30 Fun Research Topics for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 29 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Starting a research project might sound like something only high schoolers or college students do, but middle school is actually a great time to begin. A research project is simply a deep dive into a topic you're curious about, where you ask a question, gather information, analyze it, and share what you’ve learned. When you start early, you give yourself the chance to explore different areas, learn from mistakes, and develop ideas over time rather than feeling rushed.
Whether you’re exploring science, history, tech, or something completely niche, a research project can help you build critical thinking skills and figure out what excites you most.
What Are Research Projects for Middle School Students?
Research projects at the middle school level are smaller-scale investigations into topics of interest. You might not be writing academic papers just yet, but you're learning how to ask good questions, look for credible sources, organize your findings, and share your results clearly. These projects can range from science experiments to history deep-dives, tech builds, or even community studies.
Unlike assignments you’re given in class, a self-driven research project gives you more freedom. You get to pick what you're curious about, how to study it, and what to do with your findings, whether that’s writing a report, creating a video, or even building something.
Why Should I Do a Research Project in Middle School?
There are a few key reasons why middle school is a great time to get involved in research:
It builds strong academic habits early. Learning how to ask good questions and follow through with a project helps you prepare for future schoolwork and competitions.
You get time to explore your interests. Starting now means you can try multiple fields, biology, physics, coding, etc., before narrowing your focus in high school.
You can create a foundation for high school research. If you want to work with mentors or apply to selective programs later on, early experience can set you apart.
It’s a low-pressure way to learn. You’re not expected to have everything figured out—this is the perfect time to make mistakes and learn from them.
30 Fun Research Topics for Middle School Students
How do different colors of light affect plant growth?
Plants rely on light for photosynthesis, but not all light wavelengths have the same effect. In this project, you’ll grow identical plants under different colored lights, like red, blue, and green, and track their height, leaf size, and health. This helps reveal how color impacts plant development.
Materials: LED lights, pots, soil, seeds, ruler
Suitable for: Students interested in biology or environmental science
Can you build a working water filter using natural materials?
Design your own eco-friendly water filtration system using sand, charcoal, and gravel. You’ll pour dirty water through your filter and compare the clarity, smell, and color of the water before and after. This project teaches how filtration works and connects to real-world water access challenges.
Materials: Plastic bottles, natural materials, water samples
Suitable for: Beginners in environmental science
What makes a roller coaster fast?
Roller coasters are powered by gravity, momentum, and friction. In this experiment, you'll build a model roller coaster using marbles and foam tubing, then change the slope, loops, or curves to see how speed is affected. You’ll learn about energy transfer while designing something fun and hands-on.
Materials: Foam tubing, marbles, tape, ruler
Suitable for: Students curious about physics or engineering
How do acidic drinks affect your teeth?
Drinks like soda and citrus juice contain acids that can wear down your enamel. By soaking eggshells (which mimic enamel) in different drinks, you can observe changes in texture, color, and weight. This project shows how everyday beverages impact dental health.
Materials: Eggshells, various liquids, containers
Suitable for: Beginners in biology or chemistry
Can you make a simple electric motor?
Electric motors are found in everything from fans to toys. In this project, you'll create a basic motor using magnets, batteries, and copper wire, and explore how magnetic fields and electricity work together to produce motion. You'll also test how changes in design affect motor efficiency.
Materials: Wire, battery, magnets
Suitable for: Students with basic physics knowledge
Which materials are best for insulation?
Some materials keep things warmer than others. Wrap containers of hot water with materials like cotton, foil, or styrofoam, and measure how quickly the water cools over time. You'll discover which materials are best at preventing heat loss—and why.
Materials: Jars or bottles, insulation materials, thermometer
Suitable for: Beginners in physics
Are natural substances antibacterial?
Certain natural ingredients like garlic, honey, or tea tree oil are known for fighting bacteria. In this project, you’ll test their effectiveness by applying them to bacterial cultures and measuring the size of the clear area (inhibition zone). It’s a great intro to microbiology with real-world use.
Materials: Petri dishes, cotton swabs, natural substances
Suitable for: Students with adult supervision and a biology interest
Do your genes affect how you taste food?
Some people can’t stand the taste of cilantro or think some foods taste extremely bitter. You’ll run taste tests with friends and family and analyze how genetic traits may be influencing food preferences. This project links sensory biology with genetics.
Materials: Taste strips, cilantro, survey forms
Suitable for: Beginners in biology or genetics
Does music help you focus?
Music can either help or distract you, depending on the task. You'll have participants complete timed challenges under different music conditions, like classical, pop, or silence, and compare their performance. The results could tell you how sound influences attention.
Materials: Timer, task sheets, audio player
Suitable for: Beginners interested in psychology
Can a computer recognize your handwriting?
Machine learning allows computers to identify patterns, including handwriting. In this project, you’ll train a basic AI model to read handwritten digits and test its accuracy. It’s a fun intro to artificial intelligence and computer science.
Materials: Computer, dataset, Python or Scratch
Suitable for: Intermediate coders interested in AI
Which soil grows plants best?
Soil type affects how well plants grow. You’ll plant the same seeds in sand, clay, and compost, then track growth over a few weeks to see which performs best. This simple experiment teaches you about soil chemistry and plant biology.
Materials: Pots, seeds, various soil types
Suitable for: Beginners in environmental science or botany
Do certain surfaces grow more bacteria?
Some surfaces are better environments for bacteria. You’ll swab materials like plastic, metal, and fabric, grow cultures on petri dishes, and measure how much bacteria grows on each. It’s a good way to study hygiene and microbiology.
Materials: Swabs, petri dishes, safety materials
Suitable for: Intermediate students with lab access
Do video games improve reaction time?
Some say gaming makes you quicker, but is it true? You’ll test reaction times in gamers versus non-gamers using tools like a ruler drop test or online reaction games. The data could reveal cognitive differences related to play.
Materials: Ruler, online timer tools
Suitable for: Beginners in psychology
What materials resist earthquakes best?
Engineers design earthquake-safe buildings using specific shapes and materials. You’ll build model structures from items like sticks or clay, shake them, and compare how they hold up. This project blends physics with engineering challenges.
Materials: Craft sticks, glue, weight/shake setup
Suitable for: Students in physics or engineering
How does sugar change freezing points?
When you add sugar to water, it freezes differently. This experiment compares plain water and sugar mixtures to see how freezing time and temperature change. You'll learn about freezing point depression and molecular behavior.
Materials: Freezer, sugar, containers, thermometer
Suitable for: Beginners in chemistry
Which bridge design holds the most weight?
Not all bridges are built the same way. You’ll construct beam, arch, and truss bridges out of paper or sticks, then test which holds the most weight. The results help you understand structural forces and design.
Materials: Paper, craft sticks, weights
Suitable for: Beginners in engineering
Can you generate electricity from fruit?
Some fruits contain acids that can act like a battery. You'll insert different metal electrodes into lemons or oranges and measure how much voltage they generate. It's a hands-on way to learn about chemical energy.
Materials: Lemons, wires, nails, a small bulb, or a multimeter
Suitable for: Students curious about circuits
Do plants respond to sound?
Some scientists believe music or sound can influence plant growth. You’ll grow plants in silence and in a music-filled space, then compare differences in height and health. It's a blend of biology and environmental factors.
Materials: Speakers, identical plants, journal
Suitable for: Beginners in biology
How effective are homemade sunscreens?
Can natural ingredients protect your skin from the sun? This project compares DIY sunscreens to store-bought ones using UV-sensitive materials. It’s a mix of chemistry, biology, and public health.
Materials: UV beads, oils, control sunscreen
Suitable for: Advanced students with chemistry interest
How effective are homemade sunscreens?
Can natural ingredients protect your skin from the sun? This project compares DIY sunscreens to store-bought ones using UV-sensitive materials. It’s a mix of chemistry, biology, and public health.
Materials: UV beads, oils, control sunscreen
Suitable for: Advanced students with chemistry interest
What causes metal to rust faster?
Rust happens when metals interact with moisture and oxygen, but other factors can speed it up. You’ll test how water, salt, or vinegar impacts rust formation over time. It’s a chemistry project with environmental connections.
Materials: Nails, saltwater, vinegar, containers
Suitable for: Students in chemistry or environmental science
Can AI predict tomorrow’s weather?
Artificial intelligence can analyze patterns, but can it forecast the weather accurately? You’ll train an AI model on past weather data and evaluate how close its predictions are. This is a great intro to AI and data science.
Materials: Programming tool, weather dataset
Suitable for: Intermediate students in AI
How do microplastics affect water?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that end up in water systems. This project analyzes water samples and explores the presence and impact of these plastics. It's a hands-on way to study pollution and biology.
Materials: Water samples, filter paper, microscope (if available)
Suitable for: Students interested in environmental science
What’s the best way to store bread?
Mold grows at different rates depending on environment. You’ll store slices of bread in the pantry, fridge, and sealed containers and observe which lasts longest. This is a simple but meaningful project about food safety.
Materials: Bread slices, containers, notebook
Suitable for: Beginners in biology
How do optical illusions trick the brain?
Optical illusions confuse our brains by manipulating color, shape, and movement. In this project, you’ll study several illusions and survey how people perceive them. It’s an engaging way to explore visual perception.
Materials: Printed illusions, survey sheets
Suitable for: Students in psychology or neuroscience
How strong is your homemade battery?
Can you make a working battery with household items? You’ll experiment with lemons, potatoes, or saltwater and measure how much electricity they produce. This classic experiment explains electrochemistry in a fun way.
Materials: Fruit/vegetables, nails, wires, voltmeter
Suitable for: Students in physics or chemistry
How well do different masks filter air?
Face masks help reduce airborne particles—but not all are equally effective. You’ll compare the filtration ability of cloth, surgical, and N95 masks using airflow and dust tests. This project combines biology and engineering.
Materials: Masks, airflow source, particle material
Suitable for: Intermediate students in biology
Does handwriting style affect reading speed?
Explore whether neat or messy handwriting influences how fast people can read a paragraph. You’ll create samples in different handwriting styles, ask participants to read them, and time their responses. This project connects language, psychology, and human behavior.
Materials: Paper, pen, stopwatch, reading passages
Suitable for: Beginners interested in psychology or language arts
What’s the best method for removing stains?
Test how effective different stain removers are (commercial and homemade) on common fabric stains like ketchup or ink. You’ll apply treatments, wash the fabric, and compare the results to see which method works best. This experiment is great for exploring chemistry in daily life.
Materials: Fabric swatches, stain materials, stain removers, water
Suitable for: Students interested in chemistry or home science
Do colors affect temperature absorption?
Dark colors absorb more heat, but how much more? You’ll place containers covered in different-colored materials under a heat source and measure internal temperatures. This project teaches about light absorption and thermal energy.
Materials: Colored paper or cloth, thermometers, containers, heat source (e.g., sunlight)
Suitable for: Beginners in physics or environmental science
Want to Take Your Research to the Next Level?
If you're excited about any of the ideas on this list and want structured guidance, you might consider applying to a mentored research program like the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP).
JEP is an 8-week, fully virtual program designed for middle school students (grades 6–8) to explore academic interests through a 1-on-1 mentorship model. You’ll work directly with a Ph.D. researcher from top institutions like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, or Stanford to explore a topic of your choice and build a personalized research project. Whether you're interested in STEM, social sciences, or humanities, the program is designed to match you with a mentor who can help you go deeper.
Over 6,000 students have completed the program since 2020, and many have gone on to publish work in academic journals or continue their research independently. If you’re a curious and motivated student ready to build your first real research project, the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program can be a strong next step.
Learn more about JEP here.
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.
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