Science fair projects?

[Jen72386]

Does anyone have any ideas for a science fair type project in biology? With animals, insects, or plants? I cant come up with any good ideas!

 

[BuckNaked]

DD (13) is just finishing up a mold project that she's been "growing" in our coat closet for almost a month now. A slice of American cheese, a slice of wheat bread and an apple core, each in an individual zip lock bag. She pulls them out and takes pictures of the "progress" every three days.

 

[golfgal]

Here is one we were going to do but now we don't have to .

Take several bottles of the same brand of sunscreen, different SPF factors. Find someone that burns easily (DH in our case). Tape of sections of their arm, leg, stomach or where ever and apply sunscreen. Have them sit in the sun for a predetermined amount of time and then remove tape. Compare the areas to see if having a higher SPF factor makes a difference.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

How old is your child? Some easy ones that I remember from last year. (2nd grade)

2 plants, one in sun, one in the closet, under a light. Which one grew better.

2 plants, one talked to every day, other ignored. Which one grew better.

There is always disecting a frog. Oldie, but a goodie.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was just reading some up at the school. As far as "biology".....here was a good one.

Hand Sanitizer prohibiting bacterial growth.
(kid used beaker, petri dishes, agar mix, cotton swabs, and a hand sanitizer) I am sure there was a couple of more things.
Actually looked pretty easy and it was cool. He swabbed 6 different things (like the TV remote, cell phone, doorhandle, etc..) and then grew it out noting results over 72 hours.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I was just reading some up at the school. As far as "biology".....here was a good one.

Hand Sanitizer prohibiting bacterial growth.
(kid used beaker, petri dishes, agar mix, cotton swabs, and a hand sanitizer) I am sure there was a couple of more things.
Actually looked pretty easy and it was cool. He swabbed 6 different things (like the TV remote, cell phone, doorhandle, etc..) and then grew it out noting results over 72 hours.

That sounds pretty good. I'll have to remember that one.

 

[LadyZolt]

Putting a goldfish in water that contains food coloring will color the fish's gills. Cool experiment, harmless to the fish.

Along with the plant one: Same idea, but three plants:
1 - water and no sun (in a closet or cupboard)
2 - Sun and no water
3 - sun and water

You can do this one at the pre-school and kindergarten level by putting a paper towel in an empty jar and dropping in some popcorn kernels. Then you either wet the paper towel (one with water and no sun; one with water and sun) or leave it dry (one with sun and no water). The results occur within a day or two, as I recall (my youngest "baby" is about to turn 17, so I haven't done this one in quite a long time!) and they are very clear that living things need both the sun and the water to do well.