Science Projects for 7th
Science projects can spark the imagination of 7th graders, inspiring them to learn more about the world around them. Projects can vary in length and complexity, but the best ones to choose when working with 7th graders are ones that they can easily do, that they enjoy and that they understand.
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Choose the project
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Deciding which science project to do depends upon the interests of the students. Unless the teacher wishes that they focus on one particular topic, students can more easily choose a project if they narrow it down by field of study. The different disciplines in science include: Life science, with topics such as the study of plant life, animals, insects and the human body; Earth science, the study of rock formations, planetary bodies, volcanoes, etc.; and Physical science, involving topics such as chemistry, gravity, quantum physics, etc.
Complete a project proposal
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Safety is always the most important thing to consider when doing a science project. A student needs to notify the teacher of the project she wishes to undertake and get her parent's permission before proceeding. No research should begin until the teacher approves the project. Fortunately, most projects are safe to do. It's important, though, that the student knows how to use any tools and methods required by the project in a safe manner.
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Complete background research
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There are two parts to completing background research. The first part includes collecting all of the data, which includes a history of similar experiments and definitions of project-specific words. It is important that the student keep accurate notes as to not only the information she finds, but where she found it as well. The second part entails writing up a research report, which includes the hypothesis or expected outcome, as well as an outline of the steps necessary to complete the science project.
Outline experiment details
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The student will detail the experiment she plans to do in order to test out her hypothesis. The detailed steps must be approved by the teacher before the actual experiment can begin.
Do the experiment
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The student, either by herself, or with the help of her parent or another student, will conduct the experiment. It's important that accurate notes are kept as to the results obtained, including thoughts about why it did or did not fail, what could or should have been done differently, etc.
Analyze the results
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After completing the experiment, the student will need to review all of the information she obtained from the experiment and hypothesize as to the outcome, whether it was a success or a failure. Students should be cautioned that just because their experiment failed, that doesn't mean that something could not be learned from it.
Share the results
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After all of that hard work, students will enjoy sharing what they've learned with others. There are several different ways that students can share their knowledge, and the choice will depend upon the venue of the experiment.
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