Middle School Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 40)

Proving Charles' Law: Volume vs. Temperature of a Gas at Constant Pressure

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

This is a modern version of a classic experiment by Jacques Charles on the volume of a gas at different temperatures. Charles discovered the relationship between volume and temperature of gases that now bears his name. This project shows you a simple method for re-creating this famous experiment. Read more

Put Your Water to Work: Using Hydropower to Lift a Load

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Earth is an amazing planet. It has everything that we need: food, shelter, and water. Sure, we need water to drink, but have you thought about using water to create energy? Moving water has a lot of energy and all we need to do is to harness it. Moving water made the Grand Canyon. That took a lot of energy! In this science fair project, you will demonstrate the power of water by converting the kinetic energy in moving water to mechanical energy, which will lift a small weight. Read more

Shed Light on Electric Generators: Do More Coils Generate More Electricity?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The electricity in your home probably comes from a power plant, but did you know that you can actually generate your own electricity? Wondering what it would take to light up a small light? This is your chance! In this electronics science project, you will build your own electric generator and investigate how to light up not just one, but two lights. Read more

Simple Harmonic Motion in a Spring-Mass System

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Many things in nature are periodic: the seasons of the year, the phases of the moon, the vibration of a violin string, and the beating of the human heart. In each of these cases, the events occur in repeated cycles, or periods. In this project, you will investigate the periodic motion of a spring, using a mini Slinky®. You can also measure the motion of your spring using a smartphone equipped with a sensor app. Basic physics will then allow you to determine the Hooke's Law spring constant.… Read more

Solar-powered Chemistry: Study Chemical Reaction Rates in Ultraviolet Beads

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Most of the ultraviolet (UV) light produced by the Sun is blocked by the atmosphere, but some UV light does still reach Earth. It can be detected using electronic devices, but can also be detected with something called UV beads. UV beads contain a pigment that changes color when they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. In this chemistry science fair project, you will use UV beads to study how temperature affects the rate at which they lose their color. Read more

Solid Motor Rocket Propulsion

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What does it take to launch a robot to Mars or for a satellite to explore our outer solar system? In this project you will explore the physics of a rocket as you predict its performance, launch it, and measure the actual results. This is rocket science! Read more

Squishy Circuits: Light Up Your Play Doh® Creations!

STEM Activity

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Do you like arts and crafts? How about making sculptures with Play Doh® or modeling clay? Imagine how cool it would be if you could add lights to your creations? That is exactly what you will get to do in this activity! Keep reading to learn how you can make any light-up sculpture you imagine, such as a house with lights in the windows, an animal with light-up eyes, or a colorful butterfly. Read more

Stealthy Shapes: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever dreamed about becoming invisible? Or about making something else invisible, like the mess all over your room? Invisibility may sound like the stuff of science fiction (remember Star Trek's "Cloaking Device"?), but in reality, military vehicles, like planes and ships, can be made less observable, or even invisible, to different detection methods—like radar, sonar, or infrared sensors—by using stealth technology. In this engineering science fair project, you'll find out… Read more

Study Kinetic Energy with a Rube Goldberg Machine

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

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Rube Goldberg machines—machines that complete a simple task in a convoluted way—are intriguing, artistic, and fun! In this lesson, students will design and build such a machine themselves and use the concept of kinetic energy in the process. Before students start designing, they will do an experiment that explores how kinetic energy depends on the mass and the speed of the moving object. With a clear understanding of this concept, students then tackle the engineering design… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-PS3-1. Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

Study Photosynthesis with the Floating Leaf Disk Assay

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

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Plants carry out photosynthesis to produce sugars that they need as an energy source to live and grow. During photosynthesis, oxygen—a gas that many living beings need to survive—is released. This makes photosynthesis one of the most important biological processes on Earth. In Part 1 of this lesson plan, students will utilize the floating leaf disk assay to demonstrate the production of oxygen gas during photosynthesis. They will then continue to design and conduct their own… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

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