Conducting a Science Fair Experiment in Middle School

Some middle school students get excited when it is time to do a science fair project. Others tremble in fear at the thought of the work and time it takes to do such an experiment. By the time a child reaches middle school, the subjects are more complex and involved than they were in elementary school. Here are some ideas and tips for middle school science projects that should help even the most uninterested student take notice.

The first step to doing a middle school science project is to pick a subject that interests the student. It is a lot easier to complete a project when it is fun and exciting. Many students may have a hobby and they don't even realize that there may be a method behind what they love. For instance, if your child is into working on jigsaw puzzles, explain to them that they can do a science project on "Brain Power." This relates to psychology, which is science of the mind or mental processes. The topic of psychology opens a world of ideas and presentations that a student can do a project on. They can pick the broad topic of psychology, or pinpoint their project to human behavior or how the brain functions.

The next step in working on a middle school science project involves research. The student must gather data and cite sources for their research. Great places to utilize for this task include using the Internet, encyclopedias, magazines, and specific books on their topic. Data is extremely important to a science project because it helps to prove or disprove a theory, and it helps people understand why things happen the way they do. A student must also be prepared to write a short report about their findings on their project.

Another reason that research is so important to a science project is that there is a good chance people are going to ask questions about the project. This part of a presentation can make some students freeze in their tracks, but it doesn't have to be that way. Thorough research and understanding of what you read will make this part of the project easier. A student should act relaxed and natural when they are discussing their projects with others, and being prepared ahead of time will help relieve any sense of anxiety.

Conducting an experiment is the best part of a middle school science project. This is where the student gets down and dirty, and conducts a physical action that backs up their data and report. It is important that the student have all of the necessary materials to do the experiment accurately. It is no fun to show off your hard work and not have your experiment work right. The student should also document each step of the experiment on paper in a way that someone else could read their notes and do the experiment the exact same way.

Finally, a student should present their experiment with an interesting and eye-catching display. It should attract onlookers to come and see what is going at your exhibit. Consider having handouts that people can take with them, present your display with colors and clipart, and, if possible, wear a uniform that helps portray what type of scientist would study the field based around your project. In other words, be creative.

As you can see, a middle school science project can be fun and rewarding. It takes effort. It takes time. But, the finished project is something that students can be proud of.

Jordan Matthews is a High School Math and Science teacher who has worked as a judge and a coordinator of many science fairs. Check his Science Fair Project ideas website for some more ideas and information about conducting high-quality science fair projects.

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Middle School Science Fair Projects Made Fun and Easy

Middle school science fair projects are a transition phase for students, neither too elementary nor too high school level. However, just because it is your transition stage does not mean that you have to be ambivalent about your middle school science experiments, far from it. Instead, you should show off your accumulated knowledge and passionate interest in science by adopting any of the following projects. Just remember that before you choose one, you should have assessed in which field of science you are most interested in. This way, you will be more motivated to do your research, conceptualize your project and then accomplish your vision.

Renewable Energy

One of the hottest topics for middle school science fair projects today is renewable energy in the form of solar power and wind turbines. You can tap into this interest by constructing a model of how solar panels and/or wind turbines work to provide energy and electricity to home and industries. This is probably one of the easiest and yet most eye-catching middle school science fair projects for many reasons. For one thing, you can purchase ready-made, easy-to-assemble and easy-on-the-pocket kits for solar energy and wind power science projects. For another thing, you can make it as eye-catching as possible with the addition of houses and buildings complete with lights.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car

You may also purchase a ready-made kit for the hydrogen fuel cell car, which provides for 30 distinct experiments. You will be able to demonstrate the workings and benefits of the energy-efficient car, which is one of the more notable inventions technologies of the century. Among the experiments contained in the kit are the uses of solar power for vehicle power, the utilization of fuel cell to separate the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in water, and demonstration of electrolysis. Well, of course, you can always make your own experiments just so your middle school science fair projects stand out from the rest of the competition.

Magnetic Levitation Train

Now this is one science fair project that is absolutely possible! You will, of course, need to do your research about the principle behind the magnetic levitation train, purchase the necessary materials like ceramic magnets for the lifter-rails, wood for the guide rails and model cars, and then execute your drawings and plans. You can then perform experiments with the completed Maglev train set such as using gravity to push the car forward and using the car itself to move something along its path. You can be very creative, maybe even perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of your experiments.

Resurrecting the Dead

Fishes, that is. You are basically recreating the technology of cryonics where dead fishes are placed in a state of suspended animation, which is used in Japan to preserve the freshness of the day's catch. As part of your middle school science fair projects, you can follow the example of two brothers who supposedly resurrected a dead goldfish by using Mountain Dew, water and a 9-volt battery. Of course, you have to do it on a trial and error basis but that's where the fun of discovery lies. However, conduct your research before you go about killing all the goldfishes in your home's aquarium.

With these ideas for middle school science fair projects, you will definitely get the attention of the judges and do yourself, your parents and your teachers proud.

For more middle school science fair projects and step-by-step instructions, visit http://www.easy-kids-science-experiments.com. Be sure to check out the site for tons of simple science projects elementary science experiments, middle school, and high school science.

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Middle School Science Fair Ideas - What To Do For The Middle Grades

In order to survive in the competitive world, one has to learn to show his or her talent. There are many opportunities for students to show their talents through various fairs, especially if they are in middle school. Science fairs are the place, where any student interested in science, can get involved in some project presentation, in order to satisfy his quest for knowledge. Middle school science fair ideas are selected by a student belonging to the age group of 11-14. Since these students are still young, the topics selected need not be purely original. The middle school science fair idea can be a replica of already created one with slight modifications if possible.

The science fair is mainly intended for expressing the process of science and presenting the project work. The middle school science fair idea is mainly intended to teach the skills like planning, controlling and evaluation through the project. The project may be creation of a model kit, demonstration of a model or investigation to find out unknown answers to theoretical questions.

Middle school science fair ideas are often comprised of the following areas of science: botany, chemistry, zoology, biology, environment, earth sciences, electricity, solar energy, electronics, physics, and engineering. Some of the topics that will be suitable for the a middle school science fair idea may be such as splitting of water to hydrogen and oxygen, or a study on how to protect a computers from viruses (remember, computer science is a science).

In physics, the topics like assessing the physical property of eggs, difference between music and noise, working of gasoline engine, or the formation of rainbow pattern of light through a prism, will be of range suitable for the middle school science fair idea. Similarly in chemistry one can analyze the impact of UV rays on different objects, study of surface tension of different liquids and how it is affected, extracting pure water from salt water etc. Biological project topics can be of studying the relation between sweat and heat, studying the living conditions of different organisms or animals etc.

While presenting the project in the science fair, one should be careful in many of the minute aspects which are often left unnoticed. Few of these includes the gestures used, eye contact, using voice, introduction, giving brief description of what is to be explained, explanation, comprehending and conclusion, answering questions, preparing for answering questions, repeating the question asked by the audience, maintaining the individuality, answering the question to everyone, use of display board as a visual aid, using pointer, rehearsing the project repeatedly before actual presentation.

As a result of the latest technology one can get access to varied topics for the project through internet. There are websites which offer suggestions for carrying out different projects that will be suitable for science fair. They also throw light on topics similar to that given in the site which can be tried out by the investigator.

Jordan Matthews is a High School Math and Science teacher who has worked as a judge and a coordinator of many science fairs. Check his Science Fair Project ideas website for some more middle school science fair ideas and information.

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Choosing the Right Middle School Science Project

Science Projects were easier in elementary school. Back then, you could submit a model rocket, an egg sucked into a bottle, or a simple science report on electricity. It's different in middle school. Middle School science teachers want creative ideas, specific elements, in depth research, and detailed logs of the whole science fair process.

Finding a middle school science project that meets all these criteria has always been a challenge for our family. Our teachers wanted an experiment based, investigative project for the science fair. There are five different types of science projects, but most of the books in the library had projects that were actually demonstrations or models. It's very important that you read the directions from your teacher and/or the science fair, and make sure that the project your child chooses fits into the right category - especially in middle school.

Here are the five types of projects.

1. Investigative projects - Most science fairs require students to submit an investigative science project. This type of project has an experiment that tests an hypothesis. The experiment will follow the scientific method, and may require a control group. (If you're unfamiliar with this vocabulary, check out the free resource below!)

An example of an investigative project would be "How does salt affect the boiling point of water?" This can easily be tested by our experiment which adds different amounts of salt to water and recording the temperature at which it boils.

If you see the words experiment, scientific method, control and/or variable on the project instructions, you'll probably need an investigative project. As mentioned before, they're not easy to find.

2. Demonstration projects - In this type of project a student demonstrate a scientific principle, and lots of time the teacher wants it presented in front of the class as an oral report. There is no true experiment performed, because there won't be a control or different variables.

3. Research project - Basically this is a science report. Students research a topic, and write what they discovered. Any type of science topic can be used for a research project.

4. Models - For a model project, models are built to explain a scientific principle or structure.

5. Collections - In this type of project a collection of objects is displayed to give an overview of a topic. An example would be a rock collection or a display showing pictures of various animals in a specific family.

Every middle school science fair will have slightly different criteria for projects. As you search for a project, make sure it's the type of project your school requires. If you need help, check out "The Non-Scientist Parent's Guide to Science Fair Projects", which has guides for all the different types of science projects - including the experiment based ones! There is a vocabulary list that gives simple definitions to those vocabulary words you learned in middle school, but promptly forgot.

Believe it or not, science projects are designed to help students learn about science. Figure out which type of project your school requires, and you'll be one step closer to showing your child how much fun science can be!

Kayla Fay and her four boys are the creators of Online Science Project Guides, science projects that are fun, easy, affordable, and teacher pleasing! Find out about these guides, and get a free copy of "The Non-Scientist Parent's Guide to Science Fair Projects" at http://www.onlinescienceprojects.com

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Middle School May Be Passe Within the Boston Schools

The middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.

Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model

With this model, Boston district would expand their elementary levels to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn't.

The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary levels is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment -- especially within the urban areas.

Many educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with the Boston District but also connected on a more positive level.

Upper Grades Model

Others support the upper grades model of integrating the middle schools with the secondary levels. The largest proponents of this model are the high school teachers, especially those teaching ninth graders. These Boston schools teachers currently must hustle to get new ninth graders, who are not prepared, up to par for the high school experience. They would like to have these students earlier.

Many educators believe the upper grades model creates a consistent environment from seventh through twelfth grade and more accountability for student outcomes. This potential model for the Boston schools emulates some of the elite private and public schools, offering the best opportunity for students from lower income families where college is not generally presumed. With a rigorous six-year curriculum and encouragement, more of these students are hoped to continue their education at a college or university.

The upper grades model is currently gaining more traction than the K-8 for the Boston schools, since some schools are expressing interest in expanding their schools to include both middle and high school grades. Two high schools that are considered to be the better achievers in the Boston District would like to include middle school grades under their roof and control. Additionally, a Boston middle school also has expressed interest in expanding its curriculum to include high school students.

The upper grades model is not new to the Boston schools, which has two such schools in operation for several years and are quite successful. Also, there are three competitive admission exam Boston schools that use the model, offering college preparatory curriculum for Boston's top scoring students. One is the renowned Boston Latin School, whose students have the expectation that they will continue on to college or another higher form of education after graduation.

This only reinforces proponents' belief that if it is good to focus on academic achievement from sixth through twelfth grades for the elite students within the Boston schools, then educators and parents should have the same high expectations for all students.

Whatever model is chosen by the Boston schools, the city is ready for the discussion. Last fall, the Boston schools named a 17 member Middle Grades Task Force. Their recommendations are expected to be delivered to the Boston schools leaders in the spring.

The middle school years are very difficult for Boston schools students at such sensitive ages of adjustment from children to young adults. Regardless of which model educators, leaders and parents back for the Boston schools' students, they all agree that any transition should take place either before or after these years -- not both.

Patricia Hawke is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations and education for relocating families. For more information please Boston School Ratings and Boston School Rankings

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