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.
You probably know that where you live on Earth affects your weather. If you live in a far northern or far southern latitude, you experience colder temperatures than people who live near the equator at latitudes close to zero. Your latitude on Earth affects many aspects of your culture, like how you dress, what kind of house you live in, what foods you eat, and even how your day is structured: what time you go to school, to dinner, and to sleep. Some cities at latitudes closer to the equator,…
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Music_p020
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
You must have Internet access with a personal computer.
Chlorophyll is a natural pigment found in green plants. It is the primary pigment that absorbs light energy from the sun for photosynthesis. This energy is then used by the plant to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide and water. Chlorophyll in the leaves of plants can be extracted and separated using chromatography. A good source of chlorophyll for an extraction is a dark green leafy vegetable like spinach. Rub a fresh spinach leaf on the bottom of a strip of filter paper. You can get a…
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PlantBio_p020
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
The page on lists the best papers and solvents for chromatography. The paper needs to be specially ordered and is available
from our partner .
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
The solvents, like acetone or alcohol, for paper chromatography should be used in well-ventilated areas. Adult supervision is recommended.
Caffeine is a type of chemical called a stimulant. When you drink a caffeinated beverage, the caffeine enters into your blood stream dilating the capillaries and causing blood to flow more quickly. This gives your body a feeling of speeding up which can cause the jitters and wakefulness. How does caffeine affect the physiology of other animals? You can use over-the-counter caffeine supplements, like Vivarin, to test the effects of caffeine on animals. Try dissolving the caffeine in…
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Zoo_p030
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Drosophila, daphnia, and other small invertebrate animals can be ordered from .
Instant cold packs are popular with coaches and parents for treating minor bumps and bruises. The instant cold packs are not pre-cooled—you just squeeze the cold pack and its starts to get cold. So how does it work? In this chemistry science fair project, you will investigate the chemical reaction that occurs in instant cold packs.
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Chem_p081
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
A few specialty items, including instant cold packs containing ammonium nitrate, are needed.
Cost
Average ($50 - $100)
Safety
Adult supervision is required. Ammonium nitrate is potentially hazardous, wear gloves and safety goggles when working with it. Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Radiometers are fun-to-watch novelty items, but they also have a distinguished scientific history, having been studied by James Clerk Maxwell and Albert Einstein. A radiometer has a set of four vanes (like small sails) connected to a spindle that is free to rotate. When the radiometer is placed in bright light, the vanes and spindle start to spin. It looks like a magic trick, but there is a scientific explanation for this weird behavior. In this science fair project, you will experiment with…
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Phys_p078
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
This science fair project will require some creative problem solving on your part.
Material Availability
You will need to order a digital tachometer and radiometer online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
Virtual reality (VR) headsets are becoming increasingly popular. Video game designers use a variety of programs to create the amazing 3D worlds that you see when you turn on your favorite video game, and many of those worlds are now also designed to be compatible with VR headsets. Can you use a computer-aided design (CAD) program or video game engine to design your own virtual world that can be viewed using a VR headset?
Did you know you do not have to be a programming expert to create…
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Police detectives use various scientific tools to analyze evidence at a crime scene. One of the classic tools is the Kastle-Meyer test for the presence of blood. This test is inexpensive, easy to perform, and provides quick results. The test provides evidence if red spots found at a crime scene are actually blood. But the investigator needs to be careful, since other substances can also give a positive result. In this crime scene chemistry science project, you will learn how to perform the…
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BioChem_p037
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
You will need to order the "Presumptive Blood Test" kit online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
Cost
Average ($50 - $100)
Safety
Be sure to wear safety goggles and disposable gloves when working with the substances and blood kit.
What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Hip hop, rap, classical, techno, or electronic?
Do you know what most of them have in common? They rely on a drumbeat to provide tempo and depth
to the sound. You might think of a drum as simply a large round vessel with a membrane covering
that musicians strike with a drumstick, but musicians can create a synthesized drumbeat with an
electronic keyboard or with electronic drums. In this science project, you will design and make your own…
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CompSci_p043
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Time Required
Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Computer with internet access, and you will need to purchase a PicoBoard. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
It's fun to host and attend parties. You can meet your friends, watch movies, and eat party food. Another thing that people like to do at parties is dance to music. Dancing is great exercise and just makes people happy. What if at the next party you attend, you could do your science fair project? Doesn't sound like a good idea? Well, in this electricity and electronics science fair project, you will make a dance pad that flashes lights when you step on it. Have your friends test it out for you.…
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Digital cameras can be a great way to learn about photography. Most digital cameras today have LCD screens, so you get instant feedback on your photo. If you make a mistake, no problem, you just delete the picture. It's nice that you don't have to worry about the expense and bother of developing film! This project can help you learn to take better pictures.
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Photo_p014
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
You'll need a digital camera that take pictures in manual mode (a grayscale, or 'black-and-white' mode, is nice to have but not essential). You will need to know how to change the shutter speed, lens aperture, and ISO setting. A tripod for the camera is nice to have, but not absolutely essential. You will also need a computer.
