Stand out with your junior high school independent research! A collection of fun experiment and craft ideas
To all middle schoolers who want to wow teachers and friends with a “That’s awesome!” in your independent research project! There are tons of experiments in science and crafts that lead to surprising discoveries—even with simple materials.
Make a train run with copper wire and a battery, pop a balloon with an orange peel…
The real charm is getting to witness strange phenomena you’d never notice in everyday life with your own eyes.
Here, we’ll introduce fun experiments and crafts that can spark ideas for your project.
Whether you love science or not, you’re sure to find discoveries that make you go, “Aha!”
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Stand Out with Your Junior High School Independent Research! A Collection of Fun Experiment and Craft Ideas (91–100)
Yuru-chara Research
In the past few years, characters known as “yuru-chara” have been appearing one after another.
These yuru-chara are based on motifs rooted in their regions, such as local specialties or aspects of local history.
So why not explore the characteristics of different areas through yuru-chara? It might also be interesting to think about the features of your own region and come up with a new yuru-chara.
movie sound effects
Sound effects are an essential element that enhances a film’s sense of immersion.
Many of these effects aren’t just the sounds captured during shooting; a lot are added later.
How about learning how movie sound effects are created and trying to recreate them yourself? By thinking of sounds around you that are similar, you might deepen your understanding of films and enjoy unexpected discoveries.
It could also be fun to try filming something using your own homemade sound effects.
Cottage Cheese Making
This time, let’s try a fun experiment using milk.
We’re going to make cottage cheese! You’ll need 500 ml of milk, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, a pot, a bowl, a strainer, paper towels, and a thermometer.
If you like cheese, you’ll be happy to know you can eat it after the experiment—what a delightful study!
Aquarium
It would be wonderful to try your hand at aquariums, which have become popular in recent years.
An aquarium is a setup that houses living creatures in a tank.
For example, a tank with fish swimming in it is an aquarium, and one with shrimp is also called an aquarium.
Adjust objects, aquatic plants, and lighting to create an aquarium that’s uniquely yours.
One of the appealing points of this idea is that you can display your finished work at home.
As a variation, a moss terrarium—where you cultivate moss—is also recommended.
Try making natto
Natto is said to be good for health and beauty.
For us Japanese, it’s a classic fermented food.
Some people might dislike its distinctive smell, but if you’re one of those who love it, why not try making natto from scratch for a science project? First, wash the soybeans, soak them in water, and simmer them in a pot.
Once the beans are cooked, mix in natto bacteria, keep them warm, then let them rest in the refrigerator overnight—and you’re done.
It takes a bit of time, but the steps are very simple! Give it a try.
The flavor changes depending on the fermentation time and the type of soybeans you use, so make a few batches and compare them!
Make a fountain with a plastic bottle
Creating a mechanism to spray water might sound difficult, right? However, this PET-bottle fountain uses a very simple mechanism to eject water.
It’s an experiment where just turning it upside down makes the water spout out, letting you explore the fascinating properties of water.
An ultraviolet experiment using bananas
Many people use sunscreen in the summer, but have you ever felt unsure whether it really works? Here’s an experiment I recommend.
Apply sunscreen to part of a banana and leave it under the sun for about half a day.
Then store it in a dark place.
When you look at the banana afterward, you’ll see that the areas without sunscreen have discolored.
Besides sunscreen, try wrapping the banana with different materials like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or UV-protective clothing, and compare the results to summarize their effectiveness.