[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!
- Recommended for high school students! A collection of easy one-day science project ideas
- Stand out with your junior high school independent research! A collection of fun experiment and craft ideas
- DIY science projects that elementary school boys will love: ideas you can make with everyday materials
- [For Adults] Simple yet Impressive Crafts: A Stylish, Eye-Catching Collection
- Recommended for middle school students! A collection of quick science project ideas you can do in a short time.
- For upper-grade boys! Simple yet awesome craft project [Don’t call it lazy]
- Simple and cute summer project crafts! A collection of ideas for girls that will make you want to create
- Simple but awesome! Craft ideas for upper-grade girls
- Plastic bottles transformed! A collection of simple yet amazing craft ideas
- Adults will be hooked! A collection of craft ideas using toilet paper rolls
- [I don't want to be like everyone else!] Recommended independent research topics for high school students
- Simple yet amazing crafts: craft ideas that elementary school students will want to make
- Elementary School Students: Simple One-Day Science Project and Craft Ideas
[Middle School] Easy One-Day Independent Research and Craft Ideas (21–30)
Making a PET-bottle microscope
Microscopes are commonly used in science experiments, but they can be a bit expensive to buy for personal use.
In such cases, I recommend making a microscope using a plastic bottle.
You can easily make one with materials like a plastic bottle and glass beads, which are available at hardware stores.
For an independent research project, you could sketch what you observe with this microscope, or even make the mechanism of the microscope itself the subject of your study.
pH test solution
Since this is a science experiment, we usually use BTB solution to measure pH, but you can actually measure pH with liquid made by boiling purple cabbage as well.
Purple cabbage contains a pigment called anthocyanin, which changes color in response to acidic or alkaline solutions.
I recommend using this indicator solution to test the pH of various everyday items and to explain how anthocyanins work.
[Middle School Students] Easy One-Day Independent Research and Craft Ideas (31–40)
Extract the DNA of vegetables
The word “DNA” is often used in everyday conversation, but very few people have actually seen it.
So let’s try extracting DNA as a science project! You’ll need things like sodium chloride, water, a surfactant (detergent), ethanol, and a beaker.
Specifically, you can crush the vegetable cell walls with a mortar and pestle, then use a surfactant to extract proteins and isolate the DNA.
It would be good to research and summarize what role each material plays and how it works.
sprinkling water (on the ground)
Do you know about uchimizu? It’s the practice of sprinkling water on the ground or roads on hot days.
In recent years, fewer households do it and there are fewer opportunities to see it, so many people may not be familiar with it.
In fact, uchimizu has the effect of lowering the air temperature.
So how about actually trying uchimizu and measuring the changes in temperature and humidity? You could also look into the mechanism behind it.
By the way, there are many videos and websites that explain the mechanism of uchimizu in an easy-to-understand way, so even those who aren’t comfortable with science can feel at ease.
Making plastic from milk
Many junior high schools are actively engaged in eco-friendly activities such as recycling and reusing.
If you’re looking for a free research project theme on the topic of eco-friendliness, a great recommendation is making plastic from milk.
By adding vinegar to milk and boiling it down, you can create plastic—and the finished plastic is biodegradable, making it a recommended eco-friendly experiment.
Boil water using ice
Prepare vigorously boiling water, then turn off the heat.
When the bubbles have settled, drop in some ice and—like magic—it starts boiling again.
The key is to do this with a laboratory beaker.
Water boils at 100°C, but if the vessel you use to boil it is clean and free of scratches (like a beaker), there aren’t enough nucleation sites to trigger boiling, so the water can get hotter than 100°C.
So even after the bubbling subsides, the water in the beaker is still above 100°C; the cold ice provides the stimulus, and it boils again—that’s the trick.
PET bottle water purifier
Many people are looking for simple science projects.
In such cases, a PET-bottle water purifier is recommended.
In this experiment, you create a purifier by filling a plastic bottle with materials like charcoal, gravel, and cloth.
You can test the purifier’s effectiveness and explore how it works, or focus your study on themes like designing a water purifier that’s easy to make during disasters.