Sledding Science Fair Projects

Many science fairs happen in the winter, or projects are completed during winter.  We moved our fair to the end of February, and enrollment tripled.  No soccer, baseball, track, or other sports to interfere.  Families were looking for something to do during the long winter months.  Winter time is a perfect time to explore the cold.  You don't have to stay inside to complete your projects.


Do you have lots of snow and a hill?  Then this might be the perfect project for you.  Simple, but with great impact.  

I had a family increase the weight of their sled one year.  It was a kindergarten project.  The child went down the hill, and they measured the distance.  The dad went down the hill, and they measured the distance.  The two of them went down together, and they measured the distance.  WHAT A FANTASTIC YET SIMPLE PROJECT!  All data were collected in one afternoon.

I also had a group of kids choose to do sledding for a group project.  What a great way to bond!  They were able to help with the measuring and sharing of sleds.  It also helps that a sledding hill is in the woods behind the school.  The project is also relevant to them, so they enjoy explaining it.
 
Here are some other ideas for sledding.  Just pick one independent variable (What you are changing.) and one dependent variable (What you are measuring.)  So many choices.  Data could be calculated in one afternoon, and it is fun to complete lots of trials.

Independent Variable Ideas
  • Weight of the sled
  • Length of the sled
  • Type of Sled
  • Brand of the sled (Same style) 
  • The color of the sled.
  • Size of the hill.
  • The strength of the push.
  • Temperature (Pick different days)
  • Sunny versus a cloudy day
  • Wet snow versus icy snow
  • The amount of air in a snow tube.
  • The texture of the bottom of the sled.  smooth, sand it a little on the bottom, and sand it a lot to make the surface rougher.

Dependent Variable Ideas
  • The distance it travels down the hill.
  • How bumpy does the ride feel?
  • The time it takes to get down the hill.
  • Calculate the speed. (distance/time)
  • How straight does the sled travel?
  • The direction the sled travels.  (left, right, straight)
  • How many times the sled spins around.

I am sure you could think of more ideas too.  What can you come up with?   Kids will be excited to record data and share their projects.  Remember to take lots of pictures and maybe some videos.

Have fun sledding!

SHOP THIS POST




LEARN MORE






Popular Posts