6th Grade Science Fair Projects

Rock experiments make for engaging 6th grade science fair projects. They provide a great way to learn about earth science as well they find them very interesting. Below are some rock experiments suitable for 6th grade science fair projects that are easy to do and easy to explain but will still impress the judges!

Frozen Rock
Rocks are eroded in due to the different forces of nature This includes rock slides, rain, sleet, and hail. The freezing and thawing process also breaks down rocks. Water expands when it is frozen. When water is absorbed by the rock, it will expand when frozen, and this will cause cracking in the rock. Once the rock has been through this process several times, parts of the rock will break off entirely. To find out what happens and what kind of rocks are most susceptible to break down, you can try this experiment.

Materials:

• Many different types of rocks including granite, limestone, and sandstone
  
• A non-glass, non-metallic container such as a plastic dish
  
• Water

What to Do:
Examine the different rocks closely. Which rocks do you think will most easily break down after they have been frozen and thawed a few times? Make your hypothesis and write it down. Fill the bottle with water and put the rocks in the water. Put the bottle in the freezer. Allow the water to thaw after it has been frozen. Once the water has thawed, place the bottle once again into the freezer. Do this three or four times.

Take the bottle out and examine the rocks carefully. Which one has made the most change? Can you tell where small pieces of rock have broken off due to the freezing process. Compare the results to your hypothesis and see what differences there are. Explain these differences. This happens to entire mountains during the freezing and thawing process of nature!

Bubbling Rock
Rocks can also erode when they contain carbonate compounds and they come into contact with acidic chemicals. This can happen when rocks are hit with acid rain. This experiment will use vinegar, which is much stronger than acid rain.

Use a piece of limestone, which is made from calcium carbonate. Put the limestone in a bowl, pour the vinegar over it and watch what happens. When the vinegar reacts the limestone will fizz and form bubbles. As it continues to react the vinegar will dissolve the limestone.

You can also try this experiment with different types of acid including lemon juice, coke, diluted lemon juice, and club soda.

Using this experiment, research how acid rain does the same thing to rocks over time. How long does it take? Which types of rocks are most affected?

This is one of many 6th grade science fair projects that will bring parents, students and teachers together in an exciting and educational manner.

Note: See the Disclaimer before starting this project.