Make your science fair project memorable by conducting something unusual or thrilling; perhaps try conducting an experiment such as measuring lung capacity or investigating whether music affects plant growth.
Investigate physics concepts by building a Newton’s Cradle or using a trash can air cannon. Or demonstrate the different surface tensions of water or how to relight a candle without touching its flame.
Water
One can easily create an 8th grade science fair project around any water-related experiment. Students could explore how particles affect filtration or density tests on liquids or investigate ways of purifying or filtering their water supply.
Students can demonstrate Newton’s Third Law with an Alka Seltzer boat, create a floating flower arrangement, or use static electricity to bend water. Other experiments include tracking animal movement, discovering whether plants enjoy classical music, measuring reaction times in response to hunger or fullness, or monitoring movement by tracking animal tracks.
Electrolysis can be used as an interesting demonstration of water’s composition as it shows that it contains both hydrogen and oxygen atoms, with further projects including melting ice using warm water, creating a trash can air cannon, and relighting a candle without blowing it out.
Energy
Assembling an 8th grade science fair project idea that excites and engages your child is of vital importance. They will demonstrate a deeper commitment during presentations, which will keep them inspired throughout experimentation process.
Showcase chemistry through a chemical hand warmer experiment using oxidation to create heat. Or teach them how to extract DNA from onions or strawberries as an easy way to demystify its concept.
Alternately, students could construct their own solar oven to gain insight into the power of sunlight. Furthermore, they could construct a wind turbine to demonstrate energy transfer with an exciting STEM project that marries engineering and physics together. They could even experiment with various rotor designs until they find one that best serves a candle-powered thermoelectric fan – all great ways to get them interested in renewable energy!
Magnetism
Magnetism is a basic part of nature that draws various metals towards or away from each other, just as electricity or gravity do. Children can become acquainted with magnetic forces by sticking various objects onto magnets; strong magnets may even attract objects like iron filings or paperclips from faraway. Magnets create this force using tiny particles called electrons which orbit around atoms inside.
Use a magnet hunt to help kids discover which materials are attracted to a magnet and which ones aren’t. Emphasize how opposite poles (such as north and south poles of a magnet) attract while similar poles repel, and that the invisible area surrounding a magnet that attracts other magnetic objects is called its magnetic field.
Biology
Students interested in creating Biology science fair projects focus on living organisms such as plants and animals. Students can utilize groundbreaking genetic and neuroscience research as part of their presentation to show their comprehension of life.
Some of the best biology projects combine biology and chemistry in creative ways. An engaging 8th grade experiment for this combination includes showing how a battery’s chemical makeup changes. Meanwhile, creating edible plants combines biology and chemistry.
Biology experiments can also explore human biology. Analyzing fingerprints can be an engaging way to develop problem-solving and detail skills, or the “5-second rule” experiment provides an intriguing means of testing this popular belief.
Engineering
Assigning yourself an enjoyable science project topic will make presenting more engaging, as well as keeping your research process interesting. But sometimes the typical topics don’t appeal to you–don’t fret! There are plenty of creative projects available that meet all science fair regulations.
Experiment with friction by launching objects onto various surfaces to observe how far they travel, or have students build a tower out of marshmallows to test surface tension. Have them observe how temperature affects water’s surface tension with this cool experiment, or model gravity in our solar system with a simple demonstration. As an alternate STEM project, have students design communication boards for someone unable to speak; this requires coding, construction and the engineering design process – or design one yourself using our STEM Project Builder platform!