Then pour the coarse sand on top of the pebbles and the fine sand on top of the coarse sand. Use a rubber band to secure the filter paper to the mouth of the bottle with its bottom cut off.Now let the water sit undisturbed for 20 minutes, checking it every five minutes to note how it looks and smells (without moving it).What do you notice about the water as you stir it? Use the spoon to slowly stir the water for five minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of alum to the water in the bottle with the top cut off.Again notice how the water looks and smells. Pour the water into the bottle with its top cut off.Then pour the water back and forth between the two cups about 10 times. Put the lid on the bottle and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.Pour swamp water in the 2-liter bottle with a lid.This type of experiment is a perfect science fair project for either middle school or elementary school students!ĭIY Water Filtration System for Science Project Let's conduct a water purification project to better understand our water sources, water purification systems, and general water resources. Water treatment science and advanced water systems enable us to purify dirty water so it's safe for our purposes. Even if it's fresh water, it may contain waterborne diseases and or be contaminated water. (e.g., frozen in glaciers or ocean water). And thanks to professionals that work in public health to ensure we have a safe drinking water supply without impurities, we can all drink to meet these needs.Īlthough there's plenty of sources of water on our planet, our water supply in terms of drinking water / clean water isn't as readily available to drink. Does acid rain affect the algae and protozoa found in ponds? Do a comparative study with protozoa grown in distilled water versus protozoa found in a pond that might have been affected by acid rain.Water covers two-thirds of the Earth's surface and makes up about 60% of adult's bodies, including 75% of our brains!Įach day, it is recommended that we consume more than two liters of drinking water / purified water.Can an antacid tablet like Tums or Alka-seltzer be used to protect soils from acid rain?.Can a base such as limestone or limewater be used to protect plants from acid rain?.Do our soils show the effects of acid rain?.You may also be able to collect rain water and test its pH level to see if it is acidic enough (pH ~ 4.0) for your experiment.You can make artificial acid rain by taking distilled water and slowly adding sulfuric acid (one drop at a time) until the pH of the water reads about 4.0.Which de-icing agent used on roads in winter has the least negative environmental impact?.How do garden soils with different amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, or pH compare? (Use a soil analyzer.) Investigate which pH and chemical levels are most common in your area.Where do you find the most polluted water locally? What about water with the highest and lowest pH? (Use a water test kit.) Does this have an effect on the organisms (fish, insects, algae, protozoa, frogs, etc.) that live in or next to it?.Do the organisms found at different levels of a pond differ significantly? You might try re-creating a pond “cross section” of life.Soil, Water, Acid Rain, and the Environment: See a sample step-by-step project and more project ideas in our Bacteria Science Project Guide.(Test water temperature, soaps, length of time spent washing, etc.) Experiment to find the best ways to eliminate germs from hands and surfaces. Use GloGerms to simulate the behavior of germs.

Is a dog’s mouth really cleaner than a human’s?.How much bacteria grows in the mouth and what effects do common cleaning techniques have on bacteria growth? Consider brushing with a dry toothbrush, comparing different toothpastes, mouthwashes, and flossing as well as time spent cleaning teeth to find which methods work best to keep the mouth clean.

Does bacteria grow in a predictable pattern? Try an experiment by making thumbprint, fingerprint, or handprint bacteria cultures using agar and petri dishes.

What types of food mold the quickest? How does temperature affect mold growth? Are there some practical ways to slow down the growth of mold? Experiment with different types of preservatives to see how they prevent mold growth. Studying mold growth conditions also makes an interesting experiment.

Do common antibiotics interact differently with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

Use the Gram stain method for testing whether Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria is more common in your house.

Are there substances in your kitchen (garlic, red pepper, curry, tea tree oil, etc.) that have natural antibacterial properties?.

What effect do household cleaners have on a bacteria culture? What about temperature? What is the best or worst environment in your house for bacteria growth?.

Use petri dishes and agar to grow bacteria.

5th grade physics science fair projects