Middle School, Experiment with Vertebrates Science Projects (6 results)

Investigate a question about the behavior or health of vertebrates (animals with backbones). Do a hands-on experiment (such as observations of striking lizards) or find patterns in data (such as the migratory path of a sparrow) from free online resources.

Understanding Wolf Behavior from GPS Tracking Data

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

If you were leaving home for a long walk, how far would you go? One mile, 5 miles, 10 miles? How about 550 miles?! That's a long way, but some wolves have been known to travel that far when they are leaving their packs in search of a mate so they can form their own pack. But is that how far wolves normally travel? Try this wild wolf tracking science fair project to find out! Read more

Are We There Yet? Test How Migratory Birds Navigate

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

How do you figure out how to get places? Do you ask for directions, look at a map, or consult a compass? There are many ways for people to figure out how to travel from one place to another, but how do other animals do it? In this science fair project, you'll use real data, collected by biologists, to figure out how migratory birds manage to navigate more than 2,000 miles from their breeding grounds to their wintering grounds. Read more

What Seeds Do Birds Prefer to Eat?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Are you curious about the birds that live in your neighborhood? Would you like to find out more about them: what they look like close up, what they eat, how they sing? In this project you'll build a bird feeding platform with four separate feeding areas. You'll be able to observe birds at close range, find out what birds inhabit your area, and learn about their seed-eating preferences. So get out your woodworking tools and binoculars, and get ready to see some birds. Read more

Skeleton Building

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Do you like skeletons? One of the more interesting jobs at a natural history museum is the creation and care of the skeletons and bones. How do the curators clean and put together the skeletons? Many curators use the carrion beetle, Dermestes vulpinus, to quickly clean off the dead animal tissue from a corpse to reveal the skeleton. These insects do such a good job that sometimes the skeleton remains intact! Another method is to slow cook the carcass until the meat falls off. You can use… Read more

Where Do Lizards Go for Lunch?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

You've probably heard about differences between the left brain and the right brain in people. Did you ever wonder where that came from? Do other animals have specialized brain hemispheres too? One hypothesis has it that brain lateralization evolved as a survival mechanism in animals with eyes on the sides of their heads. One eye could focus on finding food, while the other watched out for predators. This project tests that hypothesis by looking for left-right bias in feeding behavior in lizards. Read more

Eggs and Hen's Diet: Can You Get Bigger Eggs for Peanuts?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method