Science Fair K-3 Ideas

Project Ideas for Grades K to 3

Observations
Fingerprints
Shadows
Crystals
Properties of solid, liquid, gases
Objects that block and pass light
Gravity
Shapes of magnetic fields
Parts of a flame (candle observation)
Rocks and minerals
The moon
Planets you can see
Our sun
Constellations
Local weather
How to read a weather map
Clouds
All about horses (or dogs, frogs, etc.)
A beaver home
Local wildlife
How animals hide and defend
Animal tracks
Raising finches (or rabbits, gerbils, etc.)
Fish prints
What makes a bird a bird
The crayfish
All about crickets (or bees, beetles, etc.)
Earthworms
Spider webs
Watching an ant colony
How insects change
Living things in my yard
Trees near my home
Leaf prints
Parts of a flower
Roots of different plants
Inside the egg
Teeth
Seashells

Collections

Chemical elements (carbon, lead, iron, etc.)
Solids, liquids, gases Rocks
Rocks from two beaches (or areas)
Different varieties of sand
Different types of soil
Fossils
Bones
Seashells
Leaves (indoor or outdoor plants)
Seeds
Bark rubbings
Insects
Feathers

Models and Demonstrations

How a bicycle works
How a generator (or motor) works
Simple machines
Levers
Pulleys
Open and closed circuits
How a switch works
How fuses work
How a flashlight works
How light reflects
Mixing colors
How magnets work
An electromagnet
Friction
Newton’s 3rd Law
How thermometers work
Heat and air (convection mobile)
Does fire give off water?
Does air have weight?
Does fire use something in air?
Does air exert pressure?
Evaporation
How are sounds produced?
Why things float or sink
Why elevators have counterweights
How things move on movie film
Why the wind blows
What makes hail?
What is ground water?
Inside our earth (model)
The earth’s surface features (model)
Volcanoes (model)
Features of the sea floor (model)
Our solar system (model)
Galaxies and our Milky Way (model)
Optical illusions
How the ear works (model)
How seeds travel
Do plants give off water?
Tree rings

Experiments
Magnetic and nonmagnetic materials
Which magnet is strongest? Which materials conducts electricity best?
Which materials conduct heat best?
Sounds from different rubber bands
Which toy car rolls furthest?
Which materials dissolve in water?
Which paper towel absorbs the most water?
Will an ice cube melt faster when crushed up?
Do coins corrode more in salt or fresh water?
How vinegar affects egg shells
How a shadow changes throughout the day
Measuring rainfall with a rain gauge
Depth of snow at ten different locations
Testing a sundial with a clock
Which brand of raisin bran has the most raisins?
What a plant needs to grow
Do plants prefer tap water or distilled water?
How temperature affects plant growth
Do plants give off water?
In which soil do plants grow best?
Growing potatoes at different locations
How fast do kidney beans grow?
Do large apples have more seeds than small ones?
Do different types of apples have different amounts of seeds
What conditions do pill bugs prefer (light or dark, moist or dry)?
Can an earthworm detect light and darkness?
How far does a mealworm or snail travel in one minute
What is the best condition for mold growth?
Which bread molds most quickly?
Which color liquid do hummingbirds prefer?
What food does a hamster prefer?
Can people identify Kool-Aid flavors blindfolded?

* Adapted from Insights Visual Productions material and Delta Education’s “Great Investigations One Step at a Time! A Teacher’s Guide to Science Fairs and Science Olympics”

"I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.” -- (chinese proverb)

Project Ideas for Grades K to 3

Observations

Collections

Models and Demonstrations

Experiments

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