Kindergarten Science Fair Ideas
Friction Study
This kindergarten science fair idea was a favorite in my classroom.
Materials - 5 or 6 identical wooden blocks, a piece of firm non-corrugated cardboard (mat board) for a ramp, 5 or six squares of materials the same size as the block (silky fabric, firm plastic, sandpaper, cardboard), Duplo type blocks for ramp.
1. Tape the materials on the bottom of each block.
2.
Rub wax on one block and polish it.
3. Leave one block with nothing on it.
4. Gather about 10 Duplo blocks to make a good slant for the ramp.
Test each block by placing it at the top of the ramp and observing how fast or slow it slides down the ramp.
Challenge the children to think about why some blocks slide faster or slower. Record observations.
Plant Experiments
This kindergarten science fair idea requires extra time to grow a few fast growing plants.
Materials - 5 or 6 quick growing plants in individual pots (radishes, beans), Vaseline, sand
1.When the plants are about 3 inches high:
- Put one plant in a cupboard with no light
- Transplant one plant into sand rather than soil
- Don't water one plant
- Put Vaseline under the leaves of one plant
- Leave one plant alone - place in the light and water it
2. Observe the growth of each plant
3. Measure the plant growth with Unifix blocks®
4. Record each plant's growth
5. Talk about why some plants grew taller and some didn't. Record the student's ideas.
Dog Study
This kindergarten science fair idea is a fun experiment, but I don't guarantee the results!
Materials- a few simple sound makers (a bell, a triangle, a harmonica) and dog snacks
1. Make the bell sound and then give the dog a snack.
2. Do 2 or 3 times everyday for a week. Hopefully, the pet will relate the noise to the food.
3. Make the noise in a different room and see if the dog comes for a snack.
4. After a week, try a different sound. See if the dog comes for a snack. Try a few other sounds. Try the original sound again and observe what happens.
5. Record what happened with the different sounds and the bell sound.
6. Talk about what happened and record child's ideas.
Air Study
This science fair idea requires supervision and that the child learns safety precautions with fans. The children in my classroom enjoyed experimenting not only with the classroom fan, but also with the air coming through the floor vents.
Materials - a household fan and bits of feathers, fabric, various weights of paper, a row of blocks in front of the fan for measuring.
1. Hold an item in front of the fan and let it go.
2. Observe how far it goes.
3. Count the blocks to record how far it floated.
4. Talk about what happened and why some items floated farther. Record the child's ideas.
Mold Growth
Materials - a piece of white bread, a piece of whole wheat bread, 2 heavy duty clear freezer bags, packing tape
1.
Put a piece of white bread and a piece of 100% whole wheat bread in two separate large heavy-duty freezer bags.
2.
Seal the top of the bags with clear packing tape so the children do not open them.
3. Let the bags sit for a week or longer.
4. Observe the bags daily and record changes to the inside of the bag and the bread.
5. Talk about what happened in each bag.
6. If different phenomena occurred in each bag, ask why and record the child's ideas.
Safety precaution - Don't open the bags, as mold spores will come out, just throw them in the garbage.
Bug Study
Gather a shoe box, a piece of cereal box cardboard, some grass, moss, sticks, a few bugs
1.Cut a cardboard divider to fit in the middle of the shoe box. Put a hole in the bottom of the divider. Place grass, sticks, etc and bugs in the box in both sides.
2. Keep one side moist by sprinkling little bits of water on it and keep one side dry.
3. After a day or two observe what side the bugs prefer.
4. Record observations for the science fair project. Let the bugs go!
Discuss why the insects preferred the moist side (hopefully they did!) and record the child's ideas.
For any science fair idea that includes living things, read the "4 Ls of studying living creatures in the classroom ".
Bird feeder Studies
Gather - bird feeders, different foods and seeds
1. Put different seeds and food in various bird feeders or areas of the backyard (where cats can't reach) and record which food is in each feeder
2. Observe and record which birds come to each feeder
3. Talk about which bird came to which feeder and why.
4. Record the student's observations.
Nest Study
This is a great kindergarten science fair idea if you have found an old bird's nest.
1. Have the child photograph the nest first if a camera is available.
2. Let the child examine the nest with a magnifying glass and use tweezers to pick the nest apart and sort it into piles.
Read kindergarten sorting tips
3. Record what man made and natural materials the bird used.
4. Talk about why the birds chose the materials they did. Record child's ideas.
Preschool Science
Find out more about creating a learning environment for teaching Preschool Science at shirleys-preschool-activities.com
All science pages:
Science lessons -Read to find out what science skills your kindergarten students need to learn and what topics to teach.
Teaching science - When teaching science to young children, provide them with lots of objects to examine from the natural and physical world.
Science center - Create a child centered kindergarten science center that is easy to change and reflects the skills and knowledge that the children need to learn.
Science center materials & equipment - There are many everyday items as well as commercial science center materials and equipment that are available to teach children about science. Suggestions are listed in the three main science skill categories.
Kindergarten science fair projects - that match the kindergarten science learning outcomes are preferable. A project that represents mostly parent thinking, planning and presentation benefits the parent more than the child.
More kindergarten science fair ideas - Play with friction, air, plants, your dog and more.
Show & Tell - a springboard for science and math education - Use show and tell times to increase science and math concepts.
Light and color - teach science vocabulary such as opaque, transparent, translucent, reflection...
Winter science activities - observe the power of ice and learn about the properties of water
Apple Science - learn how tools help us and practice the skills of observation and data collection
