RAG MusicScience
Wonderful independent research

[Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Science Projects and Crafts Ideas

Have you already decided on your summer vacation independent research project? It’s easy to panic when you feel you have to do it but don’t have much time.

For junior high school students like that, here are some simple research and craft ideas you can complete in a day.

Once you gather the necessary materials, you can start right away! For example, there are experiments using everyday items and fun crafts you can make.

If you enjoy it, you’ll finish in no time.

After the experiment, write up your summary and reflections in a report.

That’s the most important part of the project.

Start thinking about it early so you can enjoy your summer vacation!

[Middle School] Easy One-Day Independent Research & Craft Ideas (81–90)

small accessory case

[100-Yen DIY] Fast and still in time! A small accessory box in 3 minutes—easy craft. Perfect for summer vacation projects or a room makeover. Enjoy your time at home!
small accessory case

Let me introduce a cute and handy little storage container.

Get a wooden box, a cutting board, a round dowel, a hot glue gun, and a saw, and let’s get started.

Use the hot glue gun to attach the cutting board to the left and right sides of the wooden box.

Cut the round dowel to the appropriate length, sand the ends smooth, thread it through the holes, and secure it with the hot glue gun.

The process is simple and easy to make, so definitely give it a try.

It’s also recommended to paint it to add a personal touch.

Let’s make a bamboo lantern

[Anywhere Art] [Summer Vacation Craft] Let's make a bamboo lantern
Let's make a bamboo lantern

Here’s how to make a bamboo lantern that looks beautiful when it glows at night.

Use a saw to cut the bamboo.

Make slits in the cut bamboo, then gently tap from above with a hammer to create openings where the light will shine through.

The key is to tap with the hammer without using too much force.

Drill holes to create several small windows for the light to leak out.

Wrap yarn around the top and bottom of the bamboo tube, using double-sided tape to secure it.

Place an LED light inside, switch it on, and let it shine.

It emits a soft glow that gives off a traditional Japanese ambiance.

Shiny 10-yen coin experiment

Independent Research for Middle Schoolers: 'The Shiny 10-Yen Coin Experiment and Considerations' (Doyama Kei)
Shiny 10-yen coin experiment

Even though a 10-yen coin is just 10 yen, a brand-new, shiny one somehow feels special, doesn’t it? It shouldn’t be worth more than 10 yen, and yet… The human heart really is a mystery.

Let’s try making a 10-yen coin shine.

This is a popular independent study topic for elementary school students, so as a plus, let’s add a middle-school-level perspective.

For example, experiments using strong acids or weak alkaline chemicals that elementary students likely wouldn’t know about.

You could also add originality by using purified water for rinsing, employing a high-pressure washer, and so on—these touches will give your research more credibility.

I tried expressing sound with salt

[Sound LAB] Great for independent research! We tried representing sound with salt!
I tried expressing sound with salt

Have you ever used a tuning fork in a science class? There’s an experiment where you place two tuning forks side by side with a screen between them and strike one of the tuning forks.

The result shows that sound carries vibrations through the air to the other tuning fork, creating resonance.

How about a free research project where you visualize sound vibrations using salt? The patterns in the salt change with pitch, which is quite fascinating, and you could also study factors like room temperature and differences between instruments that produce the sound.

Doing this research might make you more sensitive to the “don-don” sound of drums!

10 Musical Instruments You Can Make with Plastic Bottles

@kajiijapn

We’re introducing 10 types of instruments you can make with plastic bottles!Plastic bottle#Summer vacation homeworkSummer Vacation CraftIndependent Research

Original Song – Everyday-Item Instrument Unit kajii – kajii / Future Instruments Lab

Plastic bottles are often used as materials for crafts.

So this time, how about making musical instruments with plastic bottles? Empty bottles can become drums, flutes, or maracas… With a bit of creativity, they can transform into instruments you can actually play! Bottle caps can also be turned into instruments by combining them with other materials, so don’t throw them away—save them.

It’s also a great idea to keep notes on how the sound changes depending on where you make holes and what you put inside.

Cute mysterious bottle

A cute, mysterious bottle made with dollar-store materials! Perfect for summer vacation and independent research projects. Uses few materials and is fun to make. Easy handmade craft, dollar-store DIY, great for time at home, handmade project.
Cute mysterious bottle

A mysterious bottle where two liquids won’t mix even when tilted.

It’s a fun idea that works great as interior decor or a small gift.

First, fill the bottle about halfway with baby oil.

Next, add colored water tinted with food coloring.

Put in glitter or holograms as you like, cap it, and decorate the bottle to make it cute—and you’re done! The method is very simple, so even younger elementary school children can enjoy making it.

Along with the craft, try summarizing both your own ideas and the correct explanation for why baby oil and water don’t mix.

[Middle School] Easy One-Day Independent Research & Craft Ideas (91–100)

Puru-Koro Soap

Easy handmade: How to make squishy round soap! Portable soap for the COVID era. Handwashing, building a handwashing habit. Simple and fun handmade craft. Stay-at-home time, summer vacation, independent research, perfect for DIY!
Puru-Koro Soap

It’s like a jewel! Let me show you how to make cute, jiggly soap.

You’ll need liquid hand soap, gelatin, hot water, and food coloring.

Dissolve the gelatin in hot water, then mix in the liquid hand soap.

The trick is to stir slowly so it doesn’t foam.

Add food coloring, pour into a flat container, and chill in the refrigerator for 1–2 hours.

Then just cut it into your favorite shapes and you’re done! It looks adorable and might make handwashing more fun.

Just be careful to prevent small children from accidentally swallowing it.