Eighth Grade Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 29)

Watching Nuclear Particles: See Background Radiation Zoom Through A Cloud Chamber

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Do you realize that you are constantly bombarded by particles? You do not feel them, you cannot see, hear, or smell them, but they are always there! These particles — collectively called background radiation — might even travel through you without ever interacting with the molecules in your body. In this science project, you will build your own cloud chamber to prove the existence of background radiation. You will then use your cloud chamber to determine if the background… Read more

Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Solar cells are popping up on rooftops everywhere these days and are a model for clean, renewable energy. Did you ever look at those solar panels and wonder how we can get electricity produced by solar cells when the sun is not shining? It is a great question because solar panels do not produce electricity when it is dark outside. One strategy to overcome this challenge is to store the energy produced by solar cells during the day in the form of a fuel that can be used at a later time. In this… Read more

X-inactivation Marks the Spot for Cat Coat Color

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever seen a tortoiseshell cat? "What kind of cat is that?" you might ask. A tortoiseshell cat has two different fur colors, black or brown and red or orange. The gene that gives rise to the red or orange fur color is on the X chromosome. And did you know that most tortoiseshell cats are female? That's because female cats have two X chromosomes, while males only have one, which allows the females to express two different color combinations! Try this science fair project to figure out… Read more

Avoiding Disaster: The Right Bridge Design

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

A bridge collapse, like that of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge, can be a major disaster. Bridges that cannot hold enough weight to do their intended job can be a serious public safety issue. And if they collapse, they can also cause economic damage due to costly rebuilding and people and companies scrambling to figure out how to circumvent the months of traffic impacts. Figure 1. On August 1, 2007 the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapsed killing 13… Read more

Build a Water Strider

STEM Activity

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Have you ever seen a water strider (also called water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers etc.)? They are bugs that effortlessly hop around on the surface of ponds, lakes, and rivers. How do they do it without sinking? Try this project to find out! Read more

Build an Automatic Dog (or Cat) Treat Dispenser

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Does your dog get bored when you are not home? Do you ever toss them a few treats right before you head out the door? What if you could keep them busy by automatically dispensing treats throughout the day? What about training them to sit in a certain place or even press a button by automatically rewarding them with treats? In this project you will build your own automatic dog (or cat, or other pet) treat dispenser that you can customize to react to different sensors. Read more

Can Adults Pass a Middle School Science Test?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

How well do adults understand basic science concepts? This project is a good opportunity for you to test your own scientific understanding as you create a short test to assess knowledge of basic science concepts. Your test will have to brief (probably 10-15 questions, maximum) or you'll have a hard time getting a sufficient number of complete responses. With so few questions, you'll have to think carefully about exactly what comprises "basic science knowledge," and exactly how to word your… Read more

Can Visualization Improve Your Sports Performance?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Did you know that athletes use visualization of sports tasks to score the winning shot in sporting games? Check out how much visualization impacts your precision in sports with this science project idea. Read more

Design a Paper Airplane Launcher

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

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Aircraft carriers are much shorter than a typical airport runway. How do airplanes manage to gain enough speed for takeoff over such a short distance? A catapult gives them an extra boost! In this lesson, your students will practice engineering design as they build their own paper airplane launchers, while learning about kinetic and potential energy. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-PS3-2. Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Design Your Own Smart LED Lighting System

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever had lights turn on automatically when you walked into a room? Have you turned on a light with your voice instead of a switch? Maybe you have even seen lights that change color depending on temperature, ambient sounds, or how close you are to something. In this project you will design and build your own smart LED lighting system that can change colors and react to various things in the room. The possibilities are endless! Check out this page for more LED science projects. Read more

Eighth Grade Projects, Lessons, Activities (1,100 results)

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