Did you know you can make plastic from milk?
Nothing gets kids more excited for science than hands-on experiments! Watch your fourth grade science students’ eyes light up when they try some of these activities. You’ll find physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, and more. These projects are easy to set up and really help drive the learning home. Get ready for some science fun!
1. Flick marbles to learn transfer of energy
This experiment is a bit of a thinker: What will happen when one moving marble hits several stationary marbles sitting in a row? Flick the first marble and find out!
Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls/Marble Energy Transfer
2. Measure a magnet’s attraction force
Fourth grade science students already know that magnets attract metal objects. In this experiment, they’ll measure to see how close a magnet needs to be to an object for the attraction to work. Mix things up with different sizes of magnets and objects of various weights
Learn more: Ashleigh’s Education Journey
3. See light refraction in action
This seems more like a magic trick, but we promise it’s science! Make colors seem to appear and disappear, change numbers into letters, and more.
Learn more: Ronyes Tech
4. Engineer a drinking-straw roller coaster
STEM challenges are always a hit with kids. We love this one, which only requires basic supplies like drinking straws.
Learn more: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
5. Make a wigglebot
Who knew electricity could be so adorable? Explore the science behind batteries and motors by creating a simple “wigglebot.” Experiment with weights to throw the motor off balance and create fun designs.
Learn more: Research Parent
6. Construct a working flashlight
You’ll only need a few supplies to guide your students in building their own LED flashlights. They’ll learn how electricity travels and the way circuits work. The slideshow available through the link makes this lesson a breeze for teachers too.
Learn more: Mystery Science/DIY Flashlight
7. Erupt a lemon volcano
Early chemistry experiments with acids and bases are always a lot of fun. This one uses the natural acids of lemon juice and adds a little food coloring to up the wow factor.
Learn more: STEAM Powered Family
7. Assemble an edible DNA model
Use licorice sticks, four different colored candies or fruits, and toothpicks to build an edible strand of DNA. Learn about chemical bonds and the helix shape, then eat your creation!
Learn more: wikiHow
9. Brew elephant toothpaste
OK, this isn’t really what elephants use to brush their teeth, but this big foamy exothermic reaction needs a big name! Wow your class using simple materials, including dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and a packet of yeast.
Learn more: Science Bob
10. Build a hovercraft
It’s not exactly the same model the military uses, but this simple hovercraft is a lot easier to build. An old CD and a balloon help demonstrate air pressure and friction in this fun fourth grade science experiment.
Learn more: Education.com/DIY Hovercraft
11. Create a smartphone projector
No projector in your classroom yet? No problem! Have your students help you construct one for your smartphone using a cardboard box and large magnifying glass. They’ll learn about convex lenses and how the brain processes images too.
Learn more: The STEM Laboratory
12. Set up a pulley system
The science of machines never fails to fascinate kids. In this experiment, they’ll design their own pulley system to make it easier to lift an object.
Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me/DIY Pulley
13. Form ocean currents
Learning about oceanography? Demonstrate how ocean currents form using warm and cold water (and a few plastic sea creatures for extra fun!).
Learn more: Life Over C’s
14. Watch gravity beads prove Newton’s laws
You’ll need a loooooooong string of beads for this experiment. Make your own by taping dollar store strings together, or buy a long bead garland. Pile them in a cup and get the beads going; it’s fascinating to watch inertia and gravity at work.
Learn more: Teach Beside Me/Gravity Beads
15. Make a model seismometer
Explore the science of seismology and learn how scientists study earthquakes and their effects. This model seismometer is easy to build and fun to experiment with.
Learn more: Science Sparks/Seismology
16. Conduct an egg drop
Here’s one more classic to add to our list of fourth grade science experiments: the egg drop! The great thing about this project is that kids can do it at any age, with different materials and heights to mix it up. Hit the link below to get an egg drop project designed just for fourth graders.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Egg Drop
17. Predict the weather
Your students can easily (an inexpensively) construct their very own anemometer to measure the strength of the wind. Simply count how many revolutions the lead cup makes per minute, and your students have just become budding meteorologists!
Learn more: The Activity Mom
18. Demonstrate Newton’s law of motion
Who doesn’t love balloon rockets?! Your students will have a blast(off) displaying Newton’s third law of motion while learning about physics.
Learn more: School Science Experiments
19. Predict the behavior of phosphors
Your students will ooh and aah at the result of this exploratory way to show phosphors in action with a black light, different types of water, and a highlighter. The results of this experiment might surprise both you and your students!
Learn more: Cool Science Experiments Headquarters
20. Replicate the Dead Sea to exhibit density
You don’t have to take a field trip to the Dead Sea to demonstrate the principle of density! Create your own “Dead Sea” in your classroom by using salt water and an egg. Though this lab becomes rather detailed with the equations for density, you can easily adapt it to allow your students to explore the basic concepts of how less-dense solids can float in more-dense liquids.
Learn more: Science Buddies
21. Engineer kinematics with a ball run
This engineering challenge not only demonstrates kinetic energy, but it will challenge your students’ engineering skills as well. They’ll work to construct a ball run with the goal of making their ball go the slowest.
Learn more: Science Buddies
22. Construct a groovy lava lamp
Your students will explore the relationship between oil and water in this funky lab as well as observe a chemical reaction between an acid and a base. We imagine they’ll want to take theirs home to display as art as well!
Learn more: Education.com
Exciting Hands-On Fourth Grade Science Experiments, Activities, and Projects