The day of the Science Fair is always a hotly anticipated and memorable moment of the school year! If you, your child, or your students are needing some inspiration, be sure to read the article below and take your pick from this list of winning ideas.
1. What Makes Ice Melt the Fastest?
Focus: Chemistry
Have your students ever wondered why sand and salt are put on icy roads? Share this cool science project with them to find out more!
Learn more: Little Bins Little Hands
2. Are Fingerprints Inherited?
Focus: Genetics
Are your students interested in finding out whether their fingerprints are similar to anyone else’s? This genetics project will allow your students to study genetics at an accessible level.
Learn more: We Have Kids
3. Build an Infinity Mirror
Focus: Electronics
In this electricity design project, students can make a mirror look like a deep tunnel with no end in sight!
Learn more: Instructables
4. Make Your Own Shampoo
Focus: Chemistry
Can your students design their own, better shampoo than the ones found in a supermarket and use a science test to prove that their creation is better?
Learn more: Humblebee & me
5. Can Plants Stop Soil Erosion?
Focus: Plant Science
What if plants can stop soil erosion from occurring? Let your students plant some seeds and test them out!
Learn more: Life is a Garden
6. Build Your Own Solar-Powered Car
Focus: Energy and power
Let your students become inventors as they design and build their own solar-powered car and test the fastest design.
Learn more: Home Science Tools
7. Make Your Own Bath Bomb
Focus: Chemistry
Students can make their own bath bombs and add in different smells and colors as they explore how different ingredients react with each other to fizz!
Learn more: Inspired by Charm
8. Extracting the DNA of an Onion
Focus: Genetic Engineering
Open your students' eyes to genetic engineering in this project. Students can separate cells from an onion without even using a microscope!
Learn more: Pak Science Club
9. Candy Chronography
Focus: Food science
Let students investigate the different kinds of dye on their candy and understand how these colors are created!
Learn more: Science Sparks
10. Heart Health: How does heart rate change during exercise?
Focus: Health Science
Students investigate heart rate changes during different exercises to better understand how exercise leads to better health.
Learn more: Telethon Kids
11. Testing Lip Balm Recipes
Focus: Chemistry
In this project, students can make their own lip balm and become cosmetic scientists by exploring different ingredients and recipes.
Learn more: Coconut Mama
12. Building a Simple Solar Oven
Focus: Energy and Power
In this experiment, students can build their own oven that runs on solar power!
Learn more: Little Passports
13. Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension
Focus: Physics
In this project, students will have the chance to deepen their understanding of surface tension as they design, build and test their own raft.
Learn more: Be a Fun Mum
14. How Far Can You Throw or Kick a Ball?
Focus: Sports Science
In this project, your students can use free motion-tracking software to investigate how far they can throw or kick a ball.
Learn more: sciencebuddies.org
15. Homemade Water Filter Project
Focus: Chemistry
Find out how to remove dirt from water with this home water filter project.
Learn more: Love to Know
16. Build a Simple Electric Motor
Focus: Electricity
Students who are interested in electricity can explore simple changes that affect a motor’s rotation in this project.
Learn more: Education.com
17. The Power of Heat is Right Under Your Feet!
Focus: Geothermal energy
In this project, students can build a model of a geothermal power plant and explore how geothermal energy works!
Learn more: Venessa Williams Blog
18. Plants on the Move! An Experiment on Phototropism
Focus: Plant Biology
Students with a love of nature and the outdoors will enjoy exploring how young plants respond to light through movement.
Learn more: UNTAMED Science
19. Rusting Out: How Acids Affect the Rate of Corrosion
Focus: Chemistry
In this project, students will learn about rust and why it is such a big problem for the wheels, brakes, and gears on their bikes.
Learn more: David Science Centre
20. Build Your Own Marble Machine
Focus: Mechanical Engineering
In this science project challenge, students will see if they can build a machine that is powered only by gravity.
Learn more: Scientific American
21. Supercooling Water and Snap Freezing
Focus: Physics
Can water go below its normal freezing point but remain a liquid? Let students find out more about supercool water in this physics project.
Learn more: SciShow
22. Making Your Own Marshmallows
Focus: Food Science
Let your students discover that, by changing the amount of sugar and corn syrup used, they can make different kinds of marshmallows!
Learn more: The Flavor Bender
23. Discover Chlorophyll Variety in Plants
Focus: Plant science
Another great project for green-fingered students is this investigation of pigments in different plants.
Learn more: Science Projects
24. What is the Best Insulation Material?
Focus: Material Science
Students looking to work in construction may be interested in this project, in which they will test out materials used in home construction.
Learn more: Teach Engineering
25. Shaking for Suds: Which Type of Water is the Hardest?
Focus: Chemistry
In this project, students will investigate the common water types to find out which is the softest and which is the hardest.
Learn more: Layers of Learning
26. Applying Hooke’s Law: Make Your Own Spring Scale
Focus: Mechanical Engineering
Let your students test out Hooke’s law and see how springs can be used to weigh objects.
Learn more: Julian Trubin
27. How to Make the Boldest, Brightest Tie-Dye
Focus: Chemistry
In this project, students will understand that the clothes they wear are made of fibers that come from different sources.
Learn more: Handmade Charlotte
28. Fallen Arches: The Surprising Strength of Eggshells
Focus: Materials Science
We always think of eggshells as a weak material but this project will let your students discover the real strength of eggshells.
Learn more: Scholastic Parents
29. Make Your Own Crystals
Focus: Chemistry
Students can make crystals of different shapes and colors with this project using readily available materials from home.
Learn more: Science Fun for Everyone
30. The Effect of Oil Spills on Wildlife
Focus: Biology
In this project, students will learn about the drastic effects of oil spills and how humans can help to rescue wildlife when these occur.
Learn more: Boundless Brilliance
31. Roll a Can With Static Electricity
Study the simple transfer of energy with the help of this cool physics science project exploring static energy.
Learn more: Boundless Brilliance
32. Blow Up A Balloon Using Sugar And Yeast
Learn more about the chemical reaction process with this classic science experiment that only requires the use of sugar, yeast, a balloon, and an empty bottle.
Learn more: Happy Brown House
33. Bend a Bone With Vinegar
See how calcium in animal bones dissolves when you perform this middle school science project.
Learn more: Science Bob
34. Make a Fog Tornado
Create a mini tornado in a box to reveal more about the movement and force of the air.
Learn more: Scinight Weebly
35. What Effect Does Caffeine Have On Typing?
Conduct an interesting experiment using a keyboard and one of the most famous drinks on the planet- coffee, to see if this stimulant increases a person’s typing speed.
Learn more: Science Fair Adventure
36. Dissect a Flower
Explore the intricate world of flowers with this mesmerizing flower dissection project in which both male and female parts are observed.
Learn more: Elemental Science
37. Make a Water Purifier
In this science fair project for 8th graders, take a water purifier using sand and charcoal so that everyone can compare and assess the water quality of tap water and freshwater.
Learn more: Water Filter Advisor
38. Build a Candle-Powered Thermoelectric Fan
In this 8th grade science fair project, find out just how much energy one tealight candle can give when you build a thermoelectric fan powered by this tiny light source!
Learn more: Instructables
39. Do White Candles Burn Faster Than Colored Candles?
Conduct a science fair experiment to find out if white candles burn faster than colored ones by lighting a white and colored candle at the same time. Be sure that they are the same size to start with and the wicks are the same length.
Learn more: Just Crafting Around
40. Make a Lightning Spark
Make lightning with the help of an aluminum tray, a pencil with a rubber end, thumbtack, a Styrofoam plate as well as wool cloth.
Learn more: Learn Play Imagine
41. Make Exothermic Elephant Toothpaste
Reveal how light and heat cause chemical reactions to occur in this fast-paced science project that explores exothermic reactions.
Learn more: Minisink
42. Go Fishing For Ice
Discover how salt melts ice in this fascinating and easy science experiment for middle school students.
Learn more: Science Kiddo
43. Make Glowing Bubble
Enjoy making smoky glowing bubbles using a mix of bubble liquid and dry ice.
Learn more: The Maker Mom
44. Bring The Bernoulli Principle To Life
See Bernoulli's principle come to life with the help of a hairdryer and ping pong ball.
Learn more: 3m
45. Make Magnetic Putty
Magnetized putty is a cool project for 8th grade students. Find our favorite recipe and winning method linked below!
Learn more: National Mag Lab
46. Stress and Body Temperature
For this experiment, all you'll need is a thermometer and a timer. Grab some friends and test out if stress really raises our body temperature. Test the normal/resting temperature, then test before an exam or a big game and see the results!
Learn more: Education.com
47. Fizz and Meat
I know we aren't supposed to play with our food, but this is science! For this 8th grade science fair experiment you'll need 3 different types of meat, and a few cans of carbonated drinks. The pH level in soda is similar to our stomachs so you can see how meat reacts to the new environment.
Learn more: Pinterest
48. Infinity Mirror Illusion
You ever gone into a fancy bathroom and seen 100 identical faces staring back at you? This cool engineering science experiment is a little more complicated but is sure to impress your classmates. See the materials and steps you need to follow and get building!
Learn more: Science Buddies
49. Immune System Science
You'll need a jar, some salt, and iron fillings to play the part of a pathogen, and a magnet to act as antibodies. This is an age-appropriate science experiment that is a bit challenging but will show you how amazing your immune system really is!
Learn more: Science Buddies
50. Make Your Own Hand Warmers
Do you want to keep your hands and feet warm in any weather? Using distilled water, water jelly crystals, iron filling, and calcium chloride you can mix together your own hand warmers to give to your friends or bring camping!
Learn more: Steve Spangler Science
51. Diaper Science
What material in diapers makes them so absorbent? See how much liquid they can hold and which brand works the best. Use some zip baggies and different liquid mixtures to test and see the results.
Learn more: Pinterest
52. Tendons and Bionic Hands
Why do we need tendons and ligaments to protect our bones? Create your own model to see how our body anatomy works like a well-oiled machine!
Learn more: Pinterest
53. Seeing Sounds?
There are a few ways you can create this science experiment for you and your classmates to see sound. Try this with wine glasses and water, or strings and hangers.
Learn more: Igamemom
54. Carnivorous Plants
This natural experiment is a fun way to see how the natural world stays balanced. You'll need to get some carnivorous plants and some crickets or small bugs. Time to see how long it takes for the plant to digest bugs!
Learn more: Carnivorous Plant Nursery
55. Cell Phone Radiation
Ever want to know if your cell phone is emitting enough radiation to harm you? You'll need a jig to hold and measure the radio frequency meter and set up the tool to gauge how much your cell phone releases.
Learn more: Science Buddies
Use these Science Fair project ideas to inspire you and your students! There are so many great projects to choose from that link to so many different areas of interest and passion that your students may have – there’s truly something for everyone out there!
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are covered in 8th Grade science?
Some of the main topics covered in 8th Grade science are weathering and soil, structure and composition of the atmosphere, human impact on resources, animal and plant cells, living things, and the environment, matter, atoms, elements, and the periodic table, chemical reactions, motion and forces and electricity, and magnetism.
How can a student win a Science Fair?
Students must pick an interesting topic and learn everything they can. They should plan their project, make a clear and professional display of their work, and practice their presentations.
What are some simple science experiments?
There are many experiments that do not require a lot of materials, some examples of these in the list above include: finding out the best tie-dye fiber, making the perfect bath bomb, and measuring your heart rate during exercise.
55 Fun 6th Grade Science Projects That Are Actually Genius