by: Lindsay Hutton
Science fair projects can be fun and educational, and push children to learn more about scientific study and research. Help your child find a science fair project that fits his area of interest. This list of interesting, easy-to-create science fair projects will encourage his love of science! Just remember, adult supervision is required for all of these suggestions.
Potato Battery
Who knew a potato could make a digital clock work? If your child loves to play with his food and is fascinated by electricity, this is the perfect project for him. Learning chemistry has never been so fun! Your child will be so enthralled with this experiment, he won't even look at it as schoolwork.
Read the instructions for making a potato battery.
Pizza Box Solar Oven
For the environmentally conscious scientist, what could be more fun than building an oven that uses solar power as its main source of energy? A pizza box solar oven can reach temperatures of up to 275 degrees. That's hot enough to cook food and kill germs in water! Your child can test it out by cooking personal pizzas and even s'mores. For the aspiring chef in your family, a solar oven is the perfect science experiment to test his knowledge of heat energy.
Read the instructions for making a pizza box solar oven.
Solar System
If your child is fascinated by space, a model of the solar system can be the perfect project for him. By visualizing and building each planet, your child will begin to understand planetary positions, orbital motions, and how life is able to thrive on our planet. The universe is an amazing place, and your child is sure to be captivated by this introduction to astronomy. It is also a lesson in why it is so important to protect planet Earth.
Read the instructions for making a model of the solar system.
Crystal Garden
All it takes to grow a beautiful crystal garden are a few rocks, some ingredients that can found at your local grocery store, and a little patience. Your child will be delighted when the first crystals appear, making it the perfect experiment for a young chemist to learn about atoms, molecules, and how patterns form.
Yummy Yogurt
Yogurt has been around for almost 4,500 years and is a favorite snack for kids everywhere. Creating this creamy dairy product will teach your child the effects of bacterial fermentation, and how varying conditions can produce different results. This culinary experiment will help your child learn a little something about food science, and he'll love eating the end result!
Read the instructions for making homemade yogurt.
Tornado
Replicating a tornado is a great way to understand the power of nature and how science plays a role in all forms of weather. Your child will begin to build an understanding of funnels, and how varying air temperatures can merge to create this devastating and fascinating weather formation. Your budding meteorologist will be captivated with his version of one of nature's most powerful weather systems.
Acid Rain
Researching acid rain will help your child understand how it can contaminate water supplies and pollute the environment. By creating his own acid rain laboratory, he'll also learn how to test the acidity of a liquid and how that can affect plant and animal life. This chemistry experiment is a great way for your child to become more environmentally conscious by investigating how his actions can affect his surroundings.
Invisible Ink
Who knew lemons, milk, and vinegar could be used to write secret messages? Your child will discover the wonders of chemistry and acidic properties by creating invisible ink, and will love sending his friends covert messages on seemingly blank paper. This project is sure to be a hit at any science fair!
Read the instructions for making invisible ink.
