A preschool or elementary school child can contemplate basic concepts of motion, energy, velocity, momentum and gravity -- and fashion science projects with an adult's help. In "Science Play!," a book geared toward 2- to 6-year-olds, an experiment dubbed "Roller Derby" can be replicated for a school science project based on kinetic energy. After building a ramp, different shaped, textured and sized objects are rolled; the child can also alter the height of the stack on which the ramp is built and make predictions about which objects will roll fastest and farthest or whose paths might zigzag or be straight. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (at eia.doe.gov) has compiled a range of science projects based on energy for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including a home solar energy experiment with plants for kindergartners through third-graders.
Children can experiment with garbage in the name of science. The National Energy Education Development Project encourages a child to ponder some of the following: (1) Can you produce a gas from decaying garbage and can you control its amount? (2) Could the gas be used as an energy source? All the child-scientist needs to begin is water, a packet of dried beans or peas and air-tight, clear plastic bags. After soaking overnight, the beans are sealed in plastic bags and put into different environments for a week; hot, light and dark are some examples. Then the child observes and records the results.
In May 2011, "Scientific American" magazine initiated a "Bring Science Home" campaign featuring a different experiment each weekday. The "launch" of a strung-up straw-and-balloon "rocket" illustrates the core physical sciences concepts of motion and force, as well as energy and propulsion. By altering the size and shape of the balloon, the length of the string and the amount of air pressure pinched off in the balloon, a child-scientist can carry out a scientific experiment based on energy. He can form hypotheses while assembling the materials, then begin the project and record and interpret results.
A high-schooler can conduct research on renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and biofuels. For instance, he can assess which types of biomass -- plants and crops as well as about half of our trash -- might make the most methane gas, which has applications as an energy source. Because methane gas is explosive in air and a methane generator must be used, this experiment should be carried out in a laboratory under a teacher's supervision. If a student shows interest in mechanical and electric energy, she might like to build an electric motor. (See teachingphysics.wordpress.com.) The materials: a D-cell battery, piece of sandpaper, donut magnet, some bare heavy wire -- e.g., 14- or 16-gauge -- and some transformer or magnet wire.