Science fair project ideas for kids of all ages!
Like it or not- it's back to school time! And I know some of you have students or children that will be doing science fair projects this year! Intimidated? Overwhelmed? Don't be! I've got some great ideas for you in many different scientific categories! Elementary school, middle school, or high school- there's plenty for everyone!
Before you start, make sure you know the difference between a scientific demonstration and a scientific experiment. Science experiments follow the scientific method by proposing a hypothesis, then testing it, often many times. Science demonstrations are generally an illustration of a concept that has already been studied. Demonstrations are more suited for elementary grades, while students in secondary grades are often required to do experiments. Be sure to check with your teacher before choosing a project.
Below you'll find a great list of science project ideas, but please also check out some of the fantastic sites that I've reviewed for even more ideas!
Life Science
Chemical Science
Physical Science
Need more options? Check out some of the great websites below!
Science Buddies- This website is my favorite of the ones I surveyed. It provides a list of over 1,000 project ideas from K-12 in 30 scientific fields such as aerodynamics, chemistry, engineering, and genetics. The site is well organized and easy to navigate. There is even a "Topic Selection Wizard" that helps you find a project tailored to your interests and timeline. You can actually select "My project is due tomorrow"!
Julian's Science Fair- This site is less glamorous than Science Buddies, but just as functional. There is an extensive list of projects for grades 1-12 in many different categories. These are science projects that have been done by other students previously, so it includes valuable information such as materials, cost, and links for background research.
All Science Fair Projects- At this site, you can search by keyword, difficulty level, and scientific category. I searched for "bacteria" and got 50 different project ideas for both middle school and high school levels. If you don't know what you're looking for, there is also a "browse" option.
Science Bob- This is a cool website with lots of experiments, demonstrations, and science fair ideas, but beware- many of the "experiments" are actually demonstrations. The site also includes a great "Q&A" page with interesting questions posed by followers.
Of course, the best science fair project is the one that you are the most interested in! Choosing your topic can be the most difficult part, but don't rush! You'll be spending lots of time researching and testing this topic, so pick something you like!
