| Middle school science projects almost always have to | | | | of a true experiment must be measurable. Come up |
| be done in the form of an experiment. The trouble for | | | | with a weigh to measure the amount of weight the |
| most students is that most of the time, projects that | | | | bones can support before breaking, and you may just |
| are on the internet or in books are either | | | | win your middle school science fair. |
| demonstrations or models. Since they don't follow the | | | | - How hot can a solar heater get? - First of all, finding |
| scientific method, neither of these meet the | | | | the answer to this question may result in a fire! Make it |
| qualifications of the middle school science fair. | | | | an experiment by testing two different solar heater |
| The good news is that many times, a model can be | | | | models. Construct two identical heaters, one with a |
| used in an experiment, and variables can be added to | | | | glass front, and the other with a plexiglass front. |
| a demonstration, so that it can be one, too. Here are | | | | Measure the temperature over several days, and see |
| five examples of projects that are modified to | | | | which one got the hottest. |
| become an experiment. | | | | - What happens when you mix chalk and lemon juice? |
| - How can you make a potato canon? - This is a fun | | | | - Studying acids and bases is fascinating, but there are |
| activity, and it demonstrates how cool science can be, | | | | no variables - so it's not an experiment. Change it up. |
| but it doesn't test anything. How can you turn it into an | | | | Soak pieces of chalk in water, a basic solution, and an |
| experiment? Vary the trajectory, and ask, "At which | | | | acid, and note the variance in the weight. |
| angle will a potato canon launch a potato the | | | | Remember, an experiment is a test of the relationship |
| farthest?" | | | | between two variables that have measurable results |
| - What happens when seeds germinate? - This is a | | | | that can be replicated. It amazes me that reputable |
| great lesson, but what are kids comparing? Turn it into | | | | science publications will label any sort of science |
| an experiment by testing "At which temperature do | | | | activity as an experiment. It doesn't matter that you're |
| seeds germinate the best?" Use different watt bulbs | | | | still in middle school type of project isn't right. You can |
| to vary the temperature. | | | | do better than 'real' scientists! Turn a 'non-experiments' |
| - How do bones change when soaked in vinegar? - | | | | into middle school projects that will amaze judges, your |
| This is close to an experiment, but the project I saw | | | | teachers - and yourself! |
| didn't have a way to measure the change. The results | | | | |