5 Ideas for Science Fair Projects to Take Home First Place
Slime? That’s not it. Baking soda and vinegar volcanoes? Nah. Invisible ink? Not again! Are you looking for a science fair project that isn’t what everyone else is doing? Something that could maybe…win? Luckily you are at the right place, here are 5 ideas for science fair projects for elementary and early middle school students to help you take that first place trophy. Send me a bit of prize money when you win, would ya!
5 Ideas for Science Fair Projects
Rainbow Fire Science Fair Project
Based on the type of light stars emit, astronomers can determine what stars are made of. It’s not rocket science but here’s a way to replicate this without traveling to the moon. This is while saving money in the process! During the combustion of various chemicals, we will observe the flames’ color as they burn. It’s possible you may even see colors you’ve never seen before. Who knows?
This project explores the concept of why chemicals produce different colors when burned which ties in with astrophysics as well! You’ll be amazed by how simple it is to create your own rainbow fire and impress your judges with your knowledge of stellar spectra.
Materials: While you might not need a rocket you will need some basic materials to help you get started. These include:
White glue (1 small bottle
Bamboo skewers (12)
Making tape
Pen or marker
Aluminum foil
Matches
Hard nonflammable outdoor surfaces, like a sidewalk, driveway, or brick/concrete patio
Container of water
Heat-resistant bowl (1); a soup or cereal bowl would work well
Piece of scrap paper on which to rest your 12 skewers as they dry
Lab notebook
Optional: Video camera or digital camera and tripod
Alka-Seltzer Rockets
Maybe you dream of building a rocket and flying into space. Flying past the milky way and to upcoming galaxies. Slow down there buddy, building an Alka-Seltzer rocket is a fun way to keep you occupied while chasing your dreams of going to space!
We’ve all heard of the classic mentos and coke rocket, and your judge probably has too, many, many times. That’s why you need to spice things up with some Alka-Seltzer tablets and water bottles. Trust me, it’s a blast!
You will learn about acid and base reactions. In addition, you will learn how a mixture of different chemicals can change an eruption's strength and intensity. Plus, you’ll have fun in the process! You’ll also learn how to control the variables that affect the height and speed of your rocket. These variables include the amount of water, the number of tablets, and the size of the bottle. You’ll be amazed at how far your rocket can go with some simple ingredients and a little science.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your safety goggles and launch your Alka-Seltzer rocket into the sky. Just make sure you don’t hit any birds or planes on your way up.
You’ll need:
Alka Seltzer tablets
Water
Film canisters with lids
Construction paper/thin cardboard
Index cards
Scissors
Markers/Crayons
Tape
Paper towel
Plastic drinking straws
Burning Calories: How much energy is stored in certain foods?
If just reading how many calories are on the back of your favorite candy isn’t enough for you, and you want to take things a step further.
This project appeals to all the health nuts out there who want to see how many calories are in their favorite food. To make sure they don't get robbed during their weekly cheat meal.
So you’re telling me that burning my favorite chocolate sprinkle donut will help me find out how many calories it has?
This project explores the concept of food energy and how it can be measured by burning food and measuring the heat released. You'll also learn how to calculate food nutritional value based on its energy content. Compared to what it says on the label, you may be surprised by what you find. And maybe you'll think twice before grabbing another one.
Yes, and I’ll show you what you need! Don't worry, you don't have to eat the burnt donut afterwards. Unless you really want to!
You will need:
Your favorite food (try getting something with high oil content and air trapped inside)
Water
Long matches or a multipurpose lighter
Digital scale in grams
Cloth or paper towels
Homemade Boba Balls
Are the drinks too dull now? Slurping takes too long? There must be a faster and more fun way to get drinks. What if you could pop them into your mouth? It would make a satisfying popping sound in your mouth and you would enjoy your drink as well. Plus, you could mix and match different flavors and create your own combinations. How about lemonade and cola? Or orange juice and milk? The possibilities are endless!
This project will show you how to make your own edible drink bubbles using some simple ingredients and tools. You’ll also learn about the science behind spherification, a process that turns liquids into gel-like spheres. You’ll be amazed at how easy and fun it is to make your own drinkable snacks!
These homemade boba balls can be made with any drink. If that’s what you want, so be it!
Here’s what you’ll need to open your own boba shop next door:
Cold tap water
Liquid measuring cups
Bowl that holds at least 1 C
Digital scale with 0.1 g increments
1/8 tsp. Measuring spoon.
Blenders, large or small
Small cup or bowl that holds at least 1/4 C
Spoons (at least 9)
Plastic wrap
Timer, stopwatch, or clock that shows seconds
PH test strips or pH test paper, with a pH range of at least 2 to 8
Different acidic foods
Infinity Mirror
Have you ever been to a mirror maze? Walking around and around until smack, you’ve hit yourself against a mirror. This might leave you not wanting to return, but guess what? You can build a miniature version yourself. Without all the bumping into mirrors of course!
It looks deeper than the Mariana trench, but when you look closer, you see that it is only a couple of inches thick!
You’ll also learn about the concept of reflection and how it creates the illusion of depth. You’ll be amazed by how simple it is to make your own optical illusion that will dazzle your eyes and your mind!
Legend says that if you look deep enough you can see the reflection of your first place trophy for winning the science fair inside.
Sounds cool right? Well here’s what you need for it:
Mirror
Plexiglass or acrylic sheet
Mirrored window film
A cardboard box or other container
LEDs
Power supply
Tape or glue
Cutting tool
Safety glasses or protective goggles
Here are five science fair projects that will get you guaranteed ooo, ahhh from the judges. Make sure you perform all these experiments with caution and care, and have an adult nearby to ensure you aren’t having too much fun!
When you get that 1st place trophy email me so I can say “I told you so!” After all, there's no better feeling than being right and having science back it up!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
