[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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[For Junior High Students] Simple One-Day Independent Research & Craft Ideas (41–50)
Investigate the characteristics of vegetables that float in water and those that sink
When we wash vegetables and fruits, we often do it without thinking, but they sometimes float and sometimes sink in the bowl, right? Do you know why that is? Is it because of their weight? Actually, no! Whether something floats or sinks is determined by a reason different from weight.
Let’s explore it by trying it out ourselves! When you investigate an everyday question through an experiment, you can understand the reason clearly—and it’s a great way to learn!
[Middle School] Simple One-Day Independent Research and Craft Ideas (51–60)
A science project you can just leave alone
It’s hard to decide what to do for an independent research project, and you don’t want to spend too much time on it, right? So why not try some ideas that you can basically just set and forget? Here are three simple projects.
The first is to line colorful candy-coated chocolates around the rim of a plate, pour in water, and observe what happens.
The second is to soak an egg in vinegar to make a “skeleton egg.” The third is to dip kitchen paper into colored water and observe how it absorbs and changes color.
All of them are very easy, so give them a try!
Investigate the principle of the siphon
Do you know the principle of a siphon? It’s the principle used in kerosene pumps and the like, where a continuous, gapless tube is used to guide a liquid to its destination by routing it through a point higher than the starting point.
Let’s use an actual tube to understand this concept, which sounds complicated at first! Your teacher and classmates might be amazed by this serious experiment!
Botanical candle
Let’s add some flair to candles and make cute-looking botanical candles.
The process is simple: pour melted wax into a candle mold and let it harden.
A key point is the double-layer structure—an inner core where the flame burns and an outer layer sprinkled with dried flowers.
This design prevents the flame from catching on the outer decorations, making it nice and safe.
It’s also important to place the dried flowers with gaps so the wax can flow and set properly; proceed while keeping balance in mind.
Bring out your originality with your choice of dried flowers and other decorations.
Ice experiment using saltwater
For independent research projects, it seems many people make crafts.
So why not stand out by doing a chemistry experiment instead? Many of you probably know that adding saltwater to ice lowers the temperature.
But does the degree of cooling depend on the amount of salt? How about this experiment, which allows for solid research with simple preparation—just ice, saltwater, and a thermometer?
Let’s make a smartphone case with nail polish
Here’s an idea for making a simple, original smartphone case.
All you need is a clear phone case and a few nail polishes in your favorite colors—both can be found at a 100-yen shop.
Fill a basin or similar container with water, then drip the nail polish onto the surface to create patterns.
A soft marble pattern will float on the water, and it’s exciting even as you’re making it.
Try mixing a few colors or adding polka dots, then gently float the phone case on top, flip it over quickly, and let it dry as is—done!
Let’s make a rainbow
Let’s make a rainbow at home—something you don’t often see even after the rain! All you need is a smooth, bump-free plastic bottle, a flashlight that emits white light, and a sheet of white paper.
Fill the plastic bottle with water and place the white paper behind it.
Then darken the room and shine the flashlight onto the bottle; a small rainbow will appear on the white paper! The flashlight’s light is made up of a combination of many colors, and when it hits the water in the bottle, it refracts and creates a rainbow.
Try making a tiny rainbow and explore how light works!
