[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!
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[Middle School] Easy One-Day Independent Research & Craft Ideas (91–100)
Dent a plastic bottle without using your hands
Speaking of junior high school students, summer vacation assignments increase, so I think many end up prioritizing other subjects over their independent research projects.
But if you can finish an independent project in a single day, isn’t it worth a try? This time, it’s an experiment to dent a plastic bottle without using your hands.
What you need: a 500 ml plastic bottle, a measuring cup, and 150 ml of hot water.
The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Camera craft
Let’s try making a camera using a milk carton.
A camera is handy for taking photos and preserving memories.
It’s a simple version, but you can make it yourself.
You’ll use a milk carton, a plastic bag, a magnifying glass to act as a lens, and black construction paper.
First, cut off the top and bottom of the milk carton.
On one end, fold the edges inward about 1 cm on all four sides, then cover it with a cut piece of plastic bag and secure it.
Next, make a tube out of black construction paper that’s just a little larger than the milk carton, and fold in the edges on one end in the same way.
Fix the magnifying glass there, and then insert the milk carton you prepared earlier into the inside of the tube to finish.
Take it outside and experiment to see how it looks!
[For Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Independent Research & Craft Ideas (101–110)
Experiment to make butter
Butter makes all sorts of foods delicious—spread on bread, melted over baked potatoes, and more.
Did you know it can actually be made with a very simple process? The main steps are to pour chilled heavy cream into a sterilized container and shake it vigorously for 15 minutes.
The liquid will separate and turn into solids—the solid part is unsalted butter.
Mix in salt, and you’ve got butter! Shaking for 15 minutes is surprisingly hard work, so it might be a good idea to do it while watching TV.
Let’s also summarize why butter forms in the first place.
repeating saline solution
Let’s try a summer break experiment using everyday items like cups and saltwater.
Make a hole in a plastic cup filled with saltwater at your preferred concentration.
Place the saltwater cup inside a larger cup filled with plain water.
You’ll notice something curious: the saltwater will flow out of the hole and then stop, and after a while it will start flowing out again and stop once more.
It could be fun to experiment by changing the salt concentration or the number of holes in the plastic cup.
Just watching this setup is interesting, but there’s also a proper explanation for what’s happening.
Try to think about that answer, too.
Original watch
Why not try making a one-of-a-kind original clock using a DIY clock kit? First, draw diagonal lines on a canvas board and drill a hole where the lines intersect to attach the movement.
Sketch a few ideas, then paint your design with acrylic gouache based on those sketches.
To make the numbers stand out, you can create them with paper clay.
If you prepare a template that divides a circle into 12 equal parts, it will be easier to decide the placement of the numbers.
Once you finish painting, attach the movement through the hole you prepared in advance.
Bamboo Speaker
Let’s try making a speaker that plays sound from your smartphone using bamboo.
It takes advantage of bamboo’s tubular shape to naturally amplify sound through resonance.
If you have a bamboo grove nearby or can get hold of bamboo, this is a perfect summer vacation craft project.
Cut the bamboo, peel off the green outer skin, and lightly scorch the surface with a gas burner.
Charring it with the burner turns it black and gives it a beautiful finish.
Cut out the section where the smartphone will go and drill holes on the surface.
The key is to be careful not to crack the bamboo.
It’s a detailed project, but that makes it all the more rewarding, and you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind creation.
Let’s make a professional kalimba
It would be fun to make a genuine musical instrument using items you can get at home improvement stores or online, wouldn’t it? This time, we’ll introduce a handmade, authentic kalimba.
A kalimba is a traditional African instrument played by plucking thin metal tines attached to a box or board.
Using a box or board allows the sound to resonate.
Let’s try making one by building a wooden box and attaching thin rods.
Specialized kalimba metal tines, called kalimba keys, are also available from online retailers.
Master the playing technique, and let your kalimba produce beautiful tones.