physical science project ideas for 8th graders

This project is an oldie but a goodie! This experiment uses the potassium in the potato to conduct energy and can also be done with lemons or other high-potassium fruits and veggies. Owl pellets are readily available online, and kids will be intrigued by what they find. Dissect an owl pelletĭig into an owl’s undigested meals (it’s not as gross as it sounds!) to discover what their diet consists of. Learn more: Surviving a Teacher’s Salary 27. You can modify the experiment to demonstrate the effects of smoking too. Kids get a better understanding of the respiratory system when they build model lungs using a plastic water bottle and some balloons. Learn more: Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus 26.

Students gain a deeper understanding of the cardiovascular system when they construct a working model of a heart ventricle. Sending stuffed animals flying in the name of science? Sixth grade students will be all over it! This simple catapult activity focuses on the trajectory of objects based on force and other factors. Learn more: There’s Just One Mommy/Iron in Cereal 24. Find out if that’s really true with this sixth grade science experiment that’s bound to surprise with its results. The human body needs iron to be healthy, and many breakfast cereal boxes boast that they contain it. Learn more: From Engineer to Stay at Home Mom 23. Learning about the laws of motion? This experiment uses a fidget spinner with three lights to show how mass and torque affect inertia. Use a fidget spinner to understand inertia You only need plastic bottles, bendy straws, and Ping-Pong balls to make the science magic happen. Kids will get a kick out of this experiment, which is really all about Bernoulli’s principle. Learn more: Science Buddies/Archimedes Squeeze 21. All you really need is aluminum foil and a container of water. It sounds like a wild dance move, but this sixth grade science experiment helps kids understand Archimedes’ principle. Learn more: Science Buddies/Engineer Cell Phone Stand 20. Your sixth grade science students will be thrilled when you let them use their phones in class! Challenge them to use their engineering skills and a small selection of items to design and build a cell phone stand. Learn more: Science Buddies/Milk Into Plastic 19. Kids will have fun sculpting the casein polymers into shapes while learning about the polymerization of plastics. Use simple kitchen supplies to create plastic polymers from plain old milk. You only need a few drugstore chemicals to change the solution from clear to dark blue faster than students can blink.

Want to see your kids gasp in amazement? Perform the iodine clock reaction. Change the color of a liquid in an instant Learn more: Left Brain Craft Brain/Steady-Hand Game 17. This is such a fun way to learn about circuits! It also brings in a bit of creativity, making up the “A” in STEAM. You’ll probably want to take this giant carbon sugar snake experiment outside, but it’s surprisingly easy to do! Kids will be amazed, and they’ll learn about chemical and thermal reactions. Learn more: Science Buddies/Two-Stage Balloon Rocket 15. This experiment uses balloons to model a two-stage rocket launch, teaching kids about the laws of motion. The rockets used for space flight generally have more than one stage to give them the extra boost they need. In this one, they’ll wind up with an amazing eggshell geode to take home. The magic of crystals never fails to amaze! Crystal experiments are a favorite way to teach about supersaturated solutions. Expand the learning by trying the same experiment with different materials and liquids.

Send water traveling down a stringĮxplore the properties of cohesion and adhesion with this simple experiment using only water and cotton string. You’ll also need a double-A battery pack with alligator clips and small LED bulbs. Glow-in-the-dark glue makes this salt circuit project even more fun and engaging. The eggs shrink or grow, depending on the liquid they’re placed in. Now, submerge those naked eggs in corn syrup and water to learn about osmosis.

Physical science project ideas for 8th graders