Did you know you can use cabbage to test pH?
Whether you’re prepping for a middle school science fair or looking for ways to make classroom lessons more exciting, hands-on activities are the answer. This huge list of seventh grade science ideas covers biology, chemistry, physics, and more. Take a look and get inspired!
1. Drive a balloon-powered car
Engineer a balloon-powered car using basic materials from around the house (even the wheels are bottle caps!). Experiment to see how far or fast you can make the car go.
Learn more: Prolab
2. Construct a DIY Grow Box
When you build your own grow box, there are lots of seventh grade science fair projects you can do with it. The only special supply you need is a plug-in light socket.
Learn more: Uplifting Mayhem/Grow Box
3. Make a tea bag float on air
This easy experiment is a cool way to show kids how heat affects air molecules, making hot air rise. They’ll need some supervision with the fire, so try this out on the playground for extra safety.
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
4. Crush a can using air pressure
Sure, it’s easy to crush a soda can with your bare hands, but what if you could do it without touching it at all? That’s the power of air pressure!
Learn more: Steve Spangler Science/Can Crusher
5. Construct a geodesic dome
Budding engineers will love designing, building, and testing the strength of the fascinating geodesic dome. This experiment requires nothing more than newspaper and masking tape!
Learn more: Science Buddies/Newspaper Dome
6. Design a helping hand
This is a great individual or group seventh grade science project, as it encourages students to use and hone their design and engineering skills to make a working model of a hand.
Learn more: Science Buddies/Robotic Hand
7. Watch the greenhouse effect in action
Climate change can be a contentious topic, so start by teaching kids about the greenhouse effect, which is easy to see and understand. Then, urge them to explore data collected by other scientists so they can learn to make informed decisions about topics like global warming.
Learn more: Teaching Science With Lynda
8. Marvel at a density rainbow
We learn early on that oil floats on water, but where do other liquids fit in? Students find out when they conduct this colorful density experiment that has them layer different substances, making a rainbow.
Learn more: ThoughtCo/Density Rainbow
9. Discover computer coding with LEGO bricks
Chances are good at least some of the kids in your class will go on to work with computer code someday. Introduce the concept now with LEGO bricks.
Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands
10. Purify water with charcoal
Plenty of homes use water filtration systems these days, but how do they really work? This chemistry experiment explores how charcoal filters impurities from drinking water.
Learn more: The Homeschool Scientist
11. Ride the wave (machine)
Learning about wave action? Build this surprisingly easy wave machine for hands-on exploration.
Learn more: Engaging Science Labs
12. Mummify a hot dog
Are your students fascinated by ancient Egypt? Then we’ve got the perfect seventh grade science project for your class! No need for canopic jars; just grab some baking soda and get started.
Learn more: Science Buddies/Mummified Hot Dog
13. Construct a water clock
You’ll blow your seventh grade science students’ minds when you tell them they’re going to build a clock using engineering that’s been around for thousands of years. The supplies are simple, but the results are pretty neat!
Learn more: STEAM Powered Family
14. Design your own slime
Chances are good your students already love making and playing with slime. Turn the fun into an experiment by changing the ingredients to create slime with a variety of properties, from magnetic to glow-in-the-dark!
Learn more: Science Buddies/Slime Varieties
15. Explore how sugary drinks affect teeth
The calcium content of eggshells makes them a great stand-in for teeth. In this experiment, students use eggs to determine how soda and juice stain the teeth and wear down the enamel. (Bonus: Have students try different toothpaste and toothbrush combinations to see how effective they are.)
Learn more: Feels Like Home
16. Put together a DIY barometer
This simple but effective DIY science project teaches kids about air pressure and meteorology. They’ll have fun tracking and predicting the weather with their very own barometer.
Learn more: Edventures With Kids
17. Stretch your mind with a flexibility experiment
Find out how important stretching really is by comparing the flexibility of willing test subjects before and after stretch exercises. This is a great experiment for fitness fans.
Learn more: We Have Kids
18. Swab and test for germs
There’s never been a better time to learn about germs and bacteria. This is the kind of experiment that will make your seventh grade science students feel like real scientists!
Learn more: Angelicscalliwags
19. Collect and control biofilm
Bacteria that accumulate on objects in the water form a substance called biofilm. In this ecology project, students build an apparatus to collect biofilm and then experiment with ways to reduce the amount of biofilm that accumulates over time.
Learn more: The Homeschool Scientist/Biofilm
20. Learn whether color affects memory
Can certain colors improve your memory? This experiment explores that idea using only colored and black markers and a set of willing participants.
Learn more: Education.com/Colors and Memory
21. Grow and experiment with crystals
There are so many ways to experiment with crystals, teaching kids about supersaturated solutions. Check out the link below for great ideas, like making an edible crystal flower.
Learn more: ThoughtCo/Crystals
22. Design a pinball machine
Give your class basic supplies like rubber bands, plastic cups, and cardboard boxes. Then challenge them to create their very own pinball machines!
Learn more: Student Savvy
23. Create a taxonomy system
Students can step into Linnaeus’ shoes by creating their own system of taxonomy using a handful of different dried beans. This is a fun seventh grade science project to do in groups, so students can see the differences between each group’s system.
Learn more: Our Journey Westward
24. Play around with oxidation
Oxidation experiments can be as simple as dropping objects into water to see if they rust or made more complex by altering the conditions to see if rusting can be delayed or prevented.
Learn more: Teach Beside Me
25. Blow hot or cold bubbles
Blowing bubbles may sound like too much fun for a science project, but when conditions like temperature are altered, the experimental part kicks in. If it’s cold enough, students can even blow frozen bubbles!
Learn more: ThoughtCo/Frozen Bubbles
26. Test out DIY lip balm recipes
Try this experiment for the seventh grade science fair: Cook up batches of lip balms using different recipes and then test them to see which is the most effective.
Learn more: Science Buddies/Lip Balm DIY
27. Whip up some eggshell chalk
Use the calcium in eggshells to make your own sidewalk chalk. Kids will love grinding the eggshells into powder and then decorating the sidewalk with their results!
Learn more: Kidspot
28. Dive into an exploration of swim bladders
If you’re learning about fish anatomy, or just exploring buoyancy, this simple experiment is a fun way to dive into the concepts.
Learn more: Science Buddies/Swim Bladders
29. Bake an edible cell model
Sure, students could build a cell model out of clay, but cake and candy are so much more delicious! Check out the link below to see how one teacher does it.
Learn more: Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
30. Swing a glass of water
This classic science experiment teaches kids about centripetal force. Be forewarned: This could potentially make a bit of a mess, so consider taking this one outside.
Learn more: Steve Spangler Science/Centripetal Force Board
31. Acidic rain and plants
This experiment tests whether acid rain has any effect on plant life, using vinegar in place of any fossil fuels. A great extension of this experiment would be to do a research project on the effects of pollution and what can be done to decrease these effects.
Learn more: STEAM Powered Family
32. Serenade your plants
Your students will have a blast with this tried-and-true experiment. Have some fun experimenting with different music genres (R&B, country, etc.) to see what effect different music has on the growth of plants.
Learn more: Science Project Ideas and Dengarden
33. Detect the effect of detergent on surface tension
The surface tension of water can be tested using different powders, such as talcum powder, and dish soap. Extend this experiment using hard water or other types of detergent.
Learn more: Royal Society of Chemistry and Sciencing
34. Determine resonant frequency
We’ve all seen this “trick” in movies, where someone “plays” the wineglasses and creates notes that come together in a recognizable song. It’s not actually a “trick”… it’s science! Your middle schoolers will enjoy exploring resonant frequency with different amounts of liquids.
Learn more: Science Buddies
Clever 7th Grade Science Fair Projects and Classroom Experiments