I'm in desperate need of a Science Fair project topic for my 7th grader

She let me know this evening that her topic is due tomorrow. Some days I'd really like to run away.

Anyway, it can't be anything too difficult as she struggles in school. I'll take any and all ideas at this point.

the easiest thing I can think of is make a model cell that has all of the organelles, their functions explained..

Do you want to keep it really simple or do you want her to be able to place in the fair? In my experience, if your project doesn't light up, move, make noise, or do something you just get a passing grade while everyone passes by..

That's strange though. Both schools I did projects for usually gave you a week or two to come up with a topic and sent home a notice to be given to the parents (with rules because there are a lot of things that aren't allowed).

http://chemistry.about.com/od/scienc...ipromiddle.htm

This is pretty handy!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Do you want to keep it really simple or do you want her to be able to place in the fair? In my experience, if your project doesn't light up, move, make noise, or do something you just get a passing grade while everyone passes by..

That's strange though. Both schools I did projects for usually gave you a week or two to come up with a topic and sent home a notice to be given to the parents (with rules because there are a lot of things that aren't allowed).

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She got the Science Fair project booklet that tells her what steps to take, but nothing with due dates or anything. Well nothing I have seen. She is a severe procrastinator though... so I'll settle for simple and a passing grade.

If she's allowed to use stronger batteries/power supply this one could get her placed - or at least impress people so she won't feel left out. There's a little more steps involved but it is simple - she'd have to explain how it works.

And yes, it's been shown on Mythbusters and other tv shows.

She just has to have the topic tomorrow?

My daughter did one once where she planted some bean seeds and kept them in exact same conditions except some she played music to. She successfully demonstrated that apparently the music made the beans grow faster!

I got an idea from a friend on Facebook. Who just happens to be a 7th grade Science teacher. The topic is going to be: make an egg shell disappear showing osmosis and diffusion.

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html
You should be able to find something she can do in those

Originally Posted by marinewife05

I got an idea from a friend on Facebook. Who just happens to be a 7th grade Science teacher.

The topic is going to be: make an egg shell disappear showing osmosis and diffusion.

Click to expand...

Haha, that's a handy friend to have! LOL

I (unsuccessfully) tried to teach a mouse to run a maze for my 7th grade science project Sniffles lived for 2 whole years!

Can't get much simpler than this one

http://www.darylscience.com/Demos/PickleLight.html

Turn a dill pickle into a light bulb.

What's needed:

Battery
Dill pickle
electric cord
glass to set pickle on

And here is why it works.

Basically the salt acts as a conductor.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...9/gen99623.htm

I placed first in the science fair with a project showing how they recycle paper. Its really easy all you need is a blender and a screen.

Hey Marinewife, when I was in 7th grade I did a science project called carrageenan stabilization

It was basically to make 2 bowls of chocolate pudding - One without carrageenan and one with. The one without carrageenan should come out looking horrid, all broken and unsightly. The one with carrageenan should look smooth like glass, think of how jello looks when it's done. oh goodness i can't believe i still remember that from decades ago However I should tell you I did not win any awards for it.

Originally Posted by marinewife05

I got an idea from a friend on Facebook. Who just happens to be a 7th grade Science teacher.

The topic is going to be: make an egg shell disappear showing osmosis and diffusion.

Click to expand...

Oh! That sounds easy and cool. Let us know how it went

I judge a lot - A LOT of science fairs for students between grades 4 and 12. Projects do not have to be experiments, they can also be studies, which just showcases information on a topic of interest. Have your daughter pick something she already likes, and have her do a "study-based" project. If she is not into an experiment, she will not be able to properly discuss it, and its a good way to get a poor mark on your project. Example studies that come to mind are

1) Like cats? How about a study on the history of domestication
2) Like post-it notes and tape? Study can be on different types and properties of adhesives

I just sent a grade 7 project to regionals where they swabbed door knobs, spread the swabs on agar plates with various additives (they dissolved a vitamin into the agar etc.), put the plates in a shoe box over a radiator vent (aiming for 37 C), and watched the growth of bacteria. I also sent one that did an analysis of the different types of allergies, their frequencies in the population, and the methods used to treat.

Originally Posted by marinewife05

I got an idea from a friend on Facebook. Who just happens to be a 7th grade Science teacher.

The topic is going to be: make an egg shell disappear showing osmosis and diffusion.

Click to expand...

That looks like a great experiment!

http://ilovebacteria.com/eggosmosis.htm