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Wonderful independent research

Recommended for middle school students! A collection of quick science project ideas you can do in a short time.

Are you struggling to choose a topic for your middle school independent research project? In fact, with a small twist, you can easily do interesting experiments using everyday items like smartphones, mouthwash, and even bread! In this article, we’ll share tips for independent research—from original ideas to classic experiments—that will make everyone say “Wow!” All of these experiments let you experience the wonders of science, such as programming and chromatography.

Through your summer vacation project, you’re sure to make exciting new discoveries!

Recommended for junior high school students! A collection of quick independent research project ideas (21–30)

An ultraviolet experiment using bananas

[Dr.Ci:Labo Official] It gets this sunburned?! A UV experiment using a banana
An ultraviolet experiment using bananas

We’re all exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays when we go outside, but many people don’t really know what effects they have.

Try conducting this experiment to find out how UV rays can affect you.

It’s easy to do and highly recommended.

Preparing pH measurement solution

[Experiment 75] Color Changes of Red Cabbage / Independent Research / Denjiro Yonemura [Official]
Preparing pH measurement solution

How about making your own pH indicator solution to investigate the properties of substances? It’s very simple to prepare: just finely chop red cabbage and boil it.

You can test pH using the purple liquid that seeps out.

Try putting it on various items and record what color it changes to.

Recommended for middle schoolers! A collection of quick-and-easy independent research project ideas (31–40)

dilatancy

[Experiment 163] Running on Water! / Dilatancy / Denjiro Yonemura [Official] / Science Experiments
dilatancy

It’s a very mysterious experiment.

There is a box filled with a white liquid.

When you touch it, it’s gooey, and your hand easily sinks right in.

However, if you jump onto it with force and stomp on it, your body doesn’t sink, and it feels as if you’re running on the surface of water.

This is a phenomenon called dilatancy, in which a liquid momentarily solidifies under external force.

You can recreate it with potato starch, so give it a try.

Crystal making

An easy way to make table salt crystals
Crystal making

These are crystals that cannot be seen without a microscope, but by growing them larger, they can be observed with the naked eye.

Try growing crystals from familiar substances like sugar or table salt.

Crystals are very beautiful, so you might be surprisingly moved by them.

Castle investigation

Touring Japanese Castles: 160 Castles Including the 100 Top Japanese Castles
Castle investigation

If you live near a castle or love history, why not try researching a castle? It’s enjoyable just to think about who built it and for what purpose.

I also recommend studying the castle’s structure, such as how the stone walls are stacked, the complexity of the passageways, and the materials used for the walls.

Making a fuel cell

This is an experiment to create a fuel cell—expected to be a clean energy source—using a sports drink.

It feels exactly like a science-style project, doesn’t it? You can learn about fuel cells, whose demand is likely to grow in the future.

It’s not a large-scale undertaking, so it’s easy to try.

Anime on a smartphone

How to make anime on your smartphone!
Anime on a smartphone

It’s an era when you can make an anime with just a smartphone.

Why not try creating your own original animation? It’s really fun when the characters move exactly the way you imagined.

This is a theme I’d especially recommend to middle schoolers who love anime.