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