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.
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.
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Robotics_p022
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- Less Details
Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
You will need to know how to use a breadboard to do this project. See the Science Buddies reference
[# ProjectGuide Name="Breadboard.Tutorial" Value="HtmlAnchor" #] if you have not used a breadboard before.
Material Availability
A kit is available from our partner
.
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.
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…
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MicroBio_p032
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Time Required
Very Long (1+ months)
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 [# ProjectGuide Name="Advanced.MicrobiologyTechniquesampTroubleshooting" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="Microbiology Techniques and Troubleshooting" #] guide for information on how to conduct microbiology experiments.
Material Availability
The needs to be special ordered from our partner
.
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 before starting any experiments. may be necessary. Adult supervision is recommended.
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!
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Elec_p028
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
For your convenience a kit is available for this project from our partner
.
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.
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FoodSci_p049
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A Sugar Metabolism Kit containing most of the specialty supplies needed for this project is available
from our partner
.
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…
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Chem_p107
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Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
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
.
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.
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!
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FoodSci_p074
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Chemicals need to be specially ordered. Specialty items may be purchased from our partner
.
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).
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…
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EnvSci_p061
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Long (1+ months)
Prerequisites
Previous experience using a multimeter and being familiar with the physics of electricity is helpful, but not required.
Material Availability
The needs to be special-ordered from our partner
.
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.
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.
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PlantBio_p035
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
For your convenience a kit is available from our partner
.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Alcohol is flammable and toxic. Adult supervision is recommended while working with the isopropyl alcohol.
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.
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Elec_p078
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- Less Details
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
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
.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Neodymium magnets are very strong. Follow the safety guidelines in the Procedure for working with these magnets.
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?
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EnvEng_p022
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- Less Details
Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
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 .
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.
