Doing science fair projects should be fun for the kids. Here is one of our easy science fair projects kids can do that is fun. It needs very little supplies, it also needs very little work, but it will need a little time. It is very easy though and if you have the time the kids will get a trill out of it.



In this experiment kids are going to look at how organic matter decomposes. Your kid will see that soil teems with life such as worms, slugs, millipedes and beetles that feed on the decaying matter. The decomposers are microscopic bacteria, fungi, woodlice, mites and small insects. This decomposing is the process where all organic material is turned into rich fertilizer for the growing plants in the soil.

This project actually consists of two easy science fair projects for the kids to do. The first your kid is going to look at the conditions needed for the decomposing process and in the second your kid is going to look at the decomposers.

Remember to make meticulous notes from your hypothesis to your conclusion and for your display purposes it is a good idea to take photos of each step as you go.

Having a look at the optimal conditions for the decomposing process:

What you need:

* A trowel

* Good soil

* Dead leaves

* Water and a watering can

* Two clean plastic containers, one with a tight lid

* Tags

* Pen

* Note book

* Camera

* Plastic gloves

This is what you have to do:

Wear your gloves for both of these experiments

1. Remember your notes and photos

2. Using your trowel fill the two plastic containers three quarters full with dry soil

3. Place a layer of dead leaves on top of the soil in both containers

4. Mark the container with the lid "A" and the other "B"

5. Now you water the soil and the leaves in your container marked "A" thoroughly and press the lid on

6. Keep the soil and leaves in the container marked "B" dry, do not add any water to it

7. Place both containers in a dry place and wait a few weeks

8. Have a look at both and you will notice that the leaves in the wet soil will have begun to rot while the leaves in the dry soil has dried and shriveled.

In the next experiment that is the second of our easy science fair projects for kids to do we are going to look at the decomposers.

What you will need:

* Once again your plastic gloves

* A plastic funnel

* A large clear jar with a neck into which the funnel will fit

* Some rotting leaves from a compost heap

* Black paper

* Sticky tape

* A desk lamp

* A magnifying glass

* A field guide

* A notebook

* A pen

* A camera

This is what you have to do:

1. The plan is to see the insects on the rotting leaves

2. You are going to separate them by using a lamp, a funnel and a large jar

3. Place the funnel in the jar

4. Wearing your gloves loosely fill the funnel with your rotting leaves

5. To keep out the light, you have to tape the black paper around the sides of the jar so it is dark inside the jar

6. Now you place the lamp in such a position that it shines onto the leaves in the funnel

7. What you want to happen is for the insects on the leaves to move away from the heat and light from the lamp

8. While doing so they will fall down the funnel and into the jar.

9. After an hour, take a way the lamp and remove the black paper from the jar

10. There will be several insects in the jar

11. Identify them by looking at them with the magnifying glass and the field guide

12. When you are finished, return them to where you found them and be careful not to kill them. These creatures are very important in the eco system of the earth!

As you can see, kids will be able to the most of the work in these two easy science fair projects for kids to do. The two combines should give you enough material for a good display.