9th grade science experiments at home

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Are you looking for science activities to do with your 2nd graders? No sweat. We have you covered. Check out our list of 23 science projects and experiments that you can try with your 9th graders this month.

• Is a Dense Fruit a Healthy Fruit? | Education.com – Grades 9-12, In this experiment, students will find out if there is a correlation between density and nutritional value, by measuring the density of vegetables and fruits.
• Effect of Glucose and Sucrose as Dietary Additives | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Students examine if and how glucose affects the lifespan of humans.
• Effect of Acid Rain on Seedling Germination | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Does acid rain have a positive or negative impact on seedling germination? In this project, students use vinegar-based solutions to mimic acid rain conditions to find.
• Effectiveness of Garlic in Fighting Bacteria | All-Science-Fair-Projects.com – Grades 9-12, Use milk in petri dishes to find out if garlic is a natural antibiotic.
• How Do Roots Grow When the Direction of Gravity Changes? | ScienceBuddies.org -Grades 6-10, Plants respond to gravity by stems that grow upward and roots that grow downward. Experiment with germinating seeds and rotate them to make up down and down up. How do you think the growing seedlings will respond?
• Build a Raft Powered by Surface Tension | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 6-10, Learn about the properties of surface water tension, and use it to propel a raft.
• Paw Preference in Pets | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 7-10, Are animals left-handed or right-handed like humans?
• Bat Detector: Listen to the Secret Sounds of Bats | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 7-10, Study the behavior of bats to find out how do they use echolocation to catch their prey
• Saving Migratory Animals | ScienceBuddies.org – Grades 7-10, They’re here today but could be gone tomorrow. Examine the migratory path of a bird species and the similarities and differences between their winter and summer habitats. Recommend which locations should be preserved to protect these species.
• Electric wind: hi-speed threads of charged air | Scienceclub.org – Grades 9-12, Use dry ice and an electrostatic generator to observe air streams and hi-speed air-threads.
• Evaluating Benfords Law | Education.com – Grades 9-12, In this project, students investigate the applicability of  Benford’s Law to many sets of everyday data, such as lists of country populations, utility bills or the distance of various stars from earth.
• Patterns in J.S. Bach | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Determine the mathematical patterns in JS Bach’s two-movement preludes and fugues.
• Raw vs. Cooked Foods | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Do raw foods contain more calories than cooked foods? Use a bomb calorimeter to measure and calculate the amount of energy (calories) within various foods, ignite food samples, calculate the change in temperature.
• Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Test how the addition of salt and other substances to water affects the freezing point of the water-based solution. Is rock salt and ice the best combination for freezing ice cream?
• Water to Fuel to Water | ScienceBuddies.org Grades 9-12, Examine the possibilities for water as part of the fuel cycle for the future. How efficient is a cobalt-based catalyst at helping to form molecular oxygen?
• Levitating with Eddy Currents! | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Build your own maglev (magnetic levitation) system and demonstrate how eddy currents work.
• Does Your Cell Phone Leak? | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Measure cell phone radiation from several distances when making a call and when texting.
• Lighthouse Redesign | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Old lighthouses have historical significance.  Give them a new life with a modern interior redesign.
• Lights and Sounds of Logic | Illinois Institute of Technology – Grades 9-12, Digital electronics such as smartphones and computers work by embedded logic. Use circuits that light up and make a sound to show how this basic logic works.
• Oregametry | Education.com – Grades 9-12, Use the mathematics of paper folding to learn the practical applications of particular origami folding techniques. Create your own origami or make modifications to existing designs.  Origami Sightings has some mind-blowing applications of origami concepts.
• Extracting Heat Energy from a Compost Pile | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Use your bananas peels, newspapers, leaves, and coffee grounds to create compost. Find out if enough energy is generated from the compost to heat water.
• Do Hurricanes Cool the Ocean? | Sciencebuddies.org – Grades 9-12, Collect data on hurricane strength and sea surface temperature to determine if cooling occurs and if it can be measured with the passing of a hurricane.
• How Earth’s Wobble Affects the Rotation of Earth | Education.com – Grades 9-12, The purpose of this project is to determine if there are fluctuations in the rising and the setting of the sun and the position of the earth as it rotates. You’ll record observations over three months.

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25 Interesting 9th-Grade Science Project Ideas

By Beth Roberts | Last Updated May 4, 2022

The only thing stopping you from thinking of a worthy project for 9th-grade science class is your lack of inspiration. Trust us; we’ve got plenty of ideas to get you started. We have learned that at this level through trial and error. Ready to have some fun and get your hands dirty? Here are 25 of the most interesting 9th-grade science project ideas.

1. Floating Rice 

The floating Rice project is a classic and interesting one at that. It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s cheap, and most importantly – it works. This is suitable for 9th-grade rooms if your students are still interested in scientific experiments after being exposed to formulae and equations.

2. Hydroponic Garden 

Hydroponic Garden is another exciting option to explore . You can get an aquarium and use it to grow plants, or use an enormous container, such as the ones you can buy from a hardware store, mix the soil yourself or simply buy soil from somewhere else. You will have to have a water source for the container that is kept moist throughout the day.

3. Crystal Powered Radio 

Crystal Powered Radio is a classic and exciting project for 9th-grade science students. It is fun to do, cheap, and it can be in a space as small as a classroom. You will need some crystals or stones and an AM transmitter that you can build on your own.

4. Plastic Bottle Bridge 

If you are on the quest for interesting 9th-grade science project ideas , you need to let your students explore this fun and interesting little project. It is cheap, easy to do, it can be indoors and outdoors, and most importantly – your students will learn a lot from this.

5. Apple Wrecking Ball 

Apple Wrecking Ball is another cheap and fun project. It is simple, requires very few resources, and can be indoors and outdoors. Your students will need nothing other than a few apples, some ping pong balls, and a string. It may not appear to be a particularly engaging project at first glance, but it investigates a variety of fascinating topics, including pressure, to mention just one.

6. The Chemistry Of Colorful Fire 

The Chemistry of Colorful Fire is a project for 9th-grade science students interested in chemistry and physics. It is simple, requires very few resources, and can be indoors and outdoors. 

7. Optical Illusions In Color And Black & White 

Optical Illusions in Color and Black & White is an exciting project to explore for 9th-grade students. The project is pretty simple, and indoors or outdoors. In addition to its educational value, your students will have a blast while trying it out on their friends, even if they are unsure what they are doing.

8. Rubber Band Car 

Rubber Band Car is another exciting project for 9th-grade science students. You need nothing more than some rubber bands, some toothpicks, and a few other things to make it work. The idea is simple, and the assembly process is straightforward. Your students will enjoy doing something like this without knowing that they are learning something simultaneously.

9. Earthquake Science 

This is an excellent project for 9th-grade science students , mainly if they are interested in geology. It is cheap and fun, and it is safe to conduct outdoors. However, keep in mind that your students will have to know how to read the signs and take some time to play around with their creation before trying it out on an unsuspecting person.

10. Forensic Fingerprints 

If you have a 9th-grade science class interested in criminal investigation and forensics, then the Forensic Fingerprints project is what you need. It is suitable for the more advanced students in this group, and it can be both indoors and outdoors.

11. Effects Of Antibiotics On Bacteria 

Effects of Antibiotics on Bacteria is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. Students will be able to observe the effects of antibiotics on bacteria by growing the bacteria in an environment with and without the drug.

12. Glowing Water 

Glowing water is an easy and fun experiment that you can do at home. You can use this as a science fair project for 9th-grade science class or just have your kids learn about glowing water as an interesting 9th-grade science project idea.

13. Candy Lab 

Candy Labeling is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students label the types of candy in a jar that resembles a rainbow. This will also help them to become more confident with marking things.

14. Rain Or Snow: Which Is More Acidic? 

Rain or Snow: Which is more Acidic? This is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students compare the amount of acid produced by rain vs. snow on apples. This will let them know the differences and similarities between rain and snow.

15. Is A Dense Fruit A Healthy Fruit? 

Is a Dense Fruit a Healthy Fruit? is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea to let students know about fruits’ density and nutritional value. Students will be able to check the thickness of different fruits and correlate it with their nutritional value and their density. This will help them to determine the health benefits of these fruits.

16. Effect Of Acid Rain On Seedling Germination 

Effect of Acid Rain on Seedling Germination is a fun and interesting 9th-grade science project idea. You can have your students test different species of seedlings in an environment with and without acid rain. This will let them know the effects of acid rain on seedlings used for farming.

17. How Do Roots Grow When The Direction Of Gravity Changes? 

How Do Roots Grow When the Direction of Gravity Changes? This is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. Students will be able to observe how roots grow when gravity changes. They will keep a seedling in an environment with and without altered gravity. This will show them how hearts react in different kinds of environments. 

18. Electromagnetism 

Electromagnetism is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea. It can be a fun and exciting experiment for your students to observe the effects of electromagnetism on a coiled plastic wire. This will let them know the results of electromagnetism on us daily.

19. Rubber Band Racer 

Rubber Band Racer is an interesting 9th-grade science project idea that lets the students know about the relationship between the mass, speed, and tension of a rubber band. This will help them to understand how their cars work. They will create a roller coaster with rubber bands instead of rails.

20. Flaming Torch 

Flaming Torch is an exciting 9th-grade science project idea that lets the students know about the relationship between pressure, temperature, and volume of gas. They will be able to create a flaming torch with a bicycle pump attached to a balloon. They can perform some other experiments with this flaming Torch as well.

21. Flying Tea Bag 

Flying Tea Bag is a fun experiment enjoyed by kids and adults alike. This simple experiment will enthrall your audience and make them wonder how a teabag can fly. All you need are some tea bags and some rubber bands. You want to stretch the rubber band over the teabag, preferably around the middle portion of the pack. Then, you want to let it go by pulling off the rubber band in a quick motion.

22. Pressure Bottle Rocket  

This is a simple rocket experiment . You need to take a two-liter plastic soda bottle, something to hold the end, and fill it with water or air. Make sure you don’t accidentally throw it into the fire and have a huge mess. Take a strip of aluminum foil and wrap it around the bottle cap to ensure it doesn’t fly off when you light the bottle.

23. Origami Sightings 

Origami is an art that anyone can do . And with this experiment, you can show your audience that paper can fly. All you need are some sheets of paper and scissors to do this. You can also use a larger sheet of paper if you’d like. Fold the sheet along the natural crease to form wings. Then take the report and fasten it onto a wall or ceiling using glue, tape, or nails and strings.

24. Chemistry Of Ice-Cream Making 

Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making is a fun experiment that you can do using ice cream or yogurt. It’s an easy experiment, and your class can enjoy watching it get warmer as the chemical reaction occurs. You need some sugar, food coloring, and water with a spoon. Put the sugar in the scoop and add food coloring gradually. Keep stirring until the color throughout the mixture. Then add water bit by bit until you have a spoonful of liquid.

25. Levitating With Eddy Currents

Eddy currents are conductive materials used in many applications such as motors, speakers, satellites, or microwave ovens. They are also used to detect changes in the density of liquids. In this experiment, you will use eddy currents to levitate objects using water and paint. You will need a bowl of water and some paint for the project. 

25 Incredible 9th Grade Science Project Ideas To Try

Categories Education/School

Forget quizzing your class on all 118 elements of the periodic table. Gather them together for some fun science projects instead!

If you’re teaching grade 9 students, there’s no better way to increase their interest in the wonders of science than by letting them play mad scientist.

Looking to add some spark and energy to your science lessons?

Let your students get creative and experimental with these 25 incredible 9th grade science project ideas to try that are sure to wow and amaze your class!

These incredible grade 9 science projects cover chemistry, physics, biology, and more. For health and safety reasons, just make sure to provide adult supervision where necessary.

1. Pressure Bottle Rocket

Firing this list off is an explosive science project idea that’s as educational as it is heaps of fun. This science project will have your students building their very own pressure rocket from a plastic bottle and a few other basic materials. Just watch out, as you might get wet!

2. Homemade Radio

Turn your students into inventors with this science project that will teach them how to make a homemade radio out of a few household items. They’ll even learn how to make their own headphones using a small magnet, a nail, a tin, and some fine wire.

3. Popping Boba Balls

Science projects can also be tasty! This science project will get your students to turn their favorite drinks into semi-solid boba balls that they can eat like pieces of candy. It’s a fun and effective way to teach your class about spherification and molecular gastronomy.

4. Flying Teabag

Ever seen a flying teabag? Your students probably haven’t either. This flying teabag science project is impressive yet simple, only requiring matches, markers, a non-flammable plate, and as many as many teabags as your students want to see flying!

5. Floating Rice

Teach your students about friction with this fun science project that’s as close as it gets to performing magic. All you need are uncooked grains of rice, a plastic bottle, and a chopstick, pencil, pen, or stick. It’s a simple project, but it’s sure to make their jaws drop!

6. Flaming Torch

Your students will jump at the idea of creating their own fire vortex from rising heat and wind. The main items you’ll need are a turntable, wire mesh bucket, and borosilicate glass beakers. The flames can rise above the bucket, so make sure to do this experiment outside.

7. Glowing Water

Show your students something interesting about tonic water with this glowing water science project idea. You can use tonic water or regular water soaked with the ink from a highlighter pen. Then it’s simply a matter of shining a black light on the water!

8. Rainbow Fire

Here’s a simple science project for teaching your students about chemical reactions . All it involves is a bunsen burner and several chemicals, including boronic acid, strontium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride, which will turn the flames into different colors.

9. PET Bottle Bridge

This science project idea is perfect as a group activity. It involves building a bridge out of PET plastic bottles using screws and tape. What will amaze your students is how sturdy the finished structure will be (thanks to one amazing science principle), as they’ll be able to walk on it!

10. Infinity Mirror

Optical illusions are always fascinating. And that’s exactly what your students will create with this fun infinity mirror science project. These infinity mirrors will dazzle and impress and also make for a great display item that your students can take home after class.

11. Lemon Volcano

Your students have probably made an erupting playdough volcano using bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, and food coloring – a classic school science project. But what about a lemon volcano? Just a word of caution: this science project can get messy!

12. Stained Glass Candy

Get your students to create their own edible peppermint candy that they take home and share. This science project idea is like a cooking class and a science experiment in one! It will also teach your students about the importance of measuring accurately in chemistry.

13. Vertical Hydroponic Farm

Teach your class about hydroponics and hydroculture with this fun science project that will get them to grow their own vertical farm. This is a large project that also involves building a support frame with microcontrollers that monitor the plants!

14. Rubber Band Racer

Kick-start a drag race competition with this science project idea that will teach your students how to make their own rubber band racers. This science project requires a hot glue gun and an electric drill, so just make sure the students have enough adult supervision.

15. Is Denser Fruit Healthier?

Organize a fun science experiment for your class with this project idea that will get them to test the density of different fruits and vegetables and whether density signifies their nutritional value. Teach them about science and healthy eating in one!

16. Marble Roller Coaster

Transform the classroom into a miniature theme park with this thrilling science project that involves building roller coasters out of foam pipe insulation and masking tape. The students will then measure how much height is needed to make the marbles loop the loops.

17. Teleidoscope

Get the students to create their own DIY kaleidoscopes with this teleidoscope science project. You’ll need to gather a few materials to make the teleidoscopes, but the finished product is something they’ll be peering through for the rest of the day!

18. Electric Play Dough

Teach your students about conductivity with this electric play dough science project idea. It involves piecing together the electrical components as well as creating the playdough itself. Add some creativity by letting your students create their own playdough shapes to electrify.

19. Water Quality

Here’s an environmental science project idea that will also teach your class an important survival skill! Your students will learn about water safety and contamination, as well as how to test the quality of water from any water source and whether it’s safe to drink.

20. Charging Gadgets With Solar Power

Wireless charging? Your students will jump at this science project idea that will teach them how to charge their gadgets with solar power. Several tools are required (including a soldering iron and wire cutters), so just make sure the students are well supervised.

21. Magical Plastic Bag Experiment

Here’s another incredible science project that will have the students believing they’re performing magic. It’s a simple experiment involving pencils and plastic bags filled with water. Will the water spill when punctured? Get your students to find out!

22. Easy Heart Pump Model

Help your class learn more about how the human heart works with this STEM science project idea that will instruct them to build a model heart pump. All you need is a small jar, bendy straws, a balloon, tape or glue, water, and red food coloring.

23. Tiny Dancers

This simple and fun science project idea will teach your class how to make a homopolar motor out of an AA battery and magnet. Your students will also get to create their own “tiny dancers”, which will start to spin once placed on top of the batteries.

24. Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime

Let your students get messy with this science project idea that will teach them how to create heat sensitive color changing slime. All it requires is white school glue, water, thermochromic pigment, liquid starch, and different food colorings for them to get creative with.

25. Magic Spinning Pen

Have your class discover the power of magnets themselves with this school project idea that involves creating a small structure with a magnetic field. Gluing a ring magnet to a pen and placing it in the middle of the other magnets will cause the pen to spin on its nib!

That wraps up our list of 25 incredible 9th grade science project ideas to try with your class, which will help them discover more about the world of science through their own creativity and experimentation.

The above science project ideas are perfect for students aged 14 to 15 and are guaranteed to fascinate them no matter whether science is their favorite subject or not. Try these as soon as possible to add some excitement to your science lessons!

Further reading: How to homeschool a 9th grader.

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18 Mind-Blowing 9th Grade Science Project Ideas

• High School

As a 9th grader, you’re just beginning to explore the fascinating world of science. This is the perfect time to start experimenting with creative, engaging, and educational science projects. Here are 18 mind-blowing ideas for your next 9th grade science project:

1. Build a Crystal Radio: Understand how a simple radio receiver works by constructing your own crystal radio set.

2. Investigate Bacterial Growth: Compare the bacterial growth on different household surfaces (e.g., kitchen countertops, door handles) and analyze which areas require more careful cleaning and sanitation.

3. Earthquake Simulation: Build a shake table to simulate earthquakes and test how various building designs perform under seismic stresses.

4. Food Chemistry: Experiment with chemical reactions in food by exploring how various acids and bases affect the taste and texture of certain ingredients.

5. Solar Oven Design: Learn about solar energy by constructing a solar oven using everyday materials and see how efficiently it can cook food.

6. DNA Extraction from Fruit: Practice extracting DNA from strawberries or other fruits using safe household items like dish soap, salt, and rubbing alcohol.

7. Tornado in a Bottle: Create a model tornado to understand how these powerful weather phenomena form and develop.

8. Homemade Glue: Research natural adhesives found in nature, then develop your DIY glue formula using household materials.

9. Invisible Ink: Study the chemistry behind invisible ink and test different methods for writing secret messages that can only be revealed with the right reactions or substances.

10. Self-Inflating Balloons: Discover the principle behind self-inflating balloons by experimenting with baking soda and vinegar reactions in closed containers like water bottles or balloons.

11. Taste vs. Smell: Observe the relationship between taste perception and olfactory senses with various flavors of jelly beans or other strong-tasting candies while blindfolded or with a friend.

12. Water Filtration: Design and test your water filtration system using household items, like coffee filters or sand, and assess its effectiveness in removing impurities from contaminated water.

13. Homemade Thermometer: Construct a simple thermometer using a clear straw, rubbing alcohol, and a water bottle to observe temperature changes in different conditions.

14. Rocket Launch: Investigate the principles of physics and aerodynamics by constructing DIY rockets using plastic bottles and fuel options like baking soda and vinegar or Alka-Seltzer tablets.

15. Grow Your Own Bacteria: Investigate the different types of bacteria that grow on various surfaces by swabbing them and cultivating colonies on agar plates in petri dishes.

16. Air Pressure Explorations: Discover how air pressure affects various objects like balloons, marshmallows, or vacuum-packed bags through controlled experiments.

17. Battery-Powered Items: Learn about voltaic cells by building simple batteries using lemons or potatoes to power LED lights or small electronic devices like calculators.

18. Illusions of Motion: Study how our brains perceive motion with visual illusion experiments using stroboscopes or simple animations created on a computer or smartphone app.

With these 18 mind-blowing science project ideas for 9th graders, you’re sure to find one that piques your interest and teaches you something new along the way! Happy experimenting!

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9th Grade Science Fair Projects

Creative Project Ideas for High School Freshmen Who Love Science

• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Ninth grade is the first year of high school, so freshmen might find themselves competing against older students in a science fair. Even so, they stand every bit as good a chance of excelling and winning. The key to success is choosing an interesting project that doesn't necessarily take a lot of time to complete.

Gearing a Project to the 9th Grade Level

Ninth graders have a lot going on, so it's best to choose a project idea that can be developed and completed over the space of a few weeks or less. Since high school students are expected to be familiar with word processing programs and printers, the quality of the presentation is very important. 

Are you making a poster? Be sure to make it as professional as possible. Also, remember that accurately citing sources is critical to any successful project. Always cite any references used in developing your experiment.

9th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas

• Teeth whiteners : Find the shade of white that matches your teeth. Brush your teeth using a teeth-whitening toothpaste or gum. What color are your teeth now? To obtain additional data, have other family members test different products and monitor their results.
• Seed germination: Can you affect or improve the germination rate of seeds by pre-rinsing them in a chemical before planting them? Examples of chemicals to try include hydrogen peroxide solution , diluted hydrochloric acid solution, diluted isopropyl alcohol solution , and fruit juice. Some of these agents are thought to be able to loosen the seed coat surrounding the plant embryo.
• Hair conditioner: Using a microscope, determine whether hair conditioner affects the condition of hair (either comparing brands or comparing with conditioner to without-conditioner). The goal is to get empirical data, such as a diameter measurement of each hair strand and the distance a strand can stretch before it breaks.
• Bread shelf-life: What's the best way to store bread to keep it fresh for the longest time?
• Optimizing appliance efficiency: What things can you do to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of your clothes dryer or water heater—or any device? For example, are there any actions you can take or changes you can make that will decrease the length of time it takes for your dryer to dry a load of towels?
• Music and memory: Does listening to music while you study affect your ability to memorize facts?
• Smoke and plant transpiration: Does the presence of smoke in the air affect plant transpiration?
• The impact of eye color on peripheral vision : Does eye color affect peripheral vision? Supposedly, people with darker eyes tend to have wider pupils for a given amount of light than people with light-colored irises. If you have a more open pupil, does it give you measurably better peripheral vision? Another idea to test would be to see if you have the same peripheral vision in bright light as compared with dim light.
• Acid snow? Most of us have heard about acid rain, but do you know the pH range of snow? If you live in an area with snow, test its pH. How does the pH of snow compare with the pH of rain from the same region?
• Soil erosion: What methods of preventing soil erosion work best? For example, what is effective at preventing erosion in your yard?
• Localized noise reduction: What can you do to reduce noise pollution in a room? What factors contribute to noise pollution inside a residence?
• Seed viability: Is there a test you can perform to predict whether or not a seed will germinate? What factors can you measure that might be used to construct a test?
• The effects of magnets on insects and brine shrimp: Does an external magnetic field have any noticeable effect on animals such as brine shrimp, cockroaches, or fruit flies? You could use a strip magnet and containers of sample organisms and make observations to address this question.
• How is phosphorescence affected by light? Is the brightness of glow-in-the-dark (phosphorescent) materials affected by the light source (spectrum) used to make them glow or only by the intensity (brightness) of the light? Does the light source affect the length of time a phosphorescent material will glow?
• How do preservatives impact Vitamin C? Can you affect vitamin C (or another measurable vitamin) levels in juice (or another food) by adding a preservative to the juice?
• Insulation variables : What is the best thickness of insulation for preventing heat loss?
• How does energy input impact light bulb lifespan? Is light bulb lifespan affected by whether the bulb is run at full power? In other words, do dim bulbs last longer/shorter than bulbs run at their power rating?
• Speaker acoustics: What type of box material gives you the best sound for your speaker?
• How does temperature affect battery life? When comparing different brands of batteries: Is the brand that lasts the longest at a high temperature the same as that brand lasts the longest at a cold temperature?
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9th Grade Science Project Ideas: Posters, Experiments, DIYs, And Discussions

March 8, 2024 //  by  Sharayah Lynn Grattan

The 9th-grade science fair is quickly approaching, yet your ideas either lack excitement or were used in last year’s fair…well, look no further! We have collected 56 unique and creative science fair projects that are sure to impress both your students and fairgoers. From optical illusions to black lights and chemical reactions, whatever sparks your students’ imagination, we’ve got you covered! Grab your science goggles and let’s start experimenting! 

1. Accurate Weather Forecasting

This experiment works best with access to a weather station. Most cities do have one, so see if weather records are available to use with your class. If not, keep a log from various weather channels: 1-day t, 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day forecasts. Your students will compare these predictions to real-time weather to gauge the forecasting accuracy.

 Learn More: Weather Forecast

2. Floating Rice

Friction happens all around us, and without it, our world would slip into chaos! To complete this simple experiment, your kiddos will only require some rice, a bottle, and a long utensil such as a chopstick or pencil. Have them fill the bottle with rice, push the pencil or stick inside, and lift the bottle to see what happens!

Learn More: Floating Rice

3. Gender Influence on Math Anxiety

This experiment challenges your kiddos to take on some pretty advanced concepts like adding control groups, managing variables, and data interpretation. They can use heart monitors connected to other kids in a math class and a different subject, and then compare the results. Can they identify anxiety patterns between genders and subjects?

Learn More: Gender And Math Anxiety

4. Hydroponic Garden

Are vertical gardens the way of the future? This engineering project requires your kiddies to have some prior knowledge of plant caretaking, and the willingness to construct a complex system with pipes and connectors. Let them build their hydroponic garden and find out if plants can grow without soil!

Learn More: Hydroponic Garden

5. Crystal Powered Radio

With just a diode, a piece of wood, and an earphone, your students can make their own homemade radio! Following the specific instructions, they’ll be able to connect materials in order to pick up signals from the surrounding area!  Let them explore different options and make the best radio they can!

Learn More: Homemade Radio

6. Plastic Bottle Bridge

This experiment tests your kiddos’ engineering skills by building a bridge out of plastic bottles and metal screws! Their creation will need to be strong enough for your class to walk and sit on! Your engineers will love cutting and connecting plastic bottles and inflating them with dry ice to create a strong structure. 

Learn More: Bottle Bridge

7. Apple Wrecking Ball

This awesome STEM challenge uses momentum, force, and inertia to maneuver an apple to hit target objects. Have your learners create a structure using string and construction paper rolled into cylinders. Next, they can get creative by choosing markers, highlighters, empty bottles, or other items to face down the apple wrecking ball!

Learn More: Apple Bowling

8. Symbiotic Plants and Bacteria

Do bacteria and plants work together? How do nitrogen-fixing bacteria support the growth process? Have your class answer these questions with this simple chemistry experiment using pots, soil, seeds, a sterile inoculating loop, and a Rhizobium leguminosarum culture (bacteria). They’ll observe what happens when only half their pots receive the bacteria!

Learn More: Bacteria And Plants

9. The Chemistry of Colorful Fire

Explore the chemical process behind the change in color in flames with this cool experiment!  Your students will test common chemicals by running a metal rod under cold water and dipping it in the chemical being tested, before exposing it to a flame. They will then record the results to show which chemicals change the flame’s color! Who knew chemistry could be so colorful!?

Learn More: Rainbow Fire

10. Second Language Learning Factors

This project focuses on the social sciences by exploring whether gender, native language, or age affects how we learn a second language. Have your kids dive in by creating a hypothesis and then let them test this prediction out with willing study participants! They’ll love the chance to get their friends and family involved with this fun project idea!

Learn More: Slideshare

11. Optical Illusions in Color and Black & White

What role does color play in how our eyes perceive the world around us? For this project, your kiddies will time how long it takes for participants to solve both color and black-and-white illusions to find out which type is more challenging to see! The results might surprise them!

Learn More: Optical Illusions And Color

12. Rubber Band Car

Your learners will love this project where they can make a car from just a few simple household items! In this fun engineering design project, they’ll use paper cups, rubber bands, a paper clip, a small washer, and one chopstick. Once the parts are assembled,  show them how to twist the chopstick around the rubber bands to change potential energy to kinetic energy causing the little car to take off!

Learn More: Kinetic Car

13. Earthquake Science

This cool science experiment explores how static friction works to create an earthquake-like disruption using natural materials. Grab standard bricks and see how much force it takes to rub them together. Your students will gain extra practice with math when varying the controls by adding weight to fluctuate the friction! 

Learn More: Earthquake Math

14. Forensic Fingerprints

This project is based on the techniques used by forensic scientists to identify fingerprints found at crime scenes!  Let your kiddies become mystery solvers too using just some muriatic acid and oily fingers. The muriatic acid reacts with the amino acids in the skin to make fingerprints glow green – so cool!

Learn More: Fingerprint Science

15. Effects of Antibiotics on Bacteria

How do the most common antibiotics react with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria? Have your learners collect bacteria from their skin or mouth and swab them onto a petri dish. Show them how to establish a control dish and then add different antibiotics to the other dishes. They’ll be amazed as they observe how the antibiotics react with the bacteria! 

Learn More: Antibiotic And Bacteria

16. Glowing Water

This experiment will receive glowing reviews! Your students will need a highlighter, a black light, tonic water, and a dark room to create their glowing water. Instruct them to soak the felt tip of the highlighter in tonic water; after a while, they can place the water next to a black light in the dark room, and see it glow!

Learn More: Glowing Tonic

17. Candy Lab

This two-day experiment offers your pupils the opportunity to apply their knowledge of moles and molecules to make peppermint-flavored candy! All they’ll need is an aluminum tin, a Bunsen burner, and the focus to follow careful directions so that candy will be made! Learning to make candy? They won’t believe their luck!

Learn More: Candy Labs

18. Rain or Snow: Which is more Acidic?

This experiment compares acid rain with acid snow to discover which has a lower pH and is therefore more acidic. Your little scientists will collect samples from water sources like rain, snow, and sleet, and then test them using pH paper. Have them record each result so that they can compare them at the end! 

Learn More: Acidic Water Types

19. Soda Rocket

Chemical reactions are a great topic for a science project. In this demonstration, your kiddies will create their own rockets using just soda and Mentos candy! They’ll show what happens when these two substances interact and form a reaction – much to the delight of their audience! 

Learn More: Hessun Academy  

20. Chladni Plate

Your kiddos won’t believe you when you say they can see sound! For this experiment, they can use recycled materials to build a cylinder and then stretch a balloon over the top. Next, have them add salt to the surface and then blow or speak into the side tube to create sound. Seeing the moving effects of sound will truly ‘wow’ your audience!

Learn More: Science Mom

21. Burning Ice

Can ice really burn? This experiment is a great way for your learners to find out! Adding alcohol over ice creates the illusion of it being on firefire,  but the true source of the flame is really the alcohol. They’ll love coming to this conclusion, documenting the process, and demonstrating this at, their science fair 

Learn More: Steamsational

22. Oxidation Experiment

This experiment shows your class which items are prone to oxidation. Have them collect items made from different types of metal and submerge them in water and/or salt water to observe how fast they rust. Applying the scientific method and keeping a close record of the process will support budding scientists!

Learn More: Teach Beside Me

23. Create a Biodome

Any of your students who are interested in environmental science and the engineering design process will love this biodome project! They can use materials including sand, seeds, and insects, and measure the effects of different amounts of water on their environment. What a fantastic way to observe the interconnectedness of ecosystems!

Learn More: Teach Engineering

24. Light Maze

Scientists eager to learn how light works will enjoy creating these light-bending mazes. Have your kiddies build a maze and then add mirrors to reinforce and explore the concept that light travels in a straight line. This experiment also encourages them to think like engineers as they construct and build their mazes.

Learn More: Science-Sparks

25. Build Your Own Fan 

Give your kiddos a better understanding of how currents and circuits work by having them build this small electric fan. This kit comes with all of the items needed to build this fan and includes step-by-step directions for them to follow; perfect if you need an idea that’s ready to go with minimal prep! 

Learn More: Amazon

26. DIY Hot Air Balloon

The sky’s the limit with this project focusing on forces and motion. Challenge your students to find the best design and materials for a  hot air balloon. Testing it will be the real task! Will it fly or fall flat? Remind them to document their trials so they have the data to present at the fair! 

Learn More: Teaching Is Messy

27. Which Fertilizer is Best?

Let your students discover the secret ingredient to great plant growth. This experiment will expand on their existing knowledge of what plants need to grow by having them determine the best fertilizer for producing and enhancing growth. Your future agronomists will test the effects of different fertilizers and record their observations to present at the fair!

Learn More: Education

28. Head to the Races

If any of your students have access to a 3D printer, this is definitely the project for them! They’ll be taking on the challenge of creating their own race cars to compete against their peers! They’ll need to consider how the cargo affects racing performance and think of ways to overcome this as they race to the finish line!

Learn More: Instructables

29. Life Cycles of Stars

Space exploration is always a topic of interest in any 9th-grade classroom. In this NASA lesson, your kids will study the life cycle of stars and diagram the different phases and processes that contribute to a star’s formation. It’s a super opportunity for your budding astronomers to explain the mysteries of the universe! To infinity and beyond! 

Learn More: National Aeronautics And Space Administration

30. Water Wheels 

Water wheels are an engineering marvel unfamiliar to most people, and this experiment lets you put these ingenious creations front and center for your kiddies! Challenge them to use their math skills to construct a water wheel and observe how it conducts energy and power. This experiment combines history, engineering, math, and science!

Learn More: Resource Center

31. Morse Code Machine

Although Morse code is no longer frequently used, at one time it was an important system of communication! Introduce Morse code by having your students build their own Morse code machines using a buzzer, some batteries, and push buttons. A demonstration of the sounds and the Morse code process will be a hit at the science fair! 

Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary

32. Catapulting Pumpkins

What could be more fun than pumpkin chunkin’? Your kiddos will love building their own catapults and recording the distance that their flying pumpkins travel. This science fair project is not only a blast, but it is also a STEM learning experience all about tension, torsion, and gravity!  

Learn More: TPT

33. Tiny Dancers

This fun project actually generates electricity! Your learners will use nothing more than some copper wire, a battery, some magnets, and a few tools and decorations to create tiny dancers on top of a battery. These dancers will get a groove on once the electric current runs through them! 

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do 

34. Birds and the Colors They Eat 

Are birds attracted to certain colors? Have your kiddos find out by filling bird feeders with identical food, but disguise them in different colors to determine if our flying friends are drawn to specific colors. Challenge your class to come up with a way to document the data carefully to present their findings to an audience that is sure to be captivated by this interesting project!  

Learn More: Science Bob

35. Solar Oven

Bring the kitchen to the (outside) classroom! Your kiddies will love building their own solar oven and conducting experiments to determine how different materials affect the cooking time of food. This is a great opportunity to create graphs and charts to show how materials influence the effectiveness of their ovens and make themselves some tasty treats in the process! 

36. Measure The Speed Of Light With Chocolate

I think we can all agree that the best science projects involve chocolate! For this physics experiment have your kiddos heat chocolate in a microwave and then use this measuring process to work out the wavelengths of light. After the experiment is complete, don’t forget to eat your chocolate! You wouldn’t want it to go to waste!

Learn More: Fizzics Education

37. Overnight Crystals

Growing crystals is a science fair must! This experiment couldn’t be simpler as all your kids will need are some common household items, including Epsom salt and food dye, to create overnight salt crystals. Have them explore the world of saturated mixtures and evaporation as they create crystals of various sizes and shapes.

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do

38. Separate Your Water

This chemistry experiment helps your kiddos to understand that water is a combination of two different gases! Challenge them to separate the two gases by first of all researching the best way to do this! It may take several attempts before they find the approach that actually works! 

Learn More: Navigating By Joy

39. Make Your Own Spectrometer

This amazing science project allows your learners to build and use their own spectrometers. Using all recycled materials and following a simple set of instructions, they’ll be able to observe different light patterns within their spectrometer. What a perfect activity to investigate light! 

40. Banana DNA

Do your kiddos know that they share 50% of their DNA with a banana? Once mashed, they’ll be able to put their banana under a microscope to closely examine the strands of this DNA! They are sure to feel like real scientists as they log their observations.

Learn More: Rainy Day Mum

41. Model and Function of the Brain

Do you think it’s impossible to get hands-on when learning about the brain? Think again!  Let your students use a head of cauliflower to create a model of the brain, and then diagram each of its parts using color-coded labels. Have them use this to teach fair participants about the function of each part of our brains! 

Learn More: Pinterest

42. Environmental Oil Spill

Creating a replica of an oil spill is a great science project to teach the scientific method and spread awareness about environmental issues! Get your learners to set up this amazing visual to demonstrate the effects of an oil spill on the environment and the process involved in cleaning it up. 

43. Regrow Food from Scraps

This creative project is a great way to learn more about recycling and gardening. Have your learners use kitchen food scraps to grow a variety of fruit and vegetable plants. Encourage them to share the fruits of their labor at the science fair!! 

Learn More: Hessun Academy

44. Growing Bacteria

You want to grow bacteria!?! Yes, actually! Start your kiddos off by having them begin to swab and label samples from places in their home or classroom. Next, have them use the Bacteria Growing Kit to analyze bacterial growth on each sample and record their results so that they can determine where bacteria are thriving! 

Learn More: Our Journey Westward

45. Indoor Plant Growth

Growing plants has been done many times before, but this project has an exciting twist! Your students must use a cardboard box, light bulb, and aluminum foil to make an insulated indoor grow box! This is an opportunity to create charts that document how the box increases the plants’ growth rate. 

Learn More: Uplifting Mayhem 

46. Five Second Rule

Have you ever used the Five Second Rule? Have your little scientists test just how safe this well-known rule is by setting up six experimental groups – a control group and five groups representing different time spans for dropped food. They’ll compare the microbes grown on the samples to find out if this is really a rule to live by! 

Learn More: ScienceNewsExplore

47. Egg Drop Contest

The time-tested egg drop challenge is a great way to inspire the future engineer in your students. They’ll design multiple contraptions that hold an egg and protect it during a fall! Which of their contraptions will result in the least egg damage? 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers  

48. Geometry Roller Coaster

This roller coaster experiment is the perfect science project to incorporate plenty of geometry while also having a lot of fun! Using paper, tape, and some accurate measurements, they’ll construct their very own roller coasters and then conduct test runs with marbles!

Learn More: Teaching High School Math

 49. Lung Model and Tobacco Prevention 

By building a model lung, your kiddies will be able to share the effects of tobacco, educating others about this important topic. Using a recycled bottle, balloons, straws, and tape, they’ll make a mock lung to show how it is affected by the use of tobacco. 

Learn More: Surviving A Teacher’s Salary

50. Potato Power

Does the type of potato matter when hooked up to a battery to conduct power? This science project will help solve that puzzle and put a new spin on this classic science project! Your kiddos will focus on circuits and electricity, and test different potatoes to determine which type conducts electricity best.

Learn More: Mom Dot

51. Egg Floating in Salt Water

Here’s another great way to demonstrate your learners’ understanding of scientific testing methods! Challenge them to discover how much salt it takes to make an egg float! They can try out different amounts of salt, documenting the entire scientific process and reporting on whether or not the hypothesis checked out! 

52. Soil Degradation Experiment 

This super interesting project will be an eye-opener for your class! Guide them to set up different mock environments and show the effects on water when the soil is disrupted and soil degradation occurs. They can use recycled jugs and water bottles to set up this experiment. 

Learn More: Geography Pods

53. Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Teach your kiddies more about oxidation and preservation with this fun project! After they’ve researched why apples turn brown, have them test different substances to add, and see if any will preserve the apples longer. They could add vitamin C, honey, water, vinegar, or any other substances they’d like to test! 

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain

54. Fastest Way to Cook a Potato

Give your students a master class in the process of the scientific method! This project will see them testing out seven different methods of cooking potatoes in either an oven or microwave. After they determine which method is quickest, they can display their process and findings at the science fair! 

Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain 

55. Water Pollution Experiment 

Your students will benefit from student choice when setting up and carrying out this experiment. Have them start by collecting water and treating it according to the plan they’ve come up with, and then use microscopes to observe changes in the water as bacteria begin to grow. 

Learn More: Layers of Learning

 56. Composting

Discover the wonders of decomposition with this composting cups project. Over time, your kiddies will observe the process of natural recycling right before their eyes! By adding a small amount of water each day, the bacteria in the composting cups will work its magic!

Learn More: The Happy Housewife

• DIY lists /

Science Fair Projects for 9th Graders

These science fair projects for 9th grade are perfect for older kids to explore advanced science concepts and tinker with some more exciting materials.

(Ages 9-16 )

Water squirters work by pressurizing reservoirs of water with air. As you pump the squirter, it gradually adds air to the reservoir, increasing the pressure. When you pull the trigger, the pressure is allowed to release and a stream of water shoots out!

In this DIY project, we'll learn how to use the exact sample principles found in water squirters to launch a water rocket sky-high! Follow along with these simple steps and you'll be blasting off in no time.

Want to make a bottle rocket without the hassle of gathering materials? Blast off with a Bottle Rocket crate from the KiwiCo Store ! It includes a step-by-step video tutorial link, illustrated blueprint instructions, all the materials, and a special-edition Tinker Zine magazine for more project fun!

(Ages 7-16 )

Make a tea bag fly with heat! The flying tea bag experiment is a similar concept to a hot air balloon, but you can do it right at home. This project is simple to create, but impressive to kids and adults alike!

Want to learn more about chemistry without the hassle of gathering materials? Explore the science of crystallization with a Crystal Chemistry Garden from the KiwiCo Store !

Create a whirling fire torch of your own. The flames spin upwards into a vortex from the rising heat and wind. Follow along to safely create a whirling fire torch yourself!

Unlike the magnets that are used on refrigerators, electromagnets are magnets that can be turned on and off depending on the flow of electricity. The electricity that flows through the wire allows the molecules in the nail to attract certain things. Give this experiment a try, and see how many paper clips you can pick up with your electromagnet!

(Ages 5-16 )

Ready to get racing? Explore potential and kinetic energy with this rubber band-powered racer that kids (and grownups) can't get enough of!

Grow your young engineer's love for physics with a Marble Roller Coaster from the KiwiCo Store ! Become a thrill engineer and build twisty, turny tabletop roller coasters.

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37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

General Education

Are you looking for cool science experiments for kids at home or for class? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of 37 of the best science experiments for kids that cover areas of science ranging from outer space to dinosaurs to chemical reactions. By doing these easy science experiments, kids will make their own blubber and see how polar bears stay warm, make a rain cloud in a jar to observe how weather changes, create a potato battery that'll really power a lightbulb, and more.

Below are 37 of the best science projects for kids to try. For each one we include a description of the experiment, which area(s) of science it teaches kids about, how difficult it is (easy/medium/hard), how messy it is (low/medium/high), and the materials you need to do the project. Note that experiments labelled "hard" are definitely still doable; they just require more materials or time than most of these other science experiments for kids.

#1: Insect Hotels

• Teaches Kids About: Zoology
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Messiness Level: Medium

Insect hotels can be as simple (just a few sticks wrapped in a bundle) or as elaborate as you'd like, and they're a great way for kids to get creative making the hotel and then get rewarded by seeing who has moved into the home they built. After creating a hotel with hiding places for bugs, place it outside (near a garden is often a good spot), wait a few days, then check it to see who has occupied the "rooms." You can also use a bug ID book or app to try and identify the visitors.

• Materials Needed
• Shadow box or other box with multiple compartments
• Hot glue gun with glue
• Sticks, bark, small rocks, dried leaves, bits of yarn/wool, etc.

#2: DIY Lava Lamp

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions
• Difficulty Level: Easy

In this quick and fun science experiment, kids will mix water, oil, food coloring, and antacid tablets to create their own (temporary) lava lamp . Oil and water don't mix easily, and the antacid tablets will cause the oil to form little globules that are dyed by the food coloring. Just add the ingredients together and you'll end up with a homemade lava lamp!

• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Antacid tablets

#3: Magnetic Slime

• Teaches Kids About: Magnets
• Messiness Level: High (The slime is black and will slightly dye your fingers when you play with it, but it washes off easily.)

A step up from silly putty and Play-Doh, magnetic slime is fun to play with but also teaches kids about magnets and how they attract and repel each other. Some of the ingredients you aren't likely to have around the house, but they can all be purchased online. After mixing the ingredients together, you can use the neodymium magnet (regular magnets won't be strong enough) to make the magnetic slime move without touching it!

• Liquid starch
• Adhesive glue
• Iron oxide powder
• Neodymium (rare earth) magnet

#4: Baking Soda Volcanoes

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions, earth science
• Difficulty Level: Easy-medium
• Messiness Level: High

Baking soda volcanoes are one of the classic science projects for kids, and they're also one of the most popular. It's hard to top the excitement of a volcano erupting inside your home. This experiment can also be as simple or in-depth as you like. For the eruption, all you need is baking soda and vinegar (dishwashing detergent adds some extra power to the eruption), but you can make the "volcano" as elaborate and lifelike as you wish.

• Baking soda
• Dishwashing detergent
• Large mason jar or soda bottle
• Playdough or aluminum foil to make the "volcano"
• Additional items to place around the volcano (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

#5: Tornado in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Weather
• Messiness Level: Low

This is one of the quick and easy and science experiments for kids to teach them about weather. It only takes about five minutes and a few materials to set up, but once you have it ready you and your kids can create your own miniature tornado whose vortex you can see and the strength of which you can change depending on how quickly you swirl the jar.

• Glitter (optional)

#6: Colored Celery Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Plants

This celery science experiment is another classic science experiment that parents and teachers like because it's easy to do and gives kids a great visual understanding of how transpiration works and how plants get water and nutrients. Just place celery stalks in cups of colored water, wait at least a day, and you'll see the celery leaves take on the color of the water. This happens because celery stalks (like other plants) contain small capillaries that they use to transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.

• Celery stalks (can also use white flowers or pale-colored cabbage)

#7: Rain Cloud in a Jar

This experiment teaches kids about weather and lets them learn how clouds form by making their own rain cloud . This is definitely a science project that requires adult supervision since it uses boiling water as one of the ingredients, but once you pour the water into a glass jar, the experiment is fast and easy, and you'll be rewarded with a little cloud forming in the jar due to condensation.

• Glass jar with a lid
• Boiling water
• Aerosol hairspray

#8: Edible Rock Candy

• Teaches Kids About: Crystal formation

It takes about a week for the crystals of this rock candy experiment to form, but once they have you'll be able to eat the results! After creating a sugar solution, you'll fill jars with it and dangle strings in them that'll slowly become covered with the crystals. This experiment involves heating and pouring boiling water, so adult supervision is necessary, once that step is complete, even very young kids will be excited to watch crystals slowly form.

• Large saucepan
• Clothespins
• String or small skewers
• Candy flavoring (optional)

#9: Water Xylophone

• Teaches Kids About: Sound waves

With just some basic materials you can create your own musical instrument to teach kids about sound waves. In this water xylophone experiment , you'll fill glass jars with varying levels of water. Once they're all lined up, kids can hit the sides with wooden sticks and see how the itch differs depending on how much water is in the jar (more water=lower pitch, less water=higher pitch). This is because sound waves travel differently depending on how full the jars are with water.

• Wooden sticks/skewers

#10: Blood Model in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Human biology

This blood model experiment is a great way to get kids to visual what their blood looks like and how complicated it really is. Each ingredient represents a different component of blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.), so you just add a certain amount of each to the jar, swirl it around a bit, and you have a model of what your blood looks like.

• Empty jar or bottle
• Red cinnamon candies
• Marshmallows or dry white lima beans
• White sprinkles

#11: Potato Battery

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity
• Difficulty Level: Hard

Did you know that a simple potato can produce enough energy to keep a light bulb lit for over a month? You can create a simple potato battery to show kids. There are kits that provide all the necessary materials and how to set it up, but if you don't purchase one of these it can be a bit trickier to gather everything you need and assemble it correctly. Once it's set though, you'll have your own farm grown battery!

• Fresh potato
• Galvanized nail
• Copper coin

#12: Homemade Pulley

• Teaches Kids About: Simple machines

This science activity requires some materials you may not already have, but once you've gotten them, the homemade pulley takes only a few minutes to set up, and you can leave the pulley up for your kids to play with all year round. This pulley is best set up outside, but can also be done indoors.

• Clothesline
• 2 clothesline pulleys

#13: Light Refraction

• Teaches Kids About: Light

This light refraction experiment takes only a few minutes to set up and uses basic materials, but it's a great way to show kids how light travels. You'll draw two arrows on a sticky note, stick it to the wall, then fill a clear water bottle with water. As you move the water bottle in front of the arrows, the arrows will appear to change the direction they're pointing. This is because of the refraction that occurs when light passes through materials like water and plastic.

• Sticky note
• Transparent water bottle

#14: Nature Journaling

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, scientific observation

A nature journal is a great way to encourage kids to be creative and really pay attention to what's going on around them. All you need is a blank journal (you can buy one or make your own) along with something to write with. Then just go outside and encourage your children to write or draw what they notice. This could include descriptions of animals they see, tracings of leaves, a drawing of a beautiful flower, etc. Encourage your kids to ask questions about what they observe (Why do birds need to build nests? Why is this flower so brightly colored?) and explain to them that scientists collect research by doing exactly what they're doing now.

• Blank journal or notebook
• Pens/pencils/crayons/markers
• Tape or glue for adding items to the journal

#15: DIY Solar Oven

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy

This homemade solar oven definitely requires some adult help to set up, but after it's ready you'll have your own mini oven that uses energy from the sun to make s'mores or melt cheese on pizza. While the food is cooking, you can explain to kids how the oven uses the sun's rays to heat the food.

• Aluminum foil
• Knife or box cutter
• Permanent marker
• Plastic cling wrap
• Black construction paper

#16: Animal Blubber Simulation

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, zoology

If your kids are curious about how animals like polar bears and seals stay warm in polar climates, you can go beyond just explaining it to them; you can actually have them make some of their own blubber and test it out. After you've filled up a large bowl with ice water and let it sit for a few minutes to get really cold, have your kids dip a bare hand in and see how many seconds they can last before their hand gets too cold. Next, coat one of their fingers in shortening and repeat the experiment. Your child will notice that, with the shortening acting like a protective layer of blubber, they don't feel the cold water nearly as much.

• Bowl of ice water

#17: Static Electricity Butterfly

This experiment is a great way for young kids to learn about static electricity, and it's more fun and visual than just having them rub balloons against their heads. First you'll create a butterfly, using thick paper (such as cardstock) for the body and tissue paper for the wings. Then, blow up the balloon, have the kids rub it against their head for a few seconds, then move the balloon to just above the butterfly's wings. The wings will move towards the balloon due to static electricity, and it'll look like the butterfly is flying.

• Tissue paper
• Thick paper
• Glue stick/glue

#18: Edible Double Helix

• Teaches Kids About: Genetics

If your kids are learning about genetics, you can do this edible double helix craft to show them how DNA is formed, what its different parts are, and what it looks like. The licorice will form the sides or backbone of the DNA and each color of marshmallow will represent one of the four chemical bases. Kids will be able to see that only certain chemical bases pair with each other.

• 2 pieces of licorice
• 12 toothpicks
• Small marshmallows in 4 colors (9 of each color)
• 5 paperclips

#19: Leak-Proof Bag

• Teaches Kids About: Molecules, plastics

This is an easy experiment that'll appeal to kids of a variety of ages. Just take a zip-lock bag, fill it about ⅔ of the way with water, and close the top. Next, poke a few sharp objects (like bamboo skewers or sharp pencils) through one end and out the other. At this point you may want to dangle the bag above your child's head, but no need to worry about spills because the bag won't leak? Why not? It's because the plastic used to make zip-lock bags is made of polymers, or long chains of molecules that'll quickly join back together when they're forced apart.

• Zip-lock bags
• Objects with sharp ends (pencils, bamboo skewers, etc.)

#20: How Do Leaves Breathe?

• Teaches Kids About: Plant science

It takes a few hours to see the results of this leaf experiment , but it couldn't be easier to set up, and kids will love to see a leaf actually "breathing." Just get a large-ish leaf, place it in a bowl (glass works best so you can see everything) filled with water, place a small rock on the leaf to weigh it down, and leave it somewhere sunny. Come back in a few hours and you'll see little bubbles in the water created when the leaf releases the oxygen it created during photosynthesis.

• Large bowl (preferably glass)
• Magnifying glass (optional)

#21: Popsicle Stick Catapults

Kids will love shooting pom poms out of these homemade popsicle stick catapults . After assembling the catapults out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons, they're ready to launch pom poms or other lightweight objects. To teach kids about simple machines, you can ask them about how they think the catapults work, what they should do to make the pom poms go a farther/shorter distance, and how the catapult could be made more powerful.

• Popsicle sticks
• Rubber bands
• Plastic spoons
• Paint (optional)

#22: Elephant Toothpaste

You won't want to do this experiment near anything that's difficult to clean (outside may be best), but kids will love seeing this " elephant toothpaste " crazily overflowing the bottle and oozing everywhere. Pour the hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and dishwashing soap into the bottle, and in the cup mix the yeast packet with some warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, add the yeast mixture to the bottle, stand back, and watch the solution become a massive foamy mixture that pours out of the bottle! The "toothpaste" is formed when the yeast removed the oxygen bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide which created foam. This is an exothermic reaction, and it creates heat as well as foam (you can have kids notice that the bottle became warm as the reaction occurred).

• Clean 16-oz soda bottle
• 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 packet of dry yeast
• Dishwashing soap

#23: How Do Penguins Stay Dry?

Penguins, and many other birds, have special oil-producing glands that coat their feathers with a protective layer that causes water to slide right off them, keeping them warm and dry. You can demonstrate this to kids with this penguin craft by having them color a picture of a penguin with crayons, then spraying the picture with water. The wax from the crayons will have created a protective layer like the oil actual birds coat themselves with, and the paper won't absorb the water.

• Penguin image (included in link)
• Spray bottle
• Blue food coloring (optional)

#24: Rock Weathering Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Geology

This mechanical weathering experiment teaches kids why and how rocks break down or erode. Take two pieces of clay, form them into balls, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, leave one out while placing the other in the freezer overnight. The next day, unwrap and compare them. You can repeat freezing the one piece of clay every night for several days to see how much more cracked and weathered it gets than the piece of clay that wasn't frozen. It may even begin to crumble. This weathering also happens to rocks when they are subjected to extreme temperatures, and it's one of the causes of erosion.

• Plastic wrap

#25: Saltwater Density

• Teaches Kids About: Water density

For this saltwater density experiment , you'll fill four clear glasses with water, then add salt to one glass, sugar to one glass, and baking soda to one glass, leaving one glass with just water. Then, float small plastic pieces or grapes in each of the glasses and observe whether they float or not. Saltwater is denser than freshwater, which means some objects may float in saltwater that would sink in freshwater. You can use this experiment to teach kids about the ocean and other bodies of saltwater, such as the Dead Sea, which is so salty people can easily float on top of it.

• Four clear glasses
• Lightweight plastic objects or small grapes

#26: Starburst Rock Cycle

With just a package of Starbursts and a few other materials, you can create models of each of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Sedimentary "rocks" will be created by pressing thin layers of Starbursts together, metamorphic by heating and pressing Starbursts, and igneous by applying high levels of heat to the Starbursts. Kids will learn how different types of rocks are forms and how the three rock types look different from each other.

• Toaster oven

#27: Inertia Wagon Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Inertia

This simple experiment teaches kids about inertia (as well as the importance of seatbelts!). Take a small wagon, fill it with a tall stack of books, then have one of your children pull it around then stop abruptly. They won't be able to suddenly stop the wagon without the stack of books falling. You can have the kids predict which direction they think the books will fall and explain that this happens because of inertia, or Newton's first law.

• Stack of books

#28: Dinosaur Tracks

• Teaches Kids About: Paleontology

How are some dinosaur tracks still visible millions of years later? By mixing together several ingredients, you'll get a claylike mixture you can press your hands/feet or dinosaur models into to make dinosaur track imprints . The mixture will harden and the imprints will remain, showing kids how dinosaur (and early human) tracks can stay in rock for such a long period of time.

• Used coffee grounds
• Wooden spoon
• Rolling pin

#29: Sidewalk Constellations

• Teaches Kids About: Astronomy

If you do this sidewalk constellation craft , you'll be able to see the Big Dipper and Orion's Belt in the daylight. On the sidewalk, have kids draw the lines of constellations (using constellation diagrams for guidance) and place stones where the stars are. You can then look at astronomy charts to see where the constellations they drew will be in the sky.

• Sidewalk chalk
• Small stones
• Diagrams of constellations

#30: Lung Model

By building a lung model , you can teach kids about respiration and how their lungs work. After cutting off the bottom of a plastic bottle, you'll stretch a balloon around the opened end and insert another balloon through the mouth of the bottle. You'll then push a straw through the neck of the bottle and secure it with a rubber band and play dough. By blowing into the straw, the balloons will inflate then deflate, similar to how our lungs work.

• Plastic bottle
• Rubber band

#31: Homemade Dinosaur Bones

By mixing just flour, salt, and water, you'll create a basic salt dough that'll harden when baked. You can use this dough to make homemade dinosaur bones and teach kids about paleontology. You can use books or diagrams to learn how different dinosaur bones were shaped, and you can even bury the bones in a sandpit or something similar and then excavate them the way real paleontologists do.

• Images of dinosaur bones

#32: Clay and Toothpick Molecules

There are many variations on homemade molecule science crafts . This one uses clay and toothpicks, although gumdrops or even small pieces of fruit like grapes can be used in place of clay. Roll the clay into balls and use molecule diagrams to attach the clay to toothpicks in the shape of the molecules. Kids can make numerous types of molecules and learn how atoms bond together to form molecules.

• Clay or gumdrops (in four colors)
• Diagrams of molecules

#33: Articulated Hand Model

By creating an articulated hand model , you can teach kids about bones, joints, and how our hands are able to move in many ways and accomplish so many different tasks. After creating a hand out of thin foam, kids will cut straws to represent the different bones in the hand and glue them to the fingers of the hand models. You'll then thread yarn (which represents tendons) through the straws, stabilize the model with a chopstick or other small stick, and end up with a hand model that moves and bends the way actual human hands do.

• Straws (paper work best)
• Twine or yarn

#34: Solar Energy Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy, light rays

This solar energy science experiment will teach kids about solar energy and how different colors absorb different amounts of energy. In a sunny spot outside, place six colored pieces of paper next to each other, and place an ice cube in the middle of each paper. Then, observe how quickly each of the ice cubes melt. The ice cube on the black piece of paper will melt fastest since black absorbs the most light (all the light ray colors), while the ice cube on the white paper will melt slowest since white absorbs the least light (it instead reflects light). You can then explain why certain colors look the way they do. (Colors besides black and white absorb all light except for the one ray color they reflect; this is the color they appear to us.)

• 6 squares of differently colored paper/cardstock (must include black paper and white paper)

#35: How to Make Lightning

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity, weather

You don't need a storm to see lightning; you can actually create your own lightning at home . For younger kids this experiment requires adult help and supervision. You'll stick a thumbtack through the bottom of an aluminum tray, then stick the pencil eraser to the pushpin. You'll then rub the piece of wool over the aluminum tray, and then set the tray on the Styrofoam, where it'll create a small spark/tiny bolt of lightning!

• Pencil with eraser
• Aluminum tray or pie tin
• Styrofoam tray

#36: Tie-Dyed Milk

• Teaches Kids About: Surface tension

For this magic milk experiment , partly fill a shallow dish with milk, then add a one drop of each food coloring color to different parts of the milk. The food coloring will mostly stay where you placed it. Next, carefully add one drop of dish soap to the middle of the milk. It'll cause the food coloring to stream through the milk and away from the dish soap. This is because the dish soap breaks up the surface tension of the milk by dissolving the milk's fat molecules.

• Shallow dish
• Milk (high-fat works best)

#37: How Do Stalactites Form?

Have you ever gone into a cave and seen huge stalactites hanging from the top of the cave? Stalactites are formed by dripping water. The water is filled with particles which slowly accumulate and harden over the years, forming stalactites. You can recreate that process with this stalactite experiment . By mixing a baking soda solution, dipping a piece of wool yarn in the jar and running it to another jar, you'll be able to observe baking soda particles forming and hardening along the yarn, similar to how stalactites grow.

• Safety pins
• 2 glass jars

Summary: Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Any one of these simple science experiments for kids can get children learning and excited about science. You can choose a science experiment based on your child's specific interest or what they're currently learning about, or you can do an experiment on an entirely new topic to expand their learning and teach them about a new area of science. From easy science experiments for kids to the more challenging ones, these will all help kids have fun and learn more about science.

What's Next?

Are you also interested in pipe cleaner crafts for kids? We have a guide to some of the best pipe cleaner crafts to try!

Looking for multiple different slime recipes? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Want to learn more about clouds? Learn how to identify every cloud in the sky with our guide to the 10 types of clouds .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa) .

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Science Fair Projects For 9th Grade

Science Fair Ideas With Horses

Having survived the rigors of middle school, and with sufficient exposure to physical science (including physics and chemistry), life science (including human and plant biology) and earth science, you as a 9th-grader are prepared to take on some genuinely sophisticated science-fair projects.

Such projects normally involve more than just an afternoon or evening or two of preparation; some of them require one to three weeks to complete, owing to the nature of their focus. As such, they provide opportunities for you to both learn a science topic in exquisite detail and communicate it to your teachers, parents and classmates.

Biology Project: Blood Sugar Levels

For a general biology project, create a presentation exploring the similarities and differences between Type I and Type II diabetes in terms of clinical symptoms, epidemiology, the known and proposed causes of each, and advances in treatment and management. How can lifestyle changes make a difference?

Chemistry Project: Ice Cream and the Freezing Point of Water

This two- to five-day project, from the Science Buddies website, explores the concepts of molecular mass and moles, and reveals that adding certain solutes to water can change its freezing and boiling points. As a bonus, at the end of the experiment, you will have created a perfectly edible treat.

For this, you will need test tubes, a thermometer, and an ample supply of sucrose and sodium chloride. You will also require recipe for homemade ice cream and the equipment to make some. After trying different, measured concentrations of sugar and salt in different test tubes containing newly melted ice, try to produce a mix that is still partly liquid at -10 degrees Celsius. A small baggie containing the ingredients for the ice cream can be placed in a larger baggie containing the optimal ice-solute mix, and after five minutes or of shaking, a small amount of edible ice cream should appear.

If you do not have access to this equipment or would prefer a more research-based project, explore the intriguing area of culinary science. For example, how are pathogens in the food and water supply managed in your city and worldwide? What are the greatest threats to food and water safety in the U.S. and abroad? What do people take for granted in "First World" countries that others around the world cannot?

Physics Project: Paper Airplanes

Use 8.5-inch-by-11-inch sheets of paper to come up with the ideal paper flying machine, using whatever online resources or books you can find.

For example, as recommended by faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology, once you have built your simulated aircraft, stand about 15 to 20 feet from a hula hoop and attempt to throw your creations through the hoop. Then, try to throw your planes as far as you can in the air. Are the planes that seem to be the most accurate necessarily those that also fly the farthest? Why might this be or not be, depending on the findings? Also throw planes made by your classmates and have them try yours. Make posters detailing the basics of aerodynamics in flight, such as lift and drag, and explain how these come into play in real airplanes as well as the simulated aircraft you have created.

Alternatively, produce a project detailing the key advances in aeronautical engineering starting with the first hot-air balloons and airplanes and culminating with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station endeavors of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. What were the limitations to launching satellites into orbit before the Soviets managed this in the 1950s? What are the next great anticipated leaps forward in human space travel?

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• Science Buddies: Blood Sugar Balancing Act: How Exercise Tips the Scales
• Science Buddies: Chemistry of Ice-Cream Making: Lowering the Freezing Point of Water

About the Author

Kevin Beck holds a bachelor's degree in physics with minors in math and chemistry from the University of Vermont. Formerly with ScienceBlogs.com and the editor of "Run Strong," he has written for Runner's World, Men's Fitness, Competitor, and a variety of other publications. More about Kevin and links to his professional work can be found at www.kemibe.com.

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45 Cool Chemistry Experiments, Demos, and Science Fair Projects

Don’t forget your safety equipment!

Bunsen burners, colorful chemicals, and the possibility of a (controlled) explosion or two? Everybody loves chemistry experiments! We’ve rounded up the best activities, demos, and chemistry science fair projects for kids and teens. Try them in the classroom or at home.

Easy Chemistry Experiments and Activities for All Ages

Chemistry science fair projects.

These chemistry experiments and activities are all easy to do using simple supplies you probably already have. Families can try them at home, or teachers and students can do them together in the classroom.

Mix up some magic milk

Kids love this colorful experiment, which explores the concept of surface tension. This is one of our favorite chemistry experiments to try at home, since the supplies are so basic and the results are so cool!

Taste the Rainbow

Teach your students about diffusion while creating a beautiful and tasty rainbow. You’ll definitely want to have extra Skittles on hand so your class can enjoy a few as well!

Learn more: Skittles Diffusion

Crystallize sweet treats

Crystal science experiments teach kids about supersaturated solutions. This one is easy to do at home, and the results are absolutely delicious!

Learn more: Candy Crystals

Make elephant-sized toothpaste

This fun project uses yeast and a hydrogen peroxide solution to create overflowing “elephant toothpaste.” You can also add an extra fun layer by having kids create toothpaste wrappers for their plastic bottles.

Blow the biggest bubbles you can

Add a few simple ingredients to dish soap solution to create the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen! Kids learn about surface tension as they engineer these bubble-blowing wands.

Learn more: Giant Soap Bubbles

Demonstrate the “magic” leakproof bag

So simple and so amazing! All you need is a zip-top plastic bag, sharp pencils, and some water to blow your kids’ minds. Once they’re suitably impressed, teach them how the “trick” works by explaining the chemistry of polymers.

Learn more: Leakproof Bag

Use apple slices to learn about oxidation

Have students make predictions about what will happen to apple slices when immersed in different liquids, then put those predictions to the test! Finally, have them record their observations.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation

Float a marker man

Their eyes will pop out of their heads when you “levitate” a stick figure right off the table. This experiment works due to the insolubility of dry-erase marker ink in water, combined with the lighter density of the ink.

Learn more: Floating Marker Man

Discover density with hot and cold water

There are a lot of easy science experiments you can do with density. This one is extremely simple, involving only hot and cold water and food coloring, but the visuals make it appealing and fun.

Learn more: Layered Water

Layer more liquids

This density demo is a little more complicated, but the effects are spectacular. Slowly layer liquids like honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol in a glass. Kids will be amazed when the liquids float one on top of the other like magic (except it is really science).

Learn more: Layered Liquids

Grow a carbon sugar snake

Easy science experiments can still have impressive results. This eye-popping chemical reaction demonstration only requires simple supplies like sugar, baking soda, and sand.

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake

Make homemade bouncy balls

These homemade bouncy balls are easy to make since all you need is glue, food coloring, borax powder, cornstarch, and warm water. You’ll want to store them inside a container like a plastic egg because they will flatten out over time.

Learn more: Make Your Own Bouncy Balls

Create eggshell chalk

Eggshells contain calcium, the same material that makes chalk. Grind them up and mix them with flour, water, and food coloring to make your very own sidewalk chalk.

Learn more: Eggshell Chalk

Make naked eggs

This is so cool! Use vinegar to dissolve the calcium carbonate in an eggshell to discover the membrane underneath that holds the egg together. Then, use the “naked” egg for another easy science experiment that demonstrates osmosis .

Learn more: Naked Egg Experiment

Turn milk into plastic

This sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but don’t be afraid to give it a try. Use simple kitchen supplies to create plastic polymers from plain old milk. Sculpt them into cool shapes when you’re done.

Test pH using cabbage

Teach kids about acids and bases without needing pH test strips. Simply boil some red cabbage and use the resulting water to test various substances—acids turn red and bases turn green.

Learn more: Cabbage pH

Clean some old coins

Use common household items to make old oxidized coins clean and shiny again in this simple chemistry experiment. Ask kids to predict (hypothesize) which will work best, then expand the learning by doing some research to explain the results.

Learn more: Cleaning Coins

Blow up a balloon (without blowing)

Chances are good you probably did easy science experiments like this when you were in school yourself. This well-known activity demonstrates the reactions between acids and bases. Fill a bottle with vinegar and a balloon with baking soda. Fit the balloon over the top, shake the baking soda down into the vinegar, and watch the balloon inflate.

Learn more: Balloon Experiments

Assemble a DIY lava lamp

This 1970s trend is back—as an easy science experiment! This activity combines acid/base reactions with density for a totally groovy result.

Explore how sugary drinks affect teeth

The calcium content of eggshells makes them a great stand-in for teeth. Use eggs to explore how soda and juice can stain teeth and wear down the enamel. Expand your learning by trying different toothpaste and toothbrush combinations to see how effective they are.

Learn more: Sugar and Teeth Experiment

Mummify a hot dog

If your kids are fascinated by the Egyptians, they’ll love learning to mummify a hot dog. No need for canopic jars ; just grab some baking soda and get started.

Extinguish flames with carbon dioxide

This is a fiery twist on acid-base experiments. Light a candle and talk about what fire needs in order to survive. Then, create an acid-base reaction and “pour” the carbon dioxide to extinguish the flame. The CO2 gas acts like a liquid, suffocating the fire.

Send secret messages with invisible ink

Turn your kids into secret agents! Write messages with a paintbrush dipped in lemon juice, then hold the paper over a heat source and watch the invisible become visible as oxidation goes to work.

Learn more: Invisible Ink

Set popcorn dancing

This is a fun version of the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, perfect for the younger crowd. The bubbly mixture causes popcorn to dance around in the water.

Learn more: Dancing Popcorn Experiment

Shoot a soda geyser sky-high

You’ve always wondered if this really works, so it’s time to find out for yourself! Kids will marvel at the chemical reaction that sends diet soda shooting high in the air when Mentos are added.

Learn more: Mentos and Coke Experiment

All of these chemistry experiments are perfect for using the scientific method. Form a hypothesis, alter the variables, and then observe the results! You can simplify these projects for younger kids, or add more complexity for older students.

Break apart covalent bonds

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

Break the covalent bond of H 2 O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?

Learn more: Breaking Covalent Bonds

Measure the calories in various foods

Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.

Detect latent fingerprints

Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!

Learn more: Fingerprints Project

Use Alka-Seltzer to explore reaction rate

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Easy

Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.

Determine whether sports drinks really have more electrolytes than other beverages

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced

Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools .

Turn flames into a rainbow

You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort. Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.

Discover the size of a mole

The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.

Learn more: How Big Is a Mole?

Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations

This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!

Learn more: Candy Chemistry

Make soap to understand saponification

Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.

Learn more: Saponification

Uncover the secrets of evaporation

Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.

Learn more: Evaporation

More Chemistry Experiment Science Fair Ideas

These questions and prompts can spark ideas for unique chemistry experiments:

• Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
• Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
• What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
• Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
• How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
• Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
• Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
• What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
• How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?

Like these chemistry experiments? Don’t miss STEM Activities for Kids of All Ages and Interests .

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