Elementary Science Fair Project Ideas and Topics

As a younger student looking for elementary science fair project ideas you probably aren't interested in tackling the difficulty of splitting an atom or designing a laser beam, so the elementary science fair project ideas and topics listed here are generally easy to construct. A few of the concepts may be too simple for some students, so choose an elementary science fair project that suits your skills and your scientific brain-power!

Tip: Don't just make a simple display. The temptation with an elementary science fair project idea is to simply show how something works. Go the extra distance, explain why the information in the elementary science fair project idea is important and how it affects other things in the world, including humans and animals.

Chemistry

Which Metals Conduct Heat?

Show expansion and contraction of liquids by freezing and heating.

Is there really iron in our cereal?

Geology

Which rocks are harder? Test various rocks and minerals such as quartz, granite and slate.

How is coal is formed? Can we make it at home?

*As a quick yet impressive volcano project, I recommend this
Volcano Experiment Kit.
It was designed by a vulcanologist (volcano scientist) from the Smithsonian Institute. You can construct it in 20 minutes. It comes with 3 volcanic rocks, too! (Basalt, Pumice and Obsidian) Imagine how cool they would look displayed next to your erupting volcano!

Botany

Do plants grow toward the light?

Earthworms, are they good for a garden?

Are bees good for plants?

Why do trees have bark?

Can we tell the age of trees?

Physics

What are the differences between bulbs in series and in parallel?

What are the parts of an electric motor?

How does a sailboat work? Why are there different designs? Test performance.

Anatomy and Psychology

What sort of meals are nutritious?

Can a person detect where sound is coming from without being able to see?

How do we get cavities?

Fingerprints. Can two people have the same one?

Zoology

Can a snail move faster on dirt or concrete?

Animal prints, what information do they give us?

Which animal is smarter? Examples: Goldfish or Guppy, Hamster or Gerbil, Cat or Dog.

Doing experiments with insects? Ant

observation has never been this cool. They make 3D tunnels in space-age gel! Use this 21st century ant farm for assistance in zoology based science fair projects.

How much mass can a hungry caterpillar eat in a day?

Do animals have the same drinking habits when given colored water?

Meteorology

How are weather instruments used in forecasting?

How can we create a cyclone?

Astronomy

How do the planets orbit the sun?

----------------Others

Which brand of popcorn works best?

Which brand of paper towels can hold the most weight? Try this experiment wet and dry.

Actually, if you are interested in more complex science fair projects, click back to the main "project ideas" page and browse the ideas for higher age groups.

It might take some extra effort, but if your cards are played right, you'll definitely wow the judges, especially if you conduct an experiment.

As a warning though, if it looks like an adult or parent gave you too much help, the judges may decide to disqualify you.

Remember, this is an elementary science fair project idea, not a "get my parents to make something unbelievable" sciece fair project.

Have fun!