25 4th Grade Engineering Projects: Crafts, Resources, And Activity Ideas

1. Wicked Fast Water Slide

Build a water slide under different demands, such as time, and safety.

Learn More: Kerry Tracy: Feel-Good Teaching

2. Sunset Science Experiment

A fun science experiment to help explain why sunsets are the color that they are.

Learn More: Boundless Brilliance

3. Build a Coral Polyp

A simple earth science project becomes an edible science experiment by involving building an edible coral polyp!

Learn More: California Academy for Sciences

4. DIY Unpoppable Bubbles

This 4th grade science project doesn’t take a lot of time and will produce some amazing results – everyone likes to play with bubbles!

Learn More: Learning Resources

5. STEM Quick Challenge Ski Lift Chairs 

Although it may require some resources, students really enjoy creating a ski lift chair with a skier and trying to take them to the top.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

6. DIY Robot Steam Hand

This engineering project also works well as a 4th grade science activity to explore robotics and design a robot.

Learn More: SimTim TV

7. Right on Target 

This fun design involves students thinking about the laws of science as they design catapults to help it different targets with ping-pong balls.

Learn More: Teach Engineering

8. Compact Cardboard machines

A great use of a non-renewable resource to create different simple machines.

Learn More: Instructables Project Channel

9. Slingshot cars

Send a car across the classroom to help students to understand different types of energy transformation, including potential energy.

Learn more: STEM Inventions

10. Hydraulic Arm

Explore the exciting area of hydraulics with your kiddies! Help them to follow the instructions to create the wooden fram, then let them experiment with their contraption! They’ll fill a syringe with watter at attach it to their wooden arm, then be amazed as the pressure of the water moves their creation.

Learn More: Exploratorium

11. Build a Skyglider

Create a glider as part of STEM standards.

Learn More: PBS Kids

12. Egg Drop Challenge

A genius stem activity about protecting a raw egg dropped from a high distance. Definitely a classic!

Learn More: Quad Squad

13. Build a Biome 

Using engineering and mineral resources, create a scaled biome of an environment.

Learn More: Teach Engineering

14. Make a Wigglebot 

This project for kids is a good idea for the science fair, as 4th grade students love seeing a simple robot that can design things itself.

Learn More: Lilly’s Scientific Experience

15. Bottle Rocket 

Here’s another engineering science project that involves understanding chemical reactions and chemical energy.

Learn More: Steam Powered Family

16. Build a Bridge

This activity can really help to generate some STEM excitement and students begin to think about how to build a load-bearing bridge.

Learn More: The STEM Laboratory

17. Feel the Heat

Understand how the water cycle works on the moon in this 4th grade science activity.

Learn More: Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA

18. Clean an oil spill 

This STEM project has real-world applications as students learn to clean up wasted oil.

Learn More: Science After School

19. Build a Simple Circuit 

Science videos can be interesting, but this activity helps students to understand the science behind batteries in an interactive way.

Learn More: Geek Guy MJ

20. Electric Dough 

Electricity and cooking?! Yes! Students will learn to create their own electric creations when learning about electric dough.

Learn More: Try Engineering

21. Solar Oven 

Another potentially edible science project, this lesson will lead to the creation of an oven using common materials and resources.

Learn More: Share It Science

22. Build a dam

With this engineering project, you can allow your students to help to fix the global issue of flooding.

Learn More: Darwin and Newts

23. Safe Landing

This activity is, quite literally, a breeze for teachers as it involves understanding airplanes!

Learn More: Discover Engineering

24. Rubber band Helicopter

Create a flying machine and take it to the skies in this ingenious activity.

Learn More: STEM Inventions

25. Bottle Cartesian Diver

Understand the laws of science underwater in this exciting experiment.

Learn More: Teach Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an engineering science fair project?

Any of the experiments and activities we have mentioned above would be suitable!

What are the best topics for investigatory projects?

You should try to ensure that your projects have a purpose or goal in mind for the student, in terms of what exactly they will be investigating. You should also choose a project that engages your student and makes them interested in the topic at hand.

What is taught in 4th grade science?

Topics will vary depending on where you live, so make sure to check the common core or state standards.