Teachers can have fourth graders explore the effects of music on plant growth. Students can either monitor the effects of music on the same types of plants or different types of plants. The project requires the use of three to five plants that either are exposed to music all day or at least 12 hours or more a day. Students need to place each plant in a room that strictly plays one type of music such as jazz, classical or country. Additionally, students need to review and note the changes of each plant based on its environment. Students will monitor whether music aides or prevents the plants from growing.
Students in the fourth grade have the ability to compare the various types of soil of a plant. The purpose of this science project is to compare how different soils effect the way plants grow. Students need to use at least three types of soil, such as silty soil, sandy soil, enriched soil or clay soil. Additionally, students need to have at least three containers and three identical plants. The students evaluate and chart the results during a specific period of time. Another variation of this science project requires the use of three different plants in the same type of soil.
Plants grow at different times and stages depending on the type of plants. The objective of this science project is to compare the grow of different plants under controlled circumstances. Students need to gather up to three types of plant seeds and place each seed in the same type of pot using the same kind of soil and the same amount of soil. Additionally, students need to place each plant in the same location and provide the same amount of sunlight per day to each plant. Students should watch the plants grow for approximately two weeks and note their observations.
Another science project that students in the fourth grade can conduct involves the amount of light or the lack of light a plant receives. The purpose of this science project is to evaluate the way a plant grows in different types of light. Students need to have three individual plants of the same kind. Place the first plant in a dark room, the second plant in a room with pure sunlight and the three plant in a room with artificial light. Students will monitor their findings and determine which plant grew the most and evaluate the health of each plant over a predetermined period.