I need easy Science Project ideas

[grlpwrd]

for my 12 year old granddaughter. She is an A student and has no problems all year...and then comes the dreaded science project! She hates it and it gives her such angst! She only got a C the project for the last two years and she worked and worked and worked! She cried her eyes out when she got her grade (at home...she didn't break down in school). She honestly did her best, but I really think she tried projects that were way above her ability - thinking that the "hard" ones would produce a better grade. I have NO clue how to go about helping her. I graduated from high school in 1964 and I never had a do a science project of any kind for any grade. Do you have any age/grade (12/7th grade) appropriate ideas?

I remember in 7th grade my science project was about ostriches and I totally bombed because I didn't include the essential parts to a science project, such as hypothesis and variables. Make sure she includes the required parts for a science project which would help her earn a better grade.

I will be back later to add to this post on possible science projects... I have to be taxi for my kids right now.

 

[liamandcaili]

When I was in 7th grade, we didn't need to actually do any experiments for our science project. We just needed to do something science-based. My project was on DNA. I won the science fair that year...it was a more complex topic than most of the others...my sister won her science fair the following year in 7th grade with plate techtonics.

For an easy experiment, take a potato and slice it...put on slice on the counter in the light, put another in the refrigerator and put another someplace dark and damp. The one in the dark gets REALLY disgusting in a pretty short period of time. Then there is always the fruit fly experiment...a study on genetics...how many turn out orange and how many turn out albino.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

When my kids did them they weren't allowed to do any of the kind that test products.

My favorite was when DD tested the insulating properties for different sock materials. She took a cotton sock, a wool sock, a nylon, and then the control. She filled bottles with water all the same temperature and then put the socks on the bottles and put them in the fridge. Checked their temperatures at intervals and compared to see which sock kept the water warm longest. This was my favorite project either of them did.

 

[LoveWDW]

Yesterday I googled copper oxidizing- there is a cool science experiment dealing with pennies- you soak the pennies in a mixture of vinegar, water, and salt, and the pennies get shiny, then you put a nail in the solution, and the nail gets copper on it from the solution. There are a couple sites with the exact procedure.

 

[poohbear2]

This might sound weird, but a good experiment or demonstration is to show the effects of soft drinks on teeth. If you can get teeth from a dentist, ones that have been pulled, and place them in different liquids, like coke etc, you can see the effects of the soda on the teeth. Which beverage is the most harmful to your teeth. I believe a baby tooth can dissolve if left long enough in a cup of coke.

 

[RUDisney]

In 8th grade, I won the regional Jr. Academy of Science with "The Effect of Time, Concentration and Various Electrolating Solutions on the Electroplating Process." My parents wouldn't let me go to states because they couldn't afford to go with me and they wouldn't let me go with just my male teacher as a chaperone. In retrospect, I agree with their judgment.

Sounds impressive, doesn't it? Basically, I timed how long a premeasured carbon rod would sit in an electrolitic solution (copper, etc.) and then I'd measure it with a micrometer and record the thickness of the rod. I boosted the concentration on some, reduced it on others and came up with a conclusion on the recorded findings.

Truthfully, I did it under the tutalige of my teacher in class and after school. It really wasn't something that I could have attempted at home. We didn't have the solutions nor did we have the carbon rods for use in the experiments.

 

[petchie]

the tide site has a few, we did this one once.

http://www.tide.com/articles/read.jhtml?articleId=3548

google Bill Nye, we got some from him as well.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The one about the teeth in the soda was on an episode of "Arthur". I think Coke would dissolve just about anything if you left it in there long enough!

 

[HonestAbe]

http://www.hawking.org.uk/home/hindex.html

 

[ncbyrne]

I just informed my DGD that I posted this question on the DIS....of course NOW she tells me that the project has be a LIFE Science project. I'm not exactly sure what that is, but my guess it that it would have to be something that lives, right? There are three posted that I think might fit: "Do antibacterial lotions clean better than soap", "Marvelous Molds", and "The Gender of Feet". Do you agree that these are Life science projects? You guys have been a tremendous help! Any other ideas? Or should we go with one of these?