We’ve compiled some of the best seventh grade science fair projects for your convenience! These science fair project ideas for 7th graders are sure to get you inspired and ready to do go on your own amazing research. We’ve also provided a list of resources you can use at home or in the classroom that will help give you tips on how to start your project, how to present it, and how to write an awesome science fair paper.
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1. Drive A Balloon-Powered Car
This is an easy to build science fair project that you can even do with your younger brothers and sisters. You will need a high-quality balloon, scissors, tape, paperclip and a ruler.
First you will want to cut off the end of the balloon just above where half of it already has a hole in it. Then thread the tape through the hole so that it is on one side and stick the paperclip through it (close to the bottom of the balloon). Now take your ruler and measure how long it is going to be. When measuring however, you have to make sure that you are going to cut past where half of your paperclip is.
2. Make A Bionic Hand
This project involves making a bionic hand out of rubber and plastic parts and will involve cutting, gluing and soldering. You will want to be careful when cutting this project as you can seriously injure yourself if you cut too close to the plastic so make a good outline before doing it. First you will want to find out how big your hand is going to be. Then draw that on the rubber sheet with a pencil (minus the thumb where it will be). Measure how long your hand is going to be from top to bottom then measure 1/4″ from all 4 sides (you want 4 measurements).
3. Do An Experiment On The Physical Properties Of Water
This seventh grade science fair project assumes you already know some things about the physical properties of water. You will want to do this experiment with a partner who also knows some things about water. First you will want to find out whether or not your partner is willing to do this experiment with you and then measure out how many 1/2 cups of water there are in a gallon. Then take a sample of that and measure it again, this time in 1/4 cups. Then you will want to find out how many 4 oz cups are in your sample, then 1 cup and then 2 cups. Now take your results and do what is called an average of those measurements in a data table like this.
4. Make A Tornado In A Bottle
This project is somewhat easy but it may take some time to get right. You will want to do this by yourself as you can be seriously injured if you do the wrong thing. First you will want to take your empty soda bottle and rinse out all of the soda from it. Then make sure there is no water left in the bottle from rinsing it then soak it in water for about 20 minutes. After your 20 minutes are up, shake the water out of the bottle, but make sure you leave enough that it will not leak out as soon as you put in your dry ice (if you use dry ice).
5. Sorting Jellybeans is a Fun way To Learn about Heredity.
Use the following pointers to sort jellybeans:
a. Jellybeans come in blue, yellow, orange and pink jellybean colors (you can use colored paper and a different color of pen)
b. Jellybeans are round (you can use a ruler)
c. The outside edge of each jellybean is the “seam” that runs down the middle of the jellybean (you will be able to see this clearly after you fill the bag)
6. Allow A Teabag To Float In The Air
This experiment is best done outside. First you will want to take a tea bag and put it in a glass of water, then carefully place it on top of the water in the cup. Make sure there is plenty of room between the cup and the tea bag (this will allow for air to circulate and help it to float). Watch as your teabag floats in mid-air!
7. Make A Slime Bomb
This science fair project is best done with an adult or older kid. You will want to find out what chemicals to use for the slime (you can search the internet for that) and then make it. It is best if you have a friend who knows how to make slime with you, too!
8. Build A Mini Catapult And Launch Yourself Across The Room
This science fair project can be fun, but it does take some time to get right. You will need several objects to build a mini catapult out of: a small stick, tape, string, paperclips and cans (for launching).
9. Make A Vacuum Cleaner Powered Fan
This science fair project is fun, but it can be dangerous. You will want to do this in an area where you do not have many dangerous electrical cords nearby and make sure you can easily get out of the way if it starts to fly off the ground. You will need a fan, a handheld vacuum, scissors and paperclips. First you will want to take apart your handheld vacuum and find the blade part of it. You will want to cut out about 1/2″ of the rubber around the blade. Then tape that on one side of your fan (make sure you have 2 blades facing each other).
10. Make A Solar Oven Design.
Students explore thermal energy, reflection, convection, and other physics principles as they experiment with the best way to create a solar oven. They’ll be able to serve up their experiment findings as well as their final reports!
11. Make A Rocket Powered By Dry Ice.
This is a science fair project that is best accompanied with someone who has done this before. You will want to make sure you are in an open area where you can easily get out of the way if it does not work.
First you will want to use a craft knife to cut out the bottom part of a soda bottle, making sure that you leave about 1/4″ on the bottom so it does not leak. About halfway up you will want to then cut off another part (this will be used for your air intake) and make sure your intake side is smaller than your exhaust side. Cut as close as possible so that they are seamless together.
12. Make Your Own Lava Lamp
This is a fun science fair project that involves melting wax and oil together. You will want to make sure you have something to put this in (a bottle, jar or plastic cup would work). You will need: red food coloring, water, dish detergent, oil (olive or vegetable), and that small globe from a lava lamp you might have lying around the house.
13. Take A Look At How The Greenhouse Effect Works.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that can be observed in the Earth’s atmosphere on a daily basis. Many people are unaware of how it works and how much it affects our lives. This project encourages students to gain a better understanding of the greenhouse effect and its impact on Earth’s temperature.
14. Use Water Color To Make Your Own Kaleidoscope
You can use a permanent marker, paint or crayon. By varying the size and shape of the dots, you can create many different patterns in your result. Study how light is reflected in two and three dimensions of the pattern.
15. A Dense Rainbow Is Awe-Inspiring.
Density is the same as mass divided by volume. It is a measure of how tightly packed together molecules of matter are. This project forces students to learn about density in order to obtain a rainbow of monochromatic liquids in graduated cylinders that vary in size. The light source and liquid arrangement allows them to observe the density spectrum of each liquid.
16. Use Charcoal To Purify Water.
Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. It keeps us alive, purifies us and is also used to grow crops. Many people do not have access to clean drinking water and this project will help them by guiding them in the creation and use of charcoal for use in a filter for water purification.
17. Find Out How Energy Is Transformed.
Energy can be transformed from one form to another, but often loses some of its original properties. This project highlights the effects on a car battery if it is connected to a series of light bulbs and a conducting wire.
18. Make Your Own Tesla Coil.
Invented by Nikola Tesla in 1891, the Tesla Coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit capable of producing extremely high voltages using an air-core transformer based on two spark gaps and two capacitors that allow alternating current through the primary coil to build up an oscillating high voltage in the secondary coil without requiring any type of power source with wires directly attached to it like you would find in conventional coils.
19. Coat Some Coins With Copper.
Copper-plating gives a metallic luster and color to many things, such as coins, jewelry, and even small kitchen utensils. In this project, students will use copper sulphate solution to convert a penny into a shiny plated coin.
20. Play With Hydraulics To See What You Can Come Up With.
Hydraulics is the study of fluids at rest or in motion and the mechanical devices that are directed by them. This project will allow students to learn about how pressure and force can be used to create movement and power.
21. Biofilms Should Be Collected And Managed.
Biofilms are naturally occurring communities of microorganisms, usually bacteria but also fungi and algae cells. Biofilms are found in almost all natural environments and on most man-made surfaces. They consist of living microbes that can persist for long periods, while producing tranquil points which may be as much as 100 times greater than their own area. This project introduces students to biofilms in order to encourage them to observe how they grow and how they are treated during the experiments.
22. Using Experiment Kits On Baking Soda And Vinegar, Make A Volcano.
An erupting volcano is an impressive sight to many people, but they are also extremely dangerous! In this experiment, students will learn about what causes volcanoes to erupt and what type of rocks are needed to build them with their own hands.
23. Crystals Are Fun To Grow And Play With.
Crystals are beautiful, fascinating and useful. Students will learn about how crystals grow by experiencing it themselves and observing the different ways they can form, with the help of a variety of experiment kits. This is a hands-on science experiment that encourages students to be creative, experience sensory impact and develop an intuitive understanding of materials as they work with them in real time.
24. Explore The Laws Of Motion Using A Spinner.
Gyroscopes are used in many aspects of our everyday lives. You know them as small spinning wheels that come with every electronic device nowadays, but their uses extend from guiding missiles and rockets in flight, to balancing boats and planes, to keeping your computer monitor from falling over on its side.
25. Make A Simple Breadboard To Use A Battery And Then Attach LEDs.
A breadboard is a board which allows you to connect multiple electronic components on one side. This project uses simple components to demonstrate the use of electricity in real time. You will need some type of battery and some LEDs, but you can buy these items at a local hardware store in addition to assembling the parts yourself.
26. Make A Simple Musical Instrument Using Simple Items.
A musical instrument is any object that is used to make music. In this project, students will use an empty plastic water bottle and some chopsticks to make a simple musical instrument; they will explore the laws of vibration by experimenting with a variety of sounds.
27. Make A Paper Airplane Which Can Fly.
A paper airplane is an aircraft designed to fly by being thrown. There are many variations of paper airplanes, but they all rely on the same basic structure and usually only require a piece of paper or thin cardboard. In this project, students will learn about aerodynamics as they build their own paper airplane.
28. Build A Storage Bin Using Recycled Materials
Storage bins are used to store clothing or other things that you do not need to use regularly but still want to keep around. This project will help students learn about the different shapes of storage bins and the ability they have to store things while being used in real time.
29. Make A Simple Compass.
A compass is a tool used to measure direction and orientation. It is used for navigation and orienteering. This project will help students explore the earth’s magnetic field using simple materials to create their own homemade compass.
30. Make A Rock Tumbler And Use It To Polish Rocks.
Polishing can be a valuable skill that provides aesthetic value and shiny, smooth surfaces for your household items. In this experiment, students will explore various sources for polishing rocks, as well as using their own creativity to create dazzling results in real-time during the experiment itself.
In Summary
The field of science is vast and varied, with many different types of projects that students can engage in to learn about the world around them. Science projects can be engaging for students and teachers alike if they are designed to provoke a level of interest and excitement about what students are learning. It is also important to consider that science is not only limited to the four corners of a book or classroom; it is all around us, literally everywhere!
This means that there may be opportunities for children to learn while they are waiting in line at the bank, watching television at home, or even while they are otherwise being entertained.