# Sixth Grade Science Fair Ideas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726 "2010-09-14T14:35:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/21 "2010-09-15T15:44:34Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > Paper mache volcano! > > Serious answer: maybe she could go to the nearby park/ravine/whatever and document the effects of pollution? Take samples from the water and test the acidity, or look around for garbage, or stuff like that. A Mentos/Coke volcano has a bit more pizazz to it. Your serious answer could be revised to include a simple one mile walking tour of the street you live on, documenting all the trash found in your neighborhood, or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/22 "2010-09-15T15:57:23Z")
> [@Notchimine](#): > > … our already pet filled household. … There are plenty of science fair projoects that can be done with pets. I remember one at my school a few years ago where the kid tested whether his dogs could hear sounds of various frequencies. Studying which food an animal likes best is an old standby that doesn’t require too much time. ---
**Author:** ![Notchimine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Notchimine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notchimine)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/23 "2010-09-15T16:00:57Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > This is a little advanced for 6th grade but would probably be a winner if you did it it - a radiation detecting cloud chamber that shows you the paths of charged sub-atomic particles from radioactive decay. Since I had to read the sentence three times to figure out what you were talking about, I think it may be too advanced for her. Although she is brighter than her ole dumb mom so you never know. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/24 "2010-09-15T17:30:51Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > This is a little advanced for 6th grade but would probably be a winner if you did it it - a radiation detecting cloud chamber that shows you the paths of charged sub-atomic particles from radioactive decay. > [@TriPolar](#): > > [fiber-reinforced water ice matrix structures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete) > > Easier than it sounds. Also, don’t be surprised if she chooses something that seems advanced, and does a lot of hard work, and you feel proud and then get there and see that 1/2 of her class has used “which method leaves the fewest unpopped kernels?” as their project. My son devised a velocity project. He built a rollercoaster out of foam pipe insullation. Building it took him a few days. He really did work hard and I was proud, but really 3 bowls of popcorn would have been enough? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/25 "2010-09-16T02:13:31Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > [fiber-reinforced water ice matrix structures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete) > > > > Easier than it sounds. > > Also, don’t be surprised if she chooses something that seems advanced, and does a lot of hard work, and you feel proud and then get there and see that 1/2 of her class has used “which method leaves the fewest unpopped kernels?” as their project. I was just suggesting something more in line with a student who loves hands on activities, and was not another volcano. I know everybody crowds around to see the volcano erupt, but does it ever win? I have only the small sample of my life and my kids to go from, but it seems that creativity impresses the judges at these things. They’ve seen the standard projects many times before. My son made a clarinet for a science olympics, and won gold for having the only musical instrument that wasn’t a drum or string instrument made with rubber bands. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/26 "2010-09-16T03:56:06Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > Check the rules before trying **figure9** ’s suggestion. Our district has a policy that strictly prohibits using anything living. I was sure my son had it wrong. I can see not wanting the kids to use hamsters or salamanders. What about the classic grow a lima bean in dirt and one sand? Nope. Not allowed. Nothing living. Not even bread mold? (I did that when I was in fifth grade) What about testing various detergents? A couple of us did that. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/27 "2010-09-16T12:18:38Z")
I didn’t mean that kids should shy away from interesting or challenging project. I wa just commenting on my own reaction to realizing it all could have been much easier (primarily on my son who has perfectionist tendencies and stresses himself out over details). And after the initial “we could’ve popped popcorn!?!” I reasoned that a lot of the kids who did the projects that seemed simpler are involved in more activities than my son, and so made a wise choice. We had “Back to School Night” last night and learned that this year we won’t have a traditional science fair (at least in 8th grade). There will be an “Environmental Extravaganza”, and the projects will be PowerPoint or video presentations. ---
**Author:** ![Notchimine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Notchimine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notchimine)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/28 "2010-09-16T20:53:40Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > > [@gwendee](#): > > > > Check the rules before trying **figure9** ’s suggestion. Our district has a policy that strictly prohibits using anything living. I was sure my son had it wrong. I can see not wanting the kids to use hamsters or salamanders. What about the classic grow a lima bean in dirt and one sand? Nope. Not allowed. Nothing living. > > Not even bread mold? (I did that when I was in fifth grade) > What about testing various detergents? A couple of us did that. We did the bread mold last year! Well, it was about preservatives on store bought products vs home made. Which got moldy faster. Detergents? Another good idea. I guess you could test something basic and home made vs other chemical mixtures. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Notchimine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Notchimine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notchimine)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726/29 "2010-09-16T20:55:11Z")
Well, thank you everyone. She is going to narrow her favorites to three tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t involve rodents of any kind! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sixth-grade-science-fair-ideas/553726.md?page=1)