The cool thing about high school is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing science experiments and projects. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they weren’t old enough to use before.
Many of these projects can be used as classroom labs or science fair projects. Feel free to adapt them as needed for students’ individual projects, or use them as full-class activities. However you plan to use the projects, just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters.
To make it easier to find the right high school science experiment for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:
Difficulty:
- Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
- Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
- Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
- Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
- Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
- Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
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Biology and Life Sciences High School Science Fair Projects and Experiments
Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.
More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects and Experiments for High School
Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:
- What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
- Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
- Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
- Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water, etc.).
- Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
- Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
- Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
- Devise a way to desalinate seawater and make it safe to drink.
Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects and Experiments
Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry experiments are such popular high school science fair projects!
More Chemistry Science Fair Projects and Experiments for High School
These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:
- Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
- Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
- Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
- What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
- Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
- How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
- Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
- What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (form of rust)?
- How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?
Physics High School Science Fair Projects and Experiments
When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some high school science experiments to try.
More Physics Science Fair Projects and Experiments for High School
Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.
- What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
- Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
- What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
- Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
- Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
- Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
- Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
- Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.
Engineering High School Science Fair Projects and Experiments
Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science experiments for high school start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!
Check out even more ready-to-go science kits for hands-on learning your students will love
Ward’s Science Engage Kits are an amazing way to bring more inquiry-based activities into your classroom. The kits come with everything you need to complete hands-on labs with your class. Your students will develop their critical questioning, research, and teamwork skills while working to solve problems that feel real and important.
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If you want to conduct these science experiments on your own, make sure to pair it with our free printable lab report template! Just click the button below to receive your own copy.
