eHow - Science Projects How To's

(image) Jell-O gelatin comes in powder or solid form, and is typically used to create desserts, such as fruit molds, no-bake pies, flavored punch and whipped parfaits. The powder form can also be used to create glow-in-the-dark science projects that use addi...

Helium and sulfur hexafluoride have properties that make the gases act as opposites. Helium is lighter than air, whereas sulfur hexafluoride is heavier. Experiments using these gases make interesting studies of gas density, gas interaction with sound...

(image) The glow-in-the-dark penny experiment is a chemistry demonstration where the copper of a heated penny decomposes a measure of acetone. This reaction keeps the penny glowing for an extended period of time. This is a popular experiment in high school a...

Chromatography is a technique used by biochemists to separate chemical mixtures. With some minor adjustments, the technique can be applied to help separate the various pigments in the black ink of a water-based marker. A coffee filter, glass of water...

(image) When you speak, sound waves come out of your mouth and travel in all directions. This means that only some of the waves go in the direction you want them to -- toward the person you're talking to, for example. If you talk into the narrow end of a con...

(image) Symmetry can be observed everywhere, from architecture to nature. It is the result of exactly similar parts either facing each other or around an axis. Since most biological organisms display some form of symmetry, incorporating science projects abo...

(image) Homemade glow sticks make interesting science projects for kids and adults. Whether your science project is for a school fair or just for entertainment, making glow sticks from scratch is an activity that allows you to study different variables that...

(image) Hands-on projects are a great way to engage students in science. Triops are a type of crustacean, also known as dinosaur or shield shrimp. These shrimp make excellent subjects for science projects and fairs. You can inexpensively purchase triop eggs...

(image) The only way we really know what dinosaurs were like is through their fossilized bones and teeth. Most of us don't have access to real fossils, but don't worry--you can make your own using fossil molds and sand clay. Let them dry, and you've got inst...

(image) A dendrochronologist is a scientist who deals with the dating of trees based on the number of the tree's rings. Educators can introduce their elementary school students to dendrochronology through science projects that relate to tree rings. These typ...

(image) Blowing up a balloon with carbonation is a fun way to learn the scientific properties of carbon dioxide. By attaching a balloon to the lid of a soft drink bottle, you can capture the carbon dioxide as it leaves in the form of gas. For best results, t...

(image) Although it may seem impossible to contain one of nature's most powerful forces, the miniature tornado makes a visually appealing science project that's relatively simple to produce. Tornado experiments offer an up-close look at the vortex, inviting...

(image) Craters make for an intriguing and mysterious topic for kids to study. These depressions in the surface of Earth and its moon, alongside other stellar bodies, are often the result of meteorite collisions. Examining how craters form and why is somethi...

(image) When an apple’s flesh is exposed to oxygen after peeling or cutting, a chemical reaction with the fruit’s enzymes occurs, causing the fruit to turn brown. There are many variables that contribute to oxidization of fruit, and testing them...

(image) One way to teach children about science and how to use the scientific method is to engage them in testable science projects. Virtually all school science projects must be testable or based on a testable question. Introducing kids to such projects and...

(image) Science projects for kids on volcanoes can be used to teach about types of light and how volcanoes work. Materials used in volcano experiments range from candy and quinine to dry ice and water. Combined with ultraviolet light and glow in the dark pow...

(image) A staple of the symphony orchestra and klezmer combo alike, the clarinet provides plenty of opportunity to enhance a student’s understanding of sound and the process of simple engineering. A handmade clarinet need not be an elaborate or expensi...

(image) Facial expressions occur when muscles in the face work in concert as a means of nonverbal communication. Originally believed to be learned behavior, studies of the Fore tribe in Papua, New Guinea by psychologists Paul Ekman and Walter Friesen illustr...

(image) While not as hi-tech as James Bond's gadgets, invisible ink has fascinated people of all ages for centuries. Children in particular are captivated by the idea of writing a note with hidden messages. Your youngster doesn't have to be on a secret miss...

(image) Tupperware containers are durable, inexpensive and versatile, making them perfect vessels for a number of science projects and experiments. These containers can be used with or without a lid, can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher. They can be fro...

(image) Science projects using hairspray may not be among the top options for young students, but as they are based on a rare topic, they can make an impressive project at a science fair. Explaining the complex molecular bonding between the ingredients of a...

(image) Look up toward the sky and you may see any one of four types of clouds: cirrus, cumulus, cumulonimbus or stratus. Cotton balls possess an uncanny resemblance to clouds and can be manipulated to recreate the look of each different type of cloud. To un...

(image) Depending on the topic of your science project, the content as well as specific design of the project backdrop will vary accordingly. Despite this, most science projects are made either in a cardboard box as a diorama or with the help of a science di...

(image) Ancient Egyptians used mummification to preserve human bodies. The earliest form of mummification involved allowing sand and heat to desiccate bodies. In time, however, the Egyptians moved on to using salt for mummification. They eventually removed o...

(image) When borax mixes with glue it binds together the strings of molecules in the glue, called polymers, into a viscous putty. Varying the quantities in the mixture will alter the properties of the putty, making it behave in a range of different ways. Inv...

(image) Conducting in-depth, hands-on science projects in the classroom is a valuable way to help students learn about the world around them. Inquiry based activities that focus on biology, chemistry, physics and the Earth sciences encourage children to gain...

(image) Tackle football is a rough sport. Even though players wear protective gear, they are still hitting each other with a tremendous amount of force. If you are looking for a science project with applications to medicine, then studying the force of footba...

(image) Balance is one of the most complex and dynamic functions of the human body. Balance is neither a sense nor a sensation, it is a partially genetic and partially learned capacity that people possess. One of the most important factors in balance is the...

Milk contains casein, a protein that is used in the production of glues, paints and plastics, as well as some food products. If you heat up milk and add an acid, such as vinegar, you will cause a chemical reaction whereby the casein separates from t...

(image) The rusting of metals is an excellent topic to explore with a science project, since rust formation is very much a chemical process. With an inquisitive mind and the right project idea, you can explore the causes of rust and find metals that may be r...

(image) Different regions have various grass types that thrive based on controllable and uncontrollable factors. A science project on the different grasses in your area that shows the growth potential for each grass, considering a number of factors, can help...

(image) Strum a guitar, and a lot of unseen things begin to happen. The touched strings vibrate, sending waves of sound through the air. The waves bounce off objects, including eardrums, and the body translates the resulting disruption of the air into sound....

(image) Orbiters and space rovers have already made contact with Mars and sent back numerous pictures of the surface of the “Red Planet.” It is one of the most studied planets in our solar system. Science projects can focus on the mechanics of th...

Music and noise science projects can show the effects the two elements have on people and plants. Different responses are tested while or after varying degrees of music or noise are allowed in the background. Some experiments have shown that music c...

(image) American physicist John Archibald Wheeler first coined the term, "black hole," in 1967. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), black holes have likely been around since the universe was created. The first, mo...

(image) Softwoods like fir, pine and balsa have a simpler cell structure, weigh less and contain less energy than hardwoods like oak, maple or cherry. Depending on the age of the experimenters, there are some obvious ways to illustrate the difference between...

Science projects are often done by making comparisons between two objects or several sets of objects. All factors regarding the objects are kept the same, except for one that is “varied,” or changed. A comparison can then be made by obser...

(image) One of the best ways to make a science diorama project look realistic is to add weather elements such as rain. An indication of rain can be created even in the smallest details. Before you begin, brainstorm about clues in the environment on a rainy d...

(image) Bridges have long been a part of human civilization. The prototypes to the bridges of today were made out of natural materials, like vine, allowing people, even to this day in rural India, to cross large chasms, according to the website How Products...

(image) Most cats look as though their eyes glow green in the dark. Do some science projects to find out why. Light reflects off the tapetum of the retina and appears green because most cats have a colored retina. Some Siamese cats do not have colored retina...

(image) Science projects are often aimed at providing visible evidence of scientific concepts, allowing students to become actively involved in learning about these concepts. Erosion is a natural process that constantly changes the surface of the Earth. A sc...

(image) No living thing could survive without the ability to absorb liquid in one way or another. Plants, animals and people all depend on their ability to take in water and other liquids to hydrate and replenish their cells. It doesn’t take a sterile...

(image) Deserts are dry regions that receive less than 10 inches of rain per year and cover about one quarter of the Earth's surface. Even with the little amount of rainfall deserts receive, the desert habitat contains a diversity of living organisms. There...

(image) High-end and brand-name perfumes tend to be expensive and contain alcohol, which can dry out your skin. You can make your own perfume at home with just a few ingredients and without the alcohol. This process is perfect for a school science project wh...

(image) To find out the temperature so you know how to dress before leaving for school, you can make your own thermometer that is surprisingly accurate using a drinking straw. Your homemade thermometer works on the same principles used since the early 1600s,...

(image) Bananas ripen quickly when exposed to high levels of ethylene gas. By placing bananas in a closed environment near other fruits that release this gas -- like tomatoes, apples and pears -- green bananas will quickly turn yellow. This experiment must...

(image) Projects involving marble mazes are a way to learn about Newton's Law of Motion. Mazes can teach gravity, mass acceleration and applied force. It is a good idea to learn about these concepts before conducting the experiment. You can re-create what ha...

(image) Science projects with floating oranges may hold some amazing surprises. Students are aware that certain objects float in water while others are not able to. Using both unpeeled and peeled oranges, they can examine certain principles about objects and...

(image) Practical projects can be a fun way of getting young people interested in science, and there's no better way to introduce discussions about plant life than by germinating seeds and watching them grow. Of course, you don't want to wait for weeks to se...

(image) Children love science projects. They teach kids about the world we live in while allowing them to have fun at the same time. Science projects also encourage children to have a healthy curiosity about the world around them, and to ask questions to gai...