Winning Science Projects for Middle Schoolers
There are science projects – and then there are winning science projects. Every middle schooler knows the difference. Crank up the Youtube version of Thomas Dolby’s She Blinded Me with Science, contemplate where you might keep your winning ribbons, and choose an experiment that will be the envy of all the newbs at your school:
Biodegradable Plastic
- You can make plastic in your kitchen by heating 2 cups of milk almost to the boiling point and added 4 teaspoons of vinegar.
- Stir as curds form and drain into a colander over a glass bowl. Let cool and mold it with your fingers until it’s a dough-like consistency.
- For a winning exhibit, display pictures of every step of your plastic making. Compare the decomposition of your plastic with petroleum-based plastic (anything you can buy!) like a plastic comb or a small plastic toy by burying each piece in flowerpots filled with wet potting soil. Observe each piece after 1 week of being submerged.
- Record your findings. The natural plastic you made in your kitchen should show signs of decomposition while the manufactured plastic would remain unchanged…just dirty!
- Document everything!! Mount the 2 types of plastics on your display board. Label, label, label.
- Draw your own conclusions. What will happen in a world where few things are biodegradable?
If the judges have a passion for the environment (and most scientists do) your project will be proudly perceived as thought-provoking and pivotal in prompting people to protect the planet. Platinum pondering, dude! For more great ideas and tips to inspire winning science projects, go to Middle School Science Projects.
Cool Science Projects – For Cool Kids
I have a (non-scientific) theory about kids’ interest in science: Kids are most excited by cool science experiments. We can explain how cool the atom is, expound on the coolness of the periodic table, and teach that planets are the coolest ever. But until we drag out the science lab stuff and do a really cool experiment, they’re not buying it.
When science fair time comes around, it’s hard to find an experiment that can be done in the home and still satisfy a kids’ craving for “kewl”. Many experiments with sizzle and pizzazz are too expensive or too dangerous for the home. Others require special science equipment, or supplies that you have to order from some far off place.
We have created, however, science experiments that can be done in the home, are affordable, use readily available supplies and equipment. All the projects we list are advanced enough for middle school science fair. And – of course – they are uber-cool!
• “C” IS FOR COOL – This fun project measures the amount of Vitamin C in juice that has been kept cold, juice that has been heated, and juice that has remained at room temperature. It’s a variation of our “C” Ya Later project from our Middle School Science Project package.
• A SLICE OF ICE – Does the shape of ice affect melting time? The ultimate in – um – cold, this project will have kids making ice, then timing the time it takes to melt. They use mathematical formulae to calculate surface area, then compare that to the melting time to test the hypothesis. You’ll find the instructions for this project in our 24 Hour Science Project Package.
• DON’T LOSE YOUR COOL – Feeling a bit warm? Which type of insulation works best? Kids will gather various types of insulation, build identical housing designed to protect a bottle of frozen water. This time, the amount of melted water is measured. This project is in the Weekend Science Project guide. Also in that package is:
• A FLAKY SHOWDOWN – This experiment isn’t really about snowflakes – despite its flaky title. A Flaky Showdown tests which brand cereal stays crunchy longest. Students measure the weight of cereal before and after it is soaked in water (we’re being frugal, you see!), and thereby test its sogginess.
Grab your really cool science experiment guide today, by visiting 24 Hour Science Projects.
Science Projects to Make Everybody Happy – by Kayla Fay
Kids think science projects should be fun. Teachers think they should be educational. Parents just want them to be done fast and easy. Since students, teachers and parents are all involved in the process of getting ready for the science fair, most of the time, science projects have to be all of the above!
As a result, finding the perfect science fair project can be difficult. Here are five steps to finding a project that will make everybody happy.
1. Know what kind of science project is required. There are five kinds of projects, and many a student has had their project idea rejected because of a science technicality. Make sure you know if the science teacher requires an experimental (investigatory) project, a demonstration of a science principle, a report on a subject in science, a collection of items, or a scientific model. Most science fairs require an experiment, which has an hypothesis, tests the hypothesis following the scientific method, and arrives at a conclusion.
2. Find out what interests the student. What does your child do in her spare time? Does he ride horses, is she a soccer player? Is music a passion, or do you have a budding engineer on your hands? If a student is already interested in a subject, learning more about it will come naturally.
3. Determine the budget for time – and money. If your science fair is next week, you need to search for a fast and easy science project that can be done without ordering supplies from Outer Botswana. If you can’t afford special chemicals or science equipment, then you’ll need to focus on projects that can use materials easily found in your home.
4. Use all available resources for the science project search. Head to the library and look at the books on science projects. You can also use the internet. Go to your search engine and type “science project on vitamin C” or “science experiment on insulation”. Note, however, that many books and websites have demonstration projects instead of experiments. So, again, be careful that you find the right type of project.
5. Make a list of possible projects, and work together to choose the best one!
6. Our BEST hint:, and get a free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects“. You’ll learn more about how to choose that perfect science project! Or, for five fast and easy science fair experiments that can be finished by this time tomorrow, visit 24 Hour Science Projects.
How to Make a Great Science Display
Kids’ science projects aren’t finished until the last letter is glued onto the science display. After the science project is finished, you want it to look its very best for the science fair! You really want the project to reflect how hard your kids have worked.
A science display is usually a three fold piece of cardboard divided into several sections. Each section can be headed by an identifying title:
Title, Purpose and Hypothesis – Every science display has to tell the project title and purpose – and they aren’t necessarily the same thing. For example, the title of your project might be “EGG-XPERIMENTING!” The purpose of this project, however, is to discover “Does water move through the membrane of an egg?” The title will usually be shown in the center panel at the top or on an extra board fastened across the top of your project. You should have a different space for your hypothesis.
Materials and Procedure – These two sections list what you used in your experiment, and what steps you took to accomplish them. It always looks nice to use bullets or numbers in your list. The information in these sections should give specific instructions so your can be repeated by someone else. Be as clear as possible. Your kids’ science projects should be able to be repeated by the next kid in line!
Data and Results – The format of your data and results section will depend on the experiment you have done. You will probably include your graph and chart in this section. You may also give a paragraph summarizing your results. Graphs and charts should be colorful and clear.
Conclusion, Analysis, Applications, References – These sections will not always be required. Check with your teacher to see if you need to include them.
Most science fairs do not want kids’ names on projects, so make sure that you know the policy of your child’s fair. Find out how to make your display attractive and stand out from all of the other kids’ science projects.
Get your free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parents’ Guide to a Science Project”
at 24 Hour Science Projects.
at 24 Hour Science Projects.
Your Easy Science Project
It’s Friday night, and you’ve been putting it off for a month. But on Monday, your elementary student’s science project is due. And you haven’t even started. You need an easy science project that can be done quickly, but it has to be good…
It’s not an easy thing to find! Science projects that are easy often don’t meet the requirements of the teacher or the science fair. And projects that are fast often aren’t enough to teach your child anything. We know. With four boys, our family has waited until the last minute to do a science project more than once. But the good news is that there really are good science experiments that can be done quickly and easily.
1. Find out exactly what type of project your child needs. Some elementary school teachers want a demonstration science project that the child can present to the class. Some teachers want a science report. Occasionally, scientific models or nature collections will be allowed. Most teachers, however, want an experiment based science project that follows the scientific method.
2. Ask your child for several ideas. He or she will be the scientist, after all!
3. Do an internet or library search for “science projects on…” You may find exactly what you need this way. Make a list of possible projects. Go ahead and discard projects that are on advanced chemistry.
4. Take a look at the ingredients and equipment. If there are items not readily available or are wickedly expensive, you’ll know that project isn’t for you. There are plenty of experiments that can be done with things in the home, or at the supermarket.
5. Find out how long the project takes. If it takes more than two or three days, you probably want to reconsider. The ideal easy science project will not take more than a few hours, in case something goes wrong and you have to repeat. And unfortunately, this does happen.
Although an easy science project isn’t always easy to find, you and your child can work together to find a project that is easy to do, but also educational and fun! If you need more help in finding your easy project, visit 24 Hour Science Projects.