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62 Science Fair Projects for 6th Graders

62 Science Fair Projects for 6th Graders

Our collection of 6th grade science projects offer a fun and hands-on way for middle school students to explore a variety of fascinating science concepts.

Dog vs. Human Mouth Bacteria
1. Dog vs. Human Mouth Bacteria
Swab the mouths of dogs and humans and grow the bacteria side by side to settle a classic debate.
Medium
Room Temperature and Candle Burn Rate
2. Room Temperature and Candle Burn Rate
Light identical candles at three different room temperatures and measure whether heat makes them burn down faster.
Medium
Soap and Surface Tension
3. Soap and Surface Tension
Pour oil into water and watch it float, then stir in soap and see the two layers blend.
Easy
Music Genres and Bean Plant Growth
4. Music Genres and Bean Plant Growth
Grow bean plants under two music genres and compare them against a silent control group to see which grows tallest.
Easy
Yeast Gas: Inflating a Bag with Sugar Water
5. Yeast Gas: Inflating a Bag with Sugar Water
Seal yeast and sugar water in a plastic bag and watch billions of yeast cells inflate it with carbon dioxide.
Easy
Peperomia Root Growth in Water, Soil, and Nutrient Solution
6. Peperomia Root Growth in Water, Soil, and Nutrient Solution
Place peperomia cuttings in three different growing conditions and measure which one sprouts the longest roots in two weeks.
Medium
Singing Glass and Water Pitch
7. Singing Glass and Water Pitch
Rub a wet finger along the rim of a stemware glass and discover how the water level changes the pitch.
Easy
Body Lotions and Moisture Retention
8. Body Lotions and Moisture Retention
Seal five different lotions over jars of water and discover which brand keeps the most moisture from escaping.
Medium
Chocolate and the Rock Cycle
9. Chocolate and the Rock Cycle
Use chocolate shavings and heat to build three types of model rock that match real geology.
Medium
Blood Pressure at Rest vs. Exercise
10. Blood Pressure at Rest vs. Exercise
Strap on a wrist monitor before, during, and after step exercises to track exactly how blood pressure climbs and recovers.
Medium
Soda Acidity and Tooth Enamel Loss
11. Soda Acidity and Tooth Enamel Loss
Soak limestone in different sodas for a day and weigh what is left to find out which one dissolves the most.
Medium
Stain Removal and Toothpaste Cost
12. Stain Removal and Toothpaste Cost
Stain tiles with coffee, tea, and cola, then scrub with five different cleaners to see if price predicts cleaning power.
Medium
Pet Rock and the Rock Cycle
13. Pet Rock and the Rock Cycle
Identify your pet rock's type and trace its journey through the rock cycle to see how it could transform.
Medium
Scratch Testing and Rock Hardness
14. Scratch Testing and Rock Hardness
Scratch rocks with everyday objects like coins and nails to rank their hardness on the Mohs scale.
Medium
Soap Bubbles Floating on Carbon Dioxide
15. Soap Bubbles Floating on Carbon Dioxide
Fill an aquarium with carbon dioxide and blow soap bubbles into it to see them hover more than twice as long as bubbles in regular air.
Medium
Triangles vs. Squares in Bridge Strength
16. Triangles vs. Squares in Bridge Strength
Build two toothpick bridges from different shapes and load them with gravel to see which collapses first.
Medium
Leaf Size and Water Loss in Plants
17. Leaf Size and Water Loss in Plants
Place three plants with very different leaf sizes in water for five days and find out which one drinks the most.
Medium
Magnet Strength and Temperature
18. Magnet Strength and Temperature
Freeze and heat magnets from 0°C to 100°C, then count how many steel washers each one can pick up.
Medium
Temperature and Liquid Flow Rates
19. Temperature and Liquid Flow Rates
Time how fast three kitchen liquids drain through a tiny hole as you raise the temperature and see which one speeds up most.
Medium
Bacteria on Everyday Surfaces
20. Bacteria on Everyday Surfaces
Swab five everyday surfaces and grow the samples in petri dishes to discover which spot carries the most bacteria.
Medium
Fruit Paste and Bread Shelf Life
21. Fruit Paste and Bread Shelf Life
Compare four loaves of bread baked with different dried fruit pastes and discover which one resists mold the longest.
Easy
Surface Type and Greenhouse Heating
22. Surface Type and Greenhouse Heating
Place four sealed jars with different ground surfaces in the sun and track which one heats the trapped air fastest.
Medium
Betta Fish and Mirror Aggression
23. Betta Fish and Mirror Aggression
Show a betta fish its own reflection again and again to discover how quickly it stops flaring at the mirror.
Medium
Mozart vs. Beatles and Naptime Restlessness
24. Mozart vs. Beatles and Naptime Restlessness
Record children napping to Mozart and the Beatles and count their movements to discover which music leads to more restful sleep.
Medium
Earth's Tilt and the Seasons
25. Earth's Tilt and the Seasons
Orbit a tilted globe around a flashlight and discover why summer in one hemisphere means winter in the other.
Medium
Parabolic Solar Cooker from Cardboard
26. Parabolic Solar Cooker from Cardboard
A foil-lined cardboard box can focus sunlight into a beam hot enough to cook a hot dog with no electricity.
Medium
Salt, Sugar, and Alfalfa Seed Sprouting
27. Salt, Sugar, and Alfalfa Seed Sprouting
Soak alfalfa seeds in three water solutions and discover that one common additive stops sprouting completely.
Medium
Osmosis in Eggs Without Shells
28. Osmosis in Eggs Without Shells
Soak shell-free eggs in three different solutions and watch osmosis shrink or swell each one.
Medium
Bread Mold and Growing Conditions
29. Bread Mold and Growing Conditions
Rub dust onto wet bread and seal it in a bag to grow visible patches of mold within days.
Easy
Reading Aloud and Memory Recall
30. Reading Aloud and Memory Recall
Show participants flash cards twice -- once silently, once read aloud -- and compare how many words they recall each time.
Medium
Detergent Concentration and Plant Survival
31. Detergent Concentration and Plant Survival
Water Brassica rapa plants with three different detergent concentrations and discover whether any survive after 21 days.
Medium
Bridge Strength Across Three Designs
32. Bridge Strength Across Three Designs
Build three bridges with different designs and test which one bends the least under a heavy load.
Medium
Height, Weight, and Potential Energy
33. Height, Weight, and Potential Energy
Drop and swing objects of different weights from different heights to see how potential energy changes.
Medium
Sunspot Viewing by Solar Projection
34. Sunspot Viewing by Solar Projection
Project the sun's image through a telescope or pinhole and spot the cooler dark patches on its surface.
Medium
Movement and the Doppler Effect
35. Movement and the Doppler Effect
Play a song on your phone and walk quickly to hear how motion changes the pitch through the Doppler effect.
Easy
Vegetative Propagation Methods Compared
36. Vegetative Propagation Methods Compared
Clone a plant using leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or layering and compare which method grows new roots first.
Medium
Video Games and Blood Pressure
37. Video Games and Blood Pressure
Track blood pressure before and after solo and competitive video game sessions to see how gaming changes what your body does.
Medium
Rapid Instructions and Memory Recall
38. Rapid Instructions and Memory Recall
Fire eight rapid commands at a group and find out whether anyone can recall which task came third on the list.
Easy
Beverage Color and Flavor Perception
39. Beverage Color and Flavor Perception
Dye four identical lime drinks different colors and see how many people taste flavors that match the color instead.
Medium
Elephant Toothpaste Foam Reaction
40. Elephant Toothpaste Foam Reaction
Pour a yeast mixture into a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and watch a giant column of warm foam erupt.
Easy
Borax Geode Crystals
41. Borax Geode Crystals
Turn a hollow eggshell into a miniature geode by growing Borax crystals inside it overnight.
Medium
Lemon-Powered LED Light
42. Lemon-Powered LED Light
Turn a lemon into a working battery and find out whether it can produce enough electricity to light an LED.
Easy
Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg
43. Vinegar and the Rubbery Egg
Drop a raw egg into vinegar for a few days and discover that the acid dissolves the hard shell, leaving behind a soft, rubbery egg.
Easy
Sugar Crystallization and Rock Candy
44. Sugar Crystallization and Rock Candy
Grow giant sugar crystals on a string and watch a supersaturated solution turn back into solid rock candy.
Medium
Rainbow Borax Crystals
45. Rainbow Borax Crystals
Grow sparkling rainbow crystals overnight on pipe cleaners and watch solid crystal structures form as the Borax water cools.
Medium
Planet Layers in a Bottle
46. Planet Layers in a Bottle
Shake a bottle of mixed materials and watch layers form the same way a rocky planet builds its inner structure.
Medium
Pocket Solar System to Scale
47. Pocket Solar System to Scale
Fold a strip of paper into a pocket-sized model that shows the real distances between the Sun and each planet.
Medium
Surface Tension and Water Strider Design
48. Surface Tension and Water Strider Design
Design a model insect from simple materials and see if you can make it stand on water using surface tension.
Medium
Play-Doh Solar System to Scale
49. Play-Doh Solar System to Scale
Shape Play-Doh into scale-sized planets and discover how tiny Earth looks next to Jupiter.
Easy
Eggshell Staining and Drink Acidity
50. Eggshell Staining and Drink Acidity
Soak hard-boiled eggs in different drinks for two days and see which ones stain and soften the shells the most.
Easy
Ice Wedging and Rock Breakdown
51. Ice Wedging and Rock Breakdown
Freeze water inside plaster of Paris and watch ice wedging crack it apart, just like real rocks in winter.
Medium
Cornstarch Oobleck and Shear Thickening
52. Cornstarch Oobleck and Shear Thickening
Punch a bowl of cornstarch and water and discover a liquid that turns solid under force, then flows the moment you stop.
Easy
Vinegar Fizz Test for Calcite in Rocks
53. Vinegar Fizz Test for Calcite in Rocks
Drop vinegar on a rock and watch for fizzing bubbles that reveal hidden calcite inside.
Easy
Rock Porosity and Water Storage
54. Rock Porosity and Water Storage
Soak different rocks in water and discover which ones hold the most liquid like underground sponges.
Medium
Water Displacement and Rock Density
55. Water Displacement and Rock Density
Drop rocks into water to find their volume, then calculate which rock types pack in the most matter.
Medium
Starburst Candy and the Rock Cycle
56. Starburst Candy and the Rock Cycle
Reshape Starburst candies with heat and pressure to model how the Earth forms three types of rock.
Medium
Crayons and the Rock Cycle
57. Crayons and the Rock Cycle
Transform crayons into three types of model rocks and see how the real rock cycle works.
Medium
Sidewalk-Scale Solar System
58. Sidewalk-Scale Solar System
Shrink the solar system to sidewalk size and discover how surprisingly far apart the planets really are.
Medium
Egg Drop Survival Challenge
59. Egg Drop Survival Challenge
Design a protective case from household materials and find out whether your raw egg survives a high drop.
Medium
Pre-Soaked Spaghetti and Cooking Time
60. Pre-Soaked Spaghetti and Cooking Time
Soak spaghetti in water for a few hours, then boil it for just one minute to test whether pre-soaking cuts cooking time.
Medium
Red Cabbage pH Lava Lamp
61. Red Cabbage pH Lava Lamp
Add Alka-Seltzer to a red cabbage lava lamp and watch the blobs shift color as you change the pH.
Medium
Paper Airplane Folds and Flight Distance
62. Paper Airplane Folds and Flight Distance
Fold paper airplanes with different designs and launch them to discover which shape flies the farthest.
Medium

6th Grade Science Fair Project FAQ

What are some easy 6th grade science fair projects?

Each one of these science fair projects are easy for sixth grade students to set up and do!

  • Burn Rate of a Candle

  • Soap and Surface Tension

  • Baking with Yeast

  • Color and Taste

  • Growing Mold

  • Cleaning Teeth: A Science Project

  • Comparing Blood Pressure

  • The Chocolate Rock Cycle

  • Uncovering Fall Colors

  • Making Oobleck: Liquid or Solid?

Science fair project details right above the FAQ!

What is the best 6th grade science project ever?

We love the Color and Taste science fair project for sixth grade students. The same flavored drink is made red, orange and purple with food coloring. When the three drinks are given to people, see what people taste! It's fascinating to see how color affects our perception of taste in this classic science experiment!

If you're looking for more 6th grade science projects, check out the 6th grade science fair projects at the top of this page! 

Check out more Best Science Fair Projects →

What are some cool 6th grade science fair projects?

Get ready to be amazed by these super cool science projects for 6th graders! With just a few simple things, sixth graders will see how fun and cool science is!

  • Does Music Help Plants Grow?

  • Dogs vs. Humans: Bacteria in the Mouth

  • Singing Glass

  • Burn Rate of a Candle

  • Fast Food Nutrition

  • Soap and Surface Tension

  • Baking with Yeast

  • Cleaning teeth: A Science Project

  • Video Games and Blood Pressure

  • Moisturizer Test

Science fair project details right above the FAQ!

What are 5 testable questions for 6th grade?

A testable question is a question that we can answer through a science experiment. To do this, we do a control science experiment, then we change one thing in the experiment to see how it affects what happens. This is how we can discover the answer to our question!

  • What makes a cloud form?

  • Can drink and food taste different just by changing its color?

  • Does the color of light affect photosynthesis?

  • Does temperature affect seed sprouting?

  • What makes popcorn pop?

Here are more testable questions along with their science projects →

What are the top 10 science projects for 6th grade?

These are our top 10 science projects for 6th grade, with projects covering biology, chemistry, physics, medicine and health. These projects can be used as science fair project ideas or as a fun experiment to explore different areas of science!

  • Dogs vs. Humans: Bacteria in the Mouth

  • Burn Rate of a Candle

  • Fast Food Nutrition

  • Soap and Surface Tension

  • Does Music Help Plants Grow?

  • Baking with Yeast

  • Plant Growth: Hydroponics vs. Soil

  • Singing Glass

  • Moisturizer Test

  • The Chocolate Rock Cycle

Science project details above the FAQ!

Can I do a 6th grade science fair project in a day?

Yes! Quick experiments can be a great option for a science fair project! If you want to explore quick reactions, we have science project ideas on various topics to get you started.

  • Acids and bases: Test different fluids to see if they are an acid or a base!

Learn how to make your own acid/base indicator using red cabbage and use it to test different fluids! Make Your Own PH Indicator

  • Chromatography reactions: Separate out colors!

Have you ever wondered why leaves change color in the fall? Let's find out by using chromatography to separate the colors of a green leaf! Uncovering Fall Colors

  • Heat reactions: Heat speeds things up!

Ever wondered if a balloon filled with water can withstand fire? Fire-Resistant Balloons

What are some hands-on ways to find inspiration for my science fair project?

Science museums are great places to explore if you're looking for inspiration for your next science fair project or just want to learn more about science. Science museums, natural history museums, space museums, and discovery museums are all great places to do that! You can discover all sorts of interesting things about science and find cool project ideas for science fairs.

There may be free admission days or free passes to a science museum near you! Check your local library for free museum passes, nearby science museums for free entrance days and your credit card for offers.

Find a science museum near you and prepare to be awed by all that you can learn there! I always learn something new and am inspired whenever I go to a science museum!

How do I start a science fair project?

Science fair projects are a fun and unique way to discover science by asking a question and doing a science project. We'll help you find a science fair project idea and guide you through the process of doing and presenting your science fair project with Science Fair Coach's Science Fair Project Guide.

What should I do after I have a science fair project idea?

If you have a science fair project idea, Science Fair Coach can help you turn it into a full science fair project! Starting at Introduction to Science Fairs, we'll guide you through how to do a science fair project, from designing and conducting your experiment to collecting and analyzing your findings. Then, we'll help you showcase your results on a science fair board with our Guide to Science Fair Posters.

How do I make a science fair board?

Your science fair board is where you show off your science fair project for everyone to see and learn from. With our Guide to Science Fair Posters, you can make sure your science fair board stands out and impresses at the science fair!

What is the scientific method?

The 7 steps of the scientific method helps us understand how nature works. Learn how the scientific method is used in a science fair project example, and how it's evolved through history as scientists used different ways to learn about nature with our Guide to the Scientific Method!

What is the engineering design process?

The 6 steps of the engineering design process helps us design an effective solution to a problem. Learn how to use the engineering design process with the example of the egg drop challenge in our Guide to the Engineering Design Process!

Where can I find a science fair competition?

Science fair competitions are an excellent opportunity to explore science. One of the of the premier science advocacy organizations, the Society for Science, is associated with more than 400 science fair competitions in almost every US state, as well as over 70 other countries, regions, and territories. You can find out if there's a Society of Science affiliated science fair near you!

The www Virtual Library: Science Fairs website also has a collection of science fairs from all over the world, as well as national, state, regional, local, and virtual competitions!

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