Life science is the study of living organisms, their organization, life processes and their relationship to each other and their environment. Biology, anthropology and zoology are types of life sciences. The following are topics for sixth grade science fair projects under the life science umbrella:
Determine on what foods mold grows fastest;
Compare the effects of fertilizer vs. compost on plant growth;
Explore the organisms living beneath us and their physical features;
Evaluate the effects of physical activity on the blood pressure of humans;
Compare the short-term memories of boys vs. girls;
Evaluate the effects of eating breakfast on school performance; and
Test and compare the purity of bottled water vs. tap water.
Earth science is the study of the earth, its origin, structure and physical phenomena. Meteorology and geology are types of earth sciences. The following are topics for sixth grade science fair projects developed from these branches:
Demonstrate how lava flows from a volcano;
Evaluate the effects of weather on the earth;
Create a tornado in a bottle and explain the physical features;
Analyze the porosity of different types of soil;
Describe the different types of clouds and how they are formed; and
Describe ways to prevent depletion of the ozone layer.
Environmental science is the study of the environment and the interactions between its biological, chemical and physical components affecting organisms. The following are sixth grade science fair topics related to environmental science:
Demonstrate the facets of the water cycle;
Explain the greenhouse effect and global warming;
Investigate and report the various life forms in natural fresh water sources;
Describe possible solutions to prevent erosion;
Create a water filtration device and report the amounts of impurities after using; and
Analyze the amount of smog in your area over a period of time and determine the effects on human health.
Computer science is the study of computable processes and structures using technology and/or computers. The following are topics for sixth grade science fair projects related to computer science:
Explore the effects of different types of parachutes on speed using an egg to drop from a higher elevation;
Create and calculate the strength of different types of bridges;
Determine the effects of temperature on the life of batteries;
Create a spreadsheet that analyzes the percentages of male and female employees in certain careers;
Create a spreadsheet that compares the math and English grades of peers in the sixth grade, and look for evidence of a correlation, like do most students perform equally well in both subjects; and
Design a simple computer program.