It’s tenth grade and things are getting serious now in the science department! Tenth-grade science projects can include working with the periodic table, atomic theory, radiation, chemical bonds, and many more complex and reactive concepts. The fair is the time for your kids to show off everything they’ve learned, impress their classmates and teachers, and possibly win the grand prize! We’ve come up with this amazing list of science projects with the most explosive and energetic ideas to inspire your kids to get their mad scientist vibes on! Read on and see which ones will be show-stoppers at your next fair!
1. Groovy Airplane
Did you know that the dimples on the outside of a golf ball actually make it more aerodynamic? What if we added grooves like that on airplane wings? Have your kids make their own miniature airplane with a wooden frame and airfoils. Get them to add dimples in the wings that mimic those in a golf ball, and take it out for a flight. They can record their results and see if their hypothesis is correct!
Learn More: Google Science Fair
2. Alginate Farming
With environmental issues such as droughts and land shortages on the rise, a biological fair project is a great option! Alginate in gel form helps control the water-release rate, conserving water and distributing it with less evaporation to help in places where there is drought. Challenge your students to experiment with this substance in a plant bed to see its impact on seedling germination.
Learn More: Google Science Fair
3. Density of Vegetables
This simple science experiment is straightforward and will have your kids determine the density of various fruits and veggies. Have them pick up some of their favorites, a pan, a jar, and a stove burner, and get testing. They’ll fill the jar with water and then put it into the pan. Next, they can place their veggie/fruit in the jar and see if it sinks or floats and record the correlation between density, by measuring the volume of displaced water.
Learn More: Education
4. Cardboard Solar Lamp
Inspire your renewable energy engineers of the future! This science project uses recycled cardboard and a few other basic art supplies, as well as some electronic parts to harness the power of solar energy and create a lantern! The final product should be chargeable by the sun, as well as rechargeable with an electrical adapter.
Learn More: Instructables
5. Wet and Dry Worms
This is some science for kids who like creepy crawlers! It’s very simple to set up using basic materials: a pot of wet soil, a pot of dry soil, and some worms. Instruct your kids to put the same amount of worms in each pot, then watch and record their tunneling patterns to see if one soil type is easier to maneuver through than the other.
Learn More: Science Buddies
6. Bottle Rockets
This is one of those classic science experiments that always makes an impact. Task your little scientists to build a homemade bottle rocket using STEM concepts as well as some common household ingredients like colored vinegar and baking soda. They’ll follow the instructions for assembly and get creative with the decoration, then it’s time to stand back and launch!
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
7. Fight Back Against Germs
If your kids are interested in microbiology and how soap can fight off germs, then this is the project for them! They’ll only need four simple ingredients; a tray, water, soap, and glitter. The glitter will act like “germs”, so when the water and dish soap combine, the glitter moves away from the soap! It’s the perfect demonstration to help them explain how important soap is in fighting infections!
Learn More: Living Life And Learning
8. Cell Phone Radiation
This one might make your kids think twice about how long they spend on their phones! In this science fair experiment, they’ll measure cell phone radiation to see if the energy transfer is at levels dangerous to humans. They can use an RF meter to test fair-goers’ smartphones and other electronic devices to see which emits the most radiation!
Learn More: Bakers Field
9. Fuel-less Cars
Your tenth-grade students are probably starting to learn how to drive and are all about cars! This means it’s the perfect time for them to test out electric forms of travel and see if we can engineer more environmentally safe means of travel for the future. To get started on this engineering challenge your kids will need some materials that can be easily found at a hardware store! Have them follow the instructions and see if their electric car can go!
Learn More: YouTube
10. How Different Drinks Affect Your Bladder
This experiment is not for the faint-hearted! Your kids will try out different drinks and measure the effects that each one has on their bladder! They’ll set a time limit to finish their drink (some options are bottled water, coffee, Gatorade, or juice) and then measure how much urine is produced in the set period that follows. Let your kids be as creative as they with what liquids they choose to test!
Learn More: Steemit
11. Speed of Light: Air vs. Water
Measure if the speed of light is affected by the medium it’s traveling through! Your kids will try out a whole host of different materials and use some special equipment to measure just how quickly the light reaches the other side. This physics-based experiment is perfect for your tenth-graders who like a bit of a challenge!
Learn More: Education
12. The Power of Citrus
This cool science experiment uses some of your kids’ favorite foods, fruit! Pick up a variety of fruits from your local market, including some citrus ones, and let your students hook them up to an LED light with a multimeter to see which fruit produces the most electricity! Let them make predictions about which fruit works as the best power source for the light!
Learn More: Go Science Girls
13. Homerun Hitters
Do you have any baseball fans? They’ll love this science fair project which involves watching baseball games and collecting data on the different players’ streaks and slumps! Many sports fans and commentators talk about streaks in baseball when a player is consistently doing well and is unlikely to mess up. Is this possible to predict or are these coincidences? Let them use the scientific method to find out!
Learn More: Pinterest
14. Ocean Currents
Do a deep dive into the ocean with this project idea. Your learners will use food coloring to make colored water to demonstrate how ocean currents move! Instruct them to set up a dish with iced water to replicate the ocean- they could even add a few whales and other sea creatures too! Then have them show the effects of adding warmer water into their ice-cold oceans and wow fair-goers as the currents are revealed!
Learn More: Life Over CS
15. Bird Beak Investigations
Why do birds have beaks, and why are they all different shapes and sizes? For this simple science experiment, you will need a few types of materials that behave like the beaks of different bird species. Spoons, straws, chopsticks for the beaks, some liquids, and small objects mimicking the food. Use the imitation beaks and try to pick up various possible bird foods to see which work best and give reasons why.
Learn More: Adventures in Mommydom
16. Wind-Powered Energy
Does your class have a passion for renewable energy? Challenge them to construct their own windmill to see how kinetic energy works! Using some basic craft supplies and recycled materials they can build their own working windmill! This project is sure to show off their engineering mindset and construction abilities; it might even win them the tenth-grader prize!
Learn More: YouTube
17. Moon Phases
This edible earth science experiment can use everyday foods, they just have to be round. This example uses Oreos, but your budding astronomers can use crackers, veggie slices, or whatever floats your boat! They’ll impress their classmates with a detailed explanation of the moon phases and as an added bonus, have some delicious food samples to try and win over the judges with!
Learn More: Optics Central
18. Room Heater
This ingenious tenth-grade science project can be done in a classroom lab or at home. Your savvy students will be able to explain how energy conversion works while lowering utility bills! This engineering project can be a little difficult to assemble and requires some specialist parts that you’ll need to source for them. Your kids may need a little help, but the final project will be a real contender to win the fair for sure!
Learn More: Pak Science Club
19. Natural Antibiotics vs. Synthetic Antibiotics
When it comes to antibiotics, are manmade versions better than naturally occurring ones? Your kiddos will be able to answer this question once they’ve presented this science project! They’ll put both antibiotics into Petri dishes with some E. coli bacterium and see which kills the bad bacteria the quickest! Which do you think will win out?
Learn More: Education
20. Analyzing Air Quality
This project will have your students test the air quality. They can conduct the experiment inside or outside and they will only need a few materials to test and then record their findings. They’ll smear some petroleum jelly onto some graph paper and then leave it in the area they want to test. After a while, have them retrieve their paper and examine the results!
Learn More: Instructables
21. What Causes Iron to Rust?
Did you know that rust is actually the result of a chemical reaction? Let them experiment with this form of corrosion by putting nails in different conditions, such as dry, wet, air-free, and salty, and compare them after three days to see which ones have rusted!
Learn More: Royal Society Of Chemistry
22. Effect of Acid Rain on Plants
Your students will learn about acid rain with this next experiment. Task them with using bean seeds, soil, vinegar, water, pH paper, and some other simple materials to figure out how acid rain negatively affects plants. Afterward, you can have them discuss pollution and how we can do our part to protect the environment.
Learn More: Study
23. Exploring Groundwater
Take your tenth-graders’ learning to the ground! Challenge them to explore how porosity and permeability work with this fun experiment that investigates the way soil absorbs groundwater and how it can change depending on certain conditions. They can replicate different soil conditions using differently sized gravel, then add water to see how fast it makes its way through!
Learn More: NOAA
24. Identifying Rocks
Have you ever wondered about the different types of rocks? I know I have! Give your kiddies the chance to get hands-on and explore rocks with this project. They’ll use a steel nail to scratch the rocks and use the provided scale to determine how hard or soft the rock is. Why not have them present their findings at the next science fair?
Learn More: Teach Beside Me
25. DIY Tin Can Planters
You don’t have to have a green thumb to create your own tin can planters! This is a super way to show your learners the benefits of repurposing and sustainability as they put their planters together. You could even have them get creative and paint their own planters!
Learn More: Youth Sustainability
26. DIY Rain Gauge
If you’ve got a topic coming up around weather then this project will be a great fit! Test your kids’ ingenuity by having them build their own rain gauge from recycled materials and then put it outside to collect the rainwater. It’s then up to them to track how much rainwater they collect over a set time and compare it with their peers!
Learn More: Instructables
27. Seasons Experiment
Open your tenth graders’ eyes to how the tilting of our planet affects the sunlight hours and creates the seasons. Invite your kids to discuss their favorite seasons and the key differences between each one as they work! Be sure to have a flashlight on hand for this fun experiment.
Learn More: Scientific American
28. Tornado in a Jar
Never mind a storm in a teacup, here’s a tornado in a jar! This is a quick experiment that can answer some questions your students may have about tornadoes! Direct your learners to Kids fill up a jar with water, add some dish soap and food coloring, and then put the lid back on. Next, have them swirl the jar in a circular motion to form the tornado. What a fun way to introduce them to the forces at play in this weather phenomenon!
Learn More: One Little Project
29. Making a Volcano
Take the classic volcano experiment to the next level with this project! After each eruption of their baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, have your kids draw around the lava flow. Mop up the liquid then use Play-Doh to mold the lava flow. Reset the volcano and go again, and again! Each time, use a new color of Play-Doh until you have a fully formed volcano! Cool, right?
Learn More: NASA
30. Exploring Light
Teach your teens about the properties of light with this interesting project. They’ll explore how a rainbow is formed, how light affects security systems, and learn about radiation! This resource includes worksheets and reference sheets that they can use to guide them through completing the project. They’ll just need a flashlight and a few other easy-to-find materials to get started with.
Learn More: Teach Engineering
31. Rock Candy Crystals
Your high schoolers will be enchanted with this fun project where they can grow their own crystals that they can even eat! They’ll mix up a sugar and water solution with some hot water, then follow the instructions to dip their string or stick into the solution then leave the crystals to form!
Learn More: Science Fun
32. Soil Erosion
Explore the science of soil erosion with your teens! Challenge your kiddies to put together a working model that will show the process of soil erosion when they add water to demonstrate rainfall. As they watch the effect that the water has on buildings and greenery, you can encourage them to compare results and consider the real-world implications of this!
Learn More: YouTube
33. Layers of the Earth
This science-fair-worthy project helps your kids learn all about the layers of the earth. Let their creativity shine as you leave it up to them to decide if they want to construct a 3D model or simply design an educational project. Whatever they choose, you can encourage them to label each layer from the core to the crust to show that they know their stuff!
Learn More: Building A Classroom Of Ideas
34. Making Magnetic Ferrofluid
There’s just no question about it; ferrofluid is so cool! Your kiddos will love getting the chance to make their own ferrofluid, which is a fluid that contains magnetic shavings. All they’ll need to do is mix some magnetic inc with household oil, and then they’re ready to hold a magnet up to their mixing cup and watch the mixture turn from liquid to solid!
Learn More: Instructables
35. Compost Cups
Your students will learn about the process of decomposition with this next science project. Get them to put together their own compost cups by collecting some leaves, and placing them in a plastic cup. They’ll then seal up the cups and leave them in a warm, sunny spot and be able to check in on them as their compost starts to form! This project is a great way for them to see how natural items are broken down and returned to soil form!
Learn More: The Happy Housewife
36. Homemade Weather Station
Calling all budding meteorologists! Dive into the world of weather by having your kiddies make their own weather stations to measure rainfall, temperature, and the direction and speed of wind. They’ll use easy-to-find materials to build their stations and can record their observations on the printable worksheet included.
Learn More: YouTube
37. Seed Germination Experiment
This amazing high school biology lesson pack is a super resource! Using the resources provided, you’ll teach your kids about the conditions that seeds need to grow into healthy plants, such as soil type, water, and sunlight. Provide your kids the physical resources like seeds and soil, and let them use the digital notebook in this pack to keep them right and record their results!
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
38. The Dirty Water Project
For the dirty water project, your students will work in teams to learn more about water pollution and solutions. They’ll need to act as problem solvers, as their job is to remove the pollutants from the water through filtration and aeration. They’ll test out a variety of methods and will write down the data they collect with their partners on which is most effective.
Learn More: Teach Engineering
39. Chemical Reactions
Get the safety goggles ready for this fun experiment with Alka-Seltzer. Let your little scientists compare the rate of chemical reactions under normal pressure and high pressure using different temperatures of water and Alka-Seltzer fizzing tablets. Encourage your class to make predictions and then put them to the test!
Learn More: Alka-Seltzer
40. Elephant Toothpaste
What list of science projects would be fully complete without the amazing elephant toothpaste experiment? Making elephant toothpaste is an extremely fun and exciting activity for your tenth-grade science students. Under your supervision, they’ll use high-volume hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, food coloring, water, and active dry yeast, to create a foam that looks like a very large burst of toothpaste!
Learn More: One Little Project
41. Build a Working Robot
Robots make great science projects! Your students will love the challenge of learning to build and code their own robots! These kits are a little expensive, ranging from $50-$100, but if your department is looking for a new great resource, this could be the answer. It will challenge your kids on everything from the digital aspect to more physical problems like balancing their bot so that it doesn’t fall over!
Learn More: Science Buddies
42. Testing for Starch in Leaves
Explore photosynthesis with your high schoolers! They’ll use boiling water and ethanol to extract chlorophyll from plant cells and then use iodine to test for starch. This is if the indicator changes color, then they’ll know that photosynthesis has taken place. They’ll find it super interesting to see how the leaves change colors!
Learn More: Emma the Teachie
43. Hydrophobic Sand
Hydrophobic sand is sand that doesn’t get wet, even when it encounters water! Let your kiddies learn about the scientific concept behind this phenomenon while working on this science project! They’ll need colored sand, water, a water-repellant fabric protector, a disposable plate, a fan, a plastic spoon, and a cup to get started with this fascinating project!
Learn More: Science Fun
44. Solar Oven
This solar oven is a fantastic project for tenth graders! They’ll demonstrate how the sunlight can provide enough power and heat to actually cook food! Materials used in this project include a cardboard box, foil, thermometer, black construction paper, and other basic household items.
Learn More: Jennifer Findley
45. Electrolysis of Water Experiment
What exactly are electrolytes? During this experiment, your science students will learn all about them and how they affect electrical currents! You’ll need test tubes, a small plastic cup, pushpins, and a battery, then your kids are all set to compare the electrolytes in distilled water, tap water, baking soda, lemon, salt, and dishwashing detergent. Don’t forget to have them record their observations to discuss later!
Learn More: Education
46. Density Tower
Create a density rainbow! Let your kiddies use different solutions with varying densities to create a tower with nine distinct layers. They can use simple kitchen items like honey, milk, water, vegetable oil, maple syrup, and more. Once the tower is in place, have them drop various items in the tower to see if they sink or float.
Learn More: Wonder How To
47. Freeze Water Instantly
In this project, your pupils will learn how supercooled water can turn into ice in an instant through nucleation. You can supercool your water by placing it in a freezer for around two hours, then pour it onto an ice cube and watch the magic happen! This project is guaranteed to amaze your kiddos and have them wanting to learn more about nucleation
Learn More: Only Passionate Curiosity
48. What Makes Popcorn Pop?
Your students may be surprised to learn about the science involved in making popcorn! During this project, they’ll observe and compare different brands of popcorn, recording the number of kernels popped and unpopped, how moisture affects the ability to pop, and other interesting variables. The best part is, they can eat the popcorn once they’ve finished making their scientific observations!
Learn More: Popcorn
49. Ice Cube vs. Water
Can a thin piece of wire and two bottles of water cut through an ice cube? Your science students are going to find out! They’ll use a thin wire and weigh it down with a bottle of water tied to each end, placing the wire onto an ice cube. Spoiler alert: it does work! They’ll be amazed to see the wire cut through the ice cube with the right conditions!
Learn More: KiwiCo
50. Heart Pump Model
This heart pump model makes for an excellent science fair project for your tenth-grade biology students. They’ll put together their model using plastic bottles, bendy straws, balloons, and some other simple materials to demonstrate how the heart pumps blood throughout the body. They’re sure to gain a whole new appreciation of their hard-working hearts after completing this project!
Learn More: Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus
51. Vitamin C Content in Fruit Juices
How much vitamin C does a glass of orange juice contain? Have your kiddos test different fruit juices to figure out how much vitamin C each one has! They’ll use a DCPIP solution as their indicator and will drip the fruit juice into it slowly, shutting it off as soon as the solution loses its blue color. They can then measure how much of each juice was required to change the color of the indicator and compare!
Learn More: Snap Biology
52. Apple Oxidation
Test out different methods of preservation with this simple experiment! Have your kids place apple slices in different solutions to see how they affect each one. They can set up a control (i.e. an apple not dipped in anything) and use this as their comparison. The results of what helps to preserve the apple and stop it from turning brown might be surprising!
Learn More: Jennifer Findley
53. Slime Science
Kids never tire of playing with slime, so they’ll be thrilled when you announce that their next science project is all about the science of slime! Have them work through this list of slime recipes and observe how different chemical makeups create different textures of slime! They’ll love making and playing with different samples and recording observations of the differences!
Learn More: Hess Unacademy
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