Fun Activities for 5th and 6th Graders

Games and Activities that Make Learning Fun

Hands-on, interactive activities are a great way to capture a child's attention and motivate him or her to learn. Additionally, fun activities and games will help all types of learners, regardless of a child's ability level. However, to avoid frustration and boredom, it's important that the educational game you choose is not overly challenging or too easy for your child. You can adjust the following games to meet your child's individual needs and talents.

Fun Foam

This is a fun experiment that will teach your child about chemical reactions. You will need:

• 16-ounce plastic bottle
• 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide
• Dry yeast
• Warm water
• Liquid dish soap
• Food coloring
• Small cup
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Funnel
• Safety goggles

Do this experiment on a table with plastic covering because it may get a little messy. Put safety goggles on and pour 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle. Next, add eight drops of food coloring (the color is up to you). Add one tablespoon of dish soap, then put the cap on the bottle and gently mix the solution. Now pour three tablespoons of warm water and one tablespoon of dry yeast into a small cup and stir for about 30 seconds. Use a funnel to pour the ingredients from the small cup into the bottle and watch the reaction that occurs.

Explain that the yeast reacted with the hydrogen peroxide and removed the oxygen from it. This reaction occurred so quickly that bubbles were formed. Be sure to feel the bottle because it will be warm. This occurs because the chemical reaction also produces heat.

Spelling Bag

Have your child practice his or her sight words and weekly spelling list with this fun game. Get index cards and write about 30 sight words and or spelling words on the cards, along with two cards with 'BLEEP' written on them.

Place all the cards into a paper bag. During each turn, a person will grab a card from the bag and read the word to the person to her right. That person will attempt to spell that word. If he gets the word correct, he may keep the card, if he misspells the word, the card must be returned into the bag. At any point during the game, if someone draws one of the BLEEP cards, all the cards that he or she has collected (including the bleep card) must go back into the bag. Play for about ten minutes. The person with the most cards at the end is the winner.

The Real Deal?

This activity will use your child's sense of taste as well as his or her observation skills. You will need:

• Diet cola
• Regular cola
• Lemon
• Artificial lemon juice
• Small cups
• Sticky notes

Pour the colas into the cups and label the regular cola with the number one and the diet cola with the number two. Then, squeeze juice from a lemon into a third cup and pour the artificial lemon juice into a fourth cup.

First, have your child write down what she notices about each cup (e.g., the smell, how it looks, etc.). Next, your child should taste each of the samples and write those observations down. Tell her to identify which flavors are artificial and which are real. Reveal the results, and then have a discussion on why organic foods are healthier than artificial foods.