This project helps students develop an understanding of architecture and engineering through experimentation of which shapes are the most structurally strong.
• Rubber Bands for Energy | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 3-6, Put the energy of rubber bands to work and learn about the relationship between potential and kinetic energy.
• Properties of Pendulums | Illinois Institute of Technology – Grades 3-6, Pendulums have been used for timekeeping for hundreds of years. Find out how changes in mass and length affect the oscillation of a pendulum.
• Bust That Rust! | Education.com – Grades 3-10, Investigate the chemistry of rust and the oxidation process. Younger students will use steel wool, water, salt, and vinegar. Older students will explore the chemistry of rust.
• Wind Around the Home | Education.com – Grades 4-6, Learn about wind speed and duration and different locations around your home. Determine the best site(s) for a windmill.
• Arch Magic: The Unbreakable Egg | Education.com – Grades 4-7, Tell you, folks, tonight is a good night for an egg dinner. Use the eggshells to explore how arches distribute weight. Demonstrates the power of arches by asking students to pile telephone books on top of eggs without damaging them.
• How a Comet’s Size Affects How Fast It Melts | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 4-7, Comets are often compared to giant, dirty snowballs, and the comet tail you see in the sky is evidence of melting. In this project, you’ll use figure out how the size of a comet affects its melting rate.
• Make an Electromagnet | Energyquest.ca.gov -Grades 4-7, Learn how to create an electromagnet from batteries, wire, and a knife switch. How does changing to kind of batteries used affect the power of your
• Bombs Away! A Ping Pong Catapult | Science Buddies.org – Grades 4-7, They fly through the air with the greatest of ease. Find ways to put a ping pong ball accurately on target time after time.
• The Mechanics of Carnival Games | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 5-8, Find out why those carnival games are so hard. Learn the fundamental laws of science that help the concessionaires engineer the games in their favor.

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Science Fair Projects for 5th Grade: Teacher's Guide

Finding meaningful science fair projects for 5th graders can be a real challenge for teachers.

This comprehensive guide for teachers promises to make planning and executing winning science fair projects for 5th grade easy and enjoyable.

You'll discover the top 10 project ideas, step-by-step instructions for developing testable experiments, gathering materials, recording observations, analyzing data, creating visual displays, tips for captivating presentations, and evaluating outcomes to celebrate student success.

Introduction to Science Fair Projects for 5th Grade

Science fair projects provide an engaging way for 5th grade students to explore science topics that interest them. As a teacher, guiding students through the process of developing a science fair project teaches important research, critical thinking, and communication skills. This guide offers tips and resources to help 5th grade teachers mentor students in creating meaningful science fair projects.

Exploring the Benefits of Science Fair Projects

Science fair projects have many benefits for 5th grade students:

• Spark interest and engagement in STEM topics
• Build research, experiment design, and data analysis skills
• Boost confidence through independent investigation of a topic
• Allow creativity and choice in project development
• Develop scientific thinking and communication abilities

By participating in science fairs, students gain exposure to the scientific method and learn how to conduct experiments.

Selecting Winning Science Fair Topics

Choosing an appropriate topic is key to developing a successful science fair project. Consider these strategies for helping 5th graders select a topic:

• Brainstorm areas of interest from the 5th grade science topics list
• Determine if a topic can be tested through an experiment at home
• Ensure required materials are easily accessible
• Match topics to students' abilities and skill levels

Some winning 5th grade science fair projects have focused on testing the effects of different variables on plant growth, modeling weather phenomena, investigating properties of matter, and more.

Crafting a Compelling Research Question

A strong research question guides the entire science experiment. Here are tips for developing a focused research question:

• Frame the question around testing a specific variable
• Make the question clear, narrow, and answerable through an experiment
• Use the scientific method to inform the phrasing of the question

For example, "How does the amount of sunlight affect the growth rate of bean plants?" is an effective research question.

What are the top 10 science fair project?

Here are 10 great science fair project ideas for 5th grade students:

1. Investigating the Effect of Different Soil Types on Plant Growth

This project tests how plants grow in different soil types like clay, sand, potting mix, etc. Students can measure plant height over time to compare growth rates.

2. Measuring the Effect of Music on Memory

Students can test how different music genres affect memorization of words or numbers. A control group with no music can be used for comparison.

3. Creating a Solar Water Heater

Using basic materials, students can build a solar powered water heater to test temperature changes over time. This explores renewable energy.

4. Investigating the Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity

By changing pH, students can measure how enzyme activity is affected. This shows how acidity impacts chemical reactions in living things.

5. Measuring the Effect of Temperature on Electrical Resistance

Using wire and a multimeter, the resistance of conductors can be tested at different temperatures. This demonstrates scientific principles.

6. Building a Simple Wind Turbine

Students can construct small wind turbines to power LED lights. This explores mechanical energy conversion.

7. Testing Strength of Different Bridge Designs

Using materials like popsicle sticks or toothpicks, students can build different bridge models and test their strength by adding weights until structural failure. This is an engineering design challenge.

8. Investigating Which Materials Best Insulate Heat

By timing how long ice cubes last when wrapped in various materials, insulation properties can be compared. Everyday items like cotton, foil, and Styrofoam can be tested.

9. Observing Osmosis in Cells

Using eggs, students can observe the process of osmosis and diffusion across semi-permeable membranes. This demonstrates biology concepts.

10. Testing Paper Airplane Designs

Students can build different paper airplane models and measure flight distance and duration. Aerodynamics principles are explored through iterative testing.

What is the best science project for Class 5?

Here are some of the best science fair project ideas for 5th grade students:

Bouncing on a Trampoline

This project looks at how the height of a trampoline bounce changes depending on the weight of the person jumping. Students could test different weights and record bounce heights.

The "Magic" Leakproof Bag

Students can create a bag out of a plastic zipper storage bag that seems to defy gravity and doesn't leak water even when turned upside down. This demonstrates air pressure and density.

Clothespin and Popsicle Stick Airplanes

Students can build simple airplanes out of clothespins and popsicle sticks and test how far they fly when launched by hand. They can experiment with different wing shapes and angles.

Tornado in a Bottle

Using a plastic bottle, water, glitter or small pieces of paper, and dish soap, students can create a mini tornado and observe how tornadoes form.

Float or Sink Pop Cans

By crushing pop cans and placing them in water, students can observe differences in density and record whether crushed cans float or sink compared to normal cans.

These are just a few fun and easy science project ideas that demonstrate science concepts like gravity, density, pressure, and forces. Students get hands-on experience coming up with a hypothesis, testing variables, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. And they'll learn some really cool science facts along the way!

What are the topics for grade 5 science?

Here are some of the most common science topics studied in 5th grade:

Earth and Space Science

• Structure and layers of the Earth
• Landforms and changes in the Earth's surface caused by weathering and erosion
• The water cycle
• Weather patterns and severe storms
• The solar system, planets, stars, galaxies

Life Science

• Plant structures and functions
• Plant life cycles and reproduction
• Ecosystems and food chains
• Human body systems and functions
• Animal classification, structures, and adaptations

Physical Science

• Properties and states of matter
• Atoms and molecules
• Energy, heat, light, and sound
• Forces and motion
• Electricity and magnetism

5th graders typically learn about these topics through hands-on activities, experiments, projects, and demonstrations that connect the concepts to real-world examples relevant to where they live. For instance, they may study local weather patterns, plant life cycles in their area, organisms in a nearby ecosystem, or conduct experiments with household materials related to physical science concepts. Tying the learning to their surroundings helps cement understanding.

What are testable questions for science fair projects 5th grade?

Science fair projects allow 5th grade students to explore scientific concepts through hands-on experiments. When coming up with a testable question, it's important to choose a topic that interests your student and can be tested using the scientific method.

Here are some examples of testable questions for 5th grade science fair projects:

How does temperature affect crystal growth?

• Students can grow crystals using different solutions and observe how temperature impacts crystal size and shape. This allows them to learn about states of matter.

How do different liquids affect how quickly an ice cube melts?

• Students can measure how long it takes ice cubes to melt when placed in different liquids like water, oil, soda etc. This teaches them about heat transfer.

How does the angle of a ramp affect the distance a toy car travels?

• Students can build ramps at different angles and test how far toy cars roll down them. This demonstrates concepts of potential and kinetic energy.

How does the amount of light affect plant growth?

• Students can grow plants under different lighting conditions to observe the effects on plant height, leaf number etc. This illustrates photosynthesis and plant biology.

The key is choosing questions that allow students to measure data and draw conclusions. This teaches the scientific method and critical thinking skills. Review science fair project ideas for 5th grade when helping your student select a topic.

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Preparing and executing the experiment.

Executing a successful science experiment requires careful preparation and precise execution. As a teacher guiding 5th graders through science fair projects, focus on facilitating engaging hands-on learning experiences.

Gathering Data and Materials for Science Experiments

• Recommend students use household materials that are safe and easy to acquire. Simple materials like paper, cardboard, basic craft supplies, food items, and recycled containers work well.
• Have students research reliable sources to gather background information and data to inform their hypothesis and procedures. Useful sources include science textbooks, library books, museum websites, and other vetted educational sites.
• Compile a classroom kit of basic supplies like tape, scissors, rulers, notebooks, and pencils to have on hand. Consider creating a sharing system for students to borrow specialty items as needed.

Implementing Procedures Safely and Accurately

• Supervise all experiments to ensure safety protocols are followed properly. Review safety rules and demonstrate proper handling of any potentially hazardous materials.
• Guide students to follow procedures precisely as outlined to control variables and yield reliable results. Encourage recording detailed notes on each step.
• Allow flexibility for iterations and improvements if initial trials reveal flawed procedures. Discuss troubleshooting techniques.

Recording Observations with Precision

• Instruct students to record qualitative observations through detailed notes, drawings, photos, or videos. Emphasize thorough, objective descriptions.
• Have students take precise quantitative measurements with metric rulers, scales, timers, thermometers, etc. Stress the importance of accurate data.
• Consider using student-friendly apps, like Google Science Journal, to assist with gathering observational data.

Organizing and Analyzing Data Like a Scientist

• Help students organize recorded observations into user-friendly tables, charts, and graphs. Online tools like Google Sheets simplify data analysis.
• Explain basic statistical concepts like mean, percentages, rates of change, correlation vs causation, and margin of error. Guide analysis appropriate for 5th grade level.
• Compare results to background information gathered. Did the data support or contradict the original hypothesis? Why?

Drawing Conclusions from Experimental Results

• Facilitate constructive discussion around interpreting results and assessing hypotheses. What conclusions can reasonably be made given the data? How might the experiment be refined and expanded in future trials?
• Stress that "failed" experiments still provide learning opportunities if students can thoughtfully analyze their procedures, observations, and conclusions to determine improvements for next time. The scientific process involves ongoing questioning, testing, and refinement of ideas.

With thoughtful mentorship, 5th grade science projects grant meaningful opportunities to engage students in core aspects of the scientific process. Patience and creativity are key to guiding young scientists as they build critical thinking skills through hands-on discovery and analysis.

Creating a Standout Science Fair Presentation

Teachers can provide guidance to help students create an impactful science fair presentation that clearly communicates their project and findings.

Developing a Clear and Engaging Presentation

• Have students outline key sections to include in their presentation:
• Introduction
• Materials & Methods
• Suggest students make supplements like posters, models, or prototypes to showcase the project.

Incorporating Visuals and Science Fair Boards

• Encourage the use of charts, graphs, photos to present experiment data and results.
• Colorful visuals grab attention and illustrate findings.

Assembling the Science Fair Board with Creativity

• Use borders, title headers, and section dividers to organize display boards.
• Incorporate photos, diagrams, and other graphics to showcase the project.
• Utilize color strategically to highlight important elements.

Practicing the Oral Presentation for Impact

• Have students rehearse presenting to build confidence.
• Focus on clearly explaining the science concept.
• Prepare for likely questions to demonstrate knowledge.

Showcasing the Project at the Science Fair

• Strategically place projects to maximize foot traffic and visibility.
• Have students engage fairgoers to explain their project and findings.
• Collect feedback for students to help further develop projects.

With thorough preparation and creative presentation, students can effectively showcase their science fair projects and communicate experiment outcomes. Teachers play a key role in guiding the development of impactful science fair displays.

Evaluating and Reflecting on Science Fair Outcomes

Teachers can utilize several methods to evaluate student learning and development of science process skills through science fair projects.

Reflecting on Student Growth and Science Skills

• Have students complete self-reflection forms about their research process, including questions like:
• What science concepts did you learn through this project?
• What research skills did you develop or improve?
• What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
• Assign journal prompts for students to write about their science fair experience, such as:
• Describe the most interesting thing you learned while doing your science project.
• What science process skills (observing, inferring, predicting, etc.) did you use?
• Create rubrics to assess science process skills like developing a hypothesis, designing procedures, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and communicating findings.

Gathering Feedback from Judges and Peers

• Survey science fair judges on project qualities like creativity, effort, scientific thought, and skill development.
• Have students share constructive critiques on peers' projects.
• Encourage audience members to leave feedback or ask engaging questions.
• Review judges' rubrics and comments for areas of growth.

Evaluating Learning Objectives Through Projects

• Align science fair projects to curriculum standards for scientific investigation.
• Create project guidelines and rubrics that assess specific learning objectives.
• Evaluate projects on the degree students demonstrate target skills like:
• Asking scientific questions
• Developing models
• Planning investigations
• Analyzing data
• Using mathematical thinking
• Constructing explanations
• Engaging in arguments from evidence

Adjusting Teaching Approaches Post-Science Fair

• Identify common gaps in understanding or skill that projects revealed.
• Differentiate instruction going forward, providing extra support in challenging areas.
• Update science units and activities to better scaffold key science and engineering practices.
• Reflect on how science fairs can be improved to maximize learning.

Innovative Science Fair Project Ideas for 5th Grade

Science fair projects allow 5th grade students to explore scientific concepts through hands-on experiments and investigations. Choosing an innovative idea can help spark curiosity and engagement. Here are some creative science fair project suggestions suitable for 5th graders.

Science Fair Projects for 5th Grade at Home

• Test how different liquids affect the buoyancy of an egg. This allows students to learn about density at home using common household materials.
• Explore how sugar affects the rising process of yeast dough. Students can observe biological processes using ingredients found in most kitchens.
• Investigate how acidity impacts plant growth by watering plants with liquids of different pH levels. Everyday materials like lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda can be used.

Last Minute 5th Grade Science Projects

• Evaluate how different surfaces like carpet, tile, and wood impact the speed of a toy car. This fast experiment teaches concepts of friction and gravity.
• Test how the shape of pasta impacts the time it takes to cook. Students can explore why certain shapes cook faster, learning about geometry.
• Investigate how salt impacts the freezing point of water by freezing salty and plain water samples. This demonstrates states of matter.

5th Grade Science Fair Projects with Food

• Explore how freezing, heating, or mixing different liquids affects a hard-boiled egg inside the shell. Students can apply scientific concepts through edible experiments.
• Test how antioxidants in fruits impact oxidation by leaving apple slices exposed to air. Students can measure browning rates, learning about botany.
• Investigate how acids in vinaigrette salad dressing impact vegetable color. Students can explore concepts of chemistry using familiar foods.

5th Grade Science Fair Projects with Plants

• Analyze how natural and artificial light impacts plant growth by exposing plants to various light sources. This teaches foundations of botany and ecology.
• Explore how microwaving seeds impacts the sprouting ability compared to untreated seeds. Students can learn about plant reproduction through this experiment.
• Test how salt, sugar, vinegar, baking soda, etc. affect the wilting rate of flowers. Students can identify what damages or preserves plants.

Science Fair Projects for 5th Grade Biology

• Investigate how antibiotics impact bacterial growth by exposing cultures to antibiotics. This demonstrates germ theory and microbiology.
• Analyze how different liquids impact an earthworm's ability to move by exposing earthworms to assorted liquids. Students learn about invertebrate biology.
• Explore what insects are attracted to different food baits by leaving various foods outdoors. Students can categorize insects and analyze data.

Conclusion: Celebrating Science Fair Success

Science fairs provide an exciting opportunity for 5th grade students to explore science topics that interest them through hands-on projects. This guide has covered key tips for successfully mentoring students through the process, from choosing a topic to presenting the finished project.

Key Takeaways for 5th Grade Science Fair Projects

• Select an experiment-based project that aligns with your student's interests and grade level standards. Focus on testable questions.
• Set a realistic timeline for research, experimentation, analysis, and putting together the presentation.
• Provide guidance on research skills, scientific method, data collection, and safe procedures.
• Have students reflect on what they learned and how they can build on their project in the future.

Building on Projects for Future Success

Students can continue developing their science fair project by:

• Repeating experiments with different variables or sample sizes
• Competing at school, district, or state-level fairs
• Expanding into a long-term research project across multiple years
• Exploring extensions into engineering, computer science, or mathematics

The science fair experience allows students to build critical thinking, communication, and research skills that will serve them well in future science endeavors.

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Research Project Templates

Research projects are easy and fun with these templates. Students can learn about dinosaurs, states, provinces, and more. Each template guides students through the research process by asking simple questions and requiring basic drawings. Each file also has a bibliography form that students can fill out at the end of each project, as well as a rubric to help teachers with grading.

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State Report Research Project Made Easy!

Are you getting ready to do research on one of the fifty U.S. states? This 19 page unit comes with all the templates students need to complete a research project on one of the fifty states. Students can record information they gather, glue images, photos and draw maps on these templates to create an informational state report.

Research organization templates are included to help students create a research plan and keep track of their resources.

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State Report Research Project

Nancy Alvarez

Nancy Alvarez is a principal in Texas. She is a speaker, national presenter, and early childhood curriculum creator.

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A Black History Month Research Project for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

A Black History Month Research Project is a great way to help your students learn more about and celebrate the impact African Americans have made to the United States.  It's also a good way to help students learn about obstacles African Americans have had to face in this country.  But having 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students conduct research and complete a project based on that research can be an overwhelming task.

Scaffolding this process is essential in order for your students to be successful - and for them to actually stay engaged and excited!

After I fine-tuned the process, this Black History Month Research Project was one of my students' favorite projects all year.  It included researching a famous African American, writing an essay, creating a timeline of their life, and labeling a map.  The upper elementary students remained engaged throughout the entire project and were always very proud of the outcome!

Choosing an African American Hero to Research

Part of making a Black History Month Project meaningful is exposing students to people that they might not be familiar with.  If you let 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students choose who they want to research, you'll probably find that everyone wants to research Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, or Barack Obama.

Instead of simply letting students choose people they are already familiar with, collect a variety of biographies on different African Americans - or find some  kid-friendly biographies online.

Do whatever works for your classroom, as long as you give students an opportunity to introduce themselves to different African Americans.

How I Organized This in My Classroom

There are a lot of different ways you could do this with your students. I would always have my librarian collect enough child-friendly biographies for each student in my class.  We would sit in a circle, and each student would get one of the books.  They had about a minute to look through the book, and then everyone passed their book to the left.

After everyone had looked through every book, students would write down the top 5 people they were interested in researching.  Then, I would look through everybody's choices and assign each student their famous African American to research.

This process got students excited and gave them more ownership over the project.  However, it also allowed me some freedom to make adjustments that would help students be successful and be exposed to different people.

My students used a book from the library as their main source for research, so I wanted to make sure the reading level of the books was appropriate for each of my students.  (If you have a really well-organized classroom library checkout system, this might be easier for you!)

Scaffolding a Black History Month Essay

As all upper elementary teachers know, having students complete research and then use that to write a successful essay is much harder than you would think.

You have to teach students not to copy paragraphs straight from a book or website.  And how to organize a research paper.  And you have to motivate students so that they will actually WANT to write.

This No Prep Black History Month Research Project scaffolds the entire process so students can succeed.  And even better, it will minimize all the one on one time and help students complete their project much more independently.

But there are ways you can scaffold on your own.

1. Model the Project for Your Students

Modeling an entire project takes up a lot of class time, but it makes a huge difference in your students' success.  Plus, it will prevent a lot of student questions later.

This No Prep Black History Month Research Project has all the information you need to use Martin Luther King, Jr. in your modeling.

2. Provide a Research Page with Clear Topics

Instead of having students do their own research on note cards or a blank sheet of paper, provide a research page that tells them exactly what sorts of topics they should be researching.

Otherwise, students have the tendency to copy paragraphs and collect information on irrelevant topics.

Decide what exactly you want your students to learn about - for example, their African American's family, accomplishments, and impact - and create a research page that helps students easily organize that information.  (And, of course, this project also includes research pages.)

3. Scaffold the Writing Process

This might be one of the most important ways to help your students write a successful, organized research paper. Simply providing students with paragraph frames can make a drastic difference and give students more confidence in their writing.

This is similar to this scaffolding you can use when having students write a compare and contrast essay.   Or, use the no prep option with this already ready-to-go Black History Month Project.

Use the Research to Create a Timeline and Map

Use this opportunity to address some other social studies skills - timelines and maps!

Have students use their research to create a timeline of important events in their famous African American's life.  Then, provide students with a blank map and have them color in different states that were important to their African American.

This is a very simple way to make these skills more meaningful to students.

Presenting the Black History Month Project

There is no one right way to have students share their projects.  It really depends on how much time you have!

Here are some options:

• Have students simply turn in their projects.  You could use them to create a bulletin board or just take a grade.
• Have students create a poster with their essay, map, and timeline.  They can present it to the class, or you could make a display.
• Have a Living Wax Museum!  This takes a lot more preparation, but your students and parents will love it.  Find more information on Living Wax Museums here.

If you think this scaffolding would be beneficial to your students as well, then you might like my Black History Month Research Project – Essay, Map, and Timeline Resource.   It includes everything I used to help my students be successful – even a model using Martin Luther King, Jr. so you can show students what is expected of them!

Testimonial:

"This has made doing this research project so much easier! The best part is that samples of the completed steps are included. They always want to copy full sentences instead of making notes, and displaying the sample while they worked led to many more children succeeding without my one to one help."

You might also like these other ideas and resources for teaching during Black History Month - including a freebie!  

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Free State Report Templates for U.S. Geography

Published: August 9, 2021

Contributor: Jeannette Tuionetoa

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Learning about the United States is something we should put as a priority in our geography lessons. These free resources and free State Report Templates for US Geography will help your students learn all about the states that make up our nation.

State Report Templates

Many students complete a state report in elementary. It can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Using state report templates can prove to be a helpful solution when it’s time for your kids to write a report on a state in the United States.

State Reports for Elementary Students

Wondering how to begin state reports for 5th graders or any elementary grade?

You have to provide your kids with the means to do research. This may mean that your strictly text/books homeschool may need to either find a state book in your local library, search for ebooks, or convert your homeschools into virtual schools for a bit with access to the internet.

Start with your child researching their very own state. Supply your students with grade-level appropriate report examples, a sample template or two, and let them explore.

What should be included in a state report?

Learning about states is so very important. I only realized that when I moved to another country and found that my kids knew little about the United States – not even the state we came from. It was sad and totally on me to rectify that issue.

It is simple for kids to gather information on a state. The information doesn’t have to be vast, but a few essentials can really help them understand a state and its basics.

Here are a few facts for a useful state report:

• State capital
• Geography and natural features
• Official State flower
• Official State song
• History on how it got its shape
• Three interesting facts they can find

The report can be in a simple template, a written report, a lapbook, slide presentations for older students, or any other project idea you can think of.

Either way, kids can retain useful information they can take with them always. Grab some free resources to help below to get started on your state study.

Free State Report Templates Download

Our free State Report Templates pack includes 8 different geography templates that can be used in writing a report on a state. Each is focused on geography, and the 8 templates range from simple templates for younger elementary students to more in-depth templates for middle school students.

You can find this free State Report Templates pack available for download at the end of this post. 

Free State Report Templates

Use the free printables below to put together an amazing state report. There are lots of different  options that you can include in your report for the state you choose.

State Report Lapbooks

State Report State Lapbook –  This state report template is geared towards 3rd and 4th graders and includes material for students to use while doing their research. Help your students conduct research on any state with this detailed state report lapbook.

DIY Lapbook for States and More – Whether your student is studying the 50 states of America or is doing a book report, this resource is perfect for them. Grab a free template so your kids can learn how to make a lapbook of their very own with a free lapbook template.

US States Report Lapbook – Your kids will get excited about social studies, geography, and history with this free state report lapbook. It is a fun and interactive way for kids to enjoy learning about their country. This is geared towards elementary-aged kids. I used it with my son in our 5th grade homeschooling last year.

50 States Lapbook Resources and Printables – These free resources, printables and lapbooks to study the 50 states will help kids also remember the states well. These resources are super fun and help you to even assign simple monthly reports on the states of our nation.

State Report Printables

State History Timeline and Cheat Sheets – With this resource, your students can create a timeline of when each state became a state. This information is a cool informative aspect to add in their state report.

State Report Template for Notebooks

State Template for Notebooking – Grab this blank state template notebooking page to allow a student’s research to be as simple or as detailed as they want it to be. There are also blank spaces so kids can draw the flag and map of the state.

State History Report

State History Research Project – This free state history project helps kids research a state’s history. Grab this 9-page download to help your students begin an independent study on the states of our nation.

State Research Printables

State Research Graphic Organizers – The main idea of this free resource is for kids to conduct a short research project on any of the 50 states of our nation. Students will need internet access to conduct their research about the state’s capital, its governor, state bird, three largest cities, three interesting facts, and more.

State Report PDF

5th Grade State Report Printable – This one-page free printable download is chock full of excellent state information any child will enjoy filling out. From coloring to researching information like state trees and what the license plate looks like, this is an excellent simple activity.

Free Printables to Add to a State Report

Free Worksheets and Fact Cards on State Flags – Help your kids understand why each state’s flag design was chosen. Also, learn a ton of history and symbolism behind each flag with our free state study resource .

State Flash Cards

US States Flash Cards – You can add these flashcards to your report or help your kids use them to gather information for a state report. Don’t forget to ask your students to follow the step by step instructions and color the flashcards.

50 States PDFs for State Reports

50 States Worksheets – These worksheets for all 50 states will help your kids with any state report. They will learn key facts, unique features of each of the states. This is perfect for elementary kids and can be more complete for high schoolers as well.

States and Capitals

Free States and Capitals Study Sheets – Use this memorization pack for quizzes and review when studying the states and capitals.

States and Capitals Cursive Copywork – Help your students learn the states and capitals while working on handwriting skills using our free cursive copywork sheets.

State Facts for Reports

LEGO US States Facts Printable Challenge for Kids – This LEGO challenge is perfect for elementary kids learning about the United States. This is a super fun way for your kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students to learn about the states.

State Maps for a State Report

USA Worksheets and Maps for a State Report – This activity pack is an easy download to make any state report the best it can be. Your students can build on their knowledge of state names, their capitals, abbreviations, locations, and regions. This resource will help your students also test and retain the geography information learned in the US.

Songs & Videos to Learn the States & Capitals

Kids learn so quickly when material is put to song, and we all know that watching a video can be more entertaining for visual learners. Check out this big resource list of songs for the fifty states .

50 States Cheat Sheets

Lastly, don’t forget to grab our free 50 States Cheat Sheets from our subscriber library. In it you’ll find an alphabetical listing of each state, capitals, regions, time zones, and state abbreviations.

Remember to point out the information on states and major cities every time you travel or on virtual field trips. This information can be useful throughout their lifetime. Check out this resource on how to write a state report as you teach your kids what to do.

This free State Report Template Pack contains different geography templates that you can use in your next state report. There are 8 different templates to choose from; some are suitable for elementary students, whereas others will be better for middle school children.

State Report Templates PDF Download

Scroll down to download the State Report Templates PDF.

Instant Download: Free State Report Templates

Final summary.

• Do you want your kids to do a report on one of the states? Use our state report template and make it a breeze!
• Download free printable state flags for each of the 50 states.
• Have you ever considered using a song to learn the states ?
• Don’t forget about learning the state capitals. It’s easy when you use a free capitals worksheet .
• Explore U.S. landmarks for kids with free resources.
• These 50 states cheat sheets are great for memorizing and review.
• Teach the states and capitals in cursive with these handwriting worksheets.
• Print off the states and capitals study sheet for test-taking practice.
• Don’t forget map work! Print off a map of USA coloring pages to practice learning the locations of the states.

Jeannette Tuionetoa

Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!

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