High school science fair projects demand innovative thinking and scientific expertise. Selecting an ideal project may prove to be challenging.
Start off by picking a project that captures their interest, which will ensure they remain engaged throughout. Try classic experiments such as skittle dissolving or seed germination jar.
1. Water Filtration
Students work together in small groups to construct and test various filter materials in order to discover which can successfully convert polluted water into clean drinking water. This high school science experiment is an ideal opportunity for demonstrating innovative thinking and creative ability.
Provide each group with a 2-liter bottle, 1/2-3/4 cup (100-200 ml) of “polluted water” in a beaker or cup, and an array of filter materials.
2. Heart Rate
High school science fairs provide students with an ideal way to gain hands-on experience designing and conducting laboratory experiments outside a teacher-led class setting, while honing research skills, writing hypotheses, and collecting data.
Perform this simple experiment to discover whether playing video games increases your heart rate. Home Science Tools has all of the supplies necessary for this test kit.
3. Energy
High school science fairs represent one of the first opportunities for students to design experiments independent of an instructor-led lab class and showcase them before independent judges.
Students can demonstrate various forms of energy through this fun experiment on static friction. Rubber bands make an excellent way to demonstrate elastic and potential energy, which can be measured against its movement distance.
4. Food Safety
Discover how to distinguish gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and test antibiotics, with this straightforward STEM high school science fair experiment. All you’ll need are gram stain kits from Home Science Tools along with either Bacillus cereus or Rodospirillum rubrum cultures to complete it successfully.
High school science fair competitions can take place at multiple levels: class, school, county and state – offering scholarships and trips for those who excel. Speak with your guidance counselor about signing up.
5. Electricity
Static electricity and current electricity can be fun topics to investigate through science fair experiments with kids (and adults!). They’ll have fun testing different materials to see which conduct electricity better and learning how to build an electromagnet using copper wire and batteries.
Some projects can be completed in as little as one or two days; others, however, could require weeks of collecting data and testing results. It’s essential that students leave themselves enough time for each step involved in their project.
6. Biotechnology
High school science fair participants should conduct extensive research for their projects, with an aim to become experts on their chosen subject matter.
One effective method for doing so is through biotechnology experiments. Biotechnology refers to the branch of biology which utilizes biological components for creating new products such as medical treatments or biofuels; genetic engineering may also play a part.
7. Biology
Science fair projects at the high school level often call for advanced thinking and scientific knowledge, often including studies of living organisms such as plants and animals.
If teens find frog dissection too awkward, flower dissection offers another great way of exploring plant life and its intricate processes. They could also conduct experiments comparing how different soil types influence slime mold growth.
8. Chemistry
High school students typically participate in science fairs on multiple levels: class, school, county, state and national. By placing highly in their competition they may win ribbons, awards, trips or scholarships that will enhance their education experience.
Discover chemistry by testing the reaction rates of substances like mud and slime with this fun experiment, or compare acid rain and snow using pH paper.
9. Physics
Science fair projects typically involve conducting hands-on experiments and applying scientific principles. Create a plastic bottle rocket or conduct Newton’s Cradle experiments to understand friction and momentum.
Crafting an outstanding science fair project takes advanced thinking and creativity. Use the scientific method by selecting an experiment topic, writing a hypothesis statement, affirming how measurements will be taken, then conducting your investigation.
10. Engineering
Students participating in high school science fairs can utilize various STEM challenge experiments to showcase their creativity, engineering knowledge and scientific understanding – some may even be advanced versions of experiments they performed in school such as this Optical Illusion Experiment!
Other experiments require specific tools or equipment, like this bottle rocket project. Forensic science provides another fun STEM challenge for teens such as this fingerprinting experiment.