Want to see your students dig into science without even realizing they’re studying? Showcase all your amazing STEM lessons by giving your kids the reins– they’ll jump out of their seats at the opportunity to build projects for the school science fair! Let your kiddos wow their parents, teachers, and peers with how they put their investigations into action. Check out these fabulous ideas and get ready to be amazed by your little scientific geniuses!
1. Carbon Sugar Snake Experiment
Who wouldn’t get excited by a ‘hand-made’ giant carbon sugar snake? This science experiment shows how a carbon snake is born by burning a mixture of baking soda and sugar. You’ll probably need to consider bringing this one outdoors, but the results will be totally worth it.
Learn More: Kiwi Co
2. Irons in Breakfast Cereals
Did you know that extracting all the iron from your body could make two small nails? Let your students investigate this by finding out the amount of food-grade iron in their favorite breakfast cereals. For an even cooler school science project idea? Compare brands and make a bar chart to show the difference.
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
3. Transform Milk into Plastic
How can my daily drinking milk become plastic? This activity will teach your kiddos the concept of plastic polymerization from natural resources such as milk and other dairy products. They’ll find it both disgusting and amazing!
Learn More: Science Buddies
4. The Competition of Skateboard Wheels
Have you got any skateboarding fans in your classroom? They’ll shred their way right through the science fair doors with this one! Bring on the research and inspect the material and tensile strength of various types of skateboard wheels to see how they affect the rebound.
Learn More: Education
5. Powered Boat by Baking Soda
Let’s level up the same science behind the classic baking soda volcano reaction with this fun boat race Have your kiddos place the materials for the experiment into a modified plastic bottle and then let them test their creations in a competitive race with fuel straight from the kitchen cabinet.
Learn More: Kiwi Co
6. Create Two-Stage Balloon Rocket
Give the science fair a glow-up with this two-stage balloon rocket experiment. Start by letting your kiddies build their rockets by tapping staws onto inflated balloons; thread some string through the straws and you’re ready for blast off! They’ll be learning about the same laws of motion used by airplanes and rockets!
Learn More: Science Buddies
7. The Sponge Gummy Bears
Behold! The mysterious secrets of gelatin! Turn your kids’ favorite gummy bears into giants by placing them in water and other solutions. This is an incredible food science project to learn about molecules and have FUN! The only rule- don’t eat your lab tools!
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
8. Motorized Tiny Characters
Have a science dance party! Your sixth-graders will love these DIY motorized characters who can dance from the simplest source of energy – a homopolar motor. This creative activity makes tiny dancers, but who knows what else your creative constructors will create?
Learn More: Babble Dabble Do
9. Magic Spinning Pens
This little experiment taps into loads of science skills for any stage. From the investigation to the trial and research, your learners will see what it takes to balance a pen by sheer magnetism. Sounds easy? Think again! They’ll need lots of adjustments in the magnet size and positioning to get a perfect balance.
Learn More: Frugal Fun For Boys And Girl
10. Create a WiggleBot
“Bleep-bleep-bloop!” Introduce your class to the world of robotics with this fantastic activity. The materials used are easy to find and they’ll love creating these tiny mini-creatures who can draw on their own! What a perfect introduction to learning about power, electrical energy, and its sources.
Learn More: Research Parent
11. Build an Electro-Magnetic Train
Let your kiddos tinker away with this super fun railway activity. They’ll create a hypothesis and speculate on what needs to be adjusted with the energy source and wire lengths to make the train run smoothly. This experiment is a great introduction to the scientific process for them!
Learn More: Frugal Fun For Boys And Girls
12. Handmade Holiday Greeting Card Circuits
Everyone loves a festive greeting card! Why not add some science into the holiday season by guiding your little learners to make circuits and embed them into their cards? They’ll explore variables that affect the flow of electricity such as using wood versus rubber. Their results will light up the room!
Learn More: Kiwi Co
13. A Solar-Powered Robot Grasshopper
A scary robot grasshopper that vibrates when it’s placed near any light? WHAT?!? Have your kiddos record this cool grasshopper’s level of movement under different amounts of light and solar power to let them get a better understanding of how this cool tech works!
Learn More: Science Buddies
14. Camera Obscura by Recycled Cans
This handmade camera will take your kids back in time and will quickly become their favorite “new” tool. They’ll start to understand modern photography, by exploring the fundamental principles of how a camera works. What a fabulous pitch for the school science fair! Come on everybody, say cheese!
Learn More: Babble Dabble Do
15. A Heat-Sensitive, Color-Changing Experience
Mood rings and lipsticks that change color are always fascinating for kids. You’ll uncover the magic of these cool items by introducing them to the color-changing element of thermochromic pigment. Create some amazing color-changing slime as an example and let your 6th graders get gooey while they learn more!
Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain
16. Make Your Own Crystal Landscapes
It’s alive! Or is it? Let your kids extend their middle school science understanding by delving into the mind-blowing phenomenon of crystal growth. They’ll create a spectacular crystal landscape that’s sure to add dazzle to your science fair. When purchasing ingredients in the US, modify your recipe by using Epsom Salt.
Learn More: Babble Dabble Do
17. Roots Grow Versus Gravity Experiment
Gravity keeps us on the ground, but does it also affect plants’ growth here on the earth? Let your kiddies find out with this fun windowsill activity that’ll be sure to blow minds at the science fair. They’ll be amazed to see roots growing every which way, as they use gravity as a variable!
Learn More: Science Buddies
18. Seafloor Spreading and the Earthquakes
What happens when the seafloor spreads? Let’s bring all the science of tectonic plates to life! Using some folded paper and a cardboard cylinder, your kiddos will create a working model of how new rock is formed on the ocean’s floor!
Learn More: Education
19. How Plants Help Prevent Tsunami Impact
We all know how destructive the force of a tsunami can be, but did you know that planting trees can help prevent destruction from these natural disasters? Have your kiddos create their very own coastal landscapes, complete with buildings and greenery, then have them recreate a tsunami with some water and assess the damage!
Learn More: YouTube
20. How Acidic Water ‘Eats’ Rocks
Can rocks be dissolved in a liquid like sugar in coffee or tea? In this geology science experiment, your students will use a scientific method to investigate how rocks are being ‘eaten’ by acidic water. In your classroom, you’ll be using vinegar concentrations, but you can extend your kids’ learning by exploring what sorts of acids might be eroding rocks out in nature.
Learn More: Science Buddies
21. Cutting Ice Cubes With Wire
Give a whole new meaning to “break the ice”! Did your middle school students know that they can cut through an ice cube with just a piece of wire and some weights? Demonstrate the method for them as they learn about regelation and the physics of water. All that’s left is for them to have a go themselves!
Learn More: Kiwi Co
22. Growing Bateria
Don’t do this activity after lunch! Have your kiddies find samples around their homes or in school for testing to reveal the hidden bacteria in each place. It’s easy to make up some petri dishes and then all your little microbiologists will need to do is swab their samples! The results might surprise them!
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
23. Heart Pump Model
It might be ‘heart’ to believe, but your kiddos can make a model of a human heart ventricle, using everyday items from around the house! By following the instructions, they can assemble their model made from plastic bottles, balloons, and straws, helping them learn about the complex inner workings of the cardiovascular system.
Learn More: Tina’s Dynamic Home School Plus
24. Building a Stick Bridge
Explore the vast array of bridge designs across the world and put your learners’ creativity and engineering skills to the test. Your kiddos will experiment with popsicle sticks to build bridges and find out which model is the safest and holds the most weight.
Learn More: Scholastic
25. Building Stable Frameworks for Earthquakes
Your future engineers will explore building construction from a safety perspective with this next idea! Have them build some different structures with popsicle sticks then see how they stand up to a (kiddie-made) earthquake!
Learn More: Science Love to Know
26. Forming Magic Cloud
This easy 6th-grade science project brings a few welcome clouds to the sunny atmosphere of your science fair. Make a cloud in a bottle using some rubbing alcohol and send your fair-weather friends packing. Want extra experiments? Try twisting the cap back, re-pressurizing the bottle, and see what happens next!
Learn More: Kiwi Co
27. Designing Biodomes
This amazing engineering project challenges your kiddos to create a scale-model biodome! They’ll be able to observe reactions in ecosystems, environments, and food chains, and at the same time, explore the energy flow. What a super hands-on way to introduce them to the topic of plants and animals’ basic needs and the interdependence of an ecosystem.
Learn More: Teach Engineering
28. The Archimedes Squeeze
Challenge your class to test Archimedes’s principles like real engineers back in the day in this hydrodynamic project! Using aluminum foil balls varying in diameter they’ll learn all about water displacement as they submerge them and weigh what spills over. They’ll be making a splash in the name of science!
Learn More: Science Buddies
29. Cleaning Coins
Let your kiddos explore the science of cleaning! Give them a couple of different cleaning solutions to experiment with to find out what works and what doesn’t! Then brainstorm and further the experiment to figure out why some things work better than others.
Learn More: Gally Kids
30. Make Your Own PH Indicator
Don’t have an expensive pH tester? Well, it turns out you don’t need one! Explore the pH scale and let your middle school students make their own indicator solution with a simple ingredient from the grocery aisle; red cabbage! Grocery store science at its finest!
Learn More: Compound Interest
31. Skittles Science Fair Project
Show off all the colors of the rainbow in this beautiful experiment. We’re sure your kiddos love playing with food, especially candy, and this is certainly no exception! This is a fun and visually impressive way to help them learn about diffusion and balanced solutions! Who knew science could be so colorful?
Learn More: Kiwi Co
32. Tooth Decay Egg Experiment
We all know that lots of sugary drinks can damage our teeth, but which ones are the worst? Challenge your kiddies to find out in this simple experiment! Teach them about tooth enamel and how food can damage it, using eggs to represent teeth. Let them dunk their eggs into different drinks and see what happens! They’ll be shocked by the results!
Learn More: The Forsyth Institute
33. Lightning in Your Mouth
If you tell your kiddos that they can create lightning in their mouths, it’s likely that they won’t believe you! All you’ll need to prove them wrong is a mirror, a dark room, and some wint-o-green flavored Life Savers to show off some amazing electrical power. Your students will learn about how lightning is made whilst snacking on a delicious treat!
Learn More: Exploratorium
34. Popping Candy
Using another delicious treat, investigate why popping candy pops. Set up some bowls with oil, water, or vinegar, and have your kiddos add the popping candy! All that’s left is to step back and watch the magic happen!
Learn More: Science Sparks
35. Fruit Rot
This one is certainly a stinky experiment! Let your little scientists test to see which fruit rots the quickest and they’ll learn about the ripening process, too. You can try adjusting this experiment to test what substances are the best for preventing fruit rot. Just make sure they don’t eat any of the fruit!
Learn More: Education
36. What Attracts Insects
If you don’t like creepy crawlies, look away now! In this experiment your learners will set up bug traps to determine what exactly attracts bugs; heat, light, or both! They’ll also discover exactly what kind of heat and light works the best for attracting certain bugs, whilst learning more about the insect life cycle, too.
Learn More: Science Projects
37. Paper Towel Experiment
Which paper towel is the best for absorbing liquid? This super simple experiment is a fantastic way to have your kiddies focus on the scientific method and process. Have them test out different brands of paper towels to test which mops up spills most efficiently! Finally, an experiment that cleans itself up!
Learn More: Explorable
38. Mini Marshmallow Launcher
This is certainly a fun experiment to try! Using a plastic cup cut in half and a balloon, your kiddos will build their very own contraption to launch some mini marshmallows. This activity is a super fun introduction to physics, and we’re pretty sure there will be some taste testing going on here too, in the name of science, of course!
Learn More: Science Fun
39. Paper Airplane
Can your kids come up with the ultimate paper airplane? Let them investigate and discover the best design for a paper airplane by testing out different models for their distance, accuracy, and flight time. You can find many examples of paper airplane designs online, and you can also challenge them to create their own paper airplane designs. Ready for take-off!
Learn More: Science Fair Math
40. Simple Ant Experiment
Take learning outside with this fantastic idea! Have your students find some ants, then place a few different pieces of food nearby. As they come back over the next few hours, they’ll make observations and determine which foods the ants liked best. Just take care to not get bitten!
Learn More: Mother Natured
41. DIY Taleidoscope
A taleidoscope is just like a kaleidoscope, but without an end to it, meaning that it is perfect for your kiddos to explore the world around them! Challenge them to have a go at making this interesting contraption to learn more about mirrors and light reflection in a fun, hands-on way.
Learn More: Babble Dabble Do
42. Walking on Eggs
You’ll definitely want to do this one outside! By learning to stand in a way that distributes their weight evenly, your students will be able to walk across these eggs without breaking them. It’s a super exciting way for them to learn about weight distribution and the amazing properties of eggs. They’ll soon be ‘egg-sperts’ on this topic!
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
43. St Patrick’s Day Fizzing Pot
This experiment is a unique take on the classic volcano experiment but with a St Patrick’s Day twist! Your kiddies will learn about chemical reactions as they predict what will happen when they add baking soda to their vinegar and green food dye mix! Remember to add some golden glitter; a leprechaun’s pot isn’t complete without some gold in it!
Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands
44. Seed Germinator
Find out about the amazing properties of a humble seed and how they grow! Your little botanists will be able to witness for themselves how seeds turn into seedlings as they let these ones germinate on a petri dish! As the seedlings grow, your kids’ knowledge will too.
Learn More: Exploratorium
45. Naked Egg Experiment
Avert your eyes! These eggs are naked! By making their own “naked” eggs, by placing regular eggs into vinegar, your students will learn about the process of osmosis and chemical reactions! They might even notice that the egg changes size once it’s been stripped of its shell!
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
46. Pouring Water Down a String
Your kiddos will be amazed as they watch water walk on a tightrope in this amazing experiment! It’s so easy to try with just a string, an empty clear container, and some water! Soak the string in water then hold it into the glass and see how the water moves down the string. They’ll be exploring surface tension as they marvel at how the water appears to defy gravity!
Learn More: Metro Family Magazine
47. Steady Hands
Create your own “Operation” game right in your classroom with a battery pack and some wires. Have your learners carefully contort the wire to create an obstacle course that they’ll then need to navigate without making contact and setting off a buzzer!
Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain
48. Water Color Chemistry
Sometimes known as the iodine clock experiment, this fun activity is a great opportunity to get (gloved) hands-on with some chemicals! Using a variety of chemicals, your kiddos will watch as starch and Vitamin C battle it out; the starch trying to turn the iodine in the mixture blue. What are you waiting for? Grab some safety goggles and get mixing!
Learn More: Science Bob
49. Cell Phone Stand
This project is super simple and your 6th graders will be sure to find it useful. Have them make their own stands for their cell phones. They’ll love having an easy way to show someone a meme or hold their phone up as they film a TikTok dance. Grab some popsicle sticks and paper clips and get gluing!
Learn More: Science Buddies
50. Floating Ball Trick
Using air and science your learners can make people believe they’re making a ping pong ball float in mid-air! Start them off with a plastic bottle or paper cone, and a straw, and once they’ve assembled it, they can use their breath to make the ball float; so cool!
Learn More: Steve Spangler Science
51. Fidgeting With The Center of Mass
Make this complicated physics topic a little easier to understand for your learners by relating it to the infamous fidget spinner! Using a light-up fidget spinner, your kiddos can experiment by removing some of the lights to change how the mass is distributed. Then you can encourage them to observe any differences in how the toy moves as these changes are made!
Learn More: From Engineer To SAHM
52. Catapult to First Prize
For this exciting experiment, your kiddos will need to build their own catapult! You can guide them to make one easily out of some recycled materials like some pieces of wood, or a wooden spoon and some paper towel rolls. All that’s left is to grab some objects, take aim, and send them flying!
Learn More: Education Possible
53. Balloon Lungs
Not only is this a fun experiment to make, but it will also teach your kids an important lesson about lung health and safety! Have them cut the bottom off a plastic bottle, then use balloons and straws to create ready-to-inflate lungs. This amazing idea gives them a visual of how our lungs do their job!
Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary
54. What Do Owls Eat?
Are your kiddos curious about animals, their diet, and their digestion? Well, if they aren’t, they will be soon! Owls are particularly unique in how they swallow and digest their food in that they swallow their food whole, but cannot digest parts like fur or bones. Take your class out in search of some owl pellets and get learning!
Learn More: Gift Of Curiosity
55. Potato Battery
Is a science fair even a science fair if it doesn’t feature this classic science experiment? Have your little scientists explore the electrifying properties of the humble potato! Did you know it also works with any fruit or vegetable high in potassium? Let your class get creative and make some energy!
Learn More: Kidz World
57. Build a DIY Grow Box
If it’s too cold out to grow plants outdoors, have your young scientists build their own grow boxes! Line a box with foil, add a UV lamp, and watch the magic happen! They’ll love the chance to grow a whole host of different plants and monitor their progress.
Learn More: Uplifting Mayhem
58. Purify Water With Charcoal
You’d never think something as dirty as charcoal could actually be used to clean! In this science experiment, your students will discover ways to clean drinking water by creating a filter using activated carbon. This simple experiment will shine a light on the importance of clean drinking water and is sure to be a science fair eye-opener!
Learn More: The Homeschool Scientist
59. Acid Rain Experiment
Simulate the effects of acid rain on plant life in this hands-on science experiment! Let your kiddos observe the effects of this weather phenomenon by observing how plants react when placed in a mini greenhouse containing vinegar versus one containing only water. The results are truly drastic!
Learn More: STEAM Powered Family
60. Build a Barometer
This easy science project encourages your kids to make a barometer to measure air pressure and weather changes! Use household items, including metal cans, wire, and rubber bands, to make to create this scientific instrument and track air pressure along with weather changes. They could even try their hand at predicting the weather!
Learn More: KC Edventures
61. Build a Wave Machine
A few simple materials are all you need to make this ingenious wave machine! These are useful for studying sound waves, energy transfer, frequency, amplitude, and more! A bit of measurement, some skewers, clay, and the versatile roll of duct tape are all your kiddies will need to make this science project come to life.
Learn More: Engaging Science Labs
62. Build a Solar Oven
This classic childhood science project is one that has endured the ages – the solar oven! Pizza boxes, foil, and some plastic wrap turn a simple chunk of cardboard into an amazing experience that teaches your class all about reflection, refraction, heat, and energy. Not to mention, the end result is absolutely delicious! Solar s’mores, anyone?
Learn More: Child Sci
63. Make Mummified Apples
This creepy science project results in a great display that blends history and science! After a bit of research on mummification in your ancient Egyptians topic, let your little ones try out the process on some apples. Have them try out different substances such as salt and baking powder to see which is most effective!
Learn More: Raising Arizona Kids
64. Popcorn Investigation
Have you ever noticed how different brands of popcorn always produce different amounts of leftover kernels? It’s time to set your learners on a mission to discover which brands produce the most and least amount of waste! Have them work through the scientific process of testing, recording, and comparing in this fun project!
Learn More: K Muska Science
65. Windmill Engineering
This wind-powered science project provides a firsthand look into the power of wind and wind turbines. Using household materials, your young scientists will create a windmill model and engineer it to power a Lego Minifigure Lift. What a great way to encourage perseverance and ingenuity!
Learn More: STEAM Powered Family
66. Learn to Code With Robots
Beginners and enthusiasts alike can never go wrong with a science project that includes coding! Your young coders will show off the process of designing and writing the code for high-tech robots to complete various tasks. This colorful coding mat makes an amazing addition to any science fair display!
Learn More: Facebook
67. Test Sunscreen Effectiveness
A blue-ribbon winning science fair project for anyone who loves a day at the beach. This project takes a look into the effectiveness of different sunscreens in order to determine which is better to use. This project is a great test of the scientific method and provides a real-world connection that is invaluable info for anyone who visits the booth.
Learn More: Pinterest
68. Research and Compare Sugar Content
This eye-opening science fair project shines a light on the sugar content in what we drink every day. Taking a variety of drinks, your kiddies will predict and measure the actual sugar content of each drink to provide a visual display of the amount of sugar in each brand. This one will definitely make them think twice on their next visit to the vending machine!
Learn More: Pinterest
69. Play With Magnetism
This fun science project seeks to show your learners the effects of magnetism and ingenuity. Using earth magnets, batteries, and a few other simple materials, this experiment seeks to create a fun spinning top toy that is self-powered, through the presence of a magnetic field! Who said science isn’t like playtime? Definitely not a middle schooler with a rocking science fair project like this!
Learn More: YouTube
70. Make Pumpkin Slime
This gross science experiment puts a fun twist on the classic slime-making project. Add water, liquid glue, and liquid start to a healthy serving of pumpkin guts, and watch the magic happen! Your kids will squirm as it morphs into a disgustingly viscous substance that’s perfect for Halloween fun!
Learn More: YouTube
71. Baby Product Testing
Some of the best science fair projects are ones that are relevant, valid, and helpful! This science fair project is great for any kids in your class who are big brothers or sisters! Have them dig into the scientific method and determine which diapers are more absorbent and offer more bang for your buck!
Learn More: Kids Out And About
72. Stain Fighting Science
Another promising product-testing science fair project is to determine the usefulness and effectiveness of different cleaning solutions. This project has your kids test different laundry products and use the scientific method to determine the best choice for removing hard-to-clean stains. As an extension activity, add a research project on PFAs.
Learn More: Inspiration Laboratories
73. Test the Five-Second Rule
Ah yes, the timeless ‘five-second rule’. We all know it, and the story goes that any food dropped on the floor is still safe to eat if picked up within five seconds. But is that true? This fun science experiment lets your kiddos test that hypothesis and uncover the real truth behind the five-second myth by analyzing bacteria growth on dropped food products.
Learn More: Sassy Cassy Sews
74. Salty Circuits
Did you know that you can create a model of a circuit using salt? It’s new to us too! This science fair project models how circuits can be created by using salt, liquid watercolor, and a few bits of electrical wire. This is an easy science fair project for kiddos that will definitely light up the judges.
Learn More: YouTube
75. Make the Best Cookies Ever!
Everyone loves a cookie, so why not turn them into a science fair project? Get your learners looking into how different amounts and types of fat (butter, shortening, coconut oil, etc) have an effect on the overall taste and texture of a cookie. While it takes some prep and a few rounds of baking, this science fair project is definitely a tasty way to win!
Learn More: Pinterest
76. Test Teeth Whiteners
Product testing is always a popular choice for science fair projects. Your students can use a project like this one that uses stained hard-boiled eggs as stand-ins for human teeth. Guide them to come up with a hypothesis, and then test different kinds of toothpaste and teeth whiteners to determine which one is best!
Learn More: Pinterest
77. Study Sibling Similarities
Do siblings have similar fingerprints? This unique science fair project will see your kiddos take a deep dive into how fingerprint types occur within families and sibling groups. By sampling many family groups, they can discover that fingerprint types are also inherited traits!
Learn More: Easy Peasy Science
78. Just How Greasy Are Those Chips?
If your hands are always covered in grease after eating chips, what does that say about the amount of grease in the whole bag? In this science fair project, your kiddos will aim to prove the amount of fat in chips by removing it and determining its overall weight. It sounds gross, but it’s going to be eye-opening!
Learn More: Pinterest
79. Science for Sports Fans
The perfect project for your baseball fans! Grab a few different styles of baseball bats and let them complete this experiment to uncover which bats have the capability to hit the furthest. What an amazing way to work through the scientific process for your kinesthetic learners!
Learn More: Pinterest
80. Tiny Tesla Coils
Tesla coils are amazing devices, but they’re huge and can be quite dangerous. Have your learners bring this down to a manageable experiment by building their own mini Tesla coils with just a few simple materials. This project will surely be a bright spot at the science fair this year!
Learn More: YouTube
81. Build a Water Fountain
This STEM-focused project seeks to examine water circulation by using recycled materials to create a homemade water fountain. Plastic bottles, some tubing, and water are just a few resources your kiddies will need to get moving on this amazing idea.
Learn More: YouTube
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