Middle School Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 11)

Make a Cotton Ball Launcher

STEM Activity

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489 reviews

Have you ever stretched and launched a rubber band at someone? Put that energy to good use and build a rubber band-powered cotton ball launcher in this fun activity! Read more

Paper Chromatography: Is Black Ink Really Black?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever looked at sunlight through a prism? If so, you know that the prism can separate the sunlight into many different colors of light — a rainbow. Like sunlight, chemical mixtures can also be broken into their component parts. One way of doing this is a simple technique called paper chromatography. What do you think you will see if you use paper chromatography to look at the components of black ink? Is black ink just black? Find out for yourself! Read more

Bombs Away! A Ping Pong Catapult

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

If you were in a raiding army in the Middle Ages, a catapult would come in mighty handy for taking down castle walls. But only if you could aim it reliably! With this science project, you will try your hand at catapult technology. Using a rubber-band-powered catapult you will send ping pong balls flying through the air. The catapult's design makes it easy to measure and repeat how hard the ball is launched and its direction, so you can find the right catapult settings to hit the target reliably. Read more

Build a Jumping Robot

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Can you build a robot that hops like a frog? In this engineering project, you will learn how to build a simple robot that uses the energy stored in a stretched rubber band to jump. You will use the engineering design process to try to make your robot jump higher and farther. How far can you make it jump? Read more

Can Biodegradable Hydrogels Help Conserve Water in Farming?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Growing crops takes a huge amount of water. That same water is also needed for drinking, bathing, and other industries. In dry climates or lands experiencing drought, there is a big push to conserve (save) water as much as possible. In this project you will experiment with creating environmentally friendly jelly-like materials called hydrogels and see if they can help soil retain water thus reducing the amount of water needed to grow crops. Read more

Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

When biologists want to separate different pieces of DNA, RNA, or proteins they use a technique called gel electrophoresis. In this science project you'll build a gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to discover how many components are in different colors of food coloring dye. Read more

Make Your Own Harmonica!

STEM Activity

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Can you name the bestselling musical instrument in the world? If you said harmonica, you are right! The harmonica was said to be patented in 1821 by Christian Buschmann, a 16-year-old German boy. Since then, it has become the top-selling instrument in the world and a household item in many places. Luckily, creating beautiful noise is not just an art—it is also a science! In this activity, you will design and explore your own harmonica-like instrument made from household items. Time to… Read more

Measuring Your Taste Threshold

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever been to a buffet and found yourself surrounded by a wide variety of taste sensations? People are generally able to discern five basic tastes: sweet, umami (also known as savory), salty, sour, and bitter. How sensitive is a person's tongue for these basic tastes? Is it easier to detect some flavors at low concentrations compared to others? In this human biology science project, you will find out by exploring your taste thresholds for sweetness, saltiness, and sourness. Get ready to… Read more

Bouncing Basketballs: How Much Energy Does Dribbling Take?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Playing basketball can be hard work. Players not only constantly run around the court, but just dribbling the basketball takes a lot of effort, too. Why is that? It has to do with how the basketball bounces. When the ball hits the court, its bounce actually loses momentum by transferring some of its energy into a different form. This means that to keep the ball bouncing, players must continually put more energy into the ball. In this sports science project, you will determine how high a… Read more

Create and Test Your Own Hydrogel Face Mask Recipe!

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever tried a beauty face mask? Cosmetic face masks are skin care products that promise rapid hydration of your skin to make it look younger and more radiant. Hydrogel face masks are made of jelly-like materials that are infused with special ingredients to nurture your skin. The ingredients for cosmetic products like face masks are carefully selected by cosmetics chemists. Each product is designed to have the properties that are necessary for its intended purpose. In this science… Read more

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