So, in getting ready for this next school year I have decided that my kiddos need to do a ton of little science experiments to get them ready for their big science fair project. The problem is, many so-called science experiments are really demonstrations or require observations, but not measurement. My fourth graders come to me every year able to observe, but actual measurements (especially using the metric system) and the creation of graphs are where they get stumped. To combat that, I've put together a list of ten science experiments that require measuring (or counting) and can be used to teach/review the creation of graphs and tables. Many of them also have a variation so the kids can do the lab again with a lot of the same materials and measure something else.
Oh, and the ones with an asterisk (*) have materials that can be found in one stop at Dollar Tree (aside from measurement tools that are probably in your science kits and very common household materials - like pennies)!
Additional Resources
Lab Sheets from my TPT Store (FREE!)
Book-tivity - A really cute (and decently priced) foldable on TPT
The Labs
1. Drops of Water on a Penny*
Question: Will the heads or tails side of a penny hold more drops of water?
Measure: Count drops of water
Variables
Independent (What I Change): the side of the penny
Dependent (what I Observe): how many drops of water fit on a penny
Control (What I Keep the Same): droplet size; speed of droplets being dropped
Experiment: Start with a clean, dry penny on a piece of paper towel. Using an eyedropper, place water droplets on the penny until it overflows. Test both sides multiple times.
Source: A lab I've done a million times and have no idea where it originated from. But, if you need a cute FREE lab sheet for it, click here.
Note: Tried & true and you'll never get the same results twice! There are just too many variables you can't control. But, it's a good one for teaching the process.
2. Dissolving Skittles*
Question: Will a Skittle dissolve faster in hot or cold water?
Measure: Time it takes a skittle to dissolve
Variables
Independent (What I Change): temperature of water
Dependent (what I Observe): time it takes Skittle to dissolve
Control (What I Keep the Same): amount of water; color of Skittle; speed of stirring
Experiment: Pour water into cup. Add Skittles. Stir. Time how long it takes the Skittle to dissolve. Test multiple times with both hot and cold water.
Variation: Which color of Skittle will dissolve fastest? (Keep temp same)
Source: The Science Penguin
Note: Takes a loooooong time for the Skittles to actually dissolve.
3. Pop Rocks & Soda*
Measure: The circumference of the balloon to measure the amount of gas released.
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of soda
Dependent (what I Observe): amount of gas released
Control (What I Keep the Same): type of pop rocks; amount of soda & pop rocks; amount of time allowed to react
Experiment: Pour pop rocks into a balloon (make sure you get all of them). Put the balloon on the mouth of the soda bottle. Pour pop rocks into soda bottle and allow the chemical reaction to blow up the balloon.
Variation: Change the flavor of pop rocks.
Source: Steve Spangler
Note: So much fun...but didn't really work well. In my class, the gas kept escaping from the neck of the balloon. There just wasn't enough pressure to actually inflate a balloon.
4. Soda & Mentos*
Measure: The amount of liquid left over to determine which one has the best reaction (the one with the least amount of liquid left is the winner).
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of soda
Dependent (what I Observe): amount of liquid left over (less is better)
Control (What I Keep the Same): amount of soda (2 Liters); amount of Mentos (5 per 2 Liter)
Experiment: Drop 5 Mentos into a soda bottle and stand back. Measure the amount of liquid left to determine which soda has the biggest reaction.
Variation: At what point will the number of Mentos placed in the bottle not make a difference in the amount of liquid left?
Source: No idea...it's been going around the Internet for ages.
Note: Expensive, but a winner. And, it's great for inviting your principal down to "just see what we're doing today." Just make sure you prep the kids and really discuss the procedures. Because, there is no redo!
5. Foil Boats - Which type holds the most pennies?*
Measure: The number of pennies that fit in each type of boat.
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of boat
Dependent (what I Observe): number of pennies that fit in the boat
Control (What I Keep the Same): size of foil - get the pre-cut foil sheets from Dollar Tree...make life easier for you.
Experiment: Build two types of boats (multiples of each that are identical to the originals). Float in water. Add pennies until they sink. Repeat with new boats.
Source: My fifth grade science teacher, Mrs. Rich.
Note: Cheap and a favorite.
6. Gummy Bears - Which liquid will be most absorbed by the gummy bear?*
Prep: Do it with regular water so kids can see that they absorb liquid.
Measure: How much liquid is absorbed by subtracting final mass from original mass (or comparing lengths in millimeters)?
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of liquid (water; salt water; vinegar; Sprite)
Dependent (what I Observe): mass or length of gummy bear
Control (What I Keep the Same): amount of liquid gummy bear is place in; amount of time gummy bear sits; color of gummy bears used
Experiment: Fill each cup with the same amount of liquid. Place gummy bears in the liquid. Measure the bears every 10 minutes.
Source: Amy Alvis
7. Paper Airplanes - Which type of paper flies the furthest (all same size paper & same design)*
Measure: Distance airplanes flew
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of paper used (tissue paper; card stock; notebook paper; wrapping paper; even foil would work - different types of paper available from Dollar Tree)
Dependent (what I Observe): distance air planes flew
Control (What I Keep the Same): size of the paper; force with which paper airplane is thrown
Experiment: Fold 2 airplanes using each type of paper given. Measure the distance each one flies. Repeat.
Source: A crazy science teacher I had way back when...
Note: Need to be able to measure a long distance down a hallway. Maybe it's best to lay ALL of the meter sticks out...
8. Biggest Bubbles - Which type of bubble gum makes the biggest bubbles?*
Measure: Diameter of the bubbles blown (using yarn)
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of gum
Dependent (what I Observe): diameter of bubbles blown
Control (What I Keep the Same): person blowing the bubbles; speed with which bubbles are blown (slow!)
Experiment: Chew gum. Blow bubbles. Measure circumference using yarn.
Variation: Do different types of gum have different amounts of sugar? (Measure before & after chewing on a pan balance and find the difference. Sugar will dissolve in saliva. Um, have students measure both time on their gum wrappers...) Does the amount of sugar change the size of bubbles that can be blown? (Sugar free vs. Regular Gum)
Source: My fifth grade science teacher, Mrs. Rich. (I thought it was so cool we got to chew gum at school!)
9. Pop Corn Brands
Measure: Count the number of popped vs unpopped (percentages work well) kernels
Variables
Independent (What I Change): type of popcorn
Dependent (what I Observe): amount of corn popped
Control (What I Keep the Same): microwave, popping time
Experiment: Pop each bag of pop corn. Determine the percentage of popped kernels in the bag. Repeat multiple times for each brand used. (May take several days of eating popcorn in class...)
Source: Carol Reinertsen - Who helped me do this for my 3rd grade science fair project. Thanks, Mom!
10. Will it Grow?*
Measure: Height of plant growth each day
Variables
Independent (What I Change): light color (green or regular)
Dependent (what I Observe): growth of the plant
Control (What I Keep the Same): type of soil; type of seed/plant; amount of oxygen reaching the plant in a covered dome
Experiment: Cut the bottom off of green & clear soda bottles (remove labels). Place a seedling (lima beans sprout fast) under each dome. Each day, measure the height of the plant. Set up at least 3 green & 3 clear bottles.
Variations: liquid (sprite, vinegar, water); medium (soil vs sponge for growing)
Source: Another, run of the mill, science experiment.
