Science Project Ideas for Kids

Wind chimes are made of objects that make interesting sounds when the wind causes them to they bump into each other. Make your own wind chimes by following these steps. Tie one 12-in (30-cm) piece of  piece to each of 4 or more metal objects, such as spoons. Tie the free end of the strings to a metal jar ring or small embroidery hoop. The objects should hang so that they can easily bump into each other. Tie a string on opposite sides of the ring to hold the chimes up. Blow on the chimes to test them, and reposition the hanging objects if they do not bump into each other. You may also wish to add more hanging spoons. Hang the wind chimes outdoors, and listen for them the next time the wind blows.

Simple Ideas Can Be Science Projects

It is a good time to start thinking about next years science fair project. If you groaned after reading the last sentence, then pay close attention to the rest of this activity.

So, how can a wind chime be used as a science project?

1. Making the wind chime part of your research. Other things to research would be to read about sound and what causes sounds to be different.

2. If your science project has to be an experiment, then you need to think of ways the chimes can be changed. The part that you purposefully change is called the independent variable (see index for more information about independent variables.) Examples of independent variables are: the size of the spoon, the length of the string, and the kinds of  metal objects. CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER INDEPENDENT VARIABLES?

3. How could any of the changes in step 2 affect the wind chimes? This is the part that you are going to be observing and it is called the dependent variable. Examples of  dependent variables are: the range of the pitch of the sound; the quality of the sound, and the loudness of the sound.  Note: For each of these you have to have some way to measure them. If you are musical, you might be able to identify the musical notes produced; so that quality is not just your opinion, you could have others listen and evaluate using choices you give, such as irritating, pleasant, or wonderful; loudness would have to compared to something else–which would be you control chimes (these are the ones made with the above procedure.) CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER DEPENDENT VARIABLES?

4. Using the Variable Example in steps 2 and 3, nine different questions can be written. Note that each question compares ONE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE and ONE DEPENDENT VARIABLE.

• How does the size of the spoons affect the range of pitch of the wind chime?
• How does the length of the string affect the range of  pitch of the wind chime?
• How does the type of metal object affect the range of pitch of the wind chime?
• How does the size of the spoons affect the sound quality of the wind chime?
• How does the length of the string affect the sound quality of the wind chime?
• How does the type of metal object affect the sound quality of the wind chime?
• How does the size of the spoons affect the sound loudness of the wind chime?
• How does the length of the string affect the sound loudness of the wind chime?
• How does the type of metal object affect the sound loudness  of the wind chime?

5. Your project investigation should be to compare two things: ONE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE and ONE DEPENDENT VARIABLE. So, choose one of the questions from step 4 or design one of your own.

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For more ideas about science fair projects, See Janice VanCleave’s Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects.