2013 Horace Mann Science Project Idea Packet. Will chilling an onion before cutting it keep you from crying?

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1 IDEAS about food Will chilling an onion before cutting it keep you from crying? What plastic wrap best prevents oxidation (prevent the browning of peeled bananas, apples, or avocadoes)? Do bananas brown faster in the refrigerator or on the counter? Can you make Jell- o using fresh pineapples instead of canned pineapples? Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels? Are all eggs the same size? Are certain brands of eggs have the same size eggs? If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they all spew the same amount? Are all potato chips equally greasy (you can crush them to get uniform samples and look at the diameter of a grease spot on brown paper)? Is greasiness different if different oils are used (e.g., peanut versus soybean)? Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread? Does light affect the rate at which foods spoil? Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids? Does the power of a microwave affect how well it makes popcorn? Can you tell/taste the difference between ground beef, chuck, and round after they have been cooked? Do all brands of bubble gum make the same size bubble? Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same?

2 More IDEAS about food Do clear flavored drinks and colored flavored drinks (same flavor) taste the same? Does it matter if you can see the color? How much salt does it take to float an egg? How does a cookie change when you remove an ingredient? Will it taste different?

3 IDEAS about ICE AND LIQUIDS Does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts? Which dissolves better in water: salt or baking so da? Do ice cubes melt faster in air or water?

4 IDEAS about growing plants and working with soil Does magnetism affect the growth of plants? Do seeds sprout (germinate) better in cold or warm soil? Does the presence of detergent in water make plants grow slower? How do chemicals affect plant growth? You can look at natural pollutants (e.g., motor oil, runoff from a busy street) or unusual substances (e.g., orange juice, baking soda). Does the seed size affect how soon it will sprout? What kind of soil erodes fastest in wet weather? If you have a plant that has fungus, does bleach in the water slow down the fungus growth? Do roots of plants always grow downwards? Can sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?

5 IDEAS that involve soap products Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Clean the same number of dishes? Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More? IDEAS about health Do children s heart rates increase as they get older? Does exercise affect heart rate? Which student in class has the greatest lung capacity? Do boys or girls have the greatest lung capacity? IDEAS about animal and insect OBSERVATIONS Are night insects attracted to lamps because of heat or light? Which travels faster: a snail or a worm? Do ants like cheese or sugar better? Do earthworms react differently to light and darkness? How far does a snail travel in one minute?

6 IDEAS about things around the house What brand of diaper holds the most water? Does it matter what the liquid is in the diaper (for example, does the diaper hold more water than juice) Do different brands of batteries (same size, new) last equally long? How do differences in surfaces affect the adhesion of tape? What type of plastic wrap best prevents evaporation? What kind of glue holds two boards together? Do white candles burn at a different rate than colored candles? How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink? Does brand matter? Do consumers prefer bleached paper products or natural- color paper products? Why? Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does type of hair affect the results? Will more air inside a basketball make it bounce higher? Does a ball roll farther on dirt or grass?

7 WEBSITES with more great ideas for Science Projects fair/elementary- school/ project- ideas/a/1308/ science- fair- project- ideas/ nce_fair_projects_3rd 5th_gr.html