Need help with 7th Grade Science Fair Project

[4_2_it]

My daughter has to select a science fair project this weekend. Any suggestions or good websites would be appreciated. I know that several of you are engineers and rocket scientists so try to keep it to something that an accountant can deal with. There is no limitation other than she do the project and be able to explain how the project/experiment works.

I thought about the Bobby Brady volcano, but it seems the teacher vetoed that idea.

[swede123]

cue Patrick...

[Dynasty]

Build the solar system out of styrafoam balls. That's a classic.

[Shajen]

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

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If your 7th grader can convincingly explain what makes a boomerang come back, then I would have to imagine that she'd win as long as her presentation isn't absolute crap.

[MelchyBeau]

something on zombies would be an excellent choice.

Melch

[Lazymeatball]

serious answer:
surface tension
that won my sister a best in show.

batteries won my brother a 2nd place in his category

containing oil slicks got me an honorable mention (notice the trend)

or go with the science fair staple, "Does playing music help plants grow?" be sure to include one of those soda cans that dances in response to sound.

[drewjustdrew]

I would like to see the Super-size me experiment run from a different angle. Can you expose mcdonalds fries to a stomach acid (or something similar) and see if they degrade like normal potatoes?

[Rob Blackburn]

This is the stock one my mother and I created. Since it has been done by both of my siblings and a few cousins we all got A's. I actually won a County Science Fair in 8th grade doing this one, though I admit I was in the boonies of NC where the avg. IQ was of mental retard level. I went to state and got smoked by kids who spent year(s) doing their projects, while mine was done in two weeks.

"Effects of Enviromental Extremes on Plants".

Which sounds alot more complicated than what it is. You need 4 of the same type of cheap plants. A microwave, vinegar, ammonia, and spot light/uv light. You are supposed to be re-creating extreme enviroments on the plants, microwave is radiation, vinegar and ammonia is acid rain, uv light would be loss of ozone/extreme UV, then one control.

Just subject the plants to these enviorments and study how they die, write up a nice report, make some charts, talk about saving the earth and other hippie stuff. Get an A+.

The most expensive thing in the whole project was the stupid tri-folder display thing.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

I judged a 6th and 7th grade science fair a couple years ago. The theme there seemed to be growing little plants in various environments and with varying types and amounts of food. I graded these ones quite harshly. I was actually a bit disappointed in the majority of the projects. Too many of them were not very exciting or original ideas and the kids that did have good ideas didn't execute very well.

I'm not very good at thinking of these things because it's hard for me to remember exactly how much these kids know and what you can do that's very exciting at that level.