There are a lot of advantages homeschoolers have when doing a science project – especially in the middle school years. If they want, the family can spend the entire day doing an experiment, without worrying about the bell ringing, being late to lunch, or missing PE. Reading, math, and even social studies can be centered around science. The experiment can be attended round the clock, if necessary.

Shannon’s family does a lot of science, but they’ve never entered a science fair. Since we have entered more times than we can count, Shannon asked me to give her some advice. Whether you homeschool or not, take minute and read my post Seven Steps to a Successful Science Project. You’ll find advice that will help you as you choose your science project.

While you’re there, make sure you get your copy of The Non-Scientific Parent’s Guide to a Science Project. Download it and save it; science project time is fast approaching!

PS Did I mention that The Non-Scientific Parent’s Guide to a Science Project is FREE?!

1. Find out what type of project your science teacher requires. There are many types of projects, and most elementary schools give a range of choices. Does your teacher want an experiment, a demonstration, a collection, a report, or a model? Knowing what kind of project you need will narrow down your choices considerably.

2. Make a list of things that interest your child. What subjects catch your child’s eye on television or in books – space, animals, buildings, computers, explosions? Does your child need instant gratification? Consider a chemistry experiment with dramatic results, such as “Which Fruit has the Most Vitamin C?” Is your child concerned about the environment? Find out which toilet tissue is most biodegradable, or which type of insulation works best.

3. Set your budget for money – and time. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, and if your time is limited, there is no need to look at anything that requires special metals to be imported from the Far East. Decide on how much cash you’re willing to spend, and create a generous time line for getting supplies. Keep in mind that you have to actually do the project after the supplies arrive.

4. Keep in mind that this is a science project for elementary school. Don’t choose a project with complicated instructions. You want your child to do the project with your help – and not the other way around.

5. Provide four or five science project choices. Ever notice how it takes longer to decide on an ice cream flavor when there are 31 flavors? Give your elementary school child a limited list of science project choices, and you’ll both be happier.

Parents, get a free guide to science projects- including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at Elementary Science Projects.

Our project guides are easy and fast, and will help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – science project for elementary school.

I was also concerned, because his hypothesis was correct. If the amount of water frozen remains the same, then ice with the most surface area melts the fastest. So I asked to see his numbers.

And once again, this young man was correct. He had made an error entering his data, and had calculated the surface area incorrectly. When he put the numbers in the correct places in his spreadsheet, his data proved his hypothesis to be true.

This young man learned two valuable lessons: if something doesn’t look right, check it! Follow your instincts. And always double check your data.

Get step by step instructions on how to find out if surface area affects the melting time of ice at 24 Hour Science Projects

Science Projects were easier in elementary school. Back then, you could submit a model rocket, an egg sucked into a bottle, or a simple science report on electricity. It’s different in middle school. Middle School science teachers want creative ideas, specific elements, in depth research, and detailed logs of the whole science fair process.

Finding a middle school science project that meets all these criteria has always been a challenge for our family. Our teachers wanted an experiment based, investigative project for the science fair. There are five different types of science projects, but most of the books in the library had projects that were actually demonstrations or models. It’s very important that you read the directions from your teacher and/or the science fair, and make sure that the project your child chooses fits into the right category – especially in middle school.

Here are the five types of projects.

1. Investigative projects – Most science fairs require students to submit an investigative science project. This type of project has an experiment that tests an hypothesis. The experiment will follow the scientific method, and may require a control group. (If you’re unfamiliar with this vocabulary, check out the free resource below!)

An example of an investigative project would be “How does salt affect the boiling point of water?” This can easily be tested by our experiment which adds different amounts of salt to water and recording the temperature at which it boils.

If you see the words experiment, scientific method, control and/or variable on the project instructions, you’ll probably need an investigative project. As mentioned before, they’re not easy to find. (Hint: We’ve got a whole pack of investigative projects at 24 Hour Science Projects…)

2. Demonstration projects – In this type of project a student demonstrate a scientific principle, and lots of time the teacher wants it presented in front of the class as an oral report. There is no true experiment performed, because there won’t be a control or different variables. (Another hint: We’ve got five demonstration project guides in our “Watch This!” Science Project guides.

3. Research project – Basically this is a science report. Students research a topic, and write what they discovered. Any type of science topic can be used for a research project.

4. Models – For a model project, models are built to explain a scientific principle or structure.

5. Collections - In this type of project a collection of objects is displayed to give an overview of a topic. An example would be a rock collection or a display showing pictures of various animals in a specific family.

Every middle school science fair will have slightly different criteria for projects. As you search for a project, make sure it’s the type of project your school requires. If you need help, check out “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects“, which has guides for all the different types of science projects – including the experiment based ones! There is a vocabulary list that gives simple definitions to those vocabulary words you learned in middle school, but promptly forgot.

Believe it or not, science projects are designed to help students learn about science. Figure out which type of project your school requires, and you’ll be one step closer to showing your child how much fun science can be!

Find all sorts of science projects with our excellent guides, including 24 Hour Science Projects, five experiment based projects. We also have five Watch This! demonstration projects, which are designed to be presented in front of a class. Our project guides are perfect for a middle school science project! ]]> http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com/wordpress/124/middle-school-science-projects-a-guide/feed/ 0 http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com/wordpress/107/easy-science-projects/ http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com/wordpress/107/easy-science-projects/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:45:10 +0000 sciencemom http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com/wordpress/?p=107 It’s Friday night, and you’ve been putting it off for a month. But on Monday, your child’s science project is due. And you haven’t even started. You need an easy science project that can be done quickly, but it has to be good…

It’s not an easy thing to find! Science projects that are easy often don’t meet the requirements of the teacher or the science fair. And projects that are fast often aren’t enough to teach your child anything. We know. With four boys, our family has waited until the last minute to do a science project more than once. But the good news is that there really are good science experiments that can be done quickly and easily. Here are some hints to finding a quality, but easy science project:

~Find out exactly what type of science project your child needs. Some teachers want a demonstration science project that the child can present to the class. Some teachers want a science report. Occasionally, scientific models or nature collections will be allowed. Most teachers, however, want an experiment based science project that follows the scientific method.

~Ask your child for several ideas. He or she will be the scientist, after all!

~Do an internet or library search for “science projects on…” You may find exactly what you need this way.

~Make a list of possible projects. Go ahead and discard projects that are on advanced chemistry.

~Take a look at the ingredients and equipment. If there are items not readily available or are wickedly expensive, you’ll know that project isn’t for you. There are plenty of experiments that can be done with things in the home, or at the supermarket.

~Find out how long the science experiment or project takes. If it takes more than two or three days, you probably want to reconsider. The ideal easy science project will not take more than a few hours, in case something goes wrong and you have to repeat. And unfortunately, this does happen.

Although an easy science project isn’t always easy to find, you and your child can work together to find a project that is easy to do, but also educational and fun. Take a look at our Online Science Project Guides, science projects that are fun, easy, affordable, and teacher pleasing! Find out about these guides, and get a free copy of “The Non-Scientist Parent’s Guide to Science Fair Projects” at http://www.24 hourscienceprojects.com. We’ve got your easy science project!

1. Check the science guidelines. What kind of project does your science fair require? There are five kinds of science projects: investigative (experimental), demonstration, research papers or reports, models, and collections. (For more information on all the types of science projects, get a FREE Parent’s Guide to a Science Project at www.24hourscienceprojects.com).

Are there restrictions on projects? Is there a ‘money spend’ limit? Can you use animals or food in the experiment or in the display? Does your child have to demonstrate the project for a judge?

2. After you know all the particulars for your science fair, make a list or projects ideas that meet the requirements. Try to get projects with a variety of science topics. You may want to do this before your child gets involved, so you won’t have to say “No – not suitable” so many times.

3. Look through your list of projects, and eliminate the ideas that look too complicated or hard to do. Remember, your child is supposed to do the project with your assistance only.

Check the list of supplies. Are they readily available? Are they affordable?

Do you have enough time to complete the project? If the science project is due next week, you don’t have time to study the long term effect of anything.

Make sure the science you you are learning about is on your child’s level. Your child should be able to have a basic idea of the underlying scientific principles. Science projects for elementary school students probably shouldn’t involve advanced biology.

4. Finally, let your child choose the science project idea that he or she likes the best.

And have fun with your new science project idea!

PS Find out how to get a FREE Parent’s Guide to a Science Project at www.24hourscienceprojects.com.

Iodine and vitamin C like each other, and when they are put in the same container, they will combine. When you are adding the iodine to the juice and the starch mixture, as long as there is still vitamin C that has not been combined with the iodine, the color will stay the color of the juice, but after you reach the equivalence point- when you have added as much iodine as there is vitamin C – then the iodine starts combining with the cornstarch. When iodine combines with cornstarch it turns blue.

And if you’re doing our award winning experiment Vitamin “C”itrus, here’s a hint: the more iodine it takes, the more vitamin C there is.

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Check out our Christmas project here: Fur-Real Pony.