Middle School Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 64)

Paper Bridge for Pennies

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Using just a single sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 inches) and up to five paper clips, can you build a bridge that will span 20 cm and support the weight of 100 pennies? The area beneath the span must be free (so that boats can pass beneath it). To test your bridge, place two books 20 cm apart, and set the bridge on the books, spanning the gap. Do not fasten the bridge to the book (nor to any other support). Does your bridge hold as much weight as you expected it would? If your bridge fails… Read more

Paw Preference in Pets

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The great majority of people have a distinct hand preference. How about animals like dogs or cats? Do they show a paw preference? If you like animals, this science fair project might be for you. Read more

Picture This: Building a Cell Phone Microscope

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Imagine you are on a trip and see something interesting that you want to share with your friends. What do you do? You take a picture with your cell phone and e-mail it to them, of course. But did you realize that the same technology can be used to save lives? Using their cell phones modified as inexpensive microscopes, medical personnel can look at blood smears to help diagnose diseases like malaria and cholera. In this photography science project you will build a simple and inexpensive cell… Read more

Pocket Solar System

Lesson Plan Grade: 3rd-8th

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Pounding Papyrus: How Ancient Egyptians Made the World's First Paper

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

It's hard to imagine a world without paper. You wouldn't have things like books, cards, comics, newspaper, construction paper, notebooks, cereal boxes, or that nice sound of shredding wrapping paper on your birthday. There was a time, though, when the only thing people had to write on were slabs of soft, squishy clay. When these slabs dried in the sun, they preserved simple ideas, but they were heavy, like carrying around a load of rocks. Not exactly easy to put in your pocket and carry around.… Read more

Predicting the Weather

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Before you head for school for the day, you might check the weather to see whether or not you need to wear a jacket or bring an umbrella. It is pretty easy for you to check the TV or internet to see what the weather will be like today, tomorrow, or even next week. The modern-day science of meteorology, or studying and predicting the weather, has many advanced tools at its disposal that make it easy for you to get this information. How did people predict the weather before the invention of… Read more

Predicting Wildfire Intensities and Locations with AI

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered what causes wildfires and how resources are allocated to prevent their spread? In this science project, you will use machine learning to predict areas of wildfire susceptibility and their intensities. Read more

Propagate Plants Without Using Seeds!

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Did you know that apple trees do not "breed true"? This means that if you plant seeds from an apple, say a Granny Smith, you will get apple trees, but they will make apples that are actually different than Granny Smiths. So how do farmers produce new Granny Smith trees? They use a method called vegetative propagation. For instance, they may cut a branch off of a tree that grows Granny Smith apples and attach the branch onto a different tree trunk. This method of making new trees is called… Read more

Racial and Gender Bias in AI-Generated Images

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

If someone asks you to draw a picture of a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, what first pops into your mind? The race and gender of the person you imagine might be shaped by your personal life experiences, such as whether you have family members in those professions, or what representations of them you have seen on TV or online. What do you think will happen if you ask an artificial intelligence (AI) program to generate the picture instead? Will pictures generated by AI reflect the true real-world… Read more

Ring of Fire 1: What Volcanoes Tell Us About Plate Tectonics

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The Ring of Fire is a region of volcanic and earthquake activity that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. In this project you can explore the connection between plate tectonics and volcanic activity by mapping historical data. Read more

Middle School Projects, Lessons, Activities (1,332 results)

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