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Middle schoolers are at that perfectly timed age where their level of curiosity matches up with their scientific skills. They can pose complex questions, use their understanding of the scientific process to conduct experiments, and present their findings in an engaging way. And there’s no better forum to showcase these skills than at a science fair!
Find scientific inspiration with a collection of fun and educational middle school science fair projects. With experimental questions and low and no-prep resources for different science disciplines, these science fair ideas for middle schoolers are sure to spark new understanding.
Genius General Science Projects
Middle school science fair projects help reinforce the scientific process with young learners. Using general science concepts aligned to NGSS for middle school, students form hypotheses, perform experiments, and analyze their findings. They may begin with questions like:
- Which ingredients allow gum to keep its flavor longer?
- What affects the ripening speed of bananas?
- How does adjusting a violin’s string affect its pitch?
- Why do bikes go faster when their tires are full?
- Which paper towel brand is more absorbent, and why?
Focus on the scientific method and guide students through the project processÂ
No matter what they’re trying to prove or learn in their science fair project, the right resources can help them plan it out. A variety of planning materials, including timelines, guided instructions, and rubrics, enable students to use the scientific method when conducting quality experiments—and for you to grade them quickly.
Science Fair Project Guide – Grades 3-8 | PRINTABLE + DIGITAL + EDITABLE
By Courtney Schermerhorn – Mommy is a Teacher
Grades: 1st-8th
Subjects: Basic Principles, General Science
Structure your science fair project from day one with a resource that takes students through each step. Guided instruction sheets, suggested timelines, parent letters, project proposals, and judging and grading rubrics give you and your students everything they need to pull off their project in an organized way.
Science Fair Project with Project Based Learning Ideas and Science Experiments
By HappyEdugator
Grades: 5th-7th
Subjects: General Science, Physical Science
Standards: CCSS SL.5.4, 5.5
Use a helpful science project resource aligned to CCSS for speaking and listening to get middle schoolers excited about an upcoming science fair. It includes 100 science fair project ideas, directions on graphing and recording data, guidance on making a display board, and additional teaching materials for reinforcing the scientific method.
Complete Guide to Science Fair Projects Digital Editable Science Fair Rubric
By Beakers and Ink
Grades: 6th-8th
Subjects: General Science
Where do you start when planning a science fair project? Use a guide to middle school science fair projects that includes 40 project ideas and a five-part organizational structure that takes students through the scientific method when making and proving their hypothesis.
Phenomenal Physical Science Experiments
Prepare middle schoolers for an upcoming high school physics class with these science fair ideas for middle schoolers. These starting points focus on energy conversion, temperature, magnetism, and engineering, making them ideal individual science experiences or class projects for middle school engineering classes.
- Can garbage provide energy for automobiles?Â
- How does temperature affect a magnet’s strength?
- What metals corrode the fastest?
- How can you make a humane (and effective) mousetrap?
- What cereal has the most iron?
Creative Chemistry Science Fair Projects
Chemistry projects can be some of the most impressive science experiments for middle school! They can test everyday substances, answer common questions, and show participants results with a few mixed solutions. Consider these questions when choosing a middle school science fair project in chemistry:
- What brand of shampoo really works the best?
- Why don’t oil and water mix?
- Why do onions make you cry?
- Do sports drinks really help your athletic performance?
- What temperature washes clothes without making colors run?
Demonstrate how solutions dissolve in real time
Show how science unfolds right before our eyes with chemistry-related science fair projects.Â
The Melting Snowman Science Fair Project
By Fabulous Figs
Grades: PreK-8th
Subject: General Science
It doesn’t have to be summertime to watch this snowman melt! Use a print-and-go resource to conduct an experiment on solution dissolution, perfect for middle school science fairs and exhibitions. The resource includes printable materials to create a display board, as well as editable slides in both color and black and white.
Life-Changing Life Science Projects for Middle School
Some middle school science fair projects teach students more about the world around us. Use these STEM activities for middle school that focus on life science and biology to exhibit these important organic processes.
- What flowers bring the most pollinators to the garden?
- Is it safe to drink water from a pond?
- What factors affect how quickly mushrooms grow?
- How does sleep affect your health?
- Is soap or hand sanitizer more effective in killing bacteria?
Excellent Earth Science Fair Projects
Forget pet rocks and model volcanoes—let’s choose some junior high science fair projects that are more relevant to their everyday lives. Let students try to answer these questions surrounding earth science and environmental science to discover more about the state of their planet.
- How does air and water pollution affect plant growth?Â
- Do hotter temperatures affect evaporation rates?Â
- Why are some rocks harder than others?
- Are rain gardens more water-efficient than regular gardens?
- Do taller buildings handle earthquakes better than shorter buildings?
Tips for Holding a Successful Science Fair
The science fair event may come at the end of students’ project timelines, but it’s an important step, and you want it to go well. Use these tips to make your science fair run as smoothly as possible, and to both challenge and inspire middle schoolers in their scientific journey.Â
- Encourage students to explore all aspects of their scientific question or inquiry, rather than simply answering the question.
- Show students how to design a science fair display board, both physical and digital.
- Preview all experiments before students bring them in for the fair.
- Have students include their failed attempts in their science fair projects, and explain what they learned from each one.
- Ensure that you have enough resources for the fair, including tables, electricity, water, and anything else students need for their experiments.
- Invite scientific professionals from the community, including technicians in local laboratories and innovators at noteworthy companies, to be judges at your fair.
- Consider awarding individual medals rather than first, second, and third places.
Judge science fair projects based on a standardized rubric
When you’re planning a science fair, you need every detail planned—including the judging process. Use standardized rubrics and checklists to ensure that student work is assessed correctly and that the true winner of the fair emerges.
Science Fair Project Judging Form Rubric | Middle School | EDITABLE Template
By Kimberly Scott Science
Grades: 6th-8th
Subject: Basic Principles, General Science
Your middle schoolers have worked hard on their science fair projects, and now it’s time to judge them. Use an editable rubric form to align your science fair rules with your grading standards, and encourage students to use the form as a guide as they complete their projects.
Showcase stellar work at the science fair
All memorable science fair projects start with a question. When students have the opportunity to show off their work, they’re introducing an inquiry-based mindset that showcases their interest, knowledge, and ability to pursue their own curiosity. These middle school science fair projects are a great place to start—and if your junior high students have their own ideas, use additional science fair resources for middle school to guide them in the right direction.