Science fair projects for middle school

What to expect

Middle school is 6th to 8th grade, and this page lists every project that reaches 6th grade or above, the hardest first. The step up from elementary is in how the test is run, not in how big the project is: three or more tries at every level, a mean for each, the controls named and kept, and a second test once the first is done. Every project here has a Going further line that says what that second test is.

Middle school fairs often use the words independent variable, dependent variable and controlled variables, and judges ask about sources of error: what could have made a try come out differently, and what you did about it. A logbook with a dated line for every day you worked answers that before it's asked. Many middle school fairs feed a regional fair with stricter rules, so check your school's sheet early.

Counted from the projects on this page: 33 about how things move, 31 about water, ice and mixing, 27 about growing and weather; 39 using kitchen things, 30 using paper, tape and toys, 22 using the outdoors and some seeds. 57 are free with what most houses have, and the rest cost about $1 or about $3 or about $2 or about $4. Testing takes from 1 to 21 days. 13 have a step a grown-up does, marked on the page.