fun research project for middle school

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10 Great Research Topics for Middle School Students

Middle school is the perfect time to start exploring the fascinating world of research, especially if you're passionate about STEM and the humanities. Engaging in research projects now not only feeds your curiosity but also develops critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a love for learning. Whether you're intrigued by the secrets of the universe, the beauty of numbers, or the complexity of robotics, there's a research project that you can pursue to help you build your knowledge. Let's dive into some advanced yet accessible research topics that will challenge you and enhance your academic journey.

1. Program your own robot

What to do: Start by defining the purpose of your robot. Will it be a pet robot that follows you around, or perhaps a robot that can help carry small items from one room to another? Sketch your design on paper, focusing on what sensors and motors you'll need. For instance, a robot that follows light might need light sensors, while a robot that avoids obstacles will require ultrasonic sensors. Use an Arduino or Raspberry Pi as the brain. You'll need to learn basic programming in Python (for Raspberry Pi) or C++ (for Arduino) to code your robot's behavior.

Tips to get started: The official websites for Arduino and Raspberry Pi offer tutorials for beginners. For more specific projects, such as building a pet robot, search for guides on Instructables that detail each step from hardware assembly to software programming.

2. Design a solar-powered oven

What to do: Investigate how solar ovens work and the science behind solar cooking. Your oven can be as simple as a pizza box solar oven or more complex, like a parabolic solar cooker. Key materials include reflective surfaces (aluminum foil), clear plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect, and black construction paper to absorb heat. Experiment with different shapes and angles to maximize the heat capture and cooking efficiency. Test your oven by trying to cook different foods and measure the temperature achieved and cooking time required.

Tips to get started: The Solar Cooking wiki is an excellent resource for finding different solar cooker designs and construction plans. YouTube also has numerous DIY solar oven tutorials. Document your process and results in a project journal, noting any changes in design that lead to improvements in efficiency.

3. Assess the health of a local ecosystem

What to do: Choose a local natural area, such as a stream, pond, or forest, and plan a series of observations and tests to assess its health. Key activities could include water quality testing (for pH, nitrates, and phosphates), soil testing (for composition and contaminants), and biodiversity surveys (identifying species of plants and animals present). Compile your data to evaluate the ecosystem's health, looking for signs of pollution, habitat destruction, or invasive species.

Tips to get started: For a comprehensive approach, NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory provides information on atmospheric and environmental monitoring techniques. Tools like iNaturalist can assist in species identification, and water and soil testing kits are available from science education suppliers.

4. Develop an educational app

What to do: Identify a gap in educational resources that your app could fill. Perhaps you noticed that students struggle with a particular math concept, or there's a lack of engaging resources for learning a foreign language. Outline your app’s features, design the user interface, and plan the content it will deliver. Use MIT App Inventor for a drag-and-drop development experience, or Scratch for a game-like educational app. Test your app with classmates or family members, and use their feedback for improvements.

Tips to get started: Both MIT App Inventor and Scratch provide tutorials and community forums where you can learn from others’ projects. Begin with a simple prototype, focusing on one core feature, and expand from there.

5. Model rocketry: design, build, and launch!

What to do: Dive into the basics of rocket science by designing your own model rocket. Understand the principles of thrust, aerodynamics, and stability as you plan your rocket. Materials can range from simple kits available online to homemade components for the body, fins, and nose cone. Educate yourself on the proper engine selection for your design and the recovery system to ensure your rocket returns safely. Conduct a launch in a safe, open area, following all safety guidelines.

Tips to get started: The National Association of Rocketry is a treasure trove of information on model rocket safety, design, and launch procedures. For beginners, consider starting with a kit from Estes Rockets , which includes all necessary components and instructions.

6. Create a wearable electronic device

What to do: Envision a wearable device that solves a problem or enhances an aspect of daily life. It could be a smart bracelet that reminds you to stay hydrated or a hat with integrated LEDs for nighttime visibility. Sketch your design, listing the components you'll need, such as LEDs, sensors, a power source, and a microcontroller like the Adafruit Flora or Gemma. Plan your circuit, sew or assemble your device, and program it to function as intended.

Tips to get started: Adafruit’s Wearables section offers guides and tutorials for numerous wearable projects, including coding and circuit design. Start with a simple project to familiarize yourself with electronics and sewing conductive thread before moving on to more complex designs.

7. Explore the science of slime and non-Newtonian fluids

What to do: Conduct experiments to understand how the composition of slime affects its properties. Create a standard slime recipe using glue, borax (or contact lens solution as a safer alternative), and water. Alter the recipe by varying the amounts of each ingredient or adding additives like cornstarch, shaving cream, or thermochromic pigment. Test how each variation affects the slime’s viscosity, stretchiness, and reaction to pressure.

Tips to get started: The Science Bob website offers a basic slime recipe and the science behind it. Document each experiment carefully, noting the recipe used and the observed properties. This will help you understand the science behind non-Newtonian fluids.

8. Extract DNA at home

What to do: Use common household items to extract DNA from fruits or vegetables, like strawberries or onions. The basic process involves mashing the fruit, adding a mixture of water, salt, and dish soap to break down cell membranes, and then using cold alcohol to precipitate the DNA out of the solution. Observe and analyze the DNA strands.

Tips to get started: Detailed instructions and the science explanation are available at the Genetic Science Learning Center . This project offers a tangible glimpse into the molecular basis of life and can be a springboard to more complex biotechnology experiments.

9. Investigate the efficiency of different types of solar cells

What to do: Compare the efficiency of various solar panels, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Design an experiment to measure the electrical output of each type under identical lighting conditions, using a multimeter to record voltage and current. Analyze how factors like angle of incidence, light intensity, and temperature affect their performance.

Tips to get started: Introductory resources on solar energy and experiments can be found at the Energy.gov website. Consider purchasing small solar panels of different types from electronics stores or online suppliers. Ensure that all tests are conducted under controlled conditions for accurate comparisons.

10. Study ocean acidification and its effects on marine life

What to do: Simulate the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms in a controlled experiment. Use vinegar to lower the pH of water in a tank and observe its impact on calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as seashells or coral fragments. Monitor and record changes over time, researching how acidification affects the ability of these organisms to maintain their shells and skeletons.

Tips to get started: NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program offers educational materials and experiment ideas. For a simpler version of this experiment, see instructions for observing the effects of acidified water on eggshells, which are similar in composition to marine shells, at educational websites like Science Buddies .

By pursuing these projects, you will not only gain a deeper understanding of STEM principles but also develop invaluable skills in research, design, and critical analysis. These projects will teach you how to question, experiment, and innovate, laying the groundwork for future scientific inquiries and discoveries.

One other option – Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about . Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure !

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Growth, Khushi Malde, at [email protected] or go to our website .

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link ! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

middle school students

35 Fun Stem Projects for Middle School

Stem projects for middle school are a fantastic way to engage students in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

Whether it’s building a working model, conducting experiments, or designing solutions to real-world challenges, STEM projects provide middle school students with opportunities to explore and apply their knowledge in fun and meaningful ways.

We will explore a variety of engaging STEM project ideas suitable for middle school students , encouraging them to embrace the exciting world of science and technology.

Paper Bridge Engineering:

Challenge students to design and build paper bridges that can support a specified weight using only a limited number of materials like paper, tape, and glue. This project encourages students to apply principles of engineering, physics, and mathematics as they experiment with different bridge designs, considering factors like load distribution, structural stability, and material strength. It’s a hands-on way to introduce them to the world of structural engineering.

Solar-Powered Mini Cars:

Have students construct small, solar-powered vehicles using inexpensive materials like cardboard, small electric motors, and solar panels. This project combines elements of physics, electronics, and renewable energy. Students can learn about solar energy conversion, electrical circuits, and vehicle design as they build and race their solar-powered cars. It’s a great way to introduce them to sustainable energy concepts.

Biome Ecosystems:

Task students with creating mini-ecosystems in glass containers to simulate different biomes like rainforests, deserts, or wetlands. This project integrates biology and environmental science as students research, design, and care for their ecosystems. They can observe how living organisms interact with their environment and understand concepts like food webs, nutrient cycles, and the importance of biodiversity. Related: 20 Fun No Prep Stem Activities & Games

Coding and Game Development:

Introduce students to the world of computer programming by guiding them through the process of creating their own video games or interactive simulations. This project covers aspects of computer science, mathematics, and logic. Students can use platforms like Scratch or Python to code their games, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills while learning the fundamentals of coding.

Water Filtration Challenge:

Engage students in a real-world problem-solving activity by challenging them to design and build water filtration systems. Provide them with contaminated water samples and various materials such as sand, gravel, and activated charcoal. This project combines elements of chemistry, environmental science, and engineering as students work to purify the water. It’s a great opportunity to discuss water quality issues and sustainable solutions.

Rocket Science and Aerodynamics:

Allow students to delve into the world of aerospace engineering by having them design and launch their own model rockets. This project combines physics and engineering principles as students learn about thrust, drag, and stability. They can experiment with different rocket designs and propulsion methods while gaining an appreciation for the science behind space exploration.

Robotics Challenge:

Introduce students to robotics by providing them with robot kits or access to robotics programming platforms like LEGO Mindstorms or VEX. Challenge them to build and program robots to complete specific tasks or navigate obstacle courses. This project integrates technology, engineering, and computer programming, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.

3D Printing and Design:

Equip students with 3D printers and guide them through the process of designing and creating 3D-printed objects. This project involves elements of technology, engineering, and creativity as students learn about computer-aided design (CAD) software and the principles of additive manufacturing. They can bring their ideas to life by designing and printing functional objects or artistic creations.

Renewable Energy Showcase:

Task students with researching and presenting on different renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power. This project combines science, technology, and environmental awareness as students explore the benefits and challenges of each energy source. They can also design and build small-scale models or prototypes to demonstrate how these technologies work.

Math Mystery Investigations:

Engage students in mathematical problem-solving by presenting them with real-world mysteries that require mathematical analysis to solve. These mysteries could involve topics like cryptography, logic puzzles, or mathematical patterns. This project enhances critical thinking and mathematical skills while making math more intriguing and relevant. Related: 25 Best Outer Space Activities for Preschoolers

Weather Station Construction:

Have students build their own weather stations using sensors and simple equipment. This project combines elements of meteorology, data collection, and technology. Students can monitor and record weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed, and then analyze the data to make weather predictions and gain insights into climate patterns.

Microbiology Investigation:

Introduce students to the world of microbiology by conducting experiments with microorganisms. They can grow bacteria cultures, observe microscopic organisms under microscopes, and investigate topics like antibiotic resistance. This project encompasses biology and chemistry while promoting scientific inquiry and laboratory skills.

Hydroponic Garden Design:

Challenge students to design and create their own hydroponic gardens. This project combines elements of biology, chemistry, and engineering as students explore plant growth without soil, nutrient solutions, and the optimization of growing conditions. They can experiment with different hydroponic systems and plant varieties, fostering an understanding of sustainable agriculture.

Environmental Cleanup Challenge:

Engage students in environmental science by organizing a cleanup challenge in a local park, beach, or community area. This project involves researching environmental issues, organizing a cleanup event, and analyzing the impact of pollution on ecosystems. It promotes environmental awareness and civic responsibility while integrating science and community engagement.

Innovative Energy-Efficient Home Design:

Task students with designing energy-efficient homes using CAD software or physical models. They can explore concepts like insulation, renewable energy sources, and smart home technology to reduce energy consumption. This project combines architecture, engineering, and sustainability principles, encouraging students to think about environmentally friendly housing solutions.

Astronomy and Star Mapping:

Explore the wonders of the night sky by having students study astronomy and create their own star maps. This project combines science and mathematics as students learn about celestial objects, constellations, and the use of telescopes. They can then document their observations and create their own star charts for different seasons.

Electricity and Circuit Challenges:

Teach students the fundamentals of electrical circuits by challenging them to design and build various electrical devices or gadgets. This project involves hands-on experimentation with circuit components, such as resistors, capacitors, and LEDs. Students can learn about Ohm’s law and circuit design principles while creating functional projects.

Environmental Impact Assessment:

Have students investigate the environmental impact of a local development project or policy change. This project combines environmental science, data analysis, and advocacy skills as students research, collect data, and present findings to assess the potential consequences of the project on the ecosystem and community.

Earthquake Resistant Building Design:

Task students with designing and building model structures to withstand simulated earthquakes. This project combines principles of structural engineering, physics, and mathematics as students experiment with different construction materials and techniques to create earthquake-resistant buildings.

Biomedical Engineering:

Challenge students to explore the field of biomedical engineering by designing and building medical devices or prosthetics. They can create models of prosthetic limbs, artificial organs, or assistive devices for individuals with disabilities. This project combines biology, engineering, and healthcare technology.

Mars Colony Design:

Challenge students to design a hypothetical colony on Mars. This interdisciplinary project integrates space science, engineering, and sustainability concepts. Students can consider aspects like life support systems, habitat design, and resource utilization while exploring the challenges of space colonization.

Wildlife Tracking and Conservation:

Engage students in ecology and conservation by introducing them to wildlife tracking methods. They can design and build tracking devices or use GPS technology to monitor animal movements in their local environment. This project promotes a deeper understanding of ecology and the importance of wildlife conservation.

Alternative Energy Experiments:

Have students conduct experiments to explore alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, or biomass energy. They can build simple renewable energy systems, measure energy output, and analyze the efficiency of each source. This project combines science, engineering, and environmental awareness.

Greenhouse and Plant Growth Study:

Create a greenhouse on the school premises and have students conduct experiments related to plant growth. They can explore factors like light, temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels on plant development. This project combines biology, environmental science, and agriculture.

STEM Inventions and Innovation Fair:

Organize a STEM invention fair where students develop and showcase their own innovative creations. This project encourages creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. Students can invent solutions to everyday problems or come up with new gadgets, apps, or technologies, presenting their ideas to peers and judges.

Aquaponics System Design:

Challenge students to design and build their own aquaponics systems, combining elements of aquaculture and hydroponics. This project integrates biology, chemistry, and engineering as students create a self-sustaining ecosystem where fish and plants support each other. They can explore nutrient cycles, water quality, and sustainable food production.

Renewable Energy Art Installation:

Encourage students to combine art and technology by creating renewable energy-powered art installations. This interdisciplinary project involves designing aesthetically pleasing pieces that incorporate elements like solar panels, wind turbines, or kinetic energy generators. Students can explore the intersection of art, science, and sustainability.

Virtual Reality (VR) Exploration:

Introduce students to the world of virtual reality by allowing them to create VR experiences or educational simulations. This project combines technology, programming, and creativity as students learn to design and program virtual environments or educational games using VR software and hardware.

Math in Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Take students on a math-focused scavenger hunt in a natural setting like a park or botanical garden. They can identify and measure geometric shapes, collect data on plant growth, and solve math problems related to their observations. This project fosters an appreciation for the mathematical patterns found in the natural world.

Medical Mystery Investigation:

Engage students in medical science by presenting them with fictional medical mysteries to solve. They can research symptoms, conduct experiments, and use deductive reasoning to diagnose the “patients.” This project combines biology, anatomy, and critical thinking while sparking an interest in medical careers. Related: 100 Helpful Science Fair Project Questions

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

Physical Science: Create Rube Goldberg Machines

Rube Goldberg machines( How to Create Exciting But Structured Rube Goldberg Machines ) are so incredibly fun and there is so much learning going on while students are working on them. Just the trial and error alone is super important. As I mentioned in my blog on Rube Goldberg machines, I tell the students upfront that they WILL be frustrated and they WILL want to throw the materials down on the floor and stamp on them. Ha Ha . But….. they will be absolutely beyond happy when the machine does what it’s supposed to do!

I have the students figure out an end goal such as popping a balloon, pouring a cup of water or dropping a tea bag into a cup. I encourage them to work backwards using simple machines to create the Rube Goldberg machine. We take videos, do a presentation and we invite other students to come in to see their machines.

Physical Science: Food Chains and Rube Goldberg Machines Transfer of Energy Projects

A variation that stresses the transfer of energy in a Rube Goldberg machine and compares it to a food chain which also has the transfer of energy.( STEM Energy Project Using Rube Goldberg Machines and Food Chains! ) I give the students a four level food chain from different ecosystems. Students design a four stepped Rube Goldberg machine to reflect the transfer of energy from producers, to first consumers, to second consumers, to the top predator. I have this in many different ecosystems such as the deciduous forest, savanna, rainforest, tundra, desert and ocean.

Physical Science: Creating Magnet Mazes

Learning about magnets and magnetic fields is much more fun when you have your students create magnet mazes.( How to Create STEM Magnet Mazes ). They create obstacles such as bridges or holes to jump across to test the range of the magnetic field. Again, the trial and error process is very rewarding to watch. I have had students make themed mazes such as a race track, a city, an airport or one group did a walk-through Disneyland!

Physical Science: Designing Electrical Circuit Arcade Games

A very exciting project that my eighth graders do is designing electrical circuit arcade games.( How to Create STEM Electrical Circuit Games ). I do a bare minimum of introducing series and parallel circuits, conductors, insulators and switches. I have them get into groups and design arcade games using recyclable materials. The highlight of the end of the activity is inviting the lower school to play the games. Students have done quiz boards, race tracks, pinball like machines and games that involve throwing a ball into cups that light up. As an alternative to these games, I give the option to build a tiny house and show the electric wiring of the rooms.Those were also super creative!

Life Science: Designing Organisms in a Symbiotic Relationship

When learning about the relationships between organisms and ecosystems, we learn about symbiosis. ( How to Create a Symbiosis STEM Project ). This STEM project has students focusing on symbiotic mutualism which is when both organisms involved benefit from the relationship. The goal of the project is for students to design two organisms that need each other for survival. The organisms must live in an existing ecosystem, such as a rainforest, and have adaptations to survive there. I have students usually working in pairs and they build the two creatures using recyclable materials with daily check-ins and rubrics. I also require a video describing each organism and the story of how they benefit from the relationship.

Life Science: Creating Aliens with Adaptive Traits and Using Punnett Squares to Cross Them

While working with genetics, we do some basic Punnett square activities and then we launch into the STEM project.( How to Teach Punnett Squares and Genetics Using Aliens ) Students design a male and female alien with at least five traits that help them survive in their made up environment. They decide which traits are dominant and recessive, and then create the alleles for their male and female, with some being homozygous and some being heterozygous. Using the extensive directions I give them, they randomly cross the two aliens using Punnett squares for the five traits. They design the baby aliens based on that cross.

My students get so excited and want to create more babies and generations! I have recently had them use a choice board as to how they would like to present them to the class. They can make a stop motion video or animation, a detailed poster, news article, or they could use clay or other materials to create their creatures. I’ve done this at the end of the school year and it is a super way to keep them creative and interested.

Life Science: Invent a New Method of Seed Dispersal

While learning about plants, we talk about seed dispersal using either wind, water, animals or “explosive” devices. ( Design a Seed DispersaL Method Structured STEM Project with Rubrics ). I show some YouTube example videos as an introduction and then the students design their own plant with a seed dispersal method.

The first time I did this was while we were all remote, during the pandemic, and the results were unbelievable! Students were involving their families and creating these seed or seed pods. One boy used a Nerf gun foam projectile and drilled a hole in a bath bomb with his father. He put the foam projectile into the hole of the bath bomb. The idea was that the bath bomb was the seed pod and they dropped it into the bathtub. They videoed a time lapse until the bath bomb dissolved and the foam projectile popped up to the surface of the water to “germinate”!

Another student had a balloon full of seeds that he hung from a branch of a tree and, when the balloon popped, lots of seeds scattered everywhere. Other students made sticky items and attached it to their pets for the animal dispersal. I now do this in my classroom and they still come up with very clever ideas such as seeds that have miniature parachutes attached, pods that unfold when placed on water, pods that stick to socks and so on.

Environmental Science: Designing Water Filters

Students in my school know that every year my sixth graders will be designing filters to clean water. The older students, who have already done it, can’t wait to give advice and peek in to see how the contest is going!( Design Water Filters With This Exciting STEM Project! )

The basic directions involve simply cutting an empty water bottle in half and then inverting one half to make a funnel. Using my brainstorming page, students go home and use any materials that they want to create the water filter in the funnel half. Meanwhile, I take a gallon jug and create the most disgusting, dirty water solution that I can!

On the day of the contest we all sit around one table and students are given exactly 100 mL of my dirty water. Their goal is to be the one that has the cleanest water come out of the bottom of the filter.

Most of the time, the results of the first day are not that clean looking. Definitely lighter but not clear. So what do we do? They go home and REDESIGN their filters and we have a second contest. We always see a huge improvement and sometimes I’m amazed that the students produce water that looks so clean that it looks drinkable. The idea that they shouldn’t be happy with the first design that they make is important and that redesigning and redesigning is what engineers do.

Environmental Science: Tracking Car Air Pollution

While we are learning about air pollution and preparing for Earth Day, the students do a project where they track the family car to talk about how much they contribute to air pollution with just their family.( Teaching Students About Their Individual Affect on Air Pollution ). I put a lot of privacy parameters on this project, for obvious reasons, as they track their car for a week. If that’s a problem for any parent, I provide realistic data for them to use. Once students have written down where their car has gone, we classify those trips as necessary trips, luxury trips or semi luxury trips.

We take that data and create numerous bar and pie graphs. I have them do it on paper, and either Google sheets, Excel or Numbers. Students understand that the raw data, the private data, stays in their notebook but we are still able to see the results represented graphically. We can then discuss how they could reduce the luxury trips that their family takes.

Environmental Science: Analyzing and Redesigning Excess Product Packaging

A very eye-opening STEM project has to do with municipal waste, particularly plastic, and how much is produced unneeded packaging. ( Inspiring Middle School Students to Minimize Their Impact on Municipal Waste ). Students bring in an unopened package and we determine what percent of that product is actually trash. What percentage of that product is actually headed to the landfill? They bring in anything from food products to new toys and they are always shocked that many of the products are between 40 to 60% trash!

We use the balances to find the mass of the package and product and then they use some math skills to find the percentage. I have these all laid out in my product on Teachers Pay Teachers. Depending on which age group you’re working with, you may need to teach percentages, which is an extra bonus!

After the students have worked on finding the percentage, we analyze the package carefully and decide what was extra and unneeded. Now they redesign the package for that product! They base this on their knowledge of recyclable materials, keeping the product relatively lightweight, safe and theft proof with the least amount of packaging possible. I have a blog post on this and honestly it’s something the students have never thought about before!

STEM projects that tie into your present unit are the best! Plus, using structured pieces helps keep the students accountable and focused plus gives you lots of material to put in your gradebook. all of the above products are on my Teachers Pay Teachers store at Science by Sinai.

Middle school science teacher blog sciencebysinai.com

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10 Educational And Fun STEM Projects For Middle School

Categories Education/School

Getting middle school kids into STEM can seem like a challenge; however, if you can make their learning fun, you’ll find you have a lot more success. Kids at this age love hands-on learning that gets them out of their seats and learning by doing instead of listening.

None of these projects take a lot of preparation in order to set up, and they can all be done at home or in the classroom.

We’ve broken our projects down into the different subjects that make up STEM; however, before we get into it, let’s take a quick look at what STEM is and why it matters.

What Is STEM?

STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. If you want to incorporate some more creativity into your classroom, then you can practice “STEAM” activities, which simply add the Arts.

STEM is an educational policy that helps to address subjects and concepts that can often be overlooked in the classroom. Whilst it’s easy to incorporate science and math, technology and engineering are vital components to a kid’s learning that they might only be able to access through extra-curricular activities.

By developing a strategy to include STEM and STEAM activities in your classroom or home, you can ensure that your students or children have a more solid understanding of how scientific concepts can be applied in real-world situations.

Using STEM is also a great chance for your kids to work on their problem-solving skills and critical thinking for students, from kindergarten all the way up to high school.

Now that we’ve covered exactly what STEM is and why it’s important, let’s look at ten educational and fun STEM projects that your middle school students will love.

Using different materials and engaging with some key scientific concepts, your students can get involved with their science lessons in a more engaging way than just sitting at their desks and listening for an hour.

1. Solar Oven

Teaching your students how to create a solar oven is not only a practical survival skill but is also a super fun way for kids to learn about how solar heat and solar power work whilst you make something tasty to eat.

Using a small, reflective surface, you can use the power of the sun to heat up a cooking pot enough to cook food!

Use a dark-colored cooking pot to maximize heat absorption.
Cover the cooking pot tightly so that no heat escapes.
Use your solar oven in an area that gets direct sunlight for most of the day.

2. Sedimentary Rocks Model

If you’ve been teaching your kids about different kinds of rock, then you should give these simple sedimentary rock models a try in your classroom.

By smashing together graham crackers, hard-shelled candy, and mini marshmallows, you can demonstrate how sedimentary rocks are formed.

Use pressure to smash the “rocks” together, which forces the candy and cookie pieces into the marshmallows whilst also melting the marshmallows so that everything sticks together.

This is an interesting (and tasty) way to demonstrate how sedimentary rocks are formed and should help your students retain the information more.

3. Coding With Scratch

Coding and computer fluency is such an important aspect of our lives now that teaching kids how to program whilst they’re still in school is not only really important but is also something that they’re likely to be interested in. Most kids play some kind of video game or engage with content online, so there’s going to be something that they want to create.

Using a site like Scratch introduces them to the idea of programming in an easily digestible format and allows them to play around with different coding concepts and see projects that other people or students have made, inspiring them and giving them ideas for their own projects.

4. Smartphone Projector

If you’re trying to figure out what to do with the cardboard overflowing from your recycling bin, then why not give this super easy and super interesting project a try?

Projectors are surprisingly simple bits of technology and one that you can easily recreate in the classroom without much preparation. In fact, all you need is a small cardboard box (a shoe box is perfect, along with some spare scraps for a phone stand), a magnifying glass, scissors, tape, and, of course, a smartphone.

Putting the pieces together isn’t super complicated and should be a totally age-appropriate challenge for your middle school students.

Engineering

5. optimized paper airplane.

Anyone and their grandma can make a paper airplane, but can they make the most optimized and aerodynamic airplane?

There are some really interesting and intricate designs that your students can copy and try to create. Challenge your kids to make the best paper airplane and test them out during class. See which plane can fly the furthest, the quickest, and whether any are able to do loops.

This gets your students practicing their critical thinking, ability to follow instructions, and their dexterity to actually make the folds.

6. Egg Drop Challenge

This one is a classic. Who hasn’t gone to school and performed an egg drop challenge? The concept is simple: your students are going to drop an egg from a predetermined height, and their challenge is to create a system that will prevent the egg from breaking.

Some children might try to pad the egg enough to break its fall, whilst others might attempt to slow the egg with a parachute.

Provide your students with some simple materials like paper, tape, and cotton balls for them to make their egg protectors, and let them figure out how they want to save their eggs.

7. Paper Rollercoaster

A lot of classes will get their students to create the best paper bridge. However, we prefer to do something a little different. This paper rollercoaster challenge gets your kids constructing a rollercoaster out of paper.

Admittedly, this project does require a lot more preparation and materials, so it’s best to get your students to work in groups so that you don’t have to bring so many different sets of material to class with you.

There’s a lot of cutting and folding involved, so you might have to lend a hand in some places; however, at the end of the project, your students will be engaged with key scientific concepts like kinetic energy and potential energy.

8. Geometric Heart

To bring holidays like Valentine’s Day into your math classes, you could try introducing your students to these geometric shape challenges. This particular set of instructions has you creating a heart. However, you can easily have your kids come up with some new designs that they can create using the same method.

With just string and pipe cleaners, you can create these adorable geometric hearts. Grab straws and pipe cleaners in as many fun colors as you can find to make the craft more interesting.

If your kids want to make their own design, you can make sure that they measure it carefully and calculate how many straws and pipe cleaners they’re going to need.

9. Surface Area Castles

This next craft might run over a couple of days, but it’s so fun and creative that you won’t mind. For this activity, your students will create, measure, and calculate both the surface area and volume of a 3-D model castle that they can then design however they like.

You can pick up the templates for free and encourage your kids to build the best castles they can by making it a competition.

10. 100-Cup Tower

The final activity on our list is another classic. The 100-cup tower challenge is set up to get your kids building the tallest (and steadiest) tower possible using 100-cups.

If that’s a lot of materials that you can’t provide, then why not make it a 10-cup challenge instead>?

You can add complexity by getting your students to measure, record, and compare the heights of each tower. Whose tower was the tallest? Whose tower was the most structurally sound? Were they the same tower, or was there some difference?

Final Thoughts

Introducing STEM activities to your classroom can be a great way to get your students engaged in activities that are teaching and demonstrating key mathematical and scientific concepts without them even realizing all the time.

Before each craft or project, you should discuss the activity with your kids and get their predictions on what they think will happen. Talk them through the project, explaining the different concepts that they’ll be exploring, and, most importantly, give them a time limit.

It can be difficult to keep excitable middle school kids on task during open-ended activities, so make sure they have a set deadline that they have to be finished by.

Which of these activities will you try? Happy teaching!

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Exciting Research Topics for Middle Schoolers to Fuel Curiosity

Working on the phonological skills by teaching phonemic awareness to the advanced level

What is the goal when de escalating crisis behavior at school ?

Middle school is a time of burgeoning curiosity and the perfect opportunity for students to engage in research that not only educates them academically but also cultivates skills for the future. By encouraging young learners to explore topics they are passionate about, educators and parents play a pivotal role in their intellectual development and the growth of their intrinsic motivation. This blog post outlines a diverse range of research topics suited to the inquiring minds of middle school students, giving them the freedom to deepen their understanding of various subjects while honing critical thinking and independent study skills.

Uncovering the Mysteries of History

Middle schoolers often find history fascinating, particularly when learning about the past from distinct perspectives. Here are some intriguing historical research topics to consider:

The Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement: Apart from the well-known leaders, students can explore the contributions of lesser-known figures who played a significant role in the struggle for equality.
The Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Society: Researching the ways in which the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, or other ancient societies have influenced contemporary culture, politics, and technology offers a broad canvas for exploration.
Everyday Life in Different Historical Periods: Focusing on the routines, customs, and technologies that shaped people’s daily lives in times gone by can provide valuable insights into societal norms and individual experiences.

Science and the Natural World

The sciences are a playground of wonder, with an infinity of topics waiting to be explored. Here are some research ideas that can nurture a love for discovery and experimentation:

Climate Change: Effects and Solutions: Investigating the causes and potential solutions to this global challenge can make students aware of their role in protecting the planet.
The Wonders of the Solar System: Encouraging a study of the planets, their moons, and the vast expanse of space they inhabit can ignite dreams of interstellar exploration.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation: Researching the variety of life on Earth and strategies to protect and sustain ecosystems can foster a sense of environmental stewardship.

Literature, Language, and Creative Expression

Language and literature are potent forms of human expression, allowing students to explore complex ideas and emotions. Here are some topics that bridge the gap between art and academia:

Interpreting Classic Literature for Modern Relevance: Encouraging the study of timeless works can lead to discussions on their contemporary significance and the evolution of societal values.
The Structure and Evolution of Language: Investigating the origins and changes in language over time can be a rich area of study, especially when paired with the examination of cultural shifts.
The Intersection of Art and Literature: Exploring how visual arts and writing intersect to convey messages and emotions can be a fertile ground for interdisciplinary research.

Mathematics and Logic Puzzles

The precision and patterns found in mathematics can be both satisfying and thought-provoking. Middle school students often enjoy the thrill of solving problems and unraveling puzzles. Here are some mathematical research topics that can engage students’ analytical minds:

Famous Mathematical Conjectures: Researching unsolved problems, such as the Goldbach conjecture or the Riemann hypothesis, can introduce students to the excitement of open questions in mathematics.
The Application of Math in Various Industries: Investigating how mathematical principles underpin fields like music, art, sports, and technology can illuminate the subject’s real-world utility.
The History of Mathematical Discoveries: Tracing the lineage of mathematical concepts through different cultures and periods can showcase the universality and timelessness of mathematics.

Social Sciences and Human Interaction

Studying human behavior and society can help students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Here are some social science research ideas to explore:

The Impact of Social Media on Friendships and Relationships: Research could focus on positive and negative effects, trends, and the future of social interaction.
Cultural Traditions and Their Meanings: Investigating the origins and contemporary significance of customs from various cultures can foster respect for diversity and a global perspective.
The Psychology of Decision Making: Exploring the factors that influence human choices, from cognitive biases to social pressures, can provide insights into individual and collective behavior.

Technology and Innovation

A focused individual working at a desk with a laptop and a pen, engrossed in their work.

Middle schoolers are often tech-savvy and interested in the latest gadgets and advancements. Here are some technology and innovation research topics to tap into that curiosity:

The Impact of Gaming on Society: Research could examine how video games influence education, social issues, or even career choices.
Emerging Technologies and Their Ethical Implications: Encouraging students to study technologies like artificial intelligence, gene editing, or wearable tech can lead to discussions on the ethical considerations of their use and development.
Inventions That Changed the World: Chronicling the history and influence of significant inventions, from the wheel to the internet, can provide a lens through which to view human progress.

By providing middle schoolers with the opportunity to conduct meaningful research in a topic of their choosing, we not only deepen their education but also equip them with the skills and passion for a lifetime of learning. This list is just the beginning; the key is to foster curiosity and guide young minds toward engaging, challenging, and diverse research experiences. Through such explorations, we empower the next generation to think critically, communicate effectively, and, most importantly, to nurture their innate curiosity about the world.

Implementing Research Projects in the Classroom

Encouraging middle school students to undertake research projects requires a strategic approach to ensure sustained interest and meaningful outcomes. Here are some methods educators can employ:

Mentorship and Support: Pairing students with teacher mentors who can guide them through the research process, provide feedback, and encourage critical thinking is essential for a fruitful research experience.
Cross-Curricular Integration: Linking research topics to content from different subjects helps students appreciate the interconnectedness of knowledge and develop versatile learning skills.
Use of Technology and Media: Incorporating digital tools for research, presentation, and collaboration can enhance engagement and teach essential 21st-century skills.
Presentation and Reflection: Allocating time for students to present their findings nurtures communication skills and confidence, while self-reflection activities help them internalize their learning journey.

These strategies can create a robust framework within which students can pursue their curiosities, leading to a more personalized and impactful educational experience.

What is a good topic to research for middle school?

A good topic for middle school research could delve into the Role of Robotics in the Future of Society . Students can explore how robotics may transform jobs, healthcare, and everyday life. They can examine the balance between automation and human work, predict how robots could augment human abilities, and discuss the ethical dimensions of a robotic future. This inquiry not only captivates the imagination but also encourages critical thinking about technology’s impact on tomorrow’s world.

What are the 10 research titles examples?

The Evolution of Renewable Energy and Its Future Prospects
Investigating the Effects of Microplastics on Marine Ecosystems
The Influence of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Democracy
Understanding Black Holes: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Cosmos
The Impact of Augmented Reality on Education and Training
Climate Change and Its Consequences on Coastal Cities
The Psychological Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
Genetic Engineering: The Possibilities and Pitfalls
Smart Cities: How Technology is Shaping Urban Living
The Role of Nanotechnology in Medicine: Current Applications and Future Potential

Fascinating Facts About Middle School Research Topics

Interdisciplinary Impact : Research projects in middle school often blend subjects, such as the integration of art and mathematics when exploring patterns and symmetry, which helps students discover the interconnectivity of different fields of knowledge.
Skill Building : Engaging in research equips middle schoolers with advanced skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management, which are beneficial across their academic journey and beyond.
Diversity in Content : Middle school research topics are notably diverse, ranging from examining the role of robotics in society to exploring the psychological effects of social media, catering to a wide array of student interests and strengths.
Tech Savvy Learning : Technology-based research topics, such as the influence of smart cities or the impact of augmented reality in education, are deeply relevant to tech-savvy middle school students, making learning more engaging and relatable.
Cultural Relevance : Researching topics like cultural traditions and their meanings encourages middle schoolers to develop a global perspective and fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diversity within their own school community and the world at large.

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40 Best Science Experiments & Projects for Middle School

Welcome to our curated collection of top science fair projects and experiments, perfectly tailored for the inquisitive middle schoolers. Our collection offers hands-on activities that will captivate young minds and ignite their passion for learning.

Science fairs during middle school years are less about competition and more about fostering a love for exploration, experimentation, and the thrill of the “Eureka!” moment. That’s why we have ensured that all the experiments on our list are fun and easy.

Through hands-on experimentation, students can gain a deeper understanding of scientific concepts, build confidence in their abilities, and cultivate a lifelong passion for learning.

1. Crushed Can

Students will be amazed as they witness an ordinary can being transformed before their very eyes. By simply heating it and then rapidly cooling it, the can will be crushed as if by magic!

Learn more: Little Bins Little Hands

2. Water Bottle Rockets

In this engaging activity, students will have the opportunity to design, build, and launch their very own water-propelled rockets.

By adjusting variables like water level and air pressure, they’ll witness firsthand how these factors impact the rocket’s flight path and distance.

3. Cabbage Ph Indicator

In this middle school science project, students will use red cabbage as a natural pH indicator to test the acidity or alkalinity of various household substances.

Learn more: Cabbage PH Indicator

4. Build a Solar Oven

By building these ingenious devices using simple materials, they will discover the incredible potential of renewable energy and its practical applications in everyday life.

Learn more: Solar Oven

5. Build a Helping Hand

In this captivating middle school science experiment, students will have the opportunity to construct their very own “Helping Hand” device.

Learn more: Science Buddies

6. DIY Lung Model

This captivating middle school project offers an exciting hands-on opportunity to explore the inner workings of our respiratory system.

By creating their own lung models using simple household materials, students will gain a deeper understanding of how our lungs function and the vital role they play in our bodies.

7. Flying Tea Bag

By harnessing the power of convection currents, students will learn about the fascinating relationship between heat and air pressure.

Learn more: Flying Tea Bag

8. Egg Float Experiment

In this captivating middle school science project, students will unlock the mysteries of density and water displacement while discovering the fascinating properties of eggs.

Learn more: Egg Float Experiment

9. Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction

This captivating middle school project is all about the magic of potential energy and kinetic energy. By carefully setting up a series of interlinked popsicle sticks, students will create a mesmerizing chain reaction that ripples through the entire structure.

10. How to See Sound

As they watch sound come to life through colorful visualizations, students will develop a deeper appreciation for the profound impact of sound in our daily lives.

11. Orange Peel Plate Tectonics

In this captivating middle school project, students will learn about the dynamic of Earth’s crust and explore the powerful forces that shape our planet’s surface.

12. Heart Pump

In this captivating middle school project, students will embark on a hands-on exploration of the human circulatory system and discover the marvels of the heart’s pumping mechanism.

Learn more: Heart Pump Model

13. Invisible Ink

By concocting their own invisible ink, students will discover the science behind chemical reactions and learn how certain substances react to reveal hidden text when exposed to heat, light, or other catalysts.

Learn more: Invisible Ink

14. DIY Grow Box

In this captivating middle school project, students will learn the wonders of plant growth and the art of nurturing a thriving garden.

By constructing their own affordable and innovative grow boxes using simple materials, they’ll have the perfect environment to observe the magical transformation from seeds to flourishing plants.

Learn more: Easy DIY Grow Box

15. Creative Ferris Wheel

By encouraging creativity and experimentation, this engaging experiment not only promises an exciting learning experience but also fosters teamwork and critical thinking

16. Alka Seltzer Rockets

Prepare for a high-flying adventure with the Alka Seltzer Rockets science experiment! This exciting and explosive activity is a perfect choice for middle school students eager to explore the wonders of chemical reactions and rocketry.

17. Why do Apples Turn Brown?

Through hands-on exploration, middle school students will discover the role of enzymes and oxygen in this intriguing transformation.

18. Water Bending Experiment

By understanding the principles of surface tension and cohesion, you’ll be able to create mesmerizing effects, seemingly bending water with just a piece of static material.

19. Water Clock

Experience the magic of timekeeping in its most ancient form with the fascinating Water Clock project! In this hands-on experiment, students will learn about history, physics, and engineering as they build their own timekeeping device using just water and a few simple materials.

Learn more: Steam Powered Family

20. Paper Ball Run Challenge

Get ready for a thrilling and creative adventure with the Paper Ball Run Challenge! In this captivating science experiment, you’ll explore the principles of motion, gravity, and engineering as you design and build your very own paper ball run.

21. Flood Barriers

As you construct and evaluate your barriers, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how floods occur and the importance of finding effective solutions.

Learn more: Teachers are terrific

22. Exploring the Law of Inertia Experiment Using a Fidget Spinner

This engaging experiment will help you unravel Sir Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia in a fun and hands-on way. By using a fidget spinner, you’ll explore how the spinning motion persists due to inertia and how different factors can influence its behavior.

23. Air Pressure Impact on Ping Pong Balls

By investigating the effects of air pressure on these lightweight spheres, you’ll uncover the secrets of flight, aerodynamics, and atmospheric pressure.

24. Rolling Uphill

In this experiment, you’ll witness the baffling phenomenon of a ball seemingly defying gravity by rolling uphill on a specially designed track.

25. Pick Up Ice with a String

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to lift ice using just a simple string? In this fascinating experiment, you’ll explore the principles of heat transfer and surface tension as you attempt to defy gravity and lift ice cubes with nothing but a string.

Learn more: Pick Up Ice with a String

26. Keep a Paper Towel Dry Under Water

This captivating experiment will unveil the wonders of surface tension and hydrophobicity, as you attempt to create a barrier that defies the conventional wisdom of water soaking through paper.

Learn more: Keep a Paper Towel Dry Under Water

27. Upside Down Glass of Water

This mesmerizing experiment will unravel the fascinating concept of air pressure and its influence on liquids. As you turn a glass of water upside down and observe the water’s defiance of falling out, you’ll gain insight into the powerful role of air pressure in our everyday lives.

Learn more: Upside Down Glass of Water

28. Make a Wine Glass Sing

Have you ever wondered how to turn a simple glass of wine into a musical instrument? This captivating experiment will introduce you to the fascinating concept of acoustics and how sound waves interact with liquid-filled glasses.

29. Crush a Plastic Bottle

Are you curious about the forces at play when we compress a seemingly indestructible plastic bottle? This captivating experiment will unravel the science behind how pressure and air interact to create this astonishing effect.

Learn more: Crush a Plastic Bottle

30. Ruler Changes Size

Get ready to witness an optical illusion that will challenge your perception of reality. In this captivating experiment, you’ll explore the fascinating phenomenon of light refraction and how it can make objects appear different than they really are.

31. Egg in a Bottle

Have you ever wondered how to get an egg into a bottle without breaking it? This mesmerizing experiment will introduce you to the concept of air pressure and how it can be harnessed to achieve the impossible.

Learn more: Egg in a Bottle

32. Water Doesn’t Leak Out Science Experiment

This hands-on activity not only sparks curiosity and amazement but also teaches you about the properties of gases and the laws of physics.

So, get ready to be astounded and dive into the magic of science with the “Water Doesn’t Leak Out” experiment – an entertaining and enlightening adventure that will leave you thirsting for more knowledge!

Learn more: Water Science Experiment

33. Pick Up a Ball with a Jar

This captivating experiment will introduce you to the fascinating concept of air pressure and how it can create a powerful force that defies gravity.

34. Glowing Water Science

This captivating experiment will introduce you to the fascinating properties of fluorescent materials and how they interact with light.

35. Fizzy Cloud Dough

The fizzing reaction not only adds an element of excitement but also provides a great opportunity to explore the science of chemical reactions and the release of carbon dioxide.

Learn more: Fizzy Cloud Dough

36. Underwater Magic Sand

Get ready to witness the marvels of hydrophobic science and explore the secrets of this captivating underwater magic sand experiment.

Learn more: Teaching Mama Org

37. Make Bouncy Polymer Balls

This captivating experiment will take you on an exciting journey into the realm of polymers and chemical reactions.

38. Use a Crayon as a Candle

This hands-on activity not only sparks curiosity and excitement but also offers a safe and educational way to explore the science of combustion and the flammability of materials.

Learn more: Crayon Candle

39. Flame Test Colors

Not only does it spark curiosity and wonder but also deepens your understanding of the emission spectra of elements.

So, get ready to illuminate your scientific knowledge with the “Flame Test Colors” experiment – an educational and visually stunning adventure that will leave you dazzled and eager to discover more about the fascinating world of chemistry!

Learn more: Thought Co

40. Grow A Bean Plant

By planting a simple bean seed and providing it with water, sunlight, and care, you’ll witness the fascinating process of germination and watch as your bean seedling sprouts and grows.

Exploring Ideas: Research Topics for Middle Schoolers

The exploration of ideas and research topics for middle schoolers is an increasingly important area to investigate in the modern classroom. Middle school students often have a broad range of interests, yet limited resources with which to explore these interests on their own. This article provides insight into how educators can effectively guide middle schoolers through the process of discovering suitable research topics that meet both student needs and educational standards. By taking proactive steps such as providing guidance, scaffolding instruction, and offering appropriate resources, teachers can enable middle schoolers to become actively engaged in exploring new ideas while developing valuable skills needed for success at higher levels of study.

I. Introduction to Exploring Ideas: Research Topics for Middle Schoolers

Ii. types of research assignments suitable for middle school students, iii. factors to consider when choosing a research topic, iv. strategies for identifying appropriate resources and material, v. how to present information in an interesting way, vi. evaluating the quality of sources used for research projects, vii. conclusion.

A World of Possibilities

Middle school students have the opportunity to explore a variety of topics with research papers. From science and technology to history and social studies, there is no limit to what can be studied. With thoughtful guidance from teachers or parents, students can select a research topic that will challenge their thinking while also introducing them to new concepts. Here are just some examples of interesting research paper topics for middle schoolers:

The History & Impact Of Women’s Rights Movements In The 20th Century
Exploring Cybersecurity Issues And How It Affects Our Daily Lives
Analyzing The Role Of Social Media In Shaping Modern Society

Investigating Climate Change And Its Impacts On Our Environment.. .”Data Science Applications in Business” – Exploring Real-world Examples. Through careful selection , researching these projects offers an engaging way for middle schoolers to discover something new about themselves and the world around them . By learning more about different areas of study , they may even uncover ideas on possible career paths or further exploration into subject matter as they advance in education .

Exploring the Potential Middle school students are capable of conducting meaningful research and grasping complex ideas. When selecting appropriate assignments, educators should consider not only how to capture student interest but also challenge their capabilities. Research projects can range from simple book reports to more in-depth studies that involve interviews or surveys.

Data collection such as historical timelines.
Inquiry projects including experiments with clear parameters.

Additionally, teachers may assign students a research paper topics for middle school which require them to analyze an issue at greater depth. For example, students might explore relationships between poverty and education in various countries or investigate differing opinions on climate change across the US population. Whichever project is chosen it must be age-appropriate while still offering opportunities for personal growth so learners take ownership over their work.

Alternative Approaches Group research efforts are a great way for middle schoolers to collaborate together as they learn new skills like communication and problem solving through teamwork. A class could pick one major topic such as the history of voting rights in America then have each group select a subtopic related to this main idea like suffrage laws specific state by state or focus on changes throughout different decades. Another option would be having multiple groups working concurrently towards tackling one collective assignment, where each team’s output builds upon another’s input creating layers of complexity within investigation process . Ultimately these approaches allow young researchers insight into how pieces fit together providing potential solutions no single individual could see alone!

Selecting a research topic can be intimidating for middle school students. With so many topics to choose from, it is important to consider the following factors:

Passion – Students should pick something they have an interest in and feel passionate about learning more.
Accessibility – The chosen topic should provide enough information that supports their claims. Additionally, research papers are not all about summarizing facts; therefore students must ensure there’s enough material available to form substantial arguments.

>Length Requirements – When choosing a topic, remember that length requirements must be met which may limit some options. It’s also beneficial if you already know what kind of grade your student needs/wants at completion as this can help guide them in selecting a suitable topic. Some examples of manageable yet intriguing subjects include:

In order to locate and identify appropriate resources for research papers, a few strategies can be implemented. It’s important to explore all potential sources in order to best capture the necessary information.

Online Databases : Utilizing online databases such as JSTOR , Project Muse , and LexisNexis Academic Universe , is an effective way of finding material related to your topic. Many school libraries provide access free-of-charge, so make sure you ask about it!

Additionally, there are plenty of materials available specifically tailored towards middle school students conducting research projects. Exploring topics that are meaningful or interesting to students like space exploration or endangered animals could yield great results when utilizing sources such as books from public library systems or trusted websites dedicated specifically toward educational content for young researchers.

Varying Your Delivery The key to presenting information in an interesting way is to vary your delivery. There are many tools at your disposal when it comes to sharing facts and data with others. Use different methods of communication such as storytelling, visual presentations, diagrams, videos or infographics for a more engaging experience.

You can also encourage active participation by posing open-ended questions about the material you have presented. This will help keep students engaged during class time while inspiring curiosity around complex topics.

Additionally, try selecting research paper topics that appeal to middle schoolers’ interests like “How Social Media Affects Teen Mental Health” or “What Are Some Ways We Can Help End Global Warming?” Doing so not only provides valuable life skills but helps create enthusiasm and excitement around learning!

Finding reliable sources for research projects can be a daunting task, especially when working with topics relevant to middle school. It’s essential that the resources used are of high quality so that your students have accurate and up-to-date information available. Here we present some tips on how to evaluate the materials they find:

Authenticity: Are you sure the source is genuine? Checking out reviews or seeing if other experts in the field mention it could help.
Timely Information: Is what you’re reading recent enough to be considered current knowledge? Research paper topics for middle school should draw from modern discoveries.
Accuracy : Does this resource back its claims with evidence and links to more reputable sources? Evaluating facts offered by each material will guide decision making.

Drawing to a Close In this paper, we have discussed the importance of engaging in research-based writing exercises at the middle school level. We began by introducing how project-based learning is used to encourage students to think deeply and challenge themselves through critical inquiry. From there, we explored various ways that teachers can implement research into their lesson plans while providing meaningful support for learners so they are more successful in such endeavors. Finally, we identified several potential topics suitable for academic exploration by students attending middle school.

Topics suitable for student research might include:

The pros and cons of using technology as an educational tool.
Different approaches taken when teaching world history.
How different types of music influence emotions.

Research Skills

50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills

Please note, I am no longer blogging and this post hasn’t updated since April 2020.

For a number of years, Seth Godin has been talking about the need to “ connect the dots” rather than “collect the dots” . That is, rather than memorising information, students must be able to learn how to solve new problems, see patterns, and combine multiple perspectives.

Solid research skills underpin this. Having the fluency to find and use information successfully is an essential skill for life and work.

Today’s students have more information at their fingertips than ever before and this means the role of the teacher as a guide is more important than ever.

You might be wondering how you can fit teaching research skills into a busy curriculum? There aren’t enough hours in the day! The good news is, there are so many mini-lessons you can do to build students’ skills over time.

This post outlines 50 ideas for activities that could be done in just a few minutes (or stretched out to a longer lesson if you have the time!).

Learn More About The Research Process

I have a popular post called Teach Students How To Research Online In 5 Steps. It outlines a five-step approach to break down the research process into manageable chunks.

Learn about a simple search process for students in primary school, middle school, or high school Kathleen Morris

This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students’ skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate , and cite . It also includes ideas for learning about staying organised throughout the research process.

Notes about the 50 research activities:

These ideas can be adapted for different age groups from middle primary/elementary to senior high school.
Many of these ideas can be repeated throughout the year.
Depending on the age of your students, you can decide whether the activity will be more teacher or student led. Some activities suggest coming up with a list of words, questions, or phrases. Teachers of younger students could generate these themselves.
Depending on how much time you have, many of the activities can be either quickly modelled by the teacher, or extended to an hour-long lesson.
Some of the activities could fit into more than one category.
Looking for simple articles for younger students for some of the activities? Try DOGO News or Time for Kids . Newsela is also a great resource but you do need to sign up for free account.
Why not try a few activities in a staff meeting? Everyone can always brush up on their own research skills!

Choose a topic (e.g. koalas, basketball, Mount Everest) . Write as many questions as you can think of relating to that topic.
Make a mindmap of a topic you’re currently learning about. This could be either on paper or using an online tool like Bubbl.us .
Read a short book or article. Make a list of 5 words from the text that you don’t totally understand. Look up the meaning of the words in a dictionary (online or paper).
Look at a printed or digital copy of a short article with the title removed. Come up with as many different titles as possible that would fit the article.
Come up with a list of 5 different questions you could type into Google (e.g. Which country in Asia has the largest population?) Circle the keywords in each question.
Write down 10 words to describe a person, place, or topic. Come up with synonyms for these words using a tool like Thesaurus.com .
Write pairs of synonyms on post-it notes (this could be done by the teacher or students). Each student in the class has one post-it note and walks around the classroom to find the person with the synonym to their word.

Explore how to search Google using your voice (i.e. click/tap on the microphone in the Google search box or on your phone/tablet keyboard) . List the pros and cons of using voice and text to search.
Open two different search engines in your browser such as Google and Bing. Type in a query and compare the results. Do all search engines work exactly the same?
Have students work in pairs to try out a different search engine (there are 11 listed here ). Report back to the class on the pros and cons.
Think of something you’re curious about, (e.g. What endangered animals live in the Amazon Rainforest?). Open Google in two tabs. In one search, type in one or two keywords ( e.g. Amazon Rainforest) . In the other search type in multiple relevant keywords (e.g. endangered animals Amazon rainforest). Compare the results. Discuss the importance of being specific.
Similar to above, try two different searches where one phrase is in quotation marks and the other is not. For example, Origin of “raining cats and dogs” and Origin of raining cats and dogs . Discuss the difference that using quotation marks makes (It tells Google to search for the precise keywords in order.)
Try writing a question in Google with a few minor spelling mistakes. What happens? What happens if you add or leave out punctuation ?
Try the AGoogleADay.com daily search challenges from Google. The questions help older students learn about choosing keywords, deconstructing questions, and altering keywords.
Explore how Google uses autocomplete to suggest searches quickly. Try it out by typing in various queries (e.g. How to draw… or What is the tallest…). Discuss how these suggestions come about, how to use them, and whether they’re usually helpful.
Watch this video from Code.org to learn more about how search works .
Take a look at 20 Instant Google Searches your Students Need to Know by Eric Curts to learn about “ instant searches ”. Try one to try out. Perhaps each student could be assigned one to try and share with the class.
Experiment with typing some questions into Google that have a clear answer (e.g. “What is a parallelogram?” or “What is the highest mountain in the world?” or “What is the population of Australia?”). Look at the different ways the answers are displayed instantly within the search results — dictionary definitions, image cards, graphs etc.

Watch the video How Does Google Know Everything About Me? by Scientific American. Discuss the PageRank algorithm and how Google uses your data to customise search results.
Brainstorm a list of popular domains (e.g. .com, .com.au, or your country’s domain) . Discuss if any domains might be more reliable than others and why (e.g. .gov or .edu) .
Discuss (or research) ways to open Google search results in a new tab to save your original search results (i.e. right-click > open link in new tab or press control/command and click the link).
Try out a few Google searches (perhaps start with things like “car service” “cat food” or “fresh flowers”). A re there advertisements within the results? Discuss where these appear and how to spot them.
Look at ways to filter search results by using the tabs at the top of the page in Google (i.e. news, images, shopping, maps, videos etc.). Do the same filters appear for all Google searches? Try out a few different searches and see.
Type a question into Google and look for the “People also ask” and “Searches related to…” sections. Discuss how these could be useful. When should you use them or ignore them so you don’t go off on an irrelevant tangent? Is the information in the drop-down section under “People also ask” always the best?
Often, more current search results are more useful. Click on “tools” under the Google search box and then “any time” and your time frame of choice such as “Past month” or “Past year”.
Have students annotate their own “anatomy of a search result” example like the one I made below. Explore the different ways search results display; some have more details like sitelinks and some do not.

Find two articles on a news topic from different publications. Or find a news article and an opinion piece on the same topic. Make a Venn diagram comparing the similarities and differences.
Choose a graph, map, or chart from The New York Times’ What’s Going On In This Graph series . Have a whole class or small group discussion about the data.
Look at images stripped of their captions on What’s Going On In This Picture? by The New York Times. Discuss the images in pairs or small groups. What can you tell?
Explore a website together as a class or in pairs — perhaps a news website. Identify all the advertisements .
Have a look at a fake website either as a whole class or in pairs/small groups. See if students can spot that these sites are not real. Discuss the fact that you can’t believe everything that’s online. Get started with these four examples of fake websites from Eric Curts.
Give students a copy of my website evaluation flowchart to analyse and then discuss as a class. Read more about the flowchart in this post.
As a class, look at a prompt from Mike Caulfield’s Four Moves . Either together or in small groups, have students fact check the prompts on the site. This resource explains more about the fact checking process. Note: some of these prompts are not suitable for younger students.
Practice skim reading — give students one minute to read a short article. Ask them to discuss what stood out to them. Headings? Bold words? Quotes? Then give students ten minutes to read the same article and discuss deep reading.

All students can benefit from learning about plagiarism, copyright, how to write information in their own words, and how to acknowledge the source. However, the formality of this process will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum guidelines.

Watch the video Citation for Beginners for an introduction to citation. Discuss the key points to remember.
Look up the definition of plagiarism using a variety of sources (dictionary, video, Wikipedia etc.). Create a definition as a class.
Find an interesting video on YouTube (perhaps a “life hack” video) and write a brief summary in your own words.
Have students pair up and tell each other about their weekend. Then have the listener try to verbalise or write their friend’s recount in their own words. Discuss how accurate this was.
Read the class a copy of a well known fairy tale. Have them write a short summary in their own words. Compare the versions that different students come up with.
Try out MyBib — a handy free online tool without ads that helps you create citations quickly and easily.
Give primary/elementary students a copy of Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Citation that matches their grade level (the guide covers grades 1 to 6). Choose one form of citation and create some examples as a class (e.g. a website or a book).
Make a list of things that are okay and not okay to do when researching, e.g. copy text from a website, use any image from Google images, paraphrase in your own words and cite your source, add a short quote and cite the source.
Have students read a short article and then come up with a summary that would be considered plagiarism and one that would not be considered plagiarism. These could be shared with the class and the students asked to decide which one shows an example of plagiarism .
Older students could investigate the difference between paraphrasing and summarising . They could create a Venn diagram that compares the two.
Write a list of statements on the board that might be true or false ( e.g. The 1956 Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia. The rhinoceros is the largest land animal in the world. The current marathon world record is 2 hours, 7 minutes). Have students research these statements and decide whether they’re true or false by sharing their citations.

Staying Organised

Make a list of different ways you can take notes while researching — Google Docs, Google Keep, pen and paper etc. Discuss the pros and cons of each method.
Learn the keyboard shortcuts to help manage tabs (e.g. open new tab, reopen closed tab, go to next tab etc.). Perhaps students could all try out the shortcuts and share their favourite one with the class.
Find a collection of resources on a topic and add them to a Wakelet .
Listen to a short podcast or watch a brief video on a certain topic and sketchnote ideas. Sylvia Duckworth has some great tips about live sketchnoting
Learn how to use split screen to have one window open with your research, and another open with your notes (e.g. a Google spreadsheet, Google Doc, Microsoft Word or OneNote etc.) .

All teachers know it’s important to teach students to research well. Investing time in this process will also pay off throughout the year and the years to come. Students will be able to focus on analysing and synthesizing information, rather than the mechanics of the research process.

By trying out as many of these mini-lessons as possible throughout the year, you’ll be really helping your students to thrive in all areas of school, work, and life.

Also remember to model your own searches explicitly during class time. Talk out loud as you look things up and ask students for input. Learning together is the way to go!

You Might Also Enjoy Reading:

How To Evaluate Websites: A Guide For Teachers And Students

Five Tips for Teaching Students How to Research and Filter Information

Typing Tips: The How and Why of Teaching Students Keyboarding Skills

8 Ways Teachers And Schools Can Communicate With Parents

Learn how to teach research skills to primary students, middle school students, or high school students. 50 activities that could be done in just a few minutes a day. Lots of Google search tips and research tips for kids and teachers. Free PDF included! Kathleen Morris | Primary Tech

10 Replies to “50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills”

Loving these ideas, thank you

This list is amazing. Thank you so much!

So glad it’s helpful, Alex! 🙂

Hi I am a student who really needed some help on how to reasearch thanks for the help.

So glad it helped! 🙂

seriously seriously grateful for your post. 🙂

So glad it’s helpful! Makes my day 🙂

How do you get the 50 mini lessons. I got the free one but am interested in the full version.

Hi Tracey, The link to the PDF with the 50 mini lessons is in the post. Here it is . Check out this post if you need more advice on teaching students how to research online. Hope that helps! Kathleen

Best wishes to you as you face your health battler. Hoping you’ve come out stronger and healthier from it. Your website is so helpful.

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Conversations » The “Real Game” of Research: An Exploratory Project for Middle School

The “Real Game” of Research: An Exploratory Project for Middle School

Author: mike fishback.

Posted by Alythea

Becoming a Researcher

What does it really mean to be a researcher? When we assign students a research project, how can we make the experience as authentic and engaging as possible?

Critical exploration encourages learners to use their own observations and questions to construct new understandings. This is central to what researchers do. Yet in most conventional “research projects” assigned to middle school students, the focus is on cobbling together what other people have observed and organizing that information into an essay or display. Simply collecting facts and then presenting them in a different form is not the same thing as research.

Harvard professor David Perkins writes of crafting curricula for which students are “playing the real game.”

The real game of a researcher involves digging up artifacts, observing them closely, and, as a result, arriving at new ideas and questions about the topic.

Most middle schools expect students to practice gathering information about a topic on their own and organizing ideas into paragraphs. These skills lie at the heart of most research projects and are in fact valuable for students and historians alike, yet these skills alone do not constitute research. What would a research project look like if it involved actual research—if the ideas being organized had been constructed by the students themselves, rather than by editors of textbooks or encyclopedias?

This is the question my colleague Lucia Krul and I set out to answer as we designed a research project this spring for seventh graders studying the American Civil War. Our aim was to infuse the habits and values of critical exploration, which encourages students to “play the real game” of research, into what was otherwise a fairly standard, traditional project for middle school. What follows are some thoughts about how I approached this project in my classroom and what I can imagine doing more effectively the next time around.

Setting the Expectations

As student-centered as critical exploration is, the teacher has important responsibilities: jumping in to see if he or she understands what the learners are thinking; encouraging them to grapple with inconsistencies in their ideas; and providing new artifacts or challenges based on where they seem to be headed. Yet in a traditional research project setting, in which each student follows a unique path, the teacher is not able to be present to fulfill these responsibilities throughout every step of every learner’s journey. Consequently, much of the questioning and seeking out of new artifacts must be done by the individual students themselves.

To prepare my students for this, I first had to engage them in the process. I facilitated a number of critical exploration sessions in the weeks preceding the research project. For example, with only a sparsely labeled map related to the Missouri Compromise of 1820 (the eventual unraveling of which helped precipitate the Civil War), the class built on each others’ noticings and wonderings to figure out the complex terms of the compromise—terms that, when read about in a reference book, are often difficult to conceptualize. Subsequently, the students identified what they might have overlooked or not really understood had they received the information from others rather than constructed the understandings themselves.

Later, as a Civil War unit review, small groups of students encountered various photographs, political cartoons, newspaper clippings, and other images that I had compiled from the era. The students took turns sharing noticings and wonderings about them, calling upon their existing knowledge of the Civil War to help them make better sense of the images and the topic itself. Through this process, they began to develop the mindset they would need for the upcoming research project.

Introducing the Project

For the project, Lucia and I asked each student to research a Civil War-related topic of his or her choice and produce a digital “exhibit” using Adobe’s PDF Portfolio application. After a brief overview of the topic, a student’s exhibit would feature three artifacts, each accompanied by an analysis of how it might enhance our understanding of the topic.

Fortuitously, my school’s librarians, Cathy Farrell and Brian Parry, had spent many years teaching these students the practice of “previewing” resources prior to selecting a research topic. Consequently, the students began this project not by choosing a topic but rather by exploring a variety of Civil War artifacts, generating keywords and questions in order to find additional topic possibilities. The students did consult reference materials such as encyclopedias, but they did so typically as an outgrowth of their initial explorations.

An “artifact” could be any primary source: a photograph or cartoon, newspaper article, speech or letter, map, poem or song, and so on. I allowed for artifacts that were not strictly primary as long as they contained minimal text and had rich exploratory potential; this left room for maps and paintings created long after the war. The students enjoyed learning how to use the library’s subscription databases, Google Advanced Search, specialized websites, and books to find artifacts. The Civil War was a fantastic topic for this type of project because of the wealth of diverse resources.

The analysis accompanying each artifact had to identify some things the student noticed about the artifact, how these noticings led to new understandings through further research, and unanswered questions or “mysteries” arising from the exploration. These requirements served to maintain a focus on discovery, theorizing, and questioning, as opposed to “reporting,” which is often a middle school student’s first instinct in a research project.

The emphasis on further research deriving from an initial exploration helped to establish another important principle of the “real game” of research: the idea that it’s a continuous process that builds over time, rather than a finite period of gathering sufficient information and then reporting it. By requiring students not only to notice and question but then to use their noticings and questions to jump back into the research, I hoped to have the students become, in a sense, their own teachers.

Lucia and I also incorporated the concept of thesis-based argument into the project. After compiling a half-dozen or more promising artifacts, the students were to include only three of them in their exhibits. How were they to choose? Our answer was to ask them to select three that, together, could enhance our understanding of some specific “theme” related to their topic. At the end of each analysis, the students were to explain how the artifact communicated their chosen theme—similar to using evidence to support a thesis. The students’ eventual themes ranged from the general (“The risks of being a spy”) to the particular (“General Sherman’s dislike of the press” or “Doubts about the Anaconda Plan”).

Some students leapt into the challenge enthusiastically, emboldened by their freedom to explore. For those who began more grudgingly, my aim was to steer them to artifacts (and, from there, topics) that might engage them. Once some of the more reluctant students found topics that truly interested them, they emerged as some of the most committed, thoughtful researchers in the class.

For much of the research time, Cathy, Brian, and I circulated around the library, supporting students in their inquiry but trying to avoid the temptation to “push” them in directions in which they were not already headed. Accordingly, my responsibility was similar to that of a teacher during a formal critical exploration session: figuring out which ideas and questions were likely to be the most generative and helping the learners find paths they could explore further.

Assessing Students’ Exhibits

Although I do not subscribe to the common belief that the sole measure of an activity’s value is the extent to which it meets predetermined objectives, this project did indeed have objectives, and they were indeed met. The project’s first objective was for students to develop the mindset of an authentic researcher, and the second was for them to construct new understandings of the Civil War era—whatever those specific understandings may be. The students’ exhibits closely matched these objectives, as demonstrated by these excerpts from their analyses:

Jack uncovered a hand-edited draft of Robert E. Lee’s 1861 resignation from the U.S. army and wondered about Lee’s commitment to the approaching war: “[The sentence] ‘Save in the defense of my native state, I never desire again to draw my sword,’ strongly suggesting that Lee would fight against the Union, [is] added almost as an afterthought… Had Lee hesitated at first to state his intentions? It’s unclear, but odd to see the words added afterward and in the margin of the letter.”

Ellie , upon discovering a virulently antiwar statement by Clara Barton, researched further and found that Barton’s own father had served in the military: “This makes me wonder how this hatred of fighting came about, or if her father [had been] scared by his time on the battlefield. Did he praise the ‘glory’ of war? Or did he tell his children the truth about fighting?”

Alex , who had critically explored poetry the previous month in my English class, approached an engraving of Andersonville Prison with an eye for symbolism: “The leaves on the trees in the background are gone. Leaves die and fall off trees in the winter. The death of the leaves in the engraving is a symbol of the soldiers dying. Another important thing to notice is that the sky is barren… like the surroundings of the prison.”

Matt , who aspires to be a surgeon one day, fit a number of pieces together once he dug up a letter from a battlefield surgeon recommending shockingly unsanitary practices: “If you combine this fact [that surgeons did not wash their hands] with the fact that surgeons performed surgery with their bare, uncovered hands, then we can deduce that surgeons operated with filthy hands. This is one of the reasons that infection spread so quickly in hospitals, and one of the reasons that soldiers would refuse surgery and medical treatment.”

I included a range of assessment criteria, from timeliness and organization to the relevance of the artifacts to the chosen theme. Yet the central objective of the project—constructing knowledge through research—meant the exhibits succeeded as long as they stayed true to that spirit. I did not evaluate the exhibits on the breadth of their content, keeping in mind David Hawkins’s assertion: “You don’t want to cover a subject; you want to uncover it.” I had to remind myself to care less about which pieces of information a student covered than about which questions a student posed, and how the student went about addressing them.

Developing the Project Further

Unfortunately, the deadlines for this project ran up against the end of the school year, so I did not have time to do justice to what should be its final stage: full-class critical explorations of each other’s artifacts. As I imagine it, the teacher would begin by facilitating an exploration of the most generative artifact and then strategically add more artifacts to the exploration in response to the noticings and wonderings of the group. The student whose artifact is being explored might observe silently at first and later write a reflection comparing his or her own analysis to that of others. I look forward to timing the project more wisely in the future so that my students can reap its full benefits.

Another challenge that emerged for me during the exhibit drafting stage was helping my students to recognize the difference between using artifacts to illustrate newly obtained knowledge and using artifacts to show how new knowledge had been constructed. This project, of course, asked students to do the latter, yet in more than a few cases, analysis drafts essentially started with, “This is a photograph of George McClellan. Now let me tell you all about him…” As I worked with students to revise their drafts, I often encouraged them to focus more intently on using the images, text, and other aspects of their artifacts as anchors of their analysis rather than simply as accompanying illustrations. Next year, if I create opportunities for students to practice this type of analysis more regularly throughout the school year—not just in the weeks prior to the project—they might be more uniformly successful at demonstrating it in their own writing.

This brings me to my last point, which is that we must not expect perfection. We must not expect it of ourselves, the teachers, as we can always identify a time when we offered too much or too little direction. We must not expect it of our students, who necessarily demonstrate varying degrees of sophistication as we ask them to experiment with a method that many adults spend years of higher education attempting to master. And we must not expect it of any assignment or activity, given the expectations and constraints of most schools and curricula. As I wrote at the outset, the aim of this project was not to remake the curriculum but rather to infuse the habits and values of critical exploration into activities that otherwise would not benefit from them. Next year, I will try to align this project even more closely with Eleanor Duckworth’s vision of teaching and learning. And the next year, even more.

And I will learn a lot about the Civil War in the process!

References:

Duckworth, Eleanor. “The Having of Wonderful Ideas.” In “The Having of Wonderful Ideas” and Other Essays on Teaching and Learning. 3rd ed. New York: Teachers College Press, 2006.

Hawkins, David. The Roots of Literacy . Boulder: University of Colorado Press, 2000. p.79.

Perkins, David. Making Learning Whole: How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2009. p. 9.

Mike Fishback earned his Ed. M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2006 and currently teaches seventh grade history and English at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.

Love the project and would like to try out something similar with my students. I am curious about the assessment end of things. Did any of your students in this research project come up with “incorrect” understandings of the materials they had selected? If so, how did you deal with that in terms of correcting them or assessing them?

Mike Fishback

This is a terrific question. Since the content of the students’ analyses focused on using the artifacts to support their own hypothesizing and wondering rather than reporting facts, there were few opportunities to display inaccurate information. Whenever something in a draft was clearly inaccurate, I simply called the student’s attention to it so it could be corrected; this didn’t really factor into the assessment of the product because it took place during the revision process. However, there were a few instances where I did feel compelled to “correct” a student’s understanding, and in doing so, I tried to stay as true as possible to the values of critical exploration.

For example, one student, in researching General Grant, selected a political cartoon depicting the complicated politics of Reconstruction, which happened after the Civil War and encompassed Grant’s subsequent presidency. Our class had not yet studied Reconstruction, and as a result, this student misunderstood major aspects of the symbolism (at least as I understood it, knowing quite a bit about Reconstruction). I started our conversation by asking him to talk me through his analysis of the cartoon. For someone who hadn’t been exposed to the “correct” context, he really had a strong grasp of how the various components of the cartoon fit together in his mind and what the message of the cartoon was. Yet as he explained it to me, he began to recognize that a few pieces of the logic didn’t make as much sense as he had thought, and consequently, he had trouble bringing his analysis full-circle. To paraphrase Professor Duckworth, something’s not a problem unless it’s a problem. Here, in full view, was this student’s problem! He was now ready to think actively about other possibilities, so I decided to introduce the topic of Reconstruction, giving him a short overview in a few sentences. As I spoke, I could see light bulbs turning on in his head: Ah, this is why that didn’t make sense! Ah, now I get what that person symbolizes! And he was able to explain the whole cartoon, within this new context, right away, because he already was so familiar with every inch of the image and already had a strong sense of the relationships between the depicted characters. He went off and revised his analysis quite successfully.

The main theme here is that it’s the thinking itself, not the accuracy, that we should assess. In my opinion, this student’s thinking was impressive precisely because he was able to use his previous understanding of the artifact to help him make better sense of it once he encountered more of the context.

Hi Mike- This is neat – thanks! I’m wondering about your reflections on having students search through what sounds like a huge trough of potential sources for them to study. In the future, would you put any limiting parameters around the selection of sources? You mention allowing for certain kinds of secondary sources as well as close support from teachers, so I’m curious about other things you might recommend to someone else trying this that might help make sifting through so many sources as productive as possible for students. Thanks! Scott

Thanks for your question, Scott. Regarding the searches themselves, the librarians and I spent a significant amount of time teaching our students how to generate effective keywords for digital searches and how to use the index of a reference or nonfiction book. We provided them with a list of particularly rich websites and databases and collected many Civil War-related books with illustrations and primary source documents that we kept in a cart in the library. Those students who might have felt overwhelmed by the volume of potential sources were able to take advantage of the narrowing we had done in preparation for the project.

As I mention above, one challenge in facilitating this project was getting the students to distinguish between artifacts that illustrate what they already know and those that help them explore further. The fact that many of the potential artifacts were accompanied by captions complicated this task considerably. This is why I emphasized the idea of “mysteries,” as in the question, “What mysteries arise from your observations of this artifact?” One reason I selected Jack’s and Ellie’s excerpts for inclusion above is that they show how this emphasis can expand the parameters of a student’s analysis — from Lee’s priorities to his commitment to them, or from Barton’s worldview to her family influences.

So even though the focus was on primary sources, in truth the type of artifact did not matter as much as how generative it was, how much further one’s thinking could progress by puzzling over the artifact. Most students did end up selecting exclusively primary sources, the main exception being maps and paintings (though even some of these were primary). And in cases where the source was secondary, I often provided feedback that asked who had created the artifact and what relevance the creator’s identity had to the student’s interpretation of it.

In the era of digital teaching, most educators have been focusing on the skill of synthesizing lots of information into a coherent whole, and I believe this skill is incredibly important. Yet another important skill, showcased here, is deciding which websites, texts, and images are most helpful to the type of research or learning you are trying to do. So in a way, the “sifting through,” as you put it, is part of the challenge and the educational experience!

Welcome to our Civil War exploratory research exhibits! « Civil War Exhibits

[…] more information on the project, you may read this article about last year’s version of the project, which was published on the website of Critical Explorers. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this […]

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206 Middle School Research Topics: Original Ideas List

As middle schoolers prepare to go to high school, they are introduced slowly to essay and research writing. They are sometimes given homework that involves picking suitable topics and writing on them. However, it should be noted that i t is not easy to write a research paper for a high grade. Middle schoolers in their preteen age are taught how to be creative, air out their opinions and conduct little research. It helps make them critical thinkers and prepares them for more writing tasks as they advance in their education. This article will help middle schoolers understand what is expected of them when asked to write an essay or research on a topic. It will also expose them to different areas where they can write and many research topics for middle school they can pick from.

What Should Be In A Middle School Research Paper?

Middle school research papers are often not required to be extended. They are in a unique position where they move from writing simple pieces to more detailed essays and research papers. This is the foundation where they learn to write excellent papers as they transcend to high school and eventually college. Writing an essay in middle school is not very different from writing in other stages. Some steps to get you started are

Understanding the Assignment :Before you begin, you should understand your teacher’s expectations when turning in your finished work.There will be rules and procedures to follow. Know the format the essay is supposed to be written in, and keep the due dates in mind. If you do not understand any aspect of the assignment, please ask for clarification, as this will help you deliver a clear and concise essay at the end.
Do Your Pre-Writing :Start with brainstorming on middle school research topics to determine what you would like your essay to be about. There are many options to pick from and several general subjects to break down into topics you want.

Pick up to three topics when you first brainstorm. From there, you can select the best one to write on. When you find a topic, start writing all you know about it. Create a rough paper where you jot down information from your research that will be useful in your essay. Feel free to write freely, as this will be your first draft, and you have the chance to edit it as you go.

Edit Your Work : Editing is essential. It helps give your paper structure. From your rough work, take out parts that are not necessary and add details you think you missed. This is where you should be detailed and try to make your work as neat and correct as possible. You are almost at the end of writing the paper.When you are sure your paper is good, it is time to proofread. Check for spelling and punctuation errors. One expert way to do this is to read the report from the bottom up, and this can help you spot any spelling errors.
Citations and References : Your teacher would have given you a format to write references for your work. Ensure that you are following the prescribed format.References will highlight the sources of the information gathered to make your essay.

What Can Middle Schoolers Write About?

There are many general subjects that middle schoolers can write about in their assignments. Streaming from what they have been taught in the classroom or their experiences outside class. Some issues that can create good middle school research paper topics include:

Science : This broad aspect covers earth science, geology, physical science, life science, and genetics. Science research paper topics for middle school will encourage the students to be interested in growth and learning how things work. Social Studies : This will involve learning about their history, other people’s cultures, human interaction, family, etc. This will create fun research topics for 6th graders, learning about life and how relationships work. Literature : This is the best time to learn about books and works of art. The literature will provide many topics to research for middle school students.

There are many more aspects that middle school students can research and write papers on. Discover more than 200 interesting research topics for middle school students below. However don’t worry if the assignment seems too difficult for you. You are only at the beginning of the path and our cheap research writing service will be happy to get you through with your paper.

Good Research Topics For Middle School

Students who have no experience writing papers and are looking for good research topics to work on are in luck. The topics below are suitable for all middle schoolers and can create detailed essays.

Should students be compelled to wear a specific uniform?
Textbooks or tablets: which is better to read from?
Obesity in American youth: Causes and solutions.
Should boys and girls be allowed to play on the same athletics team?
Should young people be allowed to play violent video games?
Impact of continuously playing violent video games.
When can we say someone is spending too much time in front of the screen?
Listening to music during class: Does it disturb concentration?
How to recognize harmful content on the internet?
Should all businesses be compelled to recycle?
What is the appropriate punishment for students who engage in cyberbullying?
Should school hours be adjusted to later in the morning?
Should our scientists be allowed to test drugs on animals?
Why do people’s behavior change in different settings?
Is sex education important?
Different types of poetry and how they came about.
What to do if you are being bullied on the internet.
How to have healthy self-esteem.
Why does the human body need sleep?
Insect repellents, are they helpful?
Why did dinosaurs go extinct?
What is skateboarding?
The effects of tobacco on the body.
Artificial tanning: Risks and benefits.
What is spam email? Where does it come from, and how can we stop it?
What is a desert mirage? How does it affect people?
What are penguins? Where do they stay, and what do they eat?
When and how was America created?
Who are some well know and inspirational women?
Who are some famous inventors?
What famous inventions helped in shaping human existence?
Steps you can take to protect yourself from scammers online.
What is a cryptocurrency, and why is it so popular?
What did the invention of the mobile phone do to change the world?
How to handle stress from school.
How can issues in the family affect a child?
Is your school working hard enough to prevent bullying?
Should we use mobile phones and tablets in class?
Does technology make you smarter?
What is an unhealthy life, and what are the effects?
Is there any benefit of doing homework?
What is video game addiction, and how to stop it?
What is a museum, and what can be found in it?
What can we do to reduce climate change?
Is soda suitable for children?
Does everyone have to go to college?
Comparing homework and class assignments.
What is physical education?
How the internet has changed our life
What is peer pressure?
What effect has global warming had on the environment?
What is racism?
What is a healthy diet?
Should students be able to pick what they learn?
Do movies depict what happens in real life?
Is arts a vital part of the school curriculum?
What are the challenges students face?
How do we conserve energy in our homes?
What is pop culture?
Should parents monitor their children’s social media?

Fun Research Topics for Middle School

Writing an essay shouldn’t always be stressful or tedious. These topics will make writing papers fun. The topics below can hold the researcher’s attention for a long time as they work on completing their project.

How should celebrities who break the law be punished?
What is bulletproof clothing made of?
All there is to know about hip-hop.
What do we know about ninjas?
Do lie detector tests work?
What are the ingredients contained in a hotdog?
Sharks, how do they hunt, and what do they eat?
How do search engines work?
Some fascinating extinct animals, and what happened to them?
How to manage time effectively.
How does insufficient sleep affect the brain?
How to let go of bad habits?
How do parents help us grow?
How to become a better writer.
Are dogs and cats enemies?
Why do parents punish children for bad behavior?
What is the best punishment for naughty kids?
Is magic real?
How to save money effectively?
What is self-development?
How to motivate yourself to be a better student?
When should you begin to earn money?
What’s the secret of having a successful life?
How not to become a game addict.

Middle School Research Project Ideas

Research shouldn’t always end as essay writing. Sometimes, you need hands-on projects to keep the middle schooler busy. The list below can serve as an ideal hub for research ideas for middle school students and work as interesting essay topics.

Investigating what life is like inside a beehive.
Steps in creating a movie.
How do our brains store memories and retrieve them when we need them?
What is a landform?
What are some important holidays around the world, and who celebrates them?
What are some significant symbols used in world holidays?
Creating an ecosystem: what’s the process involved?
Research on some exotic underwater creatures.
What is a meteor?
How to build a crossword puzzle.
What is advertising: create a short advertisement campaign.
Write the story of your life.
Create a calendar highlighting critical events in your life.
Create your family tree.

Science Research Topics for Middle School

Science is an exciting part of our lives. Because of science, the quality of our lives has increased, and there are many more inventions to come. These topics can engage the curious mind of the youngster and introduce them to science-related subjects to work on.

Earthquakes: Its causes and effects.
Computer viruses. What are they, and how do they spread?
Evolution of human beings.
Are human beings still evolving?
What is alchemy?
What is a black hole? How is it formed?
What is a submarine? Who uses them, and how do they work?
What is the cause of tornadoes?
What is a sinkhole, and how do they form?
Research on one of the planets in the solar system.
Understanding glaciers and icebergs.
What are volcanoes, and how do they form?
The different types of volcanoes and what causes them.
Who are the most famous scientists, and what are they famous for?
What are the components of airplanes that make them fly?
What are fossils, and what do they teach us?
How do genetics and DNA affect how we look?
Why does the moon change color and shape sometimes?
What is a Lunar eclipse?
What is pollution?
The different types of pollution and what can be done to curb them?
Can fruits play a part in medicine?
What is flooding?
What is an ecosystem?
What measures do butterflies take to defend themselves?
Different types of butterflies.
What is a skeleton, and why is it an essential part of the body?
How many bones are in a skeleton? Which are the most important?
Who is a marine biologist?
What is the connection between a marine biologist and the weather?
What are the risks marine biologists face when they dive?
Different types of fossils?
Are whales still hunted?
What is scientific research, and who conducts it?
What is the job of the nervous system?
Understanding the concept of hibernation?
What are the necessities plants need to grow?
Who are the people who study dinosaurs?
Mammals and reptiles: Similarities and differences.
Why don’t human beings float?
What is a prism, and what does it do?
What gives humans the ability to lift heavy things?
What factors can cause earthquakes?
How is wind measured?
What differentiates a planet from a star?
What is a galaxy? What galaxy is the earth?
Who is an astronaut, and what is their job?
What is a waterfall?
Do plants drink water?
Why do oil and water not mix?
What is microbiology?
How can we preserve our natural resources?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of exploring space.
What are bacteria, and how useful is it to humans?
The similarities between temperature and heat.

If You Need Paper Writing Help

There are many ways to brainstorm ideas for your middle school homework. The research project ideas for middle school and the topics listed above will make it easier to begin. After picking a suitable topic, the next step is writing the entire paper. This will involve a lot of research and fact-finding to get accurate information for your paper. It doesn’t end at research, as you still have to write a great essay to score high marks. This could be a daunting task for many students. Don’t be afraid to get research paper help from our professional writers. After attending class, you may not have adequate time to write your essay yourself, if this is your situation, it’s okay to search for help on the internet. A quick google search for “write my paper” will result in several websites promising to write the best essay for you. However, you need to make your research before hiring an online writer for your assignment. If you need someone to write your assignment, we can be of help. We provide fast, reliable, custom paper writing services that can be completed online. Our services are available to every student, including university, middle school, high school, and college students. Our team of writers consists of professionals and teachers who are always available to ensure that you meet your deadlines. Contact us with a message “ do my research paper for me ” and enjoy the perfect result!

30 Tips For Finding Great Research Paper Topics for Middle School

Useful information: What is research paper writing and how to format it?

Is going vegan good for your health?
The dinosaurs: what should happen for them to evolve again?
The history of music and its meaning in modern life
Greenhouse effect: is it natural or artificial
What are the possible consequences of drugs legalization
World War II and its impact on the rights of women
Schools, learning and social networks
The causes, effects and consequences of earthquakes
The geological periods of Earth development
The history of cryptography
The nature of sports. Why competition is so important for humanity?
How a person’s behaviour changes in the crowd?
What is propaganda and how it works?
Is sexual education important? Why?
How much can we play computer games to not get addicted?
The prison system: shall it be reformed?
The types and forms of poetry: how does poetry evolve?
Internet safety: what to do if you are threatened or blackmailed?
The endangered cultures: is it important to preserve them in the age of globalization?
Gender roles in media and books for children
The effective strategies of waste recycling
Shall some media be banned from TV or is censorship always bad?
Human morality. Is it a national trait or a social construct?
Multicultural community: do the cultures mix?
Healthy self-esteem: what can influence it?
Forming of social hierarchy: does it differ from one group to another?
Family issues and their impact on the development of the children’s personality
What Jupiter contains of?
What is more perspective planet for colonizing: Mars or Venus and why?
Are cryptocurrencies real currencies?

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12 creative book report ideas your students will love

12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

Whether you’re teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they’re more than just a test or essay.

Below, you’ll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.

Choose your favorite projects to offer to students as options on a book report project choice board.

Create a Board Game

When I gave “create a board game about the book you read” as a book report option for my students, I was pleasantly surprised at the results! Quite a few students excitedly chose this option and created some really fun-looking games centered on their books.

This is a great project choice if you’re looking for something that students can’t create by just Googling the book.

Here are some tips and suggestions for assigning a board game book report:

Give clear parameters and requirements to keep students on track, such as requiring game elements to represent certain literary elements of the book they read.
Provide suggestions for game components and materials – encourage students to consider the game play and elements of their favorite board games and to use materials they already have at home to create them.
For a whole-class novel study, consider allowing students to work in teams to create the novel-based board games, then setting aside a class period for students to play each others’ games and see who wins!

If you’re looking to save time… clear directions handouts, lots of suggestions, and a handy grading rubric for a board game post-reading assessment are all included in this resource . Take a look!

For more independent reading response ideas, check out this post with ideas for fun post-reading projects.

Create a Journey Box

Engaging students in authentic conversations about books is a passion for Carolyn of Middle School Café . In traditional oral book reports, students simply get up in front of the class and read a summary of the book they read. Carolyn found this method of oral book reports painful for both her and her students.

Wanting to find a way to help her students talk about their book and keep her class engaged, Carolyn began incorporating Journey Box Book Reports. A journey box is a shoebox (or bag) that contains artifacts from the story that help the reader share important events from the story.

Students predetermine what events of the story are most important to share, then they create an artifact to share with the class or small group as they explain the plot. As an example, Carolyn had a student who read The Diary of Anne Frank. He created a small 3D tree that he displayed on the desk as he shared about how Anne looked out the window and dreamed of her former life. It’s a small piece of the story that helps the student explain the plot point and gives the audience something visual to look at and stay engaged.

Journey Box Book Reports have been successful for Carolyn in both her middle school and high school classrooms. She does suggest, if using Journey Boxes in older grades, to have students share their stories in small groups.

Create a Literary Food Truck

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s food – especially high schoolers – and with this in mind, one of Simply Ana P’s favorite ways to recap a class novel or an independent reading unit is with Literary Food Trucks. This is definitely not a new idea, but it’s one that will have you coming back for seconds 🙂

Ana first tried this project at the end of The Odyssey , where students were able to decide which book(s) they wanted to make the focus of their trucks. The main requirement was that every single choice made had to be intentional and clearly relevant. With this in mind, students could start the planning process.

You can make the truck’s requirements as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but Ana recommends having students plan:

Truck name, design, and branding colors
Menu design and items (5 items minimum)
Employee uniforms
Merch

Ana includes a writing component by having her students defend all of their selections in the form of a proposal. This is later used in their presentations, and the better (more intentional) their proposal is, the more likely they will win the class vote. This proposal can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what writing goals you have for them, and should definitely include text evidence.

Part of the beauty of this type of project is that it can be done digital or paper-based. Ana likes to walk her students through a Canva tutorial, where there are even menu templates that students can use so they don’t feel overwhelmed starting from scratch. Or, for more creative students, they can create their trucks on chart paper, poster board, or even 3D dioramas. After students finish making their food trucks, it’s always fun to take a day for the in-class Food Festival, where students are invited to bring in items from their menus or simply some type of snacks. Some students get super hype about this day and even make/wear aprons or themed employee uniforms. Students are able to walk around, visiting each of their trucks, and casting their votes for Best Food, Most Relevant, and Most Detailed. Have fun and bon appetit !

Create a Mood Board

It can be hard to come up with creative post-reading assessments for your students when they’re done with a full class novel, literature circles, or a choice reading unit. In an attempt to combine 21 st century skills with literary analysis, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary decided to try something a little different. Enter: The Mood Board.

A mood board combines images to elicit a feeling from a viewer much like a writer does with words. The possibilities for using a mood board with your class are endless. Students can create a mood board for an overall book, a character, an event, a theme, a poem, etc. Then, have your students carefully curate a board that is aesthetically pleasing and considers color, space, and design in the execution. As students explain why they’ve made the choices they have, the upper-level thinking comes naturally.

Canva is an excellent tool to use to create your mood boards. Having students interact with software they may be unfamiliar with is a meaningful learning experience in and of itself. If you want to learn more about how to use mood boards in your own classroom, click here to read Samantha’s blog post about it or check out the resource she created that includes done-for-you student instructions, examples, and a rubric here .

Create a New App

How would a character’s life change if there was just the perfect app to solve their conflict??

This is the question Krista from @whimsyandrigor poses to her students as they finish a novel and begin to reflect on the character’s journey. Students begin by discussing all of the details surrounding the protagonist and what they experienced. In small groups and in whole-class discussions, students discuss the conflicts, both internal and external, and then brainstorm all of the realistic and not-so-realistic ways the character could have addressed their problems.

Once students have generated a healthy list of ideas, Krista tells them they get to become an app developer and they must create an app that would greatly benefit a character from their reading.

The requirements are:

The app cannot already exist.
The app can be totally unrealistic/not probable.
The app developer must be able to explain how its features would benefit the character.
The developer must also create an icon for the App Store.

Here is a print-and-go handout students use to get designing.

Here are some example apps students could create: to help Will from Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down , maybe an app that predicts his future would help him decide what to do once he steps off the elevator. Or maybe Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would have benefited from a life-detection app that would accurately determine whether or not someone was actually dead.

When students sette on the conflict they want to address and the app that would help, they write a Spill the TEA paragraph, as explained by Krista in this YouTube video . Using this paragraph organization strategy, students will introduce their app, use evidence to explain how it is necessary for the character, and explain how the app would have benefited or changed the protagonist’s journey.

Now they get to be a graphic designer as they design the app’s icon. Students may want to peruse the actual App Store to get ideas about how an icon is designed, what elements must be present, and how to create something that is eye-catching.

If space allows, Krista encourages you to display the icons and Spill the TEA paragraphs in the hallway for other students to see the in-depth critical thinking and character analysis your students did after finishing a novel.

Who says technology is only a distraction for our students?! This activity proves technology can help students dive deep into a text and its characters!

Write a Vignette

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 often focuses on character-based activities for novel studies including a character profile activity , character conversations through text messages , or the writing of a good vignette.

Vignettes can be a great way to assess students’ literary analysis skills and understanding of the text. Students write a short piece of about 500 words that is descriptive of a particular moment in time focusing on one of the book’s characters. These moments could be placing the character in a new setting, writing about a particular moment in the story that was less developed, or even extending to a moment beyond the book’s conclusion. Lesa provides students with some mentor texts, including “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street or “The Prisoner Van” by Charles Dickens in Sketches by Boz or even one from a novel being read in class. Review the stories for structure, language choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language, and so on. This helps to co-create the criteria for the assignment. Then students write their own vignette. Build in some peer review as an accountability piece and voila!

Create a Character Collage

It’s safe to say that most English teachers have a bin of cut-up magazines somewhere in their classrooms. While these tattered copies of People and Us Weekly have definitely seen better days, they live on in the many collage creations of our students.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use collages as visual representations of comprehension. After reading a novel or short story, creating a character collage to show how a character has evolved from beginning to end requires students to use higher order thinking skills to analyze, synthesize and demonstrate their understanding of characterization by dividing their page in half and choosing words and images to represent the character at the start and conclusion of the story on each side.

The results will show the depth of your students’ interpretation of character as well as their ability to use critical and creative thinking skills to represent their knowledge.

Other ways to use this idea instead of showing character evolution are to show two different sides to a character, for example, who they are with different people in their lives.

If you are looking for other ways to incorporate collage and magazines into your post-reading assessments, check out this blog post for more ideas!

Design Shoe Charms

Crocs are not Olivia ’s shoe of choice, but when she noticed her students bedazzling their plastic footwear with shoe charms, it was a learning opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. Here’s how to make it work in your classroom:

First, have your students choose a character from the book they have finished reading. Then encourage them to find quotes from the book that reveal the character’s interests, values, or personality. Once they have found their quotes (she has her students find 4), tell them to design and color shoe charms that represent those interests, values, or personality traits. This helps students with inferencing, textual evidence, and even symbolism!

When your students have finished making their shoe charms, they can either tape the charms to their shoes for a fabulous, foot-themed fashion show, or they can glue them to a picture of a Croc for quirky classroom décor. Check out this Instagram post to see the charms Olivia’s students came up with!

Create a Movie Poster

When was the last time you went to the movies? Did you notice the posters along the way? If yes then you have walked down the movie studio promotional lane. Like trailers, studios create movie posters to grab the attention of movie-goers before they even enter the theater. Yes, you may have already purchased your movie ticket, but those posters were created for the future. After you finish watching Sonic 2 , what movie will you see next? You probably already pointed to that poster on the way into the theater and said, “That looks like it is going to be good. I want to see that!” As a post reading idea, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students create movie posters based on the text read in class. This allows her to complete a formative assessment on what the students learned from the text. Before having her class create a movie poster, she shows them examples of posters from different genres such as drama, action, family-friendly, and comedy. Then she hands out a piece of construction paper and goes over the basic requirements. On the movie poster, the students are required to have their actors names or image (characters), the title of the movie, a visual (setting or symbol from the story), and a tagline, and a short two to three sentence summary of the movie. Once her students are finished with the assignment, she displays them outside the classroom, so the students can have their own movie studio promotional lane. If you are looking for more after reading ideas, click here .

Try Novel Engineering

Whether you’ve been hoping to collaborate with another department, or just really want to try something new, Novel Engineering is an amazing way to get students thinking outside of the box ! Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher has found that Novel Engineering requires students to actively comprehend and interact with a novel and get creative about how to help improve the lives of characters! Basically, students work to create a product that will help solve a character’s problem. Here’s how it works…

Before reading : Choose a narrative text where the character faces tangible conflicts. Model and practice the design process in small ways. Try using picture books like Mucha! Muncha! Mucha! in order for students to see and practice what they’ll be doing with a text at grade-level.

While reading : Emphasize the conflicts characters face and give students time to brainstorm possible products that would help solve said problem. Make sure students record evidence from the text so they can later justify the need for the product they design.

After reading : Give students time to draft, craft, and improve their designs that will help solve a problem faced by a character. You can give students options where they draw their creation, make their creation, or even plan a digital app like this, depending on time and resources. Whatever you choose, students will be sure to be pushed to use some skills they may not always practice in an ELA classroom!

Staci has some FREE Novel Engineering Digital Planning Pages or you can read more about her experience with novel engineering on the Donut Lovin’ Teacher blog .

Create a Tik Tok Video

How many times have you passed a group of students filming a TikTok in a hallway? Have you had students ask to film in your class once they finish assignments? You are not alone. Students love TikTok and Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room has figured out how to get students using TikTok for academic purposes!

Yaddy likes to challenge students to create TikTok videos that track a character’s development, encapsulates the main theme of the story, or that exemplifies a key conflict. These easy, low stress videos are great at getting even reluctant students to participate.

To incorporate TikTok videos as a means of assessing students after a novel or story, try the following steps:

1) Get students to brainstorm which part of the novel they would like to use for their video.

2) Ask students to start combing TikTok for an audio that fits with the portion of the text they chose

3) Ask them to plan out how they will realize their vision

4) Rehearse and film!

5) Bonus: ask students to upload their videos to Google Drive and share the link with you so that you can make QR codes to post around your classroom!

Want to get started using TikTok videos for book reports? Check on Yaddy’s free planning sheet here !

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Fun Research Project for Middle School, High School, Teens

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Make research fun with this "If I Won the Lottery" Research Project. Now includes editable Google Doc and Google Slides. Perfect for distance learning!

This seld-explanatory NO PREP research project packet is perfect for a self-guided research essay for middle school (6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade) or high school students (9th grade - 12th grade).

Editable Document Includes:

*8 Paragraph Topics with Detailed Criteria for Each Paragraph

*Due Date Chart for Each Step of the Research Essay

* MLA Guide to Record Sources for Works Cited Page and In-Line Citations

*Research Planning and Instructions Graphic Organizer

*Self & Peer Editing Guide with Detailed Criteria for Each Paragraph

*60-Point Rubric (based directly on editing checklists for effortless grading)

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Students learn archaeology by digging up history at Swann Middle School in Greensboro

G REENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — At Swann Middle School in Greensboro, social studies students are participating in a school project that these students won’t forget any time soon. It has them outside, digging in the dirt.

According to their teacher, Ben Porter, “They love it. It’s like a scavenger hunt.”

He says it’s fun while they are learning.

“They’re sitting there, sifting through everything. They’re asking questions about, ‘What is this? What is that recently?’ I think yesterday they found a little charm bracelet that they were looking at and wondering, you know, ‘Was it a lapel? Was it a necklace?’ And so it’s really piquing their interest on what we can find here locally.”

Working with archaeologists and historians from New South Associates, the students are excavating a field next to Swann Middle School, looking for anything they can find that might point to the former Cypress Street School that stood in that field back in the early 1900s.

“About 1917 they built a school out here. It was demolished, but a lot of the stuff is still here in this field so the students have done research using newspapers and photographs and aerial maps and New South associate about other technology and did ground penetrating radar, and we put together an amazing service learning project where the students would come out and be archaeologists and get to dig up the past,” Porter said.

Judging from the students’ excitement, they do love it.

Exaucee Farjaja says it is good to get outside.

“What I liked was that I actually got to touch and experience with dirt because I really don’t ever connect with the earth that much, so I don’t. But it’s one of the few times I have the opportunity to touch the dirt.”

While they are outside participating, they are learning a lot.

“Especially the critical thinking skills,” said Porter. “We actually ask the students where they think we should dig based on some of the records they found in newspapers. Some of the imagery and photographs, and why they might need to dig there and that helps with the inquiry-based learning.”

To add to the experience, Porter says they are mixing old technology with new.

“We actually are able to integrate STEM by talking about radar and talking about the way they use GPS to to pinpoint,” Porter said. “But then the students are getting down there with trowels and gloves and just doing the digging themselves. So it’s been a great experience for them overall.”

They have found some interesting artifacts.

“We’ve seen some toys,” Porter said. “We’ve seen some riding supplies and school materials. We’ve seen remains from the building. We’ve actually even seen some garbage that has told us some interesting stuff about what the students had. I really hope it maybe inspires some to be archaeologists but maybe just inspires them to be more curious about the world and thinking back on the ways that they can get involved.”

Judging the students’ reactions so far, it has. Exaucee Farjaja said this was one of his favorite lessons of the school year.

“Because you actually get to like try and see if maybe you can help like historians,” he said. “Or maybe archaeologists find some important things.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.

Students learn archaeology by digging up history at Swann Middle School in Greensboro

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Fun Research Project for Middle School, High School, Teens

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Research Activities For Middle School: Discussions, Tips, Exploration
Middle School Research Projects Middle School Students Will Love. Here is a list of 30 great research projects for middle schoolers, along with cool examples of each one. ... These student center activities are engaging and fun, and they touch on important topics in the research process, such as planning strategies, fact-checking skills ...
Middle School Science Projects
Middle School Science Projects. (917 results) Science Buddies' middle school science projects are the perfect way for middle school students to have fun exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our middle school projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the middle ...
10 Great Research Topics for Middle School Students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE.
50 Fun End of Year Science Activities for Middle School
5) Paper Roller Coaster - This requires minimum materials and lots of critical thinking. 6) STEM Design a Seed Dispersal Method - Making organic flowers and seeds out of recyclables really has the kids thinking. 7) Design and Build a Water Filter - Make the dirtiest water you can for the students to "clean".
Ideas for Middle School Research Projects
Step 1: Selecting A Topic. When deciding on research paper topics for middle school students, pick something with multiple points of view so that there is room for debate. Consider current issues such as gun control or standardized testing in education; any controversial topic can make great fodder for an argumentative essay.
35 Fun Stem Projects for Middle School
35 Fun Stem Projects for Middle School. December 13, 2023 by Sohaib Hasan Shah. Stem projects for middle school are a fantastic way to engage students in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Whether it's building a working model, conducting experiments, or designing ...
Middle School Science Projects
Our middle school projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the middle school grades. Students can choose to follow the science experiment as written or put their own spin on the project. For a personalized list of science projects, middle schoolers can use the Science Buddies Topic ...
10 Structured STEM Projects For Middle School
Some teachers may shy away from long-term projects, such as Rube Goldberg machines, or other STEM activities. This could simply be because the lack of structure and chaos is just too much. Try structuring the projects in doable sections with stop points. Implement daily rubrics to keep up accountability.
10 Educational And Fun STEM Projects For Middle School
Provide your students with some simple materials like paper, tape, and cotton balls for them to make their egg protectors, and let them figure out how they want to save their eggs. 7. Paper Rollercoaster. A lot of classes will get their students to create the best paper bridge.
Middle School Science Projects (Search: School)
Our middle school projects are written and tested by scientists and are specifically created for use by students in the middle school grades. Students can choose to follow the science experiment as written or put their own spin on the project. For a personalized list of science projects, middle schoolers can use the Science Buddies Topic ...
Research Topics for Middle Schoolers: Engaging Ideas for Student
Encouraging middle school students to undertake research projects requires a strategic approach to ensure sustained interest and meaningful outcomes. Here are some methods educators can employ: Mentorship and Support: Pairing students with teacher mentors who can guide them through the research process, provide feedback, and encourage critical ...
40 Best Science Experiments & Projects for Middle School
Learn more: Solar Oven. 5. Build a Helping Hand. In this captivating middle school science experiment, students will have the opportunity to construct their very own "Helping Hand" device. Learn more: Science Buddies. 6. DIY Lung Model. Make a Lung Model - STEM activity. Watch on.
Exploring Ideas: Research Topics for Middle Schoolers
VI. Evaluating the Quality of Sources Used For Research Projects. Finding reliable sources for research projects can be a daunting task, especially when working with topics relevant to middle school. It's essential that the resources used are of high quality so that your students have accurate and up-to-date information available.
50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills
It outlines a five-step approach to break down the research process into manageable chunks. This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students' skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate, and cite. It also includes ideas for learning about staying ...
The "Real Game" of Research: An Exploratory Project for Middle School
Thomas Nast, "Union Soldiers in Andersonville Prison," 1865. The real game of a researcher involves digging up artifacts, observing them closely, and, as a result, arriving at new ideas and questions about the topic. Most middle schools expect students to practice gathering information about a topic on their own and organizing ideas into ...
206 Middle School Research Topics
This will create fun research topics for 6th graders, learning about life and how relationships work. Literature: This is the best time to learn about books and works of art. The literature will provide many topics to research for middle school students. ... The research project ideas for middle school and the topics listed above will make it ...
Fun Research Projects for Young Students
Get them started with any of these fun research projects and we promise that in just a few short years, their middle school teachers will be thanking you! Whether your students are in kindergarten, 2nd grade, 3rd grade or 5th grade, kids from any grade level are sure to find these research projects fun and exciting to share with their peers.
Research Projects Middle School Teaching Resources
Browse research projects middle school resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. ... Throughout this multi-day innovation research project your students will have fun researching and learning about famous inventors and inventions, then they will present their findings ...
Results for middle school research projects
This mini research project is the PERFECT Black History Month activity for middle school and high school students to learn about influential African American individuals during Black History Month. Take back your time with this LOW PREP project that contains over 30 pages on instructional materials that will help guide teachers and students through this activity.Students will LOVE that they ...
30 Middle School Research Paper Topics
30 Tips For Finding Great Research Paper Topics for Middle School. If you get stuck on the stage of choosing the topic of your research paper, we can completely understand you. It is the case when too vivid or too tired imagination can both work against you. The good news are that in the middle school the teachers are usually less strict when ...
12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love
Whether you're teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they're more than just a test or essay. In this post, you'll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.
Fun Research Project for Middle School, High School, Teens
Make research fun with this "If I Won the Lottery" Research Project. Now includes editable Google Doc. Perfect for distance learning! This seld-explanatory NO PREP research project packet is perfect for a self-guided research essay for middle school (6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade) or high school students (9th grade - 12th grade).
Students learn archaeology by digging up history at Swann Middle School
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — At Swann Middle School in Greensboro, social studies students are participating in a school project that these students won't forget any time soon. It has them ...

Summer II 2024 Application Deadline is June 26, 2024.

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10 Great Research Topics for Middle School Students

1. Program your own robot

2. Design a solar-powered oven

3. Assess the health of a local ecosystem

4. Develop an educational app

5. Model rocketry: design, build, and launch!

6. Create a wearable electronic device

7. Explore the science of slime and non-Newtonian fluids

8. Extract DNA at home

9. Investigate the efficiency of different types of solar cells

10. Study ocean acidification and its effects on marine life

One other option – Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

35 Fun Stem Projects for Middle School

Paper Bridge Engineering:

Solar-Powered Mini Cars:

Biome Ecosystems:

Coding and Game Development:

Water Filtration Challenge:

Rocket Science and Aerodynamics:

Robotics Challenge:

3D Printing and Design:

Renewable Energy Showcase:

Math Mystery Investigations:

Weather Station Construction:

Microbiology Investigation:

Hydroponic Garden Design:

Environmental Cleanup Challenge:

Innovative Energy-Efficient Home Design:

Astronomy and Star Mapping:

Electricity and Circuit Challenges:

Environmental Impact Assessment:

Earthquake Resistant Building Design:

Biomedical Engineering:

Mars Colony Design:

Wildlife Tracking and Conservation:

Alternative Energy Experiments:

Greenhouse and Plant Growth Study:

STEM Inventions and Innovation Fair:

Aquaponics System Design:

Renewable Energy Art Installation:

Virtual Reality (VR) Exploration:

Math in Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Medical Mystery Investigation:

Recommended:

Sohaib Hasan Shah

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Physical Science: Create Rube Goldberg Machines

Physical Science: Food Chains and Rube Goldberg Machines Transfer of Energy Projects

Physical Science: Creating Magnet Mazes

Physical Science: Designing Electrical Circuit Arcade Games

Life Science: Designing Organisms in a Symbiotic Relationship

Life Science: Creating Aliens with Adaptive Traits and Using Punnett Squares to Cross Them

Life Science: Invent a New Method of Seed Dispersal

Environmental Science: Designing Water Filters

Environmental Science: Tracking Car Air Pollution

Environmental Science: Analyzing and Redesigning Excess Product Packaging

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10 Educational And Fun STEM Projects For Middle School

What Is STEM?

1. Solar Oven

2. Sedimentary Rocks Model

3. Coding With Scratch

4. Smartphone Projector

Engineering

6. Egg Drop Challenge

7. Paper Rollercoaster

8. Geometric Heart

9. Surface Area Castles

10. 100-Cup Tower

Final Thoughts

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