Science fair projects can be an engaging way to spark curiosity, advance scientific thought, and foster passion for discovery – but not all experiments are created equal.
Avoid conducting predetermined investigations, such as measuring battery longevity or comparing detergents. Doing this will make it obvious to judges that your student followed another person’s experiment plan.
Engineering
Engineering projects provide 8th grade science students an ideal way to demonstrate their knowledge in math, physics and design processes. Students can explore friction by launching objects across surfaces or build Newton’s cradle – a timeless experiment designed to support maximum weight – or design and construct their own Rube Goldberg machines to complete steps leading up to something tangible like turning on lights.
Food-related experiments can make an effective science fair project for eighth graders. At this age, students can explore how various ingredients or processes affect food. Students could engineer a paper cup tower to see how tall it can be or grow plants using different solutions before comparing results. They could even test out laundry detergent commercials to see if they work or explore how various genres of music affect plant growth.
Chemistry
Science fair projects provide students with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings. Not only are these projects essential in building critical thinking skills, they also foster exploration and foster an atmosphere of discovery and curiosity.
Comparative to earlier grades, 8th graders should go deeper into the scientific method and demonstrate not just their results but also their understanding of experiments and their repercussions. It’s an ideal time for them to learn how to track their progress while practicing (but not memorizing) explanations for projects and experiments.
To explore chemical reactions, try conducting experiments that test air temperature’s effect on bubble size or learning how to make homemade floam. Or test whether peppermint candy affects concentration during a math exam or how a soda can cause an explosion of chemical reaction. Other experiments can explore water temperature’s impact crystal growth or examine how different temperatures of sugar affect cookie making; or investigate how fertilizer runoff affects local water quality.
Biology
For science fair projects that will engage 8th graders, there are numerous excellent ideas. One option could be conducting a microbiology experiment that allows students to swab surfaces and observe microbial growth; or testing the cleaning power of laundry detergents – an engaging project for those interested in household products.
Explore the unseen world around us by growing plants with different liquids and measuring their growth, or learn about nitrogen’s role in plant development by comparing growth rates of pea plants with and without nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Combining engineering and chemistry isn’t hard! Here is an intriguing experiment that shows how changing air temperature affects soap bubble duration or relative humidity. Students will enjoy building their own solar oven out of cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and thermometer – this also serves as an environmental science experiment! Additionally, one could investigate fertilizer runoff into pond water as an environmental science experiment!
Physics
Science fair projects provide students with an engaging discovery process that develops critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Students frequently design their own experiments instead of duplicating someone else’s, to test hypotheses and collect data. Once their findings are compiled they typically present them via tables and graphs while providing reports or posters to accompany their display.
A good project should answer a question or propose a theory, demonstrate clear understanding of scientific principles and concepts, be easily understandable without bias or prejudice, and have practical applications, such as creating a solar oven out of cardboard and aluminum foil or discovering which type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation best.
Doing food-based experiments that combine chemistry and physics is always fun! From seeing how many sugar cookies it takes to break a tooth to comparing the caloric intake between different varieties of chocolate bars – even showing how a Rube Goldberg machine can do simple tasks successfully is great fun!