One of Many Science Projects for Kids

Kids are curious by nature and at some point they may ask you how or why fire burns. One of many science projects that can test this theory requires supervision as candles will be lit. First of all, you will need to gather your materials for this experiment and they include three votive-size candles, three saucers to place the candles on, one large jar, and one small jar.

You will want to be sure that the mouth of the two jars is large enough to fit over either the entire saucer or at least over the candle with room enough to rest its base on the saucer bottom. A lighter or match to light the candles is needed as well.

Setting Up the Oxygen Test

Any science project ideas that involve fire in any way are often a big draw for youngsters which are why adult supervision is necessary to keep watch. Place one candle in a saucer and repeat with the second and third one. Next, light the candles on each saucer and let them burn until all three look about the same in appearance.

Next, place a small jar over one of the lit candles and repeat the action on another candle with the large jar. The third candle will remain uncovered, exposed to the air. With your youngster, sit and observe what each of the three candles does before drawing conclusions.

Lesson Learned

The first candle to burn out should have been the candle with the small jar followed by the candle with the bigger jar placed over it. The third candle should be burning at bright as ever. Why did the candles under the covered jars eventually flicker out? The answer lies in oxygen or lack thereof.

Oxygen is a clear, odorless gas in the air you breathe and is necessary to fuel fire. When you deprive an environment of oxygen, a flame cannot be sustained indefinitely. The small jar's candle burned out quickly because it trapped less oxygen inside it than the larger jar. The candle without a jar covering it had oxygen from being exposed to the air you breathe and therefore kept burning. The main lesson kids should take away from this one of many oxygen science project ideas is that oxygen is a necessary ingredient for sustaining a fire or flame.