Investigatory Science Project for Kids

Keep your kids focused with an interesting project topic.

An investigatory science project, also known as an experimental science project, is one that uses the scientific method and controlled experiments to come to a conclusion. There are essential components that make up a proper investigatory science project, as well as many ideas that can be used. Overall, look for projects that will capture your child's attention while incorporating tasks that are simple enough for him to complete to keep his focus.

Components

There are many parts that make up an investigatory science project. Depending on the age of your child, his teacher may not require all of these things, and you should always consult the assignment for more information. After the title page, the first thing you will need to include with your project is a statement of objective. Then the method used needs to be discussed. This includes a list of the materials used and the procedure, using a narrative in the past tense to explain. Next, the findings are revealed and the data is analyzed, leading to statements of conclusion.

Visuals

Many teachers also ask that a visual aid accompanies an investigatory science project, sometimes for display at a school event like a science fair. The first step in making a visual aid is to help your child document his project. Have him keep a journal that he should write in at each juncture of the project. Also, help him take pictures of his project. These pictures can then go on a poster board display that should also include the components of his project such as objective, materials, results, and the conclusion.

Plant Project Ideas

Plant projects are a popular choice for kids' investigatory science projects. Materials for the projects are generally inexpensive, and there are many projects that are simple enough to allow for children of all ages to be involved. One project idea involves testing plants to see the effects of saltwater on their growth. Similarly, you could also do a similar experiment with sugar water. Another idea is to test the effects of different kinds of music on plant growth. Likewise, you could test the different types or colors of lights and their effect on plant growth.

Water Project Ideas

Water is another popular project theme. Water projects are another inexpensive idea that is easy for children to execute. For example, you can conduct experiments to find out whether salt water or sugar water freezes better than regular water. Similarly, you can test cold and hot water to see which freezes faster. Salt and sugar water can also be tested to find their effects on the evaporation process.

References

• Science Project: Investigatory Projects
• Science Investigatory Projects
• Science Project: Projects Index