What type of project should my 3rd grader do for a science project? --Ray
I highly recommend a potato clock. It is fairly simple. You just put a galvanized nail and a wire in each of two spuds, then hook them up to the battery leads of a low voltage clock. And it's very cool. As part of the experiment, you can experiment with hooking other things up. For instance, would the clock run off a couple of lemons?
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Use a particle accelerator to speed a particle faster than the speed of light, drive the particle into a cadmium box. Results will show the particle leaving the box before it enters.
I like mold. Requires no work. Just remove products from refrigerator and let sit! Hypothesis: Mold is Icky Experiement: Get food out of refrigerator such as cheese and old bread Result: I won't eat that!
My fourth grader just did an easy but informative science project (well, for a 9-year old, anyway)
Research Question: Which color absorbs more heat: White or Black?
Hypothesis: Whatever your kid thinks will happen, with NO hints from you.
Materials:
One or Two digital thermometers (we used two radio shack cordless thermometers).
1 sheet black construction paper
1 sheet white construction paper
Masking Tape
1 incandescent desk lamp (or you can use the sun... well, maybe not, considering where you live)
Procedure:
Place each thermometer under a sheet of paper on table or other surface. Tape edges down to eliminate air drafts. If using the sun, set timer for desired amount (one or two hours), then pull back paper halfway, take a quick photo of the results, and boom, you are done.
If using the lamp, shine the lamp over each piece of paper for 1 hour, then record temperature.
Warning: putting together the display on this project takes longer than the data gathering.