20 Fun Passion Project Ideas For Middle School

Research is all about asking questions, exploring possible answers, and finding creative ways to solve problems. For middle school students, taking on a research project can be an exciting first step into deeper learning. Starting early gives you more time to experiment, scale your work, or even pivot your ideas before reaching high school, when time often feels limited.

What are research projects for middle school students?

Research projects for middle school students are structured explorations into topics that spark curiosity; whether that’s science, history, technology, or even art. These projects can be as simple as testing how plants grow in different conditions or as complex as coding a small app to solve a problem. They combine creativity with critical thinking and often lead to tangible results like reports, presentations, or prototypes that show your ability to work independently.

Why should I do a research project in middle school?

Middle school is the perfect time to explore research projects because you have the flexibility to try new ideas without the high-stakes pressure of college admissions just yet. Early exposure to research teaches you how to organize information, analyze results, and communicate findings. By starting now, you give yourself years to refine your interests, improve your methods, and build a foundation of skills that will help you stand out in high school and beyond.

Exploring research projects in middle school isn’t just about academics; it’s about discovering what excites you and learning how to turn curiosity into action. Whether you’re drawn to science experiments, creative writing, coding, or community initiatives, there are endless directions you can take. To help you get started, here’s a curated list of 20 fun projects for middle schoolers that balance creativity, challenge, and real-world skills.

1. Personal Cookbook Project

If you enjoy cooking or just love food, a cookbook project is a fun way to bring creativity into the kitchen. Start by collecting recipes; these could be family favorites passed down through generations, dishes from your cultural heritage, or even your own personal experiments. Add photos of the cooking process, write personal notes about what makes each dish special, and organize them into a digital or printed cookbook. This project strengthens writing, design, and storytelling skills while celebrating the culinary arts.

Materials/Investment Required: Notebook, Canva/Google Docs, optional photo editing app.

Suitable for: Beginners with an interest in food and creative writing.

2. Neighborhood History Documentary

This project turns you into a community storyteller by capturing the past and present of your neighborhood. Start by interviewing long-time residents, taking photos of historic spots, and collecting references from your local library or archives. Compile these into a short video or slideshow, complete with narration or captions. Along the way, you’ll practice research, interviewing, and digital editing skills while creating a lasting record that highlights your community’s stories and traditions.

Materials/Investment Required: Smartphone/camera, notebook, free editing software.

Suitable for: Students with beginner-to-medium proficiency in research and video editing.

3. Build a Mini Website

Creating your own website may sound advanced, but with today’s free tools it’s surprisingly doable. You could make a fan page for your favorite sport, a blog sharing your art, or even a resource site for students in your grade. Start with platforms like Wix, WordPress, or Google Sites, and experiment with layout, fonts, and colors. If you’re curious, try learning some basic HTML/CSS. It’s a good way to practice creativity and explore coding.

Materials/Investment Required: Free website builder or coding editor.

Suitable for: Beginners exploring tech or intermediate students learning code.

4. Nature Photography Journal

A nature photography journal is a great way to sharpen observation skills while exploring the outdoors. Start by photographing plants, insects, birds, or seasonal changes in your neighborhood or nearby park. Pair each photo with notes, fun facts, or sketches to build context. Over time, this journal becomes both an artistic portfolio and a scientific record. The project encourages patience, attention to detail, and an appreciation for the natural world around you.

Materials/Investment Required: Smartphone/camera, notebook, or digital journal app.

Suitable for: Beginners with curiosity about nature and photography.

5. DIY Board Game Design

Designing your own board game is a mix of fun, strategy, and creativity. Start with a theme like fantasy, mystery, or even school life. Create a set of rules, make cards or tokens, and design a board using cardboard or digital tools. Once ready, invite friends to playtest it and refine the game based on feedback. You’ll learn about problem-solving, iteration, and design thinking while ending up with a game you can actually play with others.

Materials/Investment Required: Cardboard, markers, dice, or digital design tools.

Suitable for: Students with medium proficiency in design and problem-solving.

6. Family Tree with Stories

Tracing your family history can be both exciting and meaningful. Collect information from relatives, gather old photos, and record anecdotes about past generations. Turn it into a creative chart, scrapbook, or even a digital family website. This project helps you practice research, organization, and design while preserving memories for future generations. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of your roots and how personal stories connect with broader history.

Materials/Investment Required: Notebook, scrapbook supplies, or website tools.

Suitable for: Beginners interested in history and family connections.

7. Podcast for Students

Create a podcast where you talk about school life, hobbies, or interview classmates and teachers. You can script episodes, record using free apps, and share them online. This project develops speaking skills, confidence, and technical know-how in audio editing. Over time, you’ll build an archive of conversations and topics that matter to your peers. It’s a fun way to explore communication and even reach listeners outside your school community.

Materials/Investment Required: Smartphone or laptop, free audio software.

Suitable for: Students with an interest in communication and media.

8. Science Experiment Series

Design a series of small science experiments and record your findings in a journal or video blog. These could be simple activities like testing soil quality, creating homemade batteries, or tracking how plants grow under different conditions. Each experiment sharpens scientific thinking, note-taking, and presentation skills. By the end, you’ll have a mini research portfolio that showcases curiosity, creativity, and persistence in problem-solving.

Materials/Investment Required: Basic lab supplies, household items, and a notebook.

Suitable for: Students with curiosity about STEM and research.

9. Digital Art Portfolio

If you love drawing or design, a digital art portfolio is a fantastic project. Experiment with free design tools or tablet apps to create original illustrations, posters, or comics. Organize your work into categories, add titles, and upload them to a portfolio site. This project helps you practice consistency, presentation, and digital creativity, while also building a collection you can showcase later in high school or college.

Materials/Investment Required: Drawing tablet or free design apps.

Suitable for: Students with beginner-to-advanced art skills.

10. Community Service Blog

Turn your volunteer work or community service projects into a blog. Share your experiences, challenges, and what you learned from helping others. Add photos, interviews with fellow volunteers, and reflections on the impact of your work. This project teaches writing, organization, and digital publishing while encouraging empathy and social awareness. It also creates a positive record of your contributions that could inspire others to get involved.

Materials/Investment Required: A Blogging platform like WordPress or Medium.

Suitable for: Beginners with an interest in writing and social causes.

11. Coding a Simple Game

Creating your own video game is an exciting way to dive into coding. Using platforms like Scratch, Python, or Unity, you can design puzzles, mazes, or adventure-style challenges with simple mechanics. Along the way, you’ll strengthen logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity while learning how programmers build interactive worlds. Once finished, share your game with friends or classmates for feedback and improvement. This project blends fun with real technical skills that can spark a deeper interest in computer science.

Materials/Investment Required: Laptop, free coding software.

Suitable for: Students with medium proficiency in coding.

12. Creative Writing Anthology

If you enjoy writing stories or poetry, gather your best pieces into a self-published anthology. You can include short stories, poems, or even reflective essays, then organize them by theme. Add illustrations or design elements to make the book visually appealing. This project develops writing, editing, and publishing skills, and leaves you with a finished product you can share with friends, family, or your school library.

Materials/Investment Required: Word processor, Canva, or design tool.

Suitable for: Students interested in writing and editing.

13. DIY Science Toy Kit

Designing science toys is a hands-on way to explore physics and chemistry while having fun. Build balloon-powered cars, catapults, or homemade lava lamps, and record each step with photos and clear instructions. Add short explanations of the science principles, like force, motion, or density, that make each toy work. The project encourages creativity, experimentation, and clear communication. By the end, you’ll have your own kit of engaging experiments to share with friends or younger students.

Materials/Investment Required: Household items, basic craft supplies.

Suitable for: Students curious about science and hands-on projects.

14. Environmental Awareness Campaign

Plan a small campaign around an environmental issue like plastic waste, tree planting, or energy conservation. Create posters, short videos, or infographics and share them at school or online. You can also organize a community clean-up event. This project builds leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while making a positive difference. It helps you connect classroom knowledge with real-world impact, showing how small steps can bring big change.

Materials/Investment Required: Craft supplies, digital design tools.

Suitable for: Students with an interest in leadership and sustainability.

15. School Newsletter Project

Starting a school newsletter is a great way to practice journalism, editing, and teamwork. You and your peers can cover school events, conduct interviews, and showcase creative writing or artwork. Beyond writing, you’ll also handle content planning, design layout, and distribution; skills that mirror real editorial work. The finished newsletter not only informs and entertains your school community but also becomes a portfolio that highlights your leadership and communication abilities.

Materials/Investment Required: Google Docs/Canva, access to a printer (optional).

Suitable for: Students with an interest in writing, editing, and teamwork.

16. DIY Short Film

Work with friends to write, shoot, and edit a short film. Choose a theme such as comedy, mystery, or even school life, and use simple tools like a smartphone and free editing software. The process teaches storytelling, collaboration, and basic filmmaking skills. You’ll also learn how to problem-solve creatively with limited resources. Sharing your film with classmates can spark discussions and inspire others to try their own projects.

Materials/Investment Required: Smartphone, editing apps.

Suitable for: Students with an interest in film and storytelling.

17. Robotics with Recycled Materials

Turn everyday items into functional machines by experimenting with robotics. Using cardboard, simple motors, or even an Arduino kit, you can design projects like a moving vehicle, a mechanical arm, or a basic sensor-based device. Each build teaches you engineering principles, problem-solving, and design thinking in a practical way. This hands-on challenge is ideal for curious tinkerers who want to blend creativity with real-world STEM skills while learning how machines actually work.

Materials/Investment Required: Recyclables, motors, Arduino kits (optional).

Suitable for: Students with medium-to-advanced interest in STEM.

18. Personal Finance Tracker

A personal finance tracker is a simple but powerful way to learn money management. Using spreadsheets or budgeting apps, you can record income, savings, and expenses, then create graphs or charts to visualize progress toward your goals. This project develops responsibility, organization, and financial literacy; skills that will benefit you far beyond middle school. Practicing these habits early helps you build confidence with money and prepares you for financial independence in high school and college.

Materials/Investment Required: Notebook, spreadsheet software.

Suitable for: Beginners interested in finance and organization.

19. Language Learning Journal

If you’re studying a new language, make a creative journal to document your progress. Include vocabulary lists, short dialogues, cultural notes, and practice exercises. Add doodles or visuals to make it engaging. This project improves consistency in language learning and helps you reflect on your growth. By the end, you’ll have a personalized resource that shows your dedication and creativity.

Materials/Investment Required: Notebook or digital app.

Suitable for: Beginners to intermediate language learners.

20. Science Fair Innovation

Take your science fair project to the next level by developing a unique innovation or prototype. It could be a new eco-friendly product, a small invention, or a practical solution to a local problem. Document the entire process, including the hypothesis, design, testing, and results. This project teaches critical thinking, perseverance, and presentation skills, while giving you a chance to showcase your creativity in front of an audience.

Materials/Investment Required: Varies depending on project.

Suitable for: Students with a strong interest in STEM and innovation.

Consider a mentored research program

Middle school students looking to write a research paper can consider participating in a mentored research program. The Lumiere Junior Explorers Program provides structured mentorship. Thus, you can explore the topics that you are interested in while receiving guidance from PhD mentors at top research universities like Harvard, Oxford, and MIT. These mentors work 1:1 with you to ensure personalized guidance as well as practical research experience. Through these programs, you can develop critical skills, build an impressive portfolio, and prepare for future academic pursuits.

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.

Image Source - Lumiere Education logo