Need ideas for 3rd grade science project

[KathiWithAnI]

Hi all....
Just wondering if anyone has some ideas for a 3rd grade science project. One of my kids has to decide on a topic and the school didn't include a list for him to choice from, it's completely open to him!
So I thought if I could get a few suggestions here, I'd let him pick!
Thanks so much
Kathi

 

[amid chaos]

Try this site.
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/projects.html

another
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/

 

[Kallison]

Our school distirct studies simple machines in 3rd grade. Maybe he could build one and explain the different components. Good luck!

 

[chager]

Wow, no idea list at 3rd grade! I know there are sites that give age appropriate ideas out there somewhere. I have an idea though. Maybe he could test homemade cleaners verses store bought cleaners. See which one cleans better. Good luck.

 

[melk]

I don't know if this one would be too simple for a 3rd grader, but in 1st grade my dd did one on cleaning pennies. We soaked them in all kinds of liquids, lemon juice, coke, milk, etc. Then we made a big chart that showed what worked, what didn't. We just touched on acids and bases, but you could really expand it with an older child.

 

[Melora]

Heres one we have done twice with the kids when they were about that age. We won first prize at the science fair both times.

We got petri dishes and filled them with agar (a medium that has no germs in it, but acts as a great food for bacteria. Both stuff available at science supply stores). Then you take the dishes and touch the agar to different surfaces around the house; pillows, door knobs, let the dog/cat lick it, you can spit in it, touch your toothbrush to it, touch it with clean hands in one, dirty hands in another. Then cover the dishes and let stand. Take pictures as you are preparing the dishes and as the kids are touching things to them. After a week all kinds of bacteria (and other yucky stuff) starts to grow.

It demonstrates that there is bacteria everywhere. When you turn in the project attatch the dishes to heavy duty cardboard that lays flat and label everything. We also put up a heavy duty back board and wrote about it and pasted the pictures to that.

It was fun, and as I said, we won both times we did it! (OK so its not the REAL purpose to win, but it makes it more fun!)

 

[KathiWithAnI]

Thanks so much!
Kathi

 

[Nutsy]

Here is something my boys did years ago.

You need a portable radio with the volume up quite loud..........then you need some alfoil (aluminium foil/silver paper) whatever you call it.

You make sure the radio is turned on.........wrap it in alfoil & what that does it the alfoil blocks the sound waves.

When my boys did it all the kids in the class thought he'd turned the radio off, but then you need to unwrap the radio & of course it is not off, it is in fact still on.

 

[Pooh93]

My dd is in 2nd grade and I set her up to test 3 pre-wash spray cleaners...Shout, Zout and Clorox. We cut 3 pieces out of a white t-shirt and she measured one tsp of grape juice to stain each cloth. Set the timer for one hour, and then applied the cleaners to each stain. Let them sit for about 2 minutes and then washed them in ALL detergent. I took pictures of her from beginning to end. Now, I have to buy the board and help her get it written up.

I love the other ideas that have been posted and have saved them for future reference!!

 

[pumba]

and did scrapings of her finger nails.......you know how kids put their fingers in their mouths......also the ends of pens and pencils.......things that relate to their age group.....the finger nail scrapings in the petri dish grew some gross looking stuff and alot of kids stopped chewing nails because of it.........main thing is to have fun doing this project