Inexpensive Science Project Ideas

No one knows more about the sting of the drowning economy quite as well as the teachers of grade schools. Teachers are not only paid much less than they deserve, but they sometimes must pay for much of their classroom supplies out of their own pockets. For this reason, when it comes time to start researching science project ideas, most teachers favor, choose, and list economical science project ideas for their students to pick from. In this case, less is definitely more and there is no shame in teaching economics along with the sciences.

To be completely honest, most of the simpler, cost effective, and learning intensive experiments are simple ones. Consider the sink and float experiments. Young children love to explore with buoyancy and weights. The materials for these types of experiments are fairly inexpensive. For many of them all you need is common household items. If you do have to purchase something its usually something inexpensive such as a plastic tub for your child to take to school.

Another example of an inexpensive science project idea is the potato clock. Middle school children learning about acidity and electrical currents can construct this time-honored classic with roughly $4.00 in parts. The most expensive part of the experiment will be the potatoes.

Do you need inexpensive science project ideas for teaching how to read a compass and mapping directions? Try taking a cup of water and place a cork into the cup. Then, take a needle and rub it against a shirt, or piece of fabric, to build a static charge. Set it on top of the cork and there you have a fully functional magnetic compass.

There are so many science project ideas that resourceful teachers and parents can capitalize on. They not only save money, but they can go far in teaching children about science.