Parents play an important role in fostering enthusiasm for science in their children.
Doing science projects together at home can make a wonderful weekend or "day off"
activity. The following list of projects contains projects from our library of science
Project Ideas
that meet the following criteria:
- Use readily available materials.
- Can be completed in a few hours.
To find other projects you and your student would enjoy, browse the
complete library or use the
Topic Selection Wizard to see a list of recommendations that match up to your interests.
The Power of Heat Is Right Under Your Feet!
The Power of Heat Is Right Under Your Feet!
| Difficulty |
|
| Time Required |
Very Short (≤ 1 day) |
| Prerequisites |
None |
| Material Availability |
Readily available |
| Cost |
Low ($20 - $50) |
| Safety |
You will be working with a hot stove top. Please exercise caution when working with hot surfaces and with steam. Steam can cause painful burns. |
You might know that we are able to get free energy from the Sun, the wind, and water, but did you know we can get free energy from Earth itself? The temperature inside of Earth can reach 9,000°F—that kind of heat can be used to make a
lot
of energy here on the surface! This source of energy is called
geothermal energy
and it is all about taking advantage of the heat within Earth. So try this science fair project out and find out how to use…
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The Reasons for the Seasons
The Reasons for the Seasons
| Difficulty |
|
| Time Required |
Very Short (≤ 1 day) |
| Prerequisites |
None |
| Material Availability |
Readily available |
| Cost |
Very Low (under $20) |
| Safety |
No issues |
Do you live someplace where you get to experience the full glory of all four seasons? If so, you know well the heady blossoms and dramatic skies of spring; the long, sun-drenched days of summer; the trees shaking in crimson and gold in fall; and the sparkling, brittle snows of winter. But you might not know
why
we have these seasons, over and over again, in a cycle as predictable as the rising and setting of the Sun. The reasons for the…
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Under Pressure: Ball Bouncing Dynamics
Under Pressure: Ball Bouncing Dynamics
| Difficulty |
|
| Time Required |
Very Short (≤ 1 day) |
| Prerequisites |
None |
| Material Availability |
Readily available |
| Cost |
Very Low (under $20) |
| Safety |
No issues |
Many sports use a ball in some way or another. We throw them, dribble them, hit them, kick them, and they always bounce back! What makes a ball so bouncy? In this experiment you can investigate the effect of air pressure on ball bouncing.
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What A Drag!
What A Drag!
| Difficulty |
|
| Time Required |
Very Short (≤ 1 day) |
| Prerequisites |
You will need access to a swimming pool. |
| Material Availability |
Readily available |
| Cost |
Very Low (under $20) |
| Safety |
Adult supervision is required. Use caution when working near the swimming pool. |
What makes some objects more streamlined than others? Find out which ordinary objects around your house are made to move smoothly through the water in this easy science fair project. Which objects will produce the most drag when pulled through the water?
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What Makes a DNA Fingerprint Unique?
What Makes a DNA Fingerprint Unique?
| Difficulty |
|
| Time Required |
Very Short (≤ 1 day) |
| Prerequisites |
None |
| Material Availability |
Readily available |
| Cost |
Very Low (under $20) |
| Safety |
No issues |
Do you like solving mysteries? In this experiment, you can find out how a DNA fingerprint can help you figure out whodunit. The answer might just be in the "sequence" of events!
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