Bead Science Projects

Teach elementary school students about classification with bead science projects. You can combine the learning activity with an art lesson to make a wearable science project. Young learners in kindergarten through second grade will learn about organizing and recognizing both differences and similarities with a science bead project. You will need to gather enough beads so that each child or small group will have to sort through a variety of different types of beads to learn the basics of classification and the scientific method.

A trip to the local craft store will likely be needed to gather the beads for the science project. Although you can make some of your own beads to add to the supply of materials, you will need to offer both light sensitive and opaque beads for the project as well. You can typically purchase UV sensitive or glow-in-the-dark paint and brush the mixture onto homemade beads to fulfill the light sensitive or solar active aspect of the experiment. To give the students enough variety to chart results after classifying the beads, provide beads of different colors, shapes, light sensitive and opaque. You also can include beads made of glass, paper, clay and plastic for classification.

If you choose to make some beads with the class, you can use wallpaper scraps rolled around a pencil after the material is dipped in craft glue. Clay beads can be made by using a dough ornament recipe and baking the items with a toothpick or nail pushed through the center to leave an opening. Clay beads can be painted with craft paint after they have hardened overnight. You should either brush or spray a clear coating material onto the beads to give them a glossy look and help prevent chipping when handled.

Mix all of the different types and styles of beads together and pour a relatively equal amount into plastic containers. The project can be completed on an individual level or as a small group activity. Students will classify the beads into categories you created on a chart. The chart can be drawn onto a piece of poster board or butcher paper if you are conducting the science experiment as a group activity. If the project is conducted on an individual basis, you should use word processing software to make a chart and give each student a copy

The labels you place on the chart should include color, shape, light sensitivity, material and style. Students will need to be able to use a closet or dark area to test beads for glow-in-the-dark properties. The children should use tally marks to record their results on paper or tape actual beads to the chart. If you are going to allow the students to make a wearable science project representing a specific classification of bead, you will need to provide yarn for stringing the beads together