Fifth Grade Science Topics & Activities for the Year!

Fifth grade is a pivotal year for science learning as students begin to analyze data, design experiments, and apply critical thinking skills to complex concepts. This year emphasizes physical science, life science, earth science, and engineering, encouraging independent investigation and hands-on learning.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of key fifth-grade science topics by season and a list of 20+ engaging activities to spark curiosity and deepen scientific understanding!

💡Check out the Libraries for printables or use the search bar.

Fall Science (Sep- Nov)

• Ecosystems & Biomes – Understanding the balance of plants, animals, and their environments
• Forces, Motion & Newton’s Laws – Exploring gravity, friction, and acceleration
• Weather & Climate – Comparing long-term patterns with short-term weather changes
• Mixtures & Solutions – Investigating chemical and physical changes

Fall Science Activities:

1. Biome Diorama Project – Build a 3D model of a desert, rainforest, or tundra
2. Ball Drop Gravity Test – Experiment to see how mass affects falling speed
3. Weather vs. Climate Sorting Activity – Classify different weather and climate events
4. Dissolving Race Experiment – Test how fast different substances dissolve in water
5. Air Resistance Challenge – Design parachutes and test how they slow falling objects

Winter Science (Dec- Feb)

• Earth’s Water Cycle & Conservation – How water moves through the environment
• Electricity & Circuits – Exploring conductors, insulators, and energy transfer
• Thermal Energy & Heat Transfer – Investigating conduction, convection, and radiation
• Adaptations & Natural Selection – How species survive and change over time

Winter Science Activities:

6. Water Cycle Model with Heat Lamp – Simulate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
7. Build a Series & Parallel Circuit – Test how electricity flows through different pathways
8. Thermal Energy Transfer Test – Compare heat retention in different materials
9. Camouflage Investigation – Observe how different backgrounds affect an animal’s ability to hide
10. DIY Water Filtration System – Create a working model of a water purification process

Spring Science (Mar- May)

• Photosynthesis & Plant Growth – How plants make food and use energy
• Human Body Systems – Exploring circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems
• Earth’s Layers & Plate Tectonics – Understanding earthquakes, volcanoes, and land formations
• Energy Transfer & Conservation – How energy moves through ecosystems and systems

Spring Science Activities:

11. Leaf Starch Test for Photosynthesis – Use iodine to test for starch in plant leaves
12. Build a Model Lung – Demonstrate how the diaphragm helps us breathe
13. Earthquake Shake Table Experiment – Construct buildings and test stability against vibrations
14. Food Web Investigation – Create a food web diagram and explore predator-prey relationships
15. Pendulum Energy Transfer Experiment – Observe how potential energy converts to kinetic energy

Summer Science (Jun- Aug)

• Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy – Solar, wind, water, and fossil fuels
• Simple & Complex Machines – How machines make work easier
• Buoyancy & Density – Why some objects float and others sink
• Engineering & STEM Challenges – Applying science to solve real-world problems

Summer Science Activities:

16. Solar Panel Test with a Small Motor – Observe how solar energy powers movement
17. Pulley System Experiment – Test how pulleys reduce the force needed to lift objects
18. Floating & Sinking Saltwater Experiment – Investigate how density affects buoyancy
19. Egg Drop Engineering Challenge – Design a structure to protect an egg from breaking
20. Bridge-Building STEM Challenge – Construct a bridge using different materials and test its strength

How to Use These Science Activities

• Encourage inquiry-based learning – Let students ask questions and test hypotheses
• Connect science to everyday life – Help students see how science is all around them
• Support critical thinking – Encourage students to analyze results and improve their experiments
• Use science journals – Have students record observations, data, and conclusions