science fair projects

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science fair projects
By Julianne

Does your science fair have specific rules? Some require an inquiry based project that uses the scientific method. I would consider that type of fair inappropriate for first graders working independently. If you have more
leeway, you can help them creatively display their knowledge of a particular topic in science. If you can do that, here are a few ideas that might work for first grade students:
1. Discuss simple machines with your students and challenge them to find these machines in the everyday objects they have at home and school. Display their choices along with their description of what the

machine is and what it does. (Pencil sharpener - it has a wedge that shaves the wood off my pencil, etc.)

2. Look at different types of crystals. Challenge students to use ordinary materials to create a crystal display for the science fair. Give parents some help by giving them a list of materials that will make crystals when mixed with water - salt, sugar, epsom salt, alum, washing soda. Have each studnt display their crystal creation and tell how they made it and what shape the crystals took.

3. Create with your class a form for predicting the weather. It should have a column for their predicition, the actual weather and their comments. For the next two weeks have students predict the next day's weather, then check for the actual conditions. Their comments should say how close they came. At the end of the two weeks help them analyze their data. How close did they come? Did they get better as time went by? What did they learn. You can make a group display of these last questions, then include everyone's chart.

Hope this helps. If you need something different, e-mail me.