40 Mind-Blowing Fifth Grade Science Projects

This experiment uses a LEGO zip-line to test if gravity beats friction between an object and a surface. You need two large flat cardboard pieces, two 16-inch dowel rods, two 8-inch dowel rods, two 6-inch dowel rods, six 1x4 LEGO bricks, one 2x6 LEGO brick, scissors, tape, a hot glue gun, and glue.

This experiment teaches you about the physics of rolling a small object down a hill. You need a pencil, three 2x4 LEGO bricks, one 4x4 LEGO brick, one 2x6 LEGO brick, a ruler, and a pencil or pen with an eraser.

You will learn about volcanoes and volcanism in this experiment. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick with white Elmer’s glue, one tablespoon of salt, dough no thicker than twice the LEGO bricks (use flour or play-dough), and paper to hold up your volcano if it falls.

This experiment covers geology and plate tectonics. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, a bowl of water, three large plates, eight small plates, scissors, and paper with "Eurasia" written on it.

Learn about eggshells and how they protect chicks during their first few weeks in this experiment. You need:

This experiment shows flight and wing design physics. You need one 16-inch by 6-inch piece of cardboard, two clothespins, tape, scissors, a paperclip, and a piece of paper.

Lava lamps are fascinating. Learn about their internal dynamics in this experiment. You need one lava lamp, at least 20 inches tall, one 2x6 LEGO brick, paper clothespins or a binder clip, a cup of water, and a small jar or cup of clear ketchup with a lid.

Do you want to see how the bag stays whole while filling with water? Try this experiment and see how the pack works. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, a bag, scissors, tape, and two 9-inch-long pieces of PVC pipe.

Learn the science behind glow sticks and how they work in this experiment. You need two 2x6 LEGO bricks, an empty plastic bottle with a lid, one glow stick, and an 8-inch-long piece of PVC pipe (optional).

Plants can stop soil erosion in this experiment. You need one sunflower seed, one piece of poster board, one 6x6 LEGO brick, a large flat rock or piece of slate, a pencil, and an indoor watering can.

Use a dry ice "bomb" in this experiment to make a bubble holding high carbon dioxide. You need:

This experiment uses basic chemicals to grow a crystal snowflake. You need one tablespoon of borax, one cup of water, two 2x6 LEGO bricks, paper scissors, and safety goggles (optional).

You will set up a carousel of candles to see if their placement affects their melting speed. You need three candles, a single 6x6 LEGO brick, scissors, paper, tape, and an identifier.

This experiment tests if quicksand and water change sinking. Use different Lego block sizes to find the size needed to sink in the quicksand. You need one PVC pipe, one 6×6 LEGO brick, one 3-2/3 x 1-1/5-inch poster board, and scissors tape.

Write messages in invisible ink and check if they show up. You need one A5 notebook, two pieces of cardboard, two pieces of paper, two sticks, and two markers. Use pencils, Sharpie fine point markers, or a black permanent marker if you have them.

Test if the trigger's speed or strength affects a chain reaction. Also, test how many eggs start a chain reaction. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, one egg, one poster board, and two 9.5-inch pieces of PVC pipe.

Test catapult physics. See if they launch objects farther than arm strength. You need one 2×8 LEGO brick, or two 2×6 bricks and two 1×4 bricks if a 2×8 is missing. Get two 5-inch PVC pipe pieces, a rubber band, scissors tape, and a paper clip.

Test materials for the fastest electricity conduction. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, one optional 3-inch PVC pipe, and two 9-inch PVC pipe pieces, one bent into a "U". Use a potato or another small, dry object. Place water in two containers with holes. Use paper clips and a fresh potato.

This experiment shows how trampolines are built. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, a yardstick or meter stick, a large cardboard piece, two 18-inch PVC pipe pieces, a metal pan or can (about 1 inch wide), and scissors. The main instructions are on the paper taped to the yardstick.

Test how water buoyancy and fiberglass resistivity affect marker men floating. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, one water-resistant marker man, scissors, tape, water in a container with a hole, and a pen or pencil.

Use the sun's power to cook an egg. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, two 9-inch PVC pipe pieces, and paper taped around a pencil with two paper clips. Electrical tape or duct tape is optional. You need an egg and a cookie sheet.

Launch a bottle rocket. See if high-level wind changes the rocket's speed. You need a 4×5 LEGO brick, a 4×8 piece of paperboard, scissors, tape, an optional sharp knife, an optional empty bottle, and one 2×6 LEGO brick.

Test how machine parts affect snack machine steadiness. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, three 9-inch PVC pipe pieces, one poster board, scissors tape, and one paper clip.

This experiment tests if moving a geyser's base changes how high it rises. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, one large poster board, two 18-inch PVC pipe pieces, two pieces of paper, scissors tape, and water in two containers with holes in the sides.

This experiment checks if body heat shows with marshmallows, paper, and a stopwatch. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, one marshmallow, one poster board, three 9.5-inch PVC pipe pieces, and scissors tape.

Build a catapult and launch a rock. This experiment determines if launch speed changes based on launch height. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, one optional 3-inch PVC pipe, one optional rubber band, an egg, scissors tape, and a rock.

Decomposition means plant and animal remains return to the soil. Learn this process in this experiment. You need a glass jar with a lid hole, two pieces of paper, scissors tape, a pencil or pen.

Mix your DIY magic sand using imagination and science. You need a 20-gram sachet of corn starch (use flour if needed), two tablespoons of baking soda, a teaspoon of salt, two tablespoons of cream, and oil. Calculate water and baking soda amounts for your corn starch.

This experiment tests how mass, density, and temperature affect bouncy ball formation. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, three 9-inch PVC pipe pieces, two rubber bands, scissors tape, four 1x4 plates, and a plastic bottle or jar.

This experiment tests if adding foil to a bug's feet lets it walk on water. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, two 9-inch PVC pipe pieces, three 9.5-inch PVC pipe pieces (one bent into a "U"), scissors tape, newspaper, and a small ball.

This experiment tests if adding weight increases the force on a screw. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, a poster board, two PVC pipe pieces, twenty-four 2-inch diameter washers, sixteen nuts, scissors, tape, and wood glue.

This experiment tests how air pressure changes. You need one 2x6 LEGO brick, eighteen two-inch diameter rubber bands, one balloon, one poster board, two 9.5-inch PVC pipe pieces, sixteen nuts, and scissors tape.

Use rubber bands to test instrument creation and placement science. You need an empty paper bag, a poster board, scissors tape, and rubber bands.

This experiment tests water filtration to remove bacteria. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, a poster board (or taped paper), two 9.5-inch PVC pipe pieces, scissors, tape, water in a container with a side hole, and a paper towel.

This experiment tests how temperature changes water density. You need one 2×6 LEGO brick, two pieces of paper, a pencil, a glass jar (the lid needs a hole), and both hot and cold water.

This density demo is hard. The results in a glass—honey, dish soap, water, rubbing alcohol—are stunning. Fifth-grade students will enjoy watching liquids float together (this is real science).

This experiment shows how static electricity builds indoors. Rub a balloon on your head and the carpet to charge it up. Take the charged balloon outside. See what happens when you bring it near another charged balloon. The negative charge on your hair transfers to the other balloon (which is positive).

Dogs are friends, but they also have clean mouths compared to humans. This experiment tests if this is true. Have participants place their mouths on a dog’s tongue and a human’s tongue.

Use boxes, cups, or bowls to test paper strength. First, cut the paper into rectangular strips. Arrange them inside the container based on your design. Step back and check how the design holds weight. Try adding a cup or two on top if you feel ambitious. Add filler paper if needed.

Lactic acid in lemon juice stops bacteria from rotting apple slices. This activity lets students see the science behind food preservation.