Eighth Grade Science Projects (222 results)

Science Buddies' eighth grade science projects are the perfect way for eighth grade students to have fun exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our eighth grade projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the eighth grade. Students can choose to follow the science experiment as written or put their own spin on the project.

For a personalized list of science projects, eighth graders can use the Science Buddies Topic Selection Wizard. The wizard asks students to respond to a series of simple statements and then uses their answers to recommend age-appropriate projects that fit their interests.

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Science Buddies Original
Build a Speedy Light-Tracking Robot (BlueBot Project #2)
Science Fair Project Idea
Have you ever seen a cat chase a laser pointer or a flashlight beam? What if you could make a robot do that? In this project, you will build a robot that can automatically drive toward a bright light source. The robot uses a simple electronic circuit to track light, so there is no computer programming required! You can also do three other robotics projects using the same kit of parts, so this is a great way to get started with robotics before moving on to more advanced projects. Read more
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Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites You will need to know how to use a breadboard to do this project. See the Science Buddies reference How to Use a Breadboard if you have not used a breadboard before.
Material Availability A kit is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety Short circuits can get very hot and present a burn hazard. Be careful to follow the directions in the Procedure in order to avoid short circuits when building your robot.
Science Buddies Original
How Do Bacteria Produce Power in a Microbial Fuel Cell?
Science Fair Project Idea
Bacteria are powerful little creatures. They can dispose of contaminants, make us sick and did you know they can even generate electricity? In devices, called microbial fuel cells (MFC) they can extract electrons from their food sources such as organic materials and feed them into an electrical circuit to generate power. This way they can even turn plain soil into a source of energy! Does it matter though what kind of food the bacteria "eat"? Find out how bacteria grow in a microbial fuel cell… Read more
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Time Required Very Long (1+ months)
Tinkering
Prerequisites Previous experience using a multimeter and familiarity with the physics of electricity is helpful, but not required. A basic knowledge of how to work with bacteria is also recommended to complete this science fair project. Consult the Microbiology Techniques and Troubleshooting guide for information on how to conduct microbiology experiments.
Material Availability The Microbial Fuel Cell Kit needs to be special ordered from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Very High (over $150)
Safety Be sure to wear the gloves supplied with the kit when handling the microbial fuel cell's electrodes (its cathode and anode). The electrodes are made of a conductive material called graphite fiber and should not be placed near electronics or power plugs, or have their fibers dispersed in the air. Use sterile technique when growing the bacteria. Read the Microorganisms Safety Guide before starting any experiments. SRC approval may be necessary. Adult supervision is recommended.
Science Buddies Original
How Does the Intensity of Light Change with Distance?
Science Fair Project Idea
How does the intensity of a light source change as you move away from it? This project describes a method to verify the inverse square law: how light, sound, electrical signals, and gravity each decrease with distance from their source. It does not matter if you are talking about a lightbulb or the sun; this law still applies! Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability For your convenience a kit is available for this project from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety No issues
Science Buddies Original
How Sweet It Is! Measuring Glucose in Your Food
Science Fair Project Idea
You know that sugar makes food sweet, but did you know that there are different kinds of sugar? Sucrose is the granulated sugar that you usually use for baking. Another kind of sugar, which is found in honey and in many fruits, is glucose. In this science project, you will measure the concentration of glucose in a variety of foods. You will use special test strips that change color in response to glucose to measure the glucose concentration in different foods. Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability A Sugar Metabolism Kit containing most of the specialty supplies needed for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety No issues
Science Buddies Original
How to Make a Battery with Metal, Air, and Saltwater
Science Fair Project Idea
Have you ever wondered how your cell phone or laptop keeps running once you unplug it? Sure, it is the battery that makes your portable electronics work, but how exactly does a battery do that, and from where does the electricity come? Generally, in a battery chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. In fact, many different types of batteries exist that are all based on a different set of chemical reactions. In this science project, you will explore a special battery variant called… Read more
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Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites Some knowledge of basic chemistry and familiarity with the concept of electrochemistry would be helpful.
Material Availability This science project requires specialty electronics items. Specialty items are available in a kit from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin and eyes. When working with this chemical, make sure to wear eye and skin protection in case of any splashes or spills. In case of chemical contact, rinse skin or eyes immediately with plenty of water.
Science Buddies Original
Juice Balls: The Science of Spherification
Science Fair Project Idea
Forget drinking your juice. Instead, try snacking on it! Use the steps and recipes in this food science project to transform drinks into semi-solid balls that pop in your mouth. The technique is called spherification and it is part of a larger food science trend called molecular gastronomy— but we just call it yummy science! Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Chemicals need to be specially ordered. Specialty items may be purchased from our partner Home Science Tools. See the Materials section for details.
Cost Average ($40 - $80)
Safety Adult supervision may be needed for using a blender. All chemicals in this science project are safe to handle and eat (they are common food additives).
Science Buddies Original
Powered by Pee: Using Urine in a Microbial Fuel Cell
Science Fair Project Idea
Every day, we produce a lot of sewage (wastewater full of feces and urine). In fact, it adds up to 6.4 trillion liters of urine alone produced worldwide each year! The sewage is collected and then treated or disposed of. But what if, along the way, there were a way to make that sewage do something useful? Human urine is rich in nutrients, and some bacteria actually thrive on eating those nutrients. There are also devices called microbial fuel cells that can generate electrical power by using… Read more
+ More Details
- Less Details
Time Required Very Long (1+ months)
Tinkering
Prerequisites Previous experience using a multimeter and being familiar with the physics of electricity is helpful, but not required.
Material Availability The Microbial Fuel Cell Kit needs to be special-ordered from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety Be sure to wear the gloves supplied with the kit when handling the microbial fuel cell's electrodes (its cathode and anode). The electrodes are made of a conductive material called graphite fiber and should not be placed near electronics or power plugs, or have their fibers dispersed in the air. The fibers will cause electrical shortages when they come in contact with electronics. Wear gloves when working with human urine. Adult supervision is recommended.
Science Buddies Original
Reveal the Red: Exploring the Chemistry of Red Flower Pigments
Science Fair Project Idea
Are all reds the same? Find out in this science fair project! Investigate if the pigments in one type of red flower are different from those in another type of red flower. Flowers contain an assortment of amazing chemicals that produce color. In this plant biology project, you will analyze the colored pigments in different plants' red flower petals using paper chromatography, and compare the pigments in the different flowers. Read more
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Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability For your convenience a kit is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety Alcohol is flammable and toxic. Adult supervision is recommended while working with the isopropyl alcohol.
Science Buddies Original
Shed Light on Electric Generators: Do More Coils Generate More Electricity?
Science Fair Project Idea
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
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Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Tinkering
Prerequisites You should have the patience and dexterity to coil several layers of wire neatly (or find someone who can help you). You will also need to hook up a basic circuit. Understanding electric circuits is not a prerequisite for this science project, though it will enable a deeper understanding of the electric generator.
Material Availability A kit containing all the specialty items needed for this project is available from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety Neodymium magnets are very strong. Follow the safety guidelines in the Procedure for working with these magnets.
Science Buddies Original
Solar-Powered Water Desalination
Science Fair Project Idea
How can seawater from the oceans be turned into fresh water that is suitable for people to drink? Through a process called solar desalination! In this science project, you will make a solar desalination apparatus using readily available materials, and a power source that is free. How much water can the device produce, and is it still salty at all? What factors affect how effectively saltwater is turned into fresh water? Read more
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- Less Details
Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Tinkering
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Some specialty items needed, see Materials list for details. For your convenience a kit is available for purchase from our partner Home Science Tools.
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety A hand drill is needed for some steps. Adult assistance is needed for the steps involving a hand drill. All items in the Science Buddies Kit come pre-drilled, eliminating this safety issue.
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