Ok, my oldest son has a science project and fair coming up. He loves science and he wants to shine. I know he does cause he is the oldest of our three and well to be honest, it is hard on him sharing our time / glory with them. So, I want this to be super spectacular for him. In a way, we'll be able to spend more time doing something together that he loves and if he wins at the fair, he will be THRILLED

So, I have never did a science fair, nor even been to one. I do know the rules on the paper say to avoid the solar system. Other than that, it's wide open. THis is for a 5th grader. Our elem school goes from K'garten to 5th grade. He is almost 11 and very smart. I want something that will really blow peoples minds. Please provide ideas, tips on sites, or past exhibits that you've seen and thought were awesome. ANYTHING that you think is helpful. I would like to go ahead and get our idea & supplies ready. The fair isn't until the end of March so we have some time to play.

Thank you so much and let's help him Shine!!!

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email is moserlara@yahoo.com

there are all kinds of books out there on preparing science fair projects.

Last year, my son's friend was able to obtain a water-testing kit from the city water department and did water tests on different areas around where we live (all are on different water systems). I only know that in our area, it is a competition and he won the county-wide contest; I never actually saw his project.

There are a lot of great ideas online... and doing the experiment correctly (using 'scientific method') is what our local judges look for more than anything else.

I'd suggest doing something that is interesting to your son... My son is interested in Music and we did one this year (turned in this week) using harmonics and testing sounds that he really got into.

Good luck. Coming up with the idea is definitely the hardest part and we've had to do it for too many years to count and I can't stand it. We don't go for *the win*... we do it because it is 'required'. Sad but true. LOL.

I just checked and alot of people have posted photos of thier Science Fair projects on flickr.com.
Just do a search for science fair, science projects, and class projects.
Perhaps he could just get an idea from there and up it. I always tell my daughter to think of a project/presentation that she could do before she thinks of the subject. (I know that she does this with book report projects as well.) Good luck.

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Google'd +"science project ideas" :

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

There you go.

~ Ambrie ~

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global warming is big right now? Maybe maps of before and after their predictions!

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/Scien...astestMO68.htm

I had this place booked marked as an interesting site to find ideas on projects. We had been interested in Mold/Fungus...
I have 2 girls in Middle School and they will have to do a Sci project but I know that the hardest part is deciding...try finding something that actually interests and applies to your child. Have fun!

I am a 5th grade science teacher. We don't have science fairs but I have judged several. The two sites listed are great. The google site list a number of questions not just topics. Most boys at this age love chemistry type projects. Look for something in this line. You can buy kits but most of the items in the kits they sell at stores can be done very simply with things from the house. Look up kitchen chemistry.

Thanks so much for the insight so far. Lots of ideas and research options that I hadn't thought about. I knew it was a great idea to post here...................ty!!

__________________
email is moserlara@yahoo.com

My son is in 5th grade also and this will be his 3rd year doing Science Fair projects. This year he opted to make a small digital clock run by using potato's for batteries. He has completed all his data and now has to put the board together. He procrastinates a lot, LOL it is due on the 21st. Last year he did his project on Hdroponics. In 3rd grade he prooved that a raw egg could bounce. That one was fun but smelled. Good Luck!!

The big thing is the scientific process. Go through the steps and if the hypothesis is wrong -- do a little more research and try to explain why it was wrong.
My son did a pickle light one year and then tried other fruits and vegetables to see if they would light up, this one won an award because his hypothesis was wrong, but he found out why he was wrong.

In one of my college classes, we were talking off topic about how coffee helps plants grow better and someone wondered if altern in coffee would affect it or sugar for that matter.

It is all about experimenting but using the scientific process. It is more original to think of your own question than to take something that has been done. In one of my classes I was explaining that plants don't need soil to grow. They can grow in just water. Then one of my students asked if a plant would grow in coke. So we put one plant in water and one in coke. It took several weeks. At first they both grew but after a couple of weeks the plant in coke began to die.