Middle School Science Fair Projects

Science Fair Basics

Project Topic

Your topic should be one that is interesting to you, yet not so difficult that you won’t be able to finish it without struggling. Choose something that you want to learn about and the project will fall into place. Think of a science question that can easily be answered by your experiment.

Time Line

One of the key tenets of science fair success is careful planning of your time. Science can’t be rushed, so don’t expect to pull off a great science project in one weekend. If you want a high grade for your project, you are going to have to work for it. Choose your project idea early and you’ll be able to create a time line that will eliminate stress for you, your parents and your teacher.

Working on Science Projects

Once you have chosen your project, it is important to follow all of the instructions carefully. Skipping ahead or missing important parts will ruin it and you’ll lose time by having to start all over again. It is better to do it right the first time than to have to rush at the last minute trying to recreate your project.

Fair Preparations

A large part of the science fair project is being able to discuss it with interested persons, your teacher and the judges. The best way to prepare for these questions is to thoroughly understand your project from the beginning to the end. Take careful notes throughout and then re-read them before the fair. Practice with friends and family by having them ask you questions about your project. Speaking in front of a mirror can also be helpful if you have no one to practice with.

Project Presentation

An eye-catching presentation is one way to ensure people (and judges!) will remember your science fair project. Great pictures and graphics are fine, but don’t forget that what you have written has an impact, too. Unless you have perfect penmanship, use a computer to develop written items for your display. This will make it easier for people to read the title and important details of your project, even from a few feet away. Practice with different sizes of typefaces and fonts to create the best-looking and easiest-to-read project boards. Don’t forget to type up a professional-looking project synopsis and report to hand out as well.

Transportation

Nothing is more disappointing than to work hard on a project and then have it ruined on the way to school. For detailed projects, enlist the help of a parent or a classmate’s parent to help you get your project to school safely. Pack your project very carefully in boxes and use bubble wrap, plastic peanuts or tissue paper to protect it from bumps along the way. Protect your display board by placing it in a large plastic garbage bag for the trip to school. This will keep it safe and dry and contain any pieces that may fall off by accident.

Ideas for Middle School Science Fair Projects

Choosing a science fair project can be easy if you know where to look. The following sites can be help you decide on a project that works within your time frame, knowledge and interests. Your project doesn’t have to be expensive either. The following sites offer middle school science fair projects for free!

• All Science Fair Projects – This site breaks down projects by area of interest, such as biology, physics, engineering and earth science. This site has over 500 projects for you to choose from and it includes project instructions.
• Science Fairs – This site provides a list of ideas for all levels of science fair projects.
• Do Science – A nice site for students and teachers with a wide variety of projects, from an alien autopsy to slam-dunk sports projects.
• Cyber Fair- A great resource that will walk you through the entire process of a science fair project.
• Crystal Clear Science Fair Projects – Create easy-to-do and understand science fair projects. Includes tips for parents, educators and how-to information for your display boards.