Make Science Projects Fun for Tweens

Erupt a Volcano, Work with Chemicals, and Fight Global Warming

Oct 7, 2009

Science projects are a part of any tween's curriculum at some point in time. Why not make it fun with these interesting tips and ideas?

Whether it is in front of a class or during a science fair, the project that is presented by a tween has a certain level of maturity and responsibility attached to it, so the simplest science projects may not be applicable for a child in this age group. This doesn't mean a science project has to be boring; it certainly can be lots of fun to research and implement. This is precisely the reason why parents need to at least have an idea about science projects for tweens when the time comes to complete one independently. By doing so, a parent will be able to assist a child and help him out with his studies.

It's not that a parent is expected to actually do something once the design of a science project is already being implemented. What’s important is for the parent to realize just how big of a responsibility the child is being given at his age, which is precisely the reason why the parent's guidance is needed.

Know What is Involved in Choosing a Science Project

Basically, the ideal science project for a tween should be something that he can do alone or with minimal supervision. However, the occasional guidance may still be required from a parent, as well as the child's teacher, depending on what the project actually is.

Before choosing a science project for a tween to complete, it is good to first make a selection out of all the possible topics that he can choose from. Select a field of science that the tween is interested in. Does the science project fall under biology, physics or chemistry? Also make sure that the procedures involved in completing the science project are not too complex for the child to handle.

Make sure that the project will show an experiment that has readily available materials. It is useless to start a project and only find out that the materials needed may have to have been ordered well in advance, or out of stock. This may mean that a new project must be started quickly to be finished on time.

Fun Science Projects for Tweens

A favorite at science fairs is the erupting volcano model, which is one of the top projects for a tween to make. The body of the volcano can be created from clay or paper mache. Then, the substance that will actually cause the eruption is a mixture of warm water, baking soda, dishwashing liquid, vinegar and some food coloring. This type of a science project is model-based, and it would be great if the child can come up with an original idea for this.

Not only is it fun to do the actual explosion of the volcano, but researching and writing facts on index cards, as well as a small report with illustrations can be very interesting, too. Those who will see the project in action would be very curious to learn about various volcanoes and what makes them tick. Find some great information on this subject at Discovery Kids.

Another project that can be added to the list for tweens is the demonstration and presentation of an oscillating clock chemical reaction. This is actually a re-testing of an experiment that has already been performed by someone else, but a tween can take the experimentation one or two steps further. Teacher Tube offers an in-classroom video of the experiment in action. This is also a great source for research on the subject of this project.

Tweens can opt to have a research, demonstration, or even create a model out of alternative energy resources. With the issues in global warming that the entire world is facing now, this is one of the hottest topics that allow a student to experiment with and do a research on. Find fascinating facts and experiments on websites such as:

A tween can take his pick from many fun science projects that involve the creation of a model, research, demonstration, experimentation, collection or investigation. Whether a student ends up with any of the above-mentioned projects or an entirely different concept, what’s important is for him to have the initiative to start his science project as early as possible. When this is combined with the fact that he has worked on the entire project alone (or with minimal supervision), a student will definitely feel proud of his efforts whether he bags the best science project title or not.

The copyright of the article Make Science Projects Fun for Tweens in Parenting Tweens is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Make Science Projects Fun for Tweens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.