Middle School, Electricity & Electronics Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 4)

Manipulating Magnets to Improve Generator Output

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The electricity you use to power everyday devices is generated by electrical generators. These fascinating and powerful machines rely on magnets to function. Though they might seem extremely complicated, once you finish this science project, you will understand how, why, and when they generate electricity. You will build your own generator, make small changes in how exactly the magnets are placed, and test when moving magnets generate electricity. Read more

Measuring Magnetic Fields

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever noticed how magnets appear to have no effect on each other when they are far apart? Then, when you slowly move them closer together, you will start to feel a gentle pull until they suddenly snap together? How exactly does the strength of a magnet change with distance, and how would you measure it if you wanted to find out? In this project you will build a circuit that can measure the strength of a magnetic field and see how the field strength changes with distance. Read more

Paper Circuits: Make Electrifying Art

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

"Paper circuits" are a fun way to mix electronics and art by adding lights directly to a painting or drawing. These lights need a battery to power them, and typically you would use wires to connect them. In paper circuits, though, many materials can be substituted as "wire," including special types of paint, ink, and even aluminum foil. There are also different options for what type of battery you can use. Which materials do you think will work best? Try this project to find out! Read more

Build a Model Planetary Lander with micro:bit

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

How do you make a spacecraft land safely on the Moon or another planet like Mars? It probably helps to know how far away the ground is so you can deploy landing gear, activate a parachute, or fire thrusters to help slow down. In this project you will build your own "lander" vehicle with a sensor that can measure distance to the ground, allowing you to program outputs like blinking lights or an audible alarm. 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

Color Mixing with Red, Green, & Blue LEDs

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

This is a good project for someone who is interested in both electronics and color vision. The equipment needed is on the expensive side, but if you continue studying electronics, you can use it again and again. Read more

Electric Paint: Light Up Your Painting

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Electric paint is a fun way to include a circuit with lights in an art project, but it presents a challenge not found in traditional electronic circuits. What happens if you change the length or width of your strokes of paint, such as by painting longer, curvier lines or using a thicker brush? Could this affect the electrical properties of your circuit? Try this project to find out! Read more

Introduction to Arduino

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-12th

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This lesson plan will introduce your students to physical computing: the process of building circuits and programming a microcontroller (an Arduino UNO®) to interact with them. The lesson is broken into seven activities that will walk your students through the basics of setting up the Arduino and interacting with circuit parts like LEDs, buttons, and resistors. This introductory material will help prepare your students for more advanced Arduino projects. Read more

LED Dance Glove: Get the Party Started with Your Own Interactive Light Show

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever seen clothing with built-in lights? This might sound like something out of a science-fiction movie, but electronic textiles (>e-textiles for short, also called wearable electronics or sewable circuits) really exist. Instead of using hard surfaces for circuits (like what goes inside your computer or cell phone), e-textiles weave electrical parts like batteries, wires, and lights directly into clothing that you can wear to make the clothing do fun, interesting things like light… Read more

Make a Pomodoro Study Clock

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

The Pomodoro technique is a popular study method consisting of alternating study sessions and breaks. In this engineering project you will build your own customized Pomodoro timer or clock using an Arduino. In addition to displaying the time, you can use your clock to display messages or get the user's attention using lights, sound, or even moving parts. Can you work more efficiently with a Pomodoro timer at your side? Build one and find out! Read more

Middle School, Electricity & Electronics Projects, Lessons, Activities (84 results)

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