Finding age-appropriate projects helps kindergarten students get excited about science.
Some people assume that children of kindergarten age are too young to participate in science fairs. However, many teachers know that there are several creative ways to include these young students. Developing projects that they will enjoy and learn from helps engage the short attention spans of kids in this age group.
What Floats Your Boat
Have the children make boats in various shapes out of assorted materials. For instance, some boats could be created from wax paper and others from aluminum foil. The children would then take turns placing their boats in a tub of water. Next, place pennies in each boat one at a time until they start to sink to see which shapes and materials sink the fastest. The class should take pictures of each boat. The boats and the photographs become part of the science project display. Children can write their name and the number of pennies their boat held before starting to take on water. Children learn how boats float and how they are constructed.
Leaves
Taking children outside to gather various kinds of leaves of different colors and shapes. Have each child pick one of their favorite leaves from their collection. Place the leaf between two pieces of plastic wrap and cover it with a piece of newspaper, which melts the plastic and preserves the leaf. The kids can attach their leaves to a presentation board with tape and write their name above it. This teaches the children to observe the different kinds of leaves in nature.
How Much Does It Weigh?
Collect various items of different sizes, such as a book, a feather, a brick or a bag of flour. Break the items into sets of two items. Have the class try to guess which of the two items weighs more. Using a bathroom scale, weigh the items. Some sets could consist of a larger but lightweight object paired with a smaller, heavier object to show that size does not necessarily make an item heavier. For instance, a rock would weigh more than a large, empty box.
Chemical Reactions
To teach kindergarten students that certain items have reactions when put together, take a gallon-sized zippered plastic bag, a sandwich-sized plastic bag, vinegar, and baking soda. This experiment gets messy, so take the class outside to perform it. Have some of the kids fill the smaller plastic bag with baking soda. This bag should remain unsealed. Next, have other children fill the larger bag with vinegar about one-quarter full. The class should stand a few feet back. Then carefully take the smaller bag and place it inside the large bag with the vinegar, making sure the baking soda does not mix with the vinegar. After completely sealing the gallon-sized bag, the gently shake it to mix the baking soda with the vinegar then quickly toss it several yards away from the class. The students can see the ingredients react, causing the bag to expand and blow open.
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