research topics 8th grade

Chess (Gr. 1-4)
TV (Gr. 1-4)
Metal Detectors (Gr. 2-6)
Tetris (Gr. 2-6)
Seat Belts (Gr. 2-6)
The Coliseum (Gr. 2-6)
The Pony Express (Gr. 2-6)
Wintertime (Gr. 2-6)
Reading (Gr. 3-7)
Black Friday (Gr. 3-7)
Hummingbirds (Gr. 3-7)
Worst Game Ever? (Gr. 4-8)
Carnivorous Plants (Gr. 4-8)
Google (Gr. 4-8)
Honey Badgers (Gr. 4-8)
Hyperinflation (Gr. 4-8)
Koko (Gr. 4-8)
Mongooses (Gr. 5-9)
Trampolines (Gr. 5-9)
Garbage (Gr. 5-9)
Maginot Line (Gr. 5-9)
Asian Carp (Gr. 5-9)
Tale of Two Countries (Gr. 6-10)
Kevlar (Gr. 7-10)
Tigers (Gr. 7-11)
Statue of Liberty (Gr. 8-10)
Submarines (Gr. 8-12)
Castles (Gr. 9-13)
Gutenberg (Gr. 9-13)
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101 research paper topics.

Why do we sleep ?
How do GPS systems work?
Who was the first person to reach the North Pole ?
Did anybody ever escape Alcatraz ?
What was life like for a gladiator ?
What are the effects of prolonged steroid use on the human body?
What happened during the Salem witch trials ?
Are there any effective means of repelling insects ?
How did trains and railroads change life in America?
What may have occurred during the Roswell UFO incident of 1947?
How is bulletproof clothing made?
What Olympic events were practiced in ancient Greece?
What are the major theories explaining the disappearance of the dinosaurs ?
How was the skateboard invented and how has it changed over the years?
How did the long bow contribute to English military dominance?
What caused the stock market crash of 2008?
How did Cleopatra come to power in Egypt what did she do during her reign?
How has airport security intensified since September 11 th , 2001?
What is life like inside of a beehive ?
Where did hip hop originate and who were its founders?
What makes the platypus a unique and interesting mammal?
How does tobacco use affect the human body?
How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers?
What is daily life like for a Buddhist monk ?
What are the origins of the conflict in Darfur ?
How did gunpowder change warfare?
In what ways do Wal-Mart stores affect local economies?
How were cats and dogs domesticated and for what purposes?
What do historians know about ninjas ?
How has the music industry been affected by the internet and digital downloading?
What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Osama Bin Laden ?
What was the women’s suffrage movement and how did it change America?
What efforts are being taken to protect endangered wildlife ?
How much does the war on drugs cost Americans each year?
How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
Are humans still evolving ?
What technologies are available to home owners to help them conserve energy ?
How have oil spills affected the planet and what steps are being taken to prevent them?
What was the Magna Carta and how did it change England?
What is the curse of the pharaohs?
Why was Socrates executed?
What nonlethal weapons are used by police to subdue rioters?
How does the prison population in America compare to other nations?
How did ancient sailors navigate the globe?
Can gamblers ever acquire a statistical advantage over the house in casino games?
What is alchemy and how has it been attempted?
How are black holes formed?
How was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln plotted and executed?
Do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks?
How do submarines work?
Do lie detector tests accurately determine truthful statements?
How did Cold War tension affect the US and the world?
What happened to the lost settlers at Roanoke ?
How does a hybrid car save energy?
What ingredients can be found inside of a hotdog ?
How did Julius Caesar affect Rome?
What are some common sleep disorders and how are they treated?
How did the Freedom Riders change society?
How is internet censorship used in China and around the world?
What was the code of the Bushido and how did it affect samurai warriors ?
What are the risks of artificial tanning or prolonged exposure to the sun?
What programs are available to help war veterans get back into society?
What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
How have the film and music industries dealt with piracy ?
How did Joan of Arc change history?
What responsibilities do secret service agents have?
How does a shark hunt?
What dangers and hardships did Lewis and Clark face when exploring the Midwest?
Has the Patriot Act prevented or stopped terrorist acts in America?
Do states that allow citizens to carry guns have higher or lower crime rates?
How are the Great Depression and the Great Recession similar and different?
What are the dangers of scuba diving and underwater exploration?
How does the human brain store and retrieve memories ?
What was the Manhattan Project and what impact did it have on the world?
How does stealth technology shield aircraft from radar?
What causes tornadoes ?
Why did Martin Luther protest against the Catholic Church?
How does a search engine work?
What are the current capabilities and future goals of genetic engineers ?
How did the Roman Empire fall?
What obstacles faced scientists in breaking the sound barrier ?
How did the black plague affect Europe?
What happened to Amelia Earhart ?
What are the dangers and hazards of using nuclear power ?
How did Genghis Khan conquer Persia?
What architectural marvels were found in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire ?
From where does spam email come and can we stop it?
How does night vision work?
How did journalists influence US war efforts in Vietnam ?
What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana ?
What causes desert mirages and how do they affect wanderers?
What was the cultural significance of the first moon landing ?
What are sinkholes and how are they formed?
Have any psychics ever solved crimes or prevented them from occurring?
Who is Vlad the Impaler and what is his connection to Count Dracula ?
What are the risks of climate change and global warming ?
What treatments are available to people infected with HIV and are they effective?
Who was a greater inventor, Leonardo di Vinci or Thomas Edison ?
How are the Chinese and American economies similar and different?
Why was communism unsuccessful in so many countries?
In what ways do video games affect children and teenagers?

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923 Comments

I like using this website when I assist kids with learning as a lot of these topics are quickly covered in the school systems. Thankyou

Mackenah Nicole Molina

Wow! I always have trouble deiciding what to do a research project on but this list has totally solved that. Now my only problem is choosing what idea on this list I should do first!

Most of these my teacher rejected because apparently ‘these aren’t grade level topics, and I doubt they interest you”

I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you will have a potentially valuable character-building experience in the short-term.

Edwin Augusto Galindo Cuba

THIS SITE IS AWESOME, THERE ARE LOTS OF TOPICS TO LEARN AND MASTER OUR SKILLS!

research kid

I need one about animals, please. I have been challenged to a animal research project, Due Friday. I have no clue what to research! somebody help, thanks for reading!

You can do one on bats

For international studies you can do Defense and Security.

This was very helpful.

Research on Ben Franklin? I think THAT will get a real charge out of everyone (hehehehegetit)

Mandy Maher

“Is it possible to colonize Mars?”

maddy burney

these are silly topics

thx for making this real.

Mary Nnamani

Please I need project topics on Language Literature

Marcella Vallarino

I would appreciate a list of survey questions for middle school grades 6-8

I need a research topics about public sector management

I NEED FIVE EXAMPLES EACH ON QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH (EDUCATION, HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY AND ENGINEERING)

publish research that are interesting please……

hey can you do one on the burmiueda triangle

Anybody know video games effect kids,and,teens. There Fun!!

they’re

I need a topic about woman history if any of u can find 1 please that would be great!

You could research about the history of the astronauts, and of human past (WWI, WWII, etc.)

so about women? Manitoba Women Win the Right to Vote in Municipal Elections, The First Women, January 23, 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States, Rosa Parks Civil Rights Equal Pay. I have way more. so if you need more just ask.

communism is good

what are you a communist?!?!

Did FDR know about the upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor on 07 DEC 1941.

do you know how babies are born

Christine Singu

kindly assist with a research topic in the field of accounting or auditing

need more about US army

Please can yiu give me a topic in education

I think one should be how can music/Video games can affect the life for people

or How Do Video Games Affect Teenagers?

zimbabwe leader

I think a good topic is supporting the confederate flag!

Need a research topic within the context of students union government and dues payments

do more weird ones plz

joyce alcantara

Hi pls po can you give me a topic relate for humanities pls thank u.

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A Research Guide
Research Paper Topics

30 Tips For Finding Great Research Paper Topics for Middle School

Useful information: What is research paper writing and how to format it?

Is going vegan good for your health?
The dinosaurs: what should happen for them to evolve again?
The history of music and its meaning in modern life
Greenhouse effect: is it natural or artificial
What are the possible consequences of drugs legalization
World War II and its impact on the rights of women
Schools, learning and social networks
The causes, effects and consequences of earthquakes
The geological periods of Earth development
The history of cryptography
The nature of sports. Why competition is so important for humanity?
How a person’s behaviour changes in the crowd?
What is propaganda and how it works?
Is sexual education important? Why?
How much can we play computer games to not get addicted?
The prison system: shall it be reformed?
The types and forms of poetry: how does poetry evolve?
Internet safety: what to do if you are threatened or blackmailed?
The endangered cultures: is it important to preserve them in the age of globalization?
Gender roles in media and books for children
The effective strategies of waste recycling
Shall some media be banned from TV or is censorship always bad?
Human morality. Is it a national trait or a social construct?
Multicultural community: do the cultures mix?
Healthy self-esteem: what can influence it?
Forming of social hierarchy: does it differ from one group to another?
Family issues and their impact on the development of the children’s personality
What Jupiter contains of?
What is more perspective planet for colonizing: Mars or Venus and why?
Are cryptocurrencies real currencies?

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A List Of Good Research Paper Topics For 8th Graders

Research papers can be one of the first really rewarding papers a students will write: often times they can choose a topic they are interested in or passionate about, they can delve into researching it, and they can learn a lot about it.

When choosing a topic, there are several things to keep in mind. First, you want to choose a topic that you will be able to find credible sources on. While websites like Wikipedia may be helpful in starting your research and learning the basics about a subject, it isn’t a source that you can cite in your paper. So you’ll want to make sure that there are books, studies, or news articles on the topic you are interested in. Next, you’ll want to makes sure that the subject is narrow enough, or that you’ve narrowed it down enough, to fit the length of the paper you’ve been assigned. A good strategy for this is to focus on just one part of the topic, or just one time period.

But choosing a topic can be a challenge for many students. So use this list of good research paper topics for 8th graders to get started:

1. The factors that led to ending apartheid in South Africa
2. The laws of physics that have contributed to the design of skateboards
3. Major turning points in the history of your favorite sports team
4. The history of the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees
5. The history of a top fashion magazine
6. The life of the author of your favorite book
7. Profiles of civil rights leaders in America
8. The differences between the civil rights movement in America and Europe
9. How monarchies have changed in the past 200 years
10. The musical influences of your favorite band
11. The history of your hometown
12. The life of someone famous from your state
13. How the rules of your favorite sport have changed over t
15. The history of expeditions on Mt. Everest
16. The lifecycle and ecology of your favorite animal
17. The most successful college football programs and coaches
18. A history of the American and National baseball leagues
19. The Native American tribes that once lived in your area
20. How plate tectonics work

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Eighth Grade Research Paper Ideas

Rebecca bagwell.

Eighth grade research papers primarily focus on learning how to research a topic and document that research properly. These important skills will enable eighth grade students to write well-researched papers, while drawing conclusions, when they attend high school. Students needing eighth grade research paper ideas should find a topic that covers an historical time period, current issue or personal interests.

Explore this article

Historical Ideas
Current Issues Ideas
Favorite Interest Ideas

1 Historical Ideas

Pick an historical topic to find research easily. The events documented in the 20th century contain a variety of first-hand source materials such as film, interviews and pictures. Many national newspapers archived their accounts of events such as President Kennedy's assassination, the Civil Rights movement, the Nixon Watergate scandal, the Space Program, Vietnam War, Holocaust or the Depression. A research paper idea such as an historical event or an historical person needs to be narrowed down so that you can research fully one aspect of that person or event. Any president will make an interesting eighth grade research paper idea because each president uniquely affected America.

2 Current Issues Ideas

Current issues that have a world-wide affect can be easy to research. Experts routinely publish findings on topics such as animal rights, gun control, the death penalty, global warming, immigration and so on, as they research how these topics affect people. Take an issue that affects your community and learn more about the options available for these current issues. Look at other countries for different perspectives on human rights, education, universal health care, elderly care or labor unions, to compare how America approaches problems differently. Research alternative fuel sources or compare and contrast the benefits and dangers of nuclear power. Decide if space exploration should be a priority over other national concerns. Eighth grade research paper ideas can also focus on how these issues will affect tomorrow's leaders.

3 Favorite Interest Ideas

Choose your favorite interest to write an eighth grade research paper. Though music and sports are broad topics, narrow your interest to research on a specific facet of the music industry or sports leagues. Pick a favorite musician or athlete and research influences in that person's life. If you have a certain hobby, research its origins or influence on society. Any particular interests in a science, such as astronomy, medicine, botany, zoology and so on, can develop into a research paper on the significance of that science. Pick a favorite author or artist and research their work. If any family members have ever served in the armed forces, write about the history of that branch of the military.

1 Corning Union ESD: Report Topics for 8th Grade Report

About the Author

Rebecca Bagwell is an educator with a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Trinity Baptist College. She has taught in China and the United States. While overseas she started writing articles in 2006 for bilingual trade journals. Now, she lives in the South where she homeschools and writes freelance articles encouraging creative approaches to education.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
Should graduate students be able to form unions?

What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
How does stress affect the body?
Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
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Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
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How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler's rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
How are black holes created?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Engaging 8th Grade Research Paper Topics for Budding Historians

Writing a research paper in the 8th grade is an exciting opportunity to explore a historical era, event, or figure that sparks your interest. Research paper writing is a stepping stone towards enhancing your research skills, critical thinking, and the ability to articulate your ideas in a structured manner. More importantly, it also provides a glimpse into the intriguing world of historical research and scholarly writing. But where do you start? This article is your guiding light!

Table of content

The Importance of Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing a good research topic is your journey’s first and perhaps most crucial step. It’s like selecting the right pair of running shoes for a marathon – get it right, and you’re off to a great start! The topic should be something that intrigues you, something that you are eager to explore further. After all, you will spend considerable time reading, thinking, and writing about it. And who knows, you might even stumble upon something extraordinary that history has tucked away!

Historical Research and Its Significance

Historical research allows you to learn from the past, understand the present, and anticipate the future. It’s a thrilling ride through time, replete with grand events, compelling characters, and narratives that have shaped our world. Researching historical topics can enhance your understanding of different cultures, ideologies, and human behavior across various periods. Moreover, the skills you hone during this process – critical thinking, research proficiency, and coherent writing – are invaluable life skills.

Engaging 8th-Grade Research Paper Topics

Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for – our handpicked list of 8th-grade research paper topics. These topics span diverse historical periods and regions, catering to various interests.

The Golden Age of Piracy: Fact vs. Fiction
The Salem Witch Trials: A Study of Mass Hysteria
The Underground Railroad: Pathways to Freedom
Women’s Suffrage Movement: The Struggle for Equality
The Fall of the Roman Empire: Causes and Effects
The American Revolution: Birth of a Nation
Life in Medieval Europe: A Social Study
The Harlem Renaissance: Cultural and Artistic Explosion
The Atomic Age: Scientific Breakthroughs and Ethical Dilemmas
The Space Race: Competition Beyond Earth
The California Gold Rush: The Dream and the Reality
The Crusades: A Collision of Faiths
Prohibition in the 1920s: A Failed Experiment
The Civil Rights Movement: The Road to Equality
The Epic of Gilgamesh: An Ancient Tale of Heroes
The Age of Enlightenment: A Revolution of Ideas
The Transcontinental Railroad: A Pathway to Expansion
The Great Depression: An Era of Struggle and Resilience
The Renaissance: A Burst of Creativity and Knowledge
Life During the American Frontier: Challenges and Triumphs
The Boston Tea Party: Catalyst for Revolution
The World War II Home Front: Life on the Domestic Side
The Rise and Fall of the Aztec Empire: A Lost Civilization
Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs: Their Power and Legacy
The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Journey into the Unknown
The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Faceoff of Superpowers
The Code of Hammurabi: An Early System of Law
The Impact of the Printing Press: A Technological Revolution
The Industrial Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Society
The Oregon Trail: A Perilous Journey Westward
The Discovery of DNA: Cracking the Code of Life
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Nation Mourns
The Scopes Monkey Trial: Science vs. Religion in the Courtroom

Don’t limit yourself to these topics! Use them as a launchpad to delve deeper into the past and discover a topic that truly resonates with you.

Choosing the right topic is your first step toward writing an impactful 8th-grade history research paper. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. So, choose a topic that excites you, roll up your sleeves, and dive into the fascinating world of historical research! Who knows, you might make a historical discovery of your own!

Happy researching!

📎 Related Articles

1. Navigating the Past: Inspiring History Thesis Topics 2. The Great Wall: An Essay Topic Examples 3. Choosing Inspiring Historical Events to Write About 4. Navigating the Historical Labyrinth of Ancient Rome: Essay Topics 5. Unlocking the Past: World History Research Topics

Middle School Inspiration: Writing Topics for 8th Graders

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Middle School Inspiration: Writing Topics for 8th Graders

1. Unlocking the Creative Minds: Exploring Engaging Writing Prompts for 8th Graders

Unleashing imagination:, exploring real-life scenarios:, 2. finding your voice: inspiring personal narrative topics for middle school writers, 3. fueling imagination: captivating fiction writing ideas to ignite 8th graders’ stories, 4. nurturing empathy: thought-provoking persuasive essay topics for middle school students, 5. from past to present: uncovering historical events for expository writing in 8th grade, 6. current issues, fresh perspectives: exploring argumentative writing topics for middle schoolers, 7. let’s get descriptive: inspiring poetry and descriptive writing topics for 8th grade, 8. a world of discovery: exciting research-based writing topics for middle school explorers, frequently asked questions, final thoughts.

In the realm of 8th-grade education, nurturing creativity and developing strong writing skills go hand in hand. Engaging writing prompts are a powerful tool to unlock the creative minds of young students, igniting their imagination and fostering a love for writing. In this section, we will explore a plethora of vibrant and thought-provoking writing prompts specifically tailored for 8th graders, designed to inspire and captivate their writing endeavors.

Imagination is the key to limitless possibilities, and these writing prompts are sure to tap into the boundless creativity of 8th graders:

Creating a New World: Imagine an alternate reality where the laws of physics are completely different. Describe this unique world, its inhabitants, and the extraordinary adventures that unfold.
Ancient Mysteries: Transport yourself back in time to visit a mysterious ancient civilization. Describe the sights, sounds, and culture you encounter, unraveling the secrets of a long-lost civilization.
The Time Traveler’s Dilemma: You stumble upon a time machine that can only take you to one specific moment in history. Which historical event would you choose to witness and why? Describe your experience and its impact on you.

Reality can be just as fascinating as fiction. These writing prompts prompt 8th graders to reflect on relatable real-life situations:

Future Legacy: Imagine yourself 20 years from now. Write a letter to your present self, detailing your accomplishments, aspirations, and the challenges you overcame. Reflect on the person you have become.
Stepping into Someone Else’s Shoes: Select a historical figure or a fictional character. Write a first-person narrative, imagining yourself as that person. Dive into their thoughts, emotions, and experiences to bring their story to life.
Environmental Crusaders: Describe an innovative solution to a current environmental issue that can help save our planet. Explain how this solution can impact the world positively and inspire others to take action.

2. Finding Your Voice: Inspiring Personal Narrative Topics for Middle School Writers

When it comes to finding your voice as a middle school writer, it’s essential to choose topics that inspire you and bring out your unique perspective. Personal narratives allow you to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way that captivates your readers. Here are some inspiring topics to get you started:

The most memorable day of my life: A time when something extraordinary happened.
A person who has had a significant impact on me: How someone’s presence has influenced your life.
Overcoming a challenge: Reflecting on a difficult situation and the lessons you learned.
My favorite place on earth: Describing a spot that holds special meaning to you and why.
An unexpected adventure: Recounting an unplanned journey full of excitement and discovery.

Remember, your personal narrative should be infused with your authentic voice. Let your personality shine through and engage your readers by being honest and relatable. Use descriptive language, specific details, and **emotions** to make your story come alive. Don’t shy away from sharing your personal thoughts and reflections; this is what will make your narrative meaningful and unique. So, go ahead and explore these topics or take inspiration from them to find your own voice as a middle school writer!

3. Fueling Imagination: Captivating Fiction Writing Ideas to Ignite 8th Graders' Stories

Are you an 8th-grade student bursting with creative energy? Look no further! We have curated a list of captivating fiction writing ideas that will fire up your imagination and help you craft compelling stories. Let your creativity take flight as you explore these exciting prompts.

1. Mysterious Objects: Imagine stumbling upon a peculiar object that possesses extraordinary powers. Delve into the story behind this enchanted item and weave an adventure filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Who discovered it first? What is its significance? Let your imagination run wild!

2. Parallel Universes: Step into a world where everything you know is turned upside down. Craft a story where a parallel universe exists alongside ours, allowing for incredible adventures and the encounter of alternate versions of yourself or others. Will you befriend or battle these counterparts? Explore the endless possibilities!

4. Nurturing Empathy: Thought-Provoking Persuasive Essay Topics for Middle School Students

When it comes to developing empathy in middle school students, nothing beats thought-provoking persuasive essay topics. These assignments provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore different perspectives, challenge their own beliefs, and understand the experiences of others. By delving deep into these topics, students can learn to value the importance of empathy and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Here are some compelling persuasive essay topics that can encourage middle school students to think critically about empathy:

Should schools implement empathy training programs to promote understanding and compassion among students?
Is it important to consider the emotions and feelings of animals when making decisions about their treatment?
Should students be required to perform community service to enhance their understanding of other people’s struggles?
Can empathy play a crucial role in reducing bullying in schools?
Should the media be more responsible in portraying diverse cultures and experiences to foster empathy?

These topics offer a platform for students to express their opinions and engage in meaningful discussions. By presenting a variety of perspectives and challenging students to support their arguments with evidence, not only do these persuasive essay topics nurture empathy, but they also enhance critical thinking skills and encourage open-mindedness.

5. From Past to Present: Uncovering Historical Events for Expository Writing in 8th Grade

In the 8th grade, students embark on an exciting journey to explore and uncover historical events through the art of expository writing. With a focus on connecting the past to the present, this unit encourages students to dive deep into the annals of history, fostering critical thinking skills, and enhancing their ability to communicate effectively.

During this unit, students will engage in a multitude of activities, including:

Researching and selecting a historical event of their choice
Reading primary and secondary sources to gather reliable information
Analyzing different perspectives to understand the event from multiple angles
Identifying cause-and-effect relationships to comprehend the impact of the event on society

Furthermore, students will learn to organize their thoughts coherently, ensuring a seamless flow of information in their expository essays. They will master the art of crafting clear and concise thesis statements, supporting their arguments with well-researched evidence, and developing compelling conclusions that tie the past to the present.

6. Current Issues, Fresh Perspectives: Exploring Argumentative Writing Topics for Middle Schoolers

Encouraging middle schoolers to develop their argumentative writing skills is a powerful way to foster critical thinking and engage them in meaningful discussions. By presenting a range of current issues, we provide young minds with opportunities to explore various viewpoints, form their own opinions, and strengthen their persuasive abilities. In this section, we have curated a selection of thought-provoking topics that will challenge middle schoolers to think critically and articulate their ideas effectively.

The Impact of Social Media: Discuss the positive and negative effects of social media on young people’s lives, focusing on topics such as cyberbullying, addiction, and the potential impact on mental health.
School Uniforms: Explore the reasons why some schools enforce uniforms, while others do not. Debate the advantages and disadvantages of having a standardized dress code in educational institutions.
Animal Testing: Engage in a conversation about the ethical considerations of using animals for scientific research, alternative methods, and the potential benefits or drawbacks of this controversial practice.

Middle schoolers are encouraged to choose topics that resonate with them personally, allowing them to connect and voice their opinions authentically. By diving into these current issues, students will not only enhance their writing skills but also develop empathy, critical thinking, and the ability to build arguments supported by sound evidence. By engaging in these conversations, we empower our young learners to become active participants in shaping the world around them.

7. Let's Get Descriptive: Inspiring Poetry and Descriptive Writing Topics for 8th Grade

In the 8th grade, students are encouraged to explore their creativity and expand their writing skills through descriptive writing and poetry. This not only helps them develop their vocabulary and language proficiency but also allows them to express their thoughts and emotions in a vivid and engaging manner. Here are some inspiring and exciting topics that can be explored in 8th-grade classrooms:

1. Imaginative Landscapes: Encourage students to imagine and describe their own dream landscapes. They can transport their readers to enchanted forests, bustling cities in the clouds, or even underwater kingdoms. Encourage the use of sensory details and descriptive language to bring these settings to life.

2. Unique Characters: Students can create fascinating characters by focusing on their appearance, personality traits, and backstory. Promote the use of figurative language such as similes and metaphors to make their descriptions more impactful. Encourage them to delve into their characters’ emotions and motivations to make them more relatable to readers.

3. Personal Narratives: Students can reflect on significant moments or experiences in their lives and craft descriptive narratives around them. It could be an unforgettable vacation, a challenging life event, or a memorable friendship. Encourage them to incorporate sensory details, dialogue, and introspection to make their narratives more engaging.

4. Powerful Emotions: Poetry is a wonderful medium for expressing intense emotions. Encourage students to write about joy, sadness, fear, or any other feeling that resonates with them. They can experiment with different poetic devices like imagery, alliteration, and repetition to evoke powerful emotions in their readers.

5. Nature’s Beauty: Inspire students to step outside and observe the beauty of nature around them. They can describe the captivating colors of a sunset, the gentle rustle of leaves in a forest, or the fragrance of blooming flowers. Encourage them to capture these moments using similes, personification, or even writing in free verse.

8. A World of Discovery: Exciting Research-Based Writing Topics for Middle School Explorers

Encourage the curious minds of middle school explorers by introducing them to a world of thrilling research-based writing topics. With endless possibilities, these topics will not only ignite their imagination but also help them develop crucial academic and critical thinking skills. Whether it’s unraveling mysteries or diving into fascinating historical events, here are a few enticing topics that will inspire young writers to embark on their own journeys of discovery:

The Secrets of Ancient Civilizations: Transport your readers back in time as they dig deep into the mysteries of ancient civilizations like the Aztecs, Egyptians, or Incas. Unravel the secrets of their impressive architectural feats, religious rituals, or enigmatic hieroglyphics.
Exploring the Wonders of Space: Take your audience on an interstellar adventure as they explore celestial bodies, ponder the existence of extraterrestrial life, or dive into the mind-boggling phenomena of black holes and supernovas.
Uncovering Nature’s Hidden Gems: Immerse your readers in the captivating world of nature by investigating the intricate behaviors of animals, the marvels of evolution, or the delicate balance of ecosystems.

With these research-based writing topics, middle schoolers will flex their intellectual muscles while discovering the hidden wonders and untold stories of our world. Encourage them to dive deep, think critically, and become the explorers of knowledge. Who knows what remarkable discoveries lie ahead on their literary journeys?

Q: Why is it important to inspire 8th graders in their writing?

A: Inspiring 8th graders in their writing is crucial because it helps them develop strong communication skills, creativity, and critical thinking abilities. Writing can boost their self-confidence, allowing them to express their thoughts and ideas effectively.

Q: What are some writing topics that can inspire 8th graders?

A: There are various writing topics that can inspire 8th graders. Here are a few examples: 1. Personal Narrative – Encourage students to share a significant personal experience and reflect upon its impact on their lives. 2. Persuasive Essay – Help students explore controversial topics and challenge their peers’ perspectives, fostering critical thinking skills. 3. Creative Fiction – Encourage students to use their imagination to create engaging stories, exploring different genres such as mystery, fantasy, or science fiction. 4. Research Essay – Motivate students to delve into topics of interest, encouraging them to conduct thorough research and present well-supported arguments.

Q: How can teachers inspire 8th graders to write about personal experiences?

A: Teachers can inspire 8th graders to write about personal experiences by creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions. Encourage them to reflect on important events, friendships, or challenges they have faced. This can help students develop their writing voice and make their writing more relatable.

Q: How can teachers help 8th graders improve their persuasive writing skills ?

A: To help 8th graders improve their persuasive writing skills, teachers can implement various strategies. Firstly, guide students in understanding the structure and components of persuasive essays. Provide examples and encourage students to identify persuasive techniques used in different texts. Additionally, prompt them to research and gather evidence to support their claims and arguments. Peer feedback and class discussions are also effective tools to enhance their persuasive writing skills.

Q: How can teachers encourage creativity in 8th graders’ fiction writing?

A: To encourage creativity in 8th graders’ fiction writing, teachers should allow students to freely explore their imagination. Implement writing exercises that encourage them to think outside the box, such as writing prompts or story starters. Encourage creative storytelling techniques like incorporating descriptive language, developing interesting characters, or creating unique plot twists. Provide opportunities for students to share and receive feedback, fostering a supportive environment for their creativity to flourish.

Q: How can teachers guide 8th graders in writing a strong research essay?

A: Guiding 8th graders in writing a strong research essay involves teaching them the necessary research and analytical skills. Teachers can explain the process of conducting research, including credible sources and effective note-taking techniques. Emphasize the importance of organizing their thoughts and arguments before starting to write. Teach the students how to effectively integrate research evidence into their writing and how to properly cite their sources. Additionally, provide guidance on how to structure and format their research essays, ensuring clarity and coherence.

Q: Why is it essential to provide a supportive environment for 8th grade writers?

A: Providing a supportive environment for 8th grade writers is essential as it boosts their confidence and encourages risk-taking in their writing. By nurturing a safe and non-judgmental space, students feel comfortable sharing their ideas and voices. This supportive atmosphere fosters creativity, critical thinking, and growth as writers. Additionally, constructive feedback from both the teacher and peers helps students improve their writing skills and develop a lifelong love for writing.

Q: How can parents support their 8th graders’ writing journey?

A: Parents can support their 8th graders’ writing journey in several ways. Firstly, they can encourage regular writing practice at home, providing a designated space for their child to write. Parents can engage in conversations about writing topics, asking open-ended questions to stimulate their child’s thinking. Reading and discussing various genres of literature together can also broaden their exposure and inspire their writing. Lastly, offering praise and constructive feedback on their child’s writing samples can boost their confidence and motivate further improvement.

In conclusion, these writing topics for 8th graders provide a wide range of inspiration to help young writers explore their creativity and expand their writing skills in meaningful ways.

Foundation of Learning: How to Writing Topics for Kindergarten

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American History Research Paper Topics for Eighth Grade

Report Writing Guidelines for Middle School

For many American students, the eighth grade is the first time they delve deeply into the details and controversies of American history. As such, it is a great time for eighth-graders to undertake a research project. Many students may even be able to use primary sources in this research, and numerous suitable topics are available for this age group.

American Revolution Topics

A basic research topic that will allow eighth-graders to present an argument, use primary sources and learn general American history involves assessing the events that led to the American Revolution. Students, for example, could explore a question such as "Which British policies most outraged the American colonists?" From there, they could use primary resources -- like newspaper snippets or Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" -- to clearly outline what issues were most important to the Patriots. In the process, they would learn further about issues like the Boston Tea Party -- No taxation without representation! -- and the Intolerable Acts.

Sectional Crisis and Civil War

A good way for eighth-graders to both understand primary source research and to learn the basics of the American Civil War is to research the differences between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglass during the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Teachers could ask for a clear outline of how the two figures differed in their views on slavery. This would entail learning about both politicians while also reading the primary arguments of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Teachers could provide some guidance on which debates were most useful, and they could help students understand antiquated language; however, students could read and learn about the two figures on their own.

The Great Depression

To study the Great Depression, teachers could give eighth-graders a research topic that allows them to explore how the economic downfall affected a particular region of the country. For example, each student in the class could be assigned a different region and could do research on how that area was impacted. The regions should not be so obscure as to make the research excessively detailed and complicated. A good example might be the Great Plains, which would give students a good chance to explore the Dust Bowl.

Contemporary History

For contemporary U.S. history, eighth-graders have a wide range of options. A perfect case study might be the African-American civil rights movement. For this research project, teachers could assign different leaders in the movement -- from Martin Luther King to Rosa Parks to Malcolm X -- and then give a specific topic such as "Research this leader's views on nonviolence as a method of civil rights protest." Students could then, for example, find that Malcolm X was skeptical of the nonviolent approach, while Martin Luther King strongly supported it. Their research could use primary sources and should offer a more nuanced view of their leader's approach to nonviolence.

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Kevin Wandrei has written extensively on higher education. His work has been published with Kaplan, Textbooks.com, and Shmoop, Inc., among others. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Cornell University.

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Fresh Ideas For Writing An 8th Grade Research Paper

8th grade students are often given research paper assignments. However, many of them have undeveloped writing skills and procrastinate while choosing topic ideas for their work. Fortunately, students can find many sample topics on the web and in their school library. The following list of fresh ideas for 8th grade students, ideal for those who want to get inspired and come up with a manageable topic:

Consider the following topics in history:
Egyptian pharaohs and their accomplishments.
The Pyramids of Egypt and their historical value.
The Atlantic slave trade: the main causes and effects.
Apartheid in South Africa: the role of Nelson Mandela.
What is genocide: the example of Cambodia.
Write about religion:
Hinduism in India: the role of the caste system in the society.
Buddhism and the personality of Siddhartha Gautama.
The influence of Islam on the important historical events.
The main statements of Confucianism.
The world religions: the main differences and similarities.
Investigate major environmental problems:
The causes and effects of desertification in Africa.
The rise of the sea level: the impacts on the small island states of Polynesia.
Global warming: a myth or reality.
Water pollution in big cities: the potential threats.
The extinction of species: the main causes and effects.
Compare and contrast different subjects:
What is the best pet: a dog or a cat?
What is more difficult: being a lawyer or a doctor?
Who earns more: a famous singer or a successful athlete?
Why do you like travelling: visiting interesting places vs. meeting new people?
The healthy meal: should people eat at home or go to a restaurant?
Analyze the learning environment in your school:
Wearing school uniforms: the main pros and cons.
Playing games in class: an effective learning method.
Homework debate: why do you like/dislike studying after classes?
A professional teacher: what skills should a good teacher have?
What school resources can you use in order to improve your academic performance?

You can use one of the ideas provided above, or brainstorm topics for your research paper with your classmates. Keep in mind your teacher’s requirements, and make sure that your research topic is narrow enough to be covered within the scope of the assignment. It is important to use the reliable sources and insert in-text citations if you borrow the ideas of others. You can visit the school writing center to get a research paper manual with examples of formatting.

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List Of Compelling Research Paper Topics For 8th Graders

When you are in 8th grade, you feel that every assignment is difficult. No matter how much you focus you try to finish fast you still have to waste an entire afternoon for your assignments. Besides, when you have to create a research paper you never know what topic to choose. To make things easier for you and to get high grades, choose one of these compelling topics:

Free education for everyone. As you know, not all children can afford good education. How would it be if the government would offer free scholarships for every student? Do you think that the country would improve?
Children with disabilities. In general, children with disabilities don’t make friend easily, and they suffer very much because of this. In your research paper you can discuss about this issue and how you and your colleagues can help these children.
Uniforms for students. There are many advantages and disadvantages for this, and you can discuss about all of them in your composition. Do you think that students should wear uniforms?
Adoption. Do you think that the government should promote adoption more? Why is it so important for children to be part of a family?
Animal protection. It is very important to protect and care for the animals, but unfortunately not all people think the same way. The government has strict laws regarding this issue, but all the community has to work to solve this problem. What can students do to improve the life of the animals?
Reading. Why is it vital for students to read as much as possible? What is your favorite book and why? You can even make a resume of the book so you can present it to your colleagues. If your composition is interesting enough, they might get to read it.
How much your teachers matter for you? Do you think that what you learned from them will help you in the next years? Are they an inspiration for you?
Technology and teenagers. You love to spend time on your mobile and computer, but is this useful for you? How much time should teenagers really spend on the Internet? Are you getting any benefit from playing games and staying on social media?
Sports. What is your favorite sport and why? Should teenagers play sports more often?

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Middle School: Eighth Grade Research Paper

Choosing a Topic More important than any other aspect of the research paper project is the need for each student to select a topic in which he or she displays a genuine interest. The project will run for roughly six to eight weeks, and a clear and steady motivation to conduct research, write, and edit is critical to having the project be a worthwhile endeavor. Teachers are traditionally flexible in approving topics, but they will definitely steer students away from topics that are not feasible.

In choosing a topic about which to write, students should consider the availability of information on their chosen subject, and aim for one that is relatively easy to research. Teachers will help students select topics that are well represented in articles, books, etc. available through either the Saint Ann’s library or a nearby library.

Yet another consideration in selecting a topic is whether or not it will fit into the six to eight page limit. Again, teachers will help students make this decision.

Finally, students need to pick a topic that can be researched and written about in the allotted time for the research paper project. Again, the intention is for the entire project to be completed in six to eight weeks.

The Process We begin this project with an early February meeting of the entire 8th grade and their History and English teachers, though classes may begin discussing the project before the meeting. Students are asked to do some thinking about their potential topics over the mid-winter break.

Once back from vacation, classes will visit the library and students will begin their research in earnest. Working from guidelines about note taking on index cards, as well as footnoting, students will use class time in both English and history classes to conduct research and begin shaping their ideas.

Teacher teams may take different approaches to the next stages of the paper, but all will require students to form their ideas into a first draft of a detailed outline. Students will then revise this detailed outline in a second draft before moving on to write the final draft of their paper. Teachers will determine, on a case by case basis, if a second draft of a paper is warranted.

The first draft of the detailed outline is due, roughly, in the third week of the project, and the second draft of the detailed outline is due in the 4th or 5th week.

Deadlines tend to float a little bit as the paper progresses, but teachers will routinely make clear exactly what is expected from each student for each week. Students will not receive a schedule for the entire project, other than the six to eight week goal.

Teachers are looking for a typed, six to eight page research paper with a bibliography and footnotes. Although it does not have to be a history paper, the paper needs to be an analytical one — it should not be a biography, an opinion piece, or a literary criticism. In other words, the paper needs to have a clearly stated and supported argument.

How Parents Can Help Let your children do the work.

Make sure students have note cards, highlighters, and access to a computer and the internet. Students may arrange to use the school’s growing supply of Google Chromebooks if these last two items prove difficult for parents to provide.

Help students stay on task: make sure they bring their materials to school each day. For the first two weeks of the project, students work on research in their English and history classes. If they arrive without notecards, xeroxed readings, etc, precious time is lost.

Check in with your children regularly.

Useful Links and Documents for Parents & Students

Schedule of Due Dates

What is the Eight Grade Research Paper?

Guide to Writing Footnotes – Research Paper

Guide to Notetaking – Research Paper

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Research Skills

50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills

Please note, I am no longer blogging and this post hasn’t updated since April 2020.

For a number of years, Seth Godin has been talking about the need to “ connect the dots” rather than “collect the dots” . That is, rather than memorising information, students must be able to learn how to solve new problems, see patterns, and combine multiple perspectives.

Solid research skills underpin this. Having the fluency to find and use information successfully is an essential skill for life and work.

Today’s students have more information at their fingertips than ever before and this means the role of the teacher as a guide is more important than ever.

You might be wondering how you can fit teaching research skills into a busy curriculum? There aren’t enough hours in the day! The good news is, there are so many mini-lessons you can do to build students’ skills over time.

This post outlines 50 ideas for activities that could be done in just a few minutes (or stretched out to a longer lesson if you have the time!).

Learn More About The Research Process

I have a popular post called Teach Students How To Research Online In 5 Steps. It outlines a five-step approach to break down the research process into manageable chunks.

Learn about a simple search process for students in primary school, middle school, or high school Kathleen Morris

This post shares ideas for mini-lessons that could be carried out in the classroom throughout the year to help build students’ skills in the five areas of: clarify, search, delve, evaluate , and cite . It also includes ideas for learning about staying organised throughout the research process.

Notes about the 50 research activities:

These ideas can be adapted for different age groups from middle primary/elementary to senior high school.
Many of these ideas can be repeated throughout the year.
Depending on the age of your students, you can decide whether the activity will be more teacher or student led. Some activities suggest coming up with a list of words, questions, or phrases. Teachers of younger students could generate these themselves.
Depending on how much time you have, many of the activities can be either quickly modelled by the teacher, or extended to an hour-long lesson.
Some of the activities could fit into more than one category.
Looking for simple articles for younger students for some of the activities? Try DOGO News or Time for Kids . Newsela is also a great resource but you do need to sign up for free account.
Why not try a few activities in a staff meeting? Everyone can always brush up on their own research skills!

Choose a topic (e.g. koalas, basketball, Mount Everest) . Write as many questions as you can think of relating to that topic.
Make a mindmap of a topic you’re currently learning about. This could be either on paper or using an online tool like Bubbl.us .
Read a short book or article. Make a list of 5 words from the text that you don’t totally understand. Look up the meaning of the words in a dictionary (online or paper).
Look at a printed or digital copy of a short article with the title removed. Come up with as many different titles as possible that would fit the article.
Come up with a list of 5 different questions you could type into Google (e.g. Which country in Asia has the largest population?) Circle the keywords in each question.
Write down 10 words to describe a person, place, or topic. Come up with synonyms for these words using a tool like Thesaurus.com .
Write pairs of synonyms on post-it notes (this could be done by the teacher or students). Each student in the class has one post-it note and walks around the classroom to find the person with the synonym to their word.

Explore how to search Google using your voice (i.e. click/tap on the microphone in the Google search box or on your phone/tablet keyboard) . List the pros and cons of using voice and text to search.
Open two different search engines in your browser such as Google and Bing. Type in a query and compare the results. Do all search engines work exactly the same?
Have students work in pairs to try out a different search engine (there are 11 listed here ). Report back to the class on the pros and cons.
Think of something you’re curious about, (e.g. What endangered animals live in the Amazon Rainforest?). Open Google in two tabs. In one search, type in one or two keywords ( e.g. Amazon Rainforest) . In the other search type in multiple relevant keywords (e.g. endangered animals Amazon rainforest). Compare the results. Discuss the importance of being specific.
Similar to above, try two different searches where one phrase is in quotation marks and the other is not. For example, Origin of “raining cats and dogs” and Origin of raining cats and dogs . Discuss the difference that using quotation marks makes (It tells Google to search for the precise keywords in order.)
Try writing a question in Google with a few minor spelling mistakes. What happens? What happens if you add or leave out punctuation ?
Try the AGoogleADay.com daily search challenges from Google. The questions help older students learn about choosing keywords, deconstructing questions, and altering keywords.
Explore how Google uses autocomplete to suggest searches quickly. Try it out by typing in various queries (e.g. How to draw… or What is the tallest…). Discuss how these suggestions come about, how to use them, and whether they’re usually helpful.
Watch this video from Code.org to learn more about how search works .
Take a look at 20 Instant Google Searches your Students Need to Know by Eric Curts to learn about “ instant searches ”. Try one to try out. Perhaps each student could be assigned one to try and share with the class.
Experiment with typing some questions into Google that have a clear answer (e.g. “What is a parallelogram?” or “What is the highest mountain in the world?” or “What is the population of Australia?”). Look at the different ways the answers are displayed instantly within the search results — dictionary definitions, image cards, graphs etc.

Watch the video How Does Google Know Everything About Me? by Scientific American. Discuss the PageRank algorithm and how Google uses your data to customise search results.
Brainstorm a list of popular domains (e.g. .com, .com.au, or your country’s domain) . Discuss if any domains might be more reliable than others and why (e.g. .gov or .edu) .
Discuss (or research) ways to open Google search results in a new tab to save your original search results (i.e. right-click > open link in new tab or press control/command and click the link).
Try out a few Google searches (perhaps start with things like “car service” “cat food” or “fresh flowers”). A re there advertisements within the results? Discuss where these appear and how to spot them.
Look at ways to filter search results by using the tabs at the top of the page in Google (i.e. news, images, shopping, maps, videos etc.). Do the same filters appear for all Google searches? Try out a few different searches and see.
Type a question into Google and look for the “People also ask” and “Searches related to…” sections. Discuss how these could be useful. When should you use them or ignore them so you don’t go off on an irrelevant tangent? Is the information in the drop-down section under “People also ask” always the best?
Often, more current search results are more useful. Click on “tools” under the Google search box and then “any time” and your time frame of choice such as “Past month” or “Past year”.
Have students annotate their own “anatomy of a search result” example like the one I made below. Explore the different ways search results display; some have more details like sitelinks and some do not.

Find two articles on a news topic from different publications. Or find a news article and an opinion piece on the same topic. Make a Venn diagram comparing the similarities and differences.
Choose a graph, map, or chart from The New York Times’ What’s Going On In This Graph series . Have a whole class or small group discussion about the data.
Look at images stripped of their captions on What’s Going On In This Picture? by The New York Times. Discuss the images in pairs or small groups. What can you tell?
Explore a website together as a class or in pairs — perhaps a news website. Identify all the advertisements .
Have a look at a fake website either as a whole class or in pairs/small groups. See if students can spot that these sites are not real. Discuss the fact that you can’t believe everything that’s online. Get started with these four examples of fake websites from Eric Curts.
Give students a copy of my website evaluation flowchart to analyse and then discuss as a class. Read more about the flowchart in this post.
As a class, look at a prompt from Mike Caulfield’s Four Moves . Either together or in small groups, have students fact check the prompts on the site. This resource explains more about the fact checking process. Note: some of these prompts are not suitable for younger students.
Practice skim reading — give students one minute to read a short article. Ask them to discuss what stood out to them. Headings? Bold words? Quotes? Then give students ten minutes to read the same article and discuss deep reading.

All students can benefit from learning about plagiarism, copyright, how to write information in their own words, and how to acknowledge the source. However, the formality of this process will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum guidelines.

Watch the video Citation for Beginners for an introduction to citation. Discuss the key points to remember.
Look up the definition of plagiarism using a variety of sources (dictionary, video, Wikipedia etc.). Create a definition as a class.
Find an interesting video on YouTube (perhaps a “life hack” video) and write a brief summary in your own words.
Have students pair up and tell each other about their weekend. Then have the listener try to verbalise or write their friend’s recount in their own words. Discuss how accurate this was.
Read the class a copy of a well known fairy tale. Have them write a short summary in their own words. Compare the versions that different students come up with.
Try out MyBib — a handy free online tool without ads that helps you create citations quickly and easily.
Give primary/elementary students a copy of Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Citation that matches their grade level (the guide covers grades 1 to 6). Choose one form of citation and create some examples as a class (e.g. a website or a book).
Make a list of things that are okay and not okay to do when researching, e.g. copy text from a website, use any image from Google images, paraphrase in your own words and cite your source, add a short quote and cite the source.
Have students read a short article and then come up with a summary that would be considered plagiarism and one that would not be considered plagiarism. These could be shared with the class and the students asked to decide which one shows an example of plagiarism .
Older students could investigate the difference between paraphrasing and summarising . They could create a Venn diagram that compares the two.
Write a list of statements on the board that might be true or false ( e.g. The 1956 Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia. The rhinoceros is the largest land animal in the world. The current marathon world record is 2 hours, 7 minutes). Have students research these statements and decide whether they’re true or false by sharing their citations.

Staying Organised

Make a list of different ways you can take notes while researching — Google Docs, Google Keep, pen and paper etc. Discuss the pros and cons of each method.
Learn the keyboard shortcuts to help manage tabs (e.g. open new tab, reopen closed tab, go to next tab etc.). Perhaps students could all try out the shortcuts and share their favourite one with the class.
Find a collection of resources on a topic and add them to a Wakelet .
Listen to a short podcast or watch a brief video on a certain topic and sketchnote ideas. Sylvia Duckworth has some great tips about live sketchnoting
Learn how to use split screen to have one window open with your research, and another open with your notes (e.g. a Google spreadsheet, Google Doc, Microsoft Word or OneNote etc.) .

All teachers know it’s important to teach students to research well. Investing time in this process will also pay off throughout the year and the years to come. Students will be able to focus on analysing and synthesizing information, rather than the mechanics of the research process.

By trying out as many of these mini-lessons as possible throughout the year, you’ll be really helping your students to thrive in all areas of school, work, and life.

Also remember to model your own searches explicitly during class time. Talk out loud as you look things up and ask students for input. Learning together is the way to go!

You Might Also Enjoy Reading:

How To Evaluate Websites: A Guide For Teachers And Students

Five Tips for Teaching Students How to Research and Filter Information

Typing Tips: The How and Why of Teaching Students Keyboarding Skills

8 Ways Teachers And Schools Can Communicate With Parents

Learn how to teach research skills to primary students, middle school students, or high school students. 50 activities that could be done in just a few minutes a day. Lots of Google search tips and research tips for kids and teachers. Free PDF included! Kathleen Morris | Primary Tech

10 Replies to “50 Mini-Lessons For Teaching Students Research Skills”

Loving these ideas, thank you

This list is amazing. Thank you so much!

So glad it’s helpful, Alex! 🙂

Hi I am a student who really needed some help on how to reasearch thanks for the help.

So glad it helped! 🙂

seriously seriously grateful for your post. 🙂

So glad it’s helpful! Makes my day 🙂

How do you get the 50 mini lessons. I got the free one but am interested in the full version.

Hi Tracey, The link to the PDF with the 50 mini lessons is in the post. Here it is . Check out this post if you need more advice on teaching students how to research online. Hope that helps! Kathleen

Best wishes to you as you face your health battler. Hoping you’ve come out stronger and healthier from it. Your website is so helpful.

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100 Interesting Research Paper Topics for High Schoolers

What’s covered:, how to pick the right research topic, elements of a strong research paper.

Interesting Research Paper Topics

Composing a research paper can be a daunting task for first-time writers. In addition to making sure you’re using concise language and your thoughts are organized clearly, you need to find a topic that draws the reader in.

CollegeVine is here to help you brainstorm creative topics! Below are 100 interesting research paper topics that will help you engage with your project and keep you motivated until you’ve typed the final period.

A research paper is similar to an academic essay but more lengthy and requires more research. This added length and depth is bittersweet: although a research paper is more work, you can create a more nuanced argument, and learn more about your topic. Research papers are a demonstration of your research ability and your ability to formulate a convincing argument. How well you’re able to engage with the sources and make original contributions will determine the strength of your paper.

You can’t have a good research paper without a good research paper topic. “Good” is subjective, and different students will find different topics interesting. What’s important is that you find a topic that makes you want to find out more and make a convincing argument. Maybe you’ll be so interested that you’ll want to take it further and investigate some detail in even greater depth!

For example, last year over 4000 students applied for 500 spots in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a rigorous research program founded by Harvard researchers. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project . The program actually does not require you to have a research topic in mind when you apply, but pro tip: the more specific you can be the more likely you are to get in!

Introduction

The introduction to a research paper serves two critical functions: it conveys the topic of the paper and illustrates how you will address it. A strong introduction will also pique the interest of the reader and make them excited to read more. Selecting a research paper topic that is meaningful, interesting, and fascinates you is an excellent first step toward creating an engaging paper that people will want to read.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is technically part of the introduction—generally the last sentence of it—but is so important that it merits a section of its own. The thesis statement is a declarative sentence that tells the reader what the paper is about. A strong thesis statement serves three purposes: present the topic of the paper, deliver a clear opinion on the topic, and summarize the points the paper will cover.

An example of a good thesis statement of diversity in the workforce is:

Diversity in the workplace is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses, as it fosters innovation, enhances creativity, improves decision-making, and enables companies to better understand and connect with a diverse customer base.

The body is the largest section of a research paper. It’s here where you support your thesis, present your facts and research, and persuade the reader.

Each paragraph in the body of a research paper should have its own idea. The idea is presented, generally in the first sentence of the paragraph, by a topic sentence. The topic sentence acts similarly to the thesis statement, only on a smaller scale, and every sentence in the paragraph with it supports the idea it conveys.

An example of a topic sentence on how diversity in the workplace fosters innovation is:

Diversity in the workplace fosters innovation by bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, which stimulates creativity, encourages new ideas, and leads to the development of innovative solutions to complex problems.

The body of an engaging research paper flows smoothly from one idea to the next. Create an outline before writing and order your ideas so that each idea logically leads to another.

The conclusion of a research paper should summarize your thesis and reinforce your argument. It’s common to restate the thesis in the conclusion of a research paper.

For example, a conclusion for a paper about diversity in the workforce is:

In conclusion, diversity in the workplace is vital to success in the modern business world. By embracing diversity, companies can tap into the full potential of their workforce, promote creativity and innovation, and better connect with a diverse customer base, ultimately leading to greater success and a more prosperous future for all.

Reference Page

The reference page is normally found at the end of a research paper. It provides proof that you did research using credible sources, properly credits the originators of information, and prevents plagiarism.

There are a number of different formats of reference pages, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. Make sure to format your reference page in your teacher’s preferred style.

Analyze the benefits of diversity in education.
Are charter schools useful for the national education system?
How has modern technology changed teaching?
Discuss the pros and cons of standardized testing.
What are the benefits of a gap year between high school and college?
What funding allocations give the most benefit to students?
Does homeschooling set students up for success?
Should universities/high schools require students to be vaccinated?
What effect does rising college tuition have on high schoolers?
Do students perform better in same-sex schools?
Discuss and analyze the impacts of a famous musician on pop music.
How has pop music evolved over the past decade?
How has the portrayal of women in music changed in the media over the past decade?
How does a synthesizer work?
How has music evolved to feature different instruments/voices?
How has sound effect technology changed the music industry?
Analyze the benefits of music education in high schools.
Are rehabilitation centers more effective than prisons?
Are congestion taxes useful?
Does affirmative action help minorities?
Can a capitalist system effectively reduce inequality?
Is a three-branch government system effective?
What causes polarization in today’s politics?
Is the U.S. government racially unbiased?
Choose a historical invention and discuss its impact on society today.
Choose a famous historical leader who lost power—what led to their eventual downfall?
How has your country evolved over the past century?
What historical event has had the largest effect on the U.S.?
Has the government’s response to national disasters improved or declined throughout history?
Discuss the history of the American occupation of Iraq.
Explain the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Is literature relevant in modern society?
Discuss how fiction can be used for propaganda.
How does literature teach and inform about society?
Explain the influence of children’s literature on adulthood.
How has literature addressed homosexuality?
Does the media portray minorities realistically?
Does the media reinforce stereotypes?
Why have podcasts become so popular?
Will streaming end traditional television?
What is a patriot?
What are the pros and cons of global citizenship?
What are the causes and effects of bullying?
Why has the divorce rate in the U.S. been declining in recent years?
Is it more important to follow social norms or religion?
What are the responsible limits on abortion, if any?
How does an MRI machine work?
Would the U.S. benefit from socialized healthcare?
Elderly populations
The education system
State tax bases
How do anti-vaxxers affect the health of the country?
Analyze the costs and benefits of diet culture.
Should companies allow employees to exercise on company time?
What is an adequate amount of exercise for an adult per week/per month/per day?
Discuss the effects of the obesity epidemic on American society.
Are students smarter since the advent of the internet?
What departures has the internet made from its original design?
Has digital downloading helped the music industry?
Discuss the benefits and costs of stricter internet censorship.
Analyze the effects of the internet on the paper news industry.
What would happen if the internet went out?
How will artificial intelligence (AI) change our lives?
What are the pros and cons of cryptocurrency?
How has social media affected the way people relate with each other?
Should social media have an age restriction?
Discuss the importance of source software.
What is more relevant in today’s world: mobile apps or websites?
How will fully autonomous vehicles change our lives?
How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?

Mental Health

What are the benefits of daily exercise?
How has social media affected people’s mental health?
What things contribute to poor mental and physical health?
Analyze how mental health is talked about in pop culture.
Discuss the pros and cons of more counselors in high schools.
How does stress affect the body?
How do emotional support animals help people?
What are black holes?
Discuss the biggest successes and failures of the EPA.
How has the Flint water crisis affected life in Michigan?
Can science help save endangered species?
Is the development of an anti-cancer vaccine possible?

Environment

What are the effects of deforestation on climate change?
Is climate change reversible?
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect global warming and climate change?
Are carbon credits effective for offsetting emissions or just marketing?
Is nuclear power a safe alternative to fossil fuels?
Are hybrid vehicles helping to control pollution in the atmosphere?
How is plastic waste harming the environment?
Is entrepreneurism a trait people are born with or something they learn?
How much more should CEOs make than their average employee?
Can you start a business without money?
Should the U.S. raise the minimum wage?
Discuss how happy employees benefit businesses.
How important is branding for a business?
Discuss the ease, or difficulty, of landing a job today.
What is the economic impact of sporting events?
Are professional athletes overpaid?
Should male and female athletes receive equal pay?
What is a fair and equitable way for transgender athletes to compete in high school sports?
What are the benefits of playing team sports?
What is the most corrupt professional sport?

Where to Get More Research Paper Topic Ideas

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8th grade science topics

This collection includes resources to support teachers and students as they engage in the topics outlined in the 8th grade NYC Science Scope & Sequence. Resources support the following units: 8:1 Reproduction, Heredity and Evolution; 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth; 8:3 The Sun, Earth and Moon System and 8:4 Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

Please note that the files in this collection can not be downloaded from WeTeachNYC because they link out to an external site.

Included Resources

Reproduction, heredity and evolution.

This collection of resources supports unit 8:1 of the 8th grade science Scope and Sequence: Reproduction, Heredity and Evolution.

Forces and motion on Earth

This collection of resources supports unit 8:2 of the 8th grade science Scope and Sequence: Forces and Motion on Earth.

The sun, earth and moon system

This collection of resources supports unit 8:3 of the 8th grade science Scope and Sequence: The Sun, Earth and Moon System.

50 Top 8th Grade Science Fair Projects and Classroom Activities

Find interesting ideas to engage all learners!

Collage of 8th grade science fair projects, including building a better lightbulb and guiding a plant through a light maze

Whether your students are preparing for the science fair or you’re looking for classroom ideas to grab their interest, we’ve got the answers! Find lots of 8th grade science fair projects across a spectrum of topics and difficulty levels (including plenty of easy science fair project ideas). Plus, check out fun classroom demos and hands-on experiments and activities your students will love.

To make it easier to find classroom activities or science fair projects for 8th graders, we’ve rated all the projects and activities 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
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

Biology and Life Science 8th Grade Science Fair Projects

Chemistry 8th grade science fair projects, physics and engineering 8th grade science fair projects, 8th grade science classroom demos, experiments, and hands-on activities.

Explore human behavior, plants and animals, the water cycle, and more with these 8th grade science fair project ideas.

Measure and compare lung capacity

Two eighth grade science students measuring the circumference of a blue balloon

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

This experiment combines math and biology to measure lung capacity using a balloon. There are a lot of interesting hypotheses students can form, document, and explore while taking these measurements.

Learn more: Measuring Lung Capacity at Blog She Wrote

Guide a growing plant through a maze

A plant in a cardboard box, growing in a twisted pattern through holes toward light at the top

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Prove that plants really do seek out the light by setting up a simple or complex maze. This is a simple 8th grade science project with really cool results.

Learn more: Plant Light Maze at KiwiCo

Explore symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Frozen peas next to two plant containers labeled control and bacteria

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

Many plants depend on nitrogen for growth, but how important is it? This science project compares the growth of pea plants with and without nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Learn more: Nitrogen and Plants at Education.com

Test water quality

Water quality testing kit with TDS meter

A water-testing kit opens up limitless options for 8th grade science fair projects. Test the water quality of local streams, swimming pools, or even the taps at home.

Learn more: Water Quality Experiment at The Homeschool Scientist

Cast animal tracks

Plaster cast of dog footprint next to autumn leaves, dated 7/25/15

Explore wildlife biology by becoming an expert tracker! Learn to identify tracks and take casts. Turn this into an experiment by trying different methods to take casts, or use it as a method of identifying wildlife in the woods.

Learn more: Casting Animal Tracks at Blog She Wrote

Determine a plant’s favorite music

Play different types of music for plants, then observe and document any changes in the growth and development of the plants as they’re exposed to different genres of music.

Conduct fingerprint analysis

Large fingerprint in black ink on white paper

Budding forensic scientists will love this idea. Learn to dust for prints and try a technique called “fuming” for trickier surfaces. See if you can compare prints and make accurate matches in the classroom. You can buy a fingerprinting kit just for kids or use supplies from around the house.

Learn more: Fingerprinting at Home Science Tools

Examine the connection between personality and memory

Notecard labeled Personality Type INFJ and worksheet labeled Memory Tests

Do introverts have better memories than extroverts? This science project aims to find out. Round up some willing volunteers and administer the Myers-Briggs personality test, then challenge your subjects with a memory test. The results may or may not surprise you!

Learn more: Memory and Personality at Education.com

Measure algae growth

Mason jars filled with water and algae, along with other chemicals

Fertilizer runoff has become a serious cause of water pollution. In this experiment, students will see its effects firsthand and brainstorm ways to keep it in check.

Learn more: Algae and Pollution Experiment at Layers of Learning

Water plants with different liquids

A series of plants in glass jars, labeled

In this easy science fair project, kids water plants with different liquids, like rainwater, tap water, salt water, and even soda. They might be surprised at the results!

Learn more: Effecting Plant Growth at Calm the Chaos Parenting

Beakers and test tubes, pouring and mixing … do it all with these fun chemistry science fair project ideas for 8th graders.

Perform a starch test with iodine

Test tube with yellow liquid labeled neg, test tube with black liquid labeled pos, and stoppered bottle filled with iodine

This simple chemistry experiment uses iodine to determine the starch content of food items. Use the process to perform a variety of 8th grade science experiments related to food.

Learn more: Starch Test at Biology Notes for IGCSE

Keep your hands warm

Man rubbing hands together with plastic bag of black liquid in between

If you live in a chilly part of the world, chances are you’ve seen chemical hand warmers for sale. In this 8th grade science fair project, use oxidation to make your own hand warmer, and find other creative ways to use this heating process.

Learn more: Homemade Hand Warmer at Steve Spangler Science

Compare electrolytes in sports drinks

Sports-loving kids will enjoy the chance to learn just how many valuable electrolytes their favorite sports drinks contain. Compare them with water or orange juice for a cool science fair project. You’ll need a few special supplies, like a multimeter and an ohm resistor , but they’re not too expensive and they’re easy to find.

Turn juice into spheres

You’ll need a few special supplies for this experiment , but the results are so cool. Turn spherification into a science fair project by experimenting with different beverages and liquids.

Block the sun’s UV rays

Use color-changing UV beads to test the protective power of medicine bottles, hats, clothing, and more. This is an easy 8th grade science fair project with nearly endless possibilities.

Grow a carbon sugar snake

Tin pan of sand with large carbon snake growing out of it

Remember those little black pellets that fire up into long snakes on the 4th of July? This is the same concept but much bigger! The simple chemical reaction of sugar and baking soda makes it happen. Turn this into an 8th grade science fair project by varying the formula to create even bigger results!

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake at KiwiCo

Create a rainbow of flames

You can change the color of fire by adding chemicals found at your local grocery store—what a sight! How can you use these flame colors to determine the chemical content of other materials? Sounds like a cool 8th grade science fair project!

Get your laundry really clean

Container of OxiClean with beakers of liquid on a counter

Find out if all those laundry detergent commercials are really telling the truth with this 8th grade science fair experiment. Test their cleaning power on a variety of stains and fabrics, and analyze your results.

Learn more: Science of Cleaning Products at Steve Spangler Science

Study the effects of acid rain

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

In this project, students use chalk as a stand-in for stone to learn how acid rain affects buildings, statues, and more. Turn this into a science fair project by exploring ways to mitigate the effects of the acidity.

Extract bismuth from Pepto Bismol

Black mortar filled with pink powder and a pestle

Difficulty: Advanced / Materials: Advanced

This is the kind of project that really makes you feel like a scientist. Grinding tablets with a mortar and pestle, filtering in beakers, heating over a Bunsen burner … this is what chemistry is all about!

Learn more: Extracting Bismuth at Popular Science

Optimize fermentation temperature

A Hot Yeast Experiment. Bottle of fizzing liquid with a partially inflated green balloon attached to the top.

Delve into the mystery of how temperature affects the fermentation process and determine the optimum temperature for yeast development. (Test your hypothesis by baking a loaf of bread!)

Learn more: Hot Yeast at Elemental Blogging

Brew up some root beer

Bowl filled with root beer and dry ice, spilling over with white vapors

Who says science can’t be delicious ? Tinker with the basic root beer recipe to make it sweeter, fizzier, or better in any way you like!

Learn more: Root Beer Science at Steve Spangler Science

For those who love to build and tinker, try a science fair project that experiments with various physics concepts like energy, electricity, motion, and more.

Build a better light bulb

Simple lightbulb built from a glass jar, battery, and wires

First, use the steps at the link to build a simple light bulb with a jar, some wire, and a 6-volt battery . Then, turn it into an 8th grade science fair project by tinkering with the various materials to make a light bulb that lasts longer, burns brighter, or is powered by an alternative source.

Learn more: Build a Light Bulb at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Test the strength of interleaved paper

Paper seems smooth and slides apart easily, right? Not when you add friction into the mix! Mythbusters was amazed at how much strength it took to pull apart two interleaved phone books. Try this with smaller books for an 8th grade science fair project that people won’t believe!

Stand on a pile of paper cups

Student standing on top of a structure built from cardboard sheets and paper cups

Combine physics and engineering and challenge 8th grade science students to create a paper cup structure that can support their weight. This is a cool project for aspiring architects.

Learn more: Paper Cup Stack at Science Sparks

Cook up a tasty treat with solar energy

Students can design and build a solar oven, and then use it to cook food to compare the cooking time and temperature with a conventional oven. See if you can improve on the original design by changing up the materials or construction.

Investigate advanced properties of liquids

8th grade science project studying viscosity, surface tension, and temperature.

Do surface tension and viscosity decrease with increasing temperature? Find out in this 8th grade science fair project.

Learn more: Surface Tension and Viscosity at Education.com

Make a solar desalinator

Clean freshwater is a valuable commodity. Construct solar-powered desalination devices with readily available materials, and find the most effective desalination methods.

Engineer a roller coaster loop

Kids may have created marble roller coasters before, but have they ever built one with a loop-the-loop? They’ll have to experiment to find out which initial height gives a marble the speed it needs to complete the journey.

Capture a picture of lightning

Lightning pattern made on piece of acrylic with photocopier toner

Difficulty: Advanced / Materials: Medium

Lichtenberg figures capture the branching path of electricity as it travels through an object. You can make your own in a variety of ways, including burning it into wood or acrylic.

Learn more: Lichtenberg Figures at Science Notes

Crash cars for science

Collage of STEM car crash project images

This is a great class project for teachers, but it’s also excellent for an 8th grade science fair project. Build cars and crash-test them to learn the best methods of keeping passengers safe.

Learn more: STEM Car Crash Project at The Ardent Teacher

Discover the center of gravity

Wood craft stick balanced on end on a pencil, with orange pipe cleaner twisted around it

Once you find and maintain its center of gravity, almost any object will balance, even in surprising circumstances. Using this concept, what amazing objects can you balance and where?

Learn more: Center of Gravity at Rookie Parenting

Power up homemade batteries

Bottle of distilled white vinegar, paper towel, aluminum foil, duct tape, pennies, electrical wires, and voltmeter

Building batteries is a classic science experiment for any age. Make it into an 8th grade science fair project by trying different variables and exploring the amount of power you can produce.

Learn more: DIY Batteries at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Assemble a spring balance scale

Apply Hooke’s law to find out if the stretching of a spring can be used to accurately measure the weight of objects. The materials are simple, but you’ll need patience and physics to calibrate a spring and use it to test weights.

Design a robotic hand

Model robotic hand made from paper, straws, and string

This is a project that can be tweaked by coming up with ways to improve upon the design. Can you build a hand that can pick up a ball? How about one that can pluck up a piece of string? So many possibilities!

Learn more: DIY Model Robot Hand STEM Activity at Mombrite

Build an infinity mirror

Experiment with optical illusions by creating a tunnel of lights that seems to stretch away into infinity. Eighth grade science students will learn about engineering and the physics of optics along the way.

Construct a Rube Goldberg machine

Create a machine to complete a simple task in the most complicated fashion! This is a neat 8th grade STEM fair project because it allows you to use a variety of physics concepts in a fun way.

Explore a wide variety of 8th grade science concepts with these fun and engaging activities.

Protect an egg in a crash

We love this spin on the classic egg-drop project. In this version, students build a structure to protect an egg during a collision with a wall, making the connection between crash tests and physics concepts.

Drop an egg to prove the first law of motion

Egg on top of a toilet paper tube, standing on a plate on a glass of water, with a man ready to hit the plate

This experiment looks like a magic trick, but it’s firmly grounded in Newton’s first law of motion. When you knock the pie tin out of the way, the egg falls straight into the glass thanks to inertia. (Worried about making a mess? Use plastic eggs instead.)

Learn more: Egg Drop Inertia Challenge at Steve Spangler Science

Break out the leaf blower to teach Bernoulli’s principle

Eighth grade science students have probably seen a Bernoulli demo or two, often with straws and Ping-Pong balls. So grab their attention by trying it with a leaf blower and a beach ball instead!

Assemble a Newton’s cradle

Newton's Cradle built of wood craft sticks, yarn, and marbles

Newton’s cradle is a fascinating way of demonstrating momentum and energy transfer. Follow the directions at the link to build one, or challenge 8th grade science students to experiment with their own construction methods.

Learn more: Newton’s Cradle at Babble Dabble Do

Extinguish a candle without blowing it out

Combine an acid/base experiment with some fire science in this really popular classroom science demo. It seems like magic, but it’s just science!

Relight a candle without touching it

Student's hand holding a lighter over a candle that has just been blown out

Tell students you’re going to relight a candle without touching the flame to the wick. The results will boggle their minds!

Learn more: Magic Traveling Flame at Steve Spangler Science

Demonstrate the “unpoppable” balloon

Your students won’t believe you when you say you can hold a balloon up to a flame without popping it. Use the conductivity of water to prove your point.

Extract your own DNA

Test tube with cloudy liquid and small white floating strand

DNA is the blueprint of life, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to extract your own with a few simple supplies. Preserve it in alcohol in the freezer when you’re done.

Learn more: How To Extract DNA at Home at Home Science Tools

Build a trash can air cannon

This is such a fun way to demonstrate an air vortex! It takes a little effort to build the air cannon, but you can use it year after year for amazing 8th grade science demos.

Separate water into hydrogen and oxygen

Eighth grade girl wearing goggles, looking at a container of water with test tubes and electric wires

Use electrolysis to prove that water really is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It’s a simple concept but one that never fails to amaze.

Learn more: Separating Water at Navigating by Joy

Assemble a ring of Pringles

Everybody loves an edible STEM challenge! Here’s one that seems simple but takes some time to work out: Build a ring of Pringles chips without using any other materials.

Construct a cup holder

Student showing a foil platform balanced on drinking straws, holding two yellow plastic cups of water

Can your 8th grade science students build a device to stabilize and carry two cups of water, using only a few simple supplies? Oh, and can they manage it in just 5 minutes? This timed challenge pushes their creative engineering limits!

Learn more: Cup Holder STEM Challenge at Homeschool Creations

Navigate a light maze

Here’s the STEM challenge: Bounce a beam of light around a corner past an obstacle. Increase the difficulty by adding more obstacles and variables.

Engage your 8th grade science students further with these 24 Science Kits for Middle and High School That Make Hands-On Lessons Easy .

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Find engaging 8th grade science fair projects, including plenty of easy options, plus fun demos, experiments, and hands-on activities.

Collage of 7th grade science projects, including Oreo mitosis models and electroplating a coin

50 Sensational 7th Grade Science Fair Projects and Classroom Activities

Mummification, oxidation, electroplating, and more! Continue Reading

149+ Great 8th Grade Science Fair Projects & Experiments

Are you an 8th-grader looking for awesome 8th grade science fair projects? If yes, we are here to give the best science fair project ideas that will not only impress your classmates and teachers but also teach you valuable scientific concepts.

Generally, Science fairs are a fantastic opportunity for students to explore the world of science through hands-on experiments and investigations.

We’ve compiled a list of over 149 intriguing and innovative science fair project ideas and experiments for 8th graders. Whether you’re interested in biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental science, there’s something here for everyone.

So, let’s dive into the exciting world of science and discover your next winning project!

What Is A Science Fair

Table of Contents

Students of all ages, usually from elementary school to high school, show off their science projects, and tests, or study at a science fair. It is an educational event or competition.

The main goal of a science fair is to get kids interested in topics like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Science shows give people the chance to do hands-on science research, learn how to think critically, and share their results with a larger audience.

A science fair is to promote scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and hands-on learning among students. Students explore scientific concepts, conduct experiments, and present their findings in a structured and often competitive setting.

How A Typical Science Fair Works

If you want to know what is a procedure in a science fair project and how it works, you can follow these points. It is such as;

1. Project Selection

Students choose a scientific topic or question that interests them and design a project around it. This could involve conducting experiments, collecting data, analyzing data, or building a model or prototype.

2. Research

Students research their chosen topic to understand existing knowledge and relevant scientific principles. They may also review literature, consult with experts, and gather background information.

3. Experimentation

If their project involves experiments, students plan, conduct, and document experiments carefully. They may need to follow the scientific method, including hypothesis formulation, data collection, and analysis.

4. Data Collection

Students collect data, which often includes measurements, observations, and other relevant information. They record their findings systematically.

5. Analysis

After collecting data, students analyze the results to draw conclusions. They may use graphs, charts, and statistics to present their findings effectively.

Students create a display board or presentation to communicate their project to others. The display typically includes key information such as the problem statement, hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions. Visual aids, diagrams, and photographs are often used to enhance the presentation.

7. Presentation

Students present their projects to judges, teachers, fellow students, and sometimes parents or the public. They may be asked questions about their work to assess their understanding and communication skills.

Top 149+ Great 8th Grade Science Fair Projects & Experiments

The following are the best 8th grade science fair projects ideas for students. It is such as;

Best 8th Grade Science Fair Projects In Biology

Plant Growth with Music
The Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity
Comparing Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers
Testing the Antibacterial Properties of Common Household Items
Which Food Attracts the Most Fruit Flies?
The Effect of Light Color on Plant Growth
Comparing the Efficiency of Natural and Chemical Pest Repellents
Do Plants “Breathe” at Night?
The Impact of Temperature on Seed Germination
Microorganisms in Your Environment

Easy 8th Grade Science Fair Projects In Chemistry

DIY pH Indicator
Electrolysis of Water
The Effect of Temperature on Crystal Growth
Comparing the Vitamin C Content in Different Fruits
Chemical Reactions in Cooking
Testing the pH of Household Cleaners
Acid Rain’s Impact on Plant Growth
The Chemistry of Baking Soda and Vinegar
Testing the Effect of Temperature on Battery Performance
The Science of Lava Lamps

Cool 8th Grade Science Fair Projects In Physics

The Relationship Between Air Pressure and Altitude
The Pendulum’s Period
The Effect of Surface Texture on Friction
Constructing a Homemade Electromagnet
Investigating Projectile Motion
The Physics of Sound Waves
The Relationship Between Light Intensity and Distance
Comparing Solar Cell Efficiency
Newton’s Laws in Everyday Life
The Effect of Magnet Strength on Ferrofluid Behavior

Fast And Easy 8th Grade Science Fair Projects In Environmental Science

Water Pollution Testing
The Impact of Oil Spills on Marine Life
Air Quality Monitoring
Waste Reduction Strategies
The Effect of Ocean Acidification on Marine Shells
Renewable Energy Sources
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
The Impact of Deforestation on Carbon Dioxide Levels
The Greenhouse Effect
Recycling Plastics

Engineering Projects For 8th Grade Science Fair Projects Winners

Designing a Wind-Powered Vehicle
Building a Simple Electric Motor
Designing a Solar Oven
Creating a Hydraulic Robot Arm
DIY Water Filtration System
Paper Bridge Construction
Balloon-Powered Car Design
The Science of Flight
Building a Simple Circuit Board
Water Rocket Launch

Good Science Fair Space and Astronomy Projects

Solar System Model
Studying Lunar Phases
Mapping the Night Sky
Investigating the Effects of Microgravity
Simulating Exoplanet Discoveries
Modeling the Earth’s Seasons
Rocket Science: Launching Model Rockets
Studying Solar Flares and Their Impact on Earth
Comparing the Characteristics of Planets
Black Holes and Gravitational Waves

Earth Science Projects For Science Students In High School

Volcano Eruptions
Investigating Earthquakes
Weather Patterns and Predictions
Formation of Crystals in Rocks
Soil Erosion and Conservation
The Water Cycle
Natural Disaster Preparedness
Ocean Currents and Climate
Investigating the Greenhouse Effect in Terrariums
The Formation of Fossils

Great 8th Grade Science Fair Projects For Behavioral Science Projects

The Impact of Music on Mood
The Stroop Effect
Memory and Recall
The Influence of Peer Pressure on Decision-Making
The Psychology of Color
The Impact of Sleep on Academic Performance
Effect of Social Media on Well-Being
The Power of Persuasion
Cultural Differences in Perception
The Psychology of Decision-Making

Health and Medicine Science Fair Projects

Comparing the Effectiveness of Natural Remedies
The Impact of Exercise on Heart Rate
Handwashing: The Science of Hygiene
Healthy Eating Habits
The Influence of Diet on Blood Sugar Levels
The Effects of Stress on Health
Microbiome Analysis
Effects of Smoking on Lung Capacity
The Science of Vaccination
Analyzing the Impact of Sleep on Physical Health

Science Fair Robotics and AI Projects

Building a Simple Robot
Programming a Chatbot
Obstacle-Avoidance Robot
DIY Water Rocket Launch
Voice-Activated Home Automation
Machine Learning for Predictive Analytics
3D Printing and Robotics
Autonomous Drone Programming
Robotic Arm Control
Deep Learning for Image Recognition

8th Grade Science Fair Social Sciences Projects

Analyzing the Impact of Social Media on Relationships
Studying Cultural Stereotypes
The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior
Bullying Prevention Strategies
Environmental Conservation Behavior
The Impact of Empathy
Media Influence on Body Image
Cross-Cultural Communication
Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination
The Psychology of Altruism

Computer Science and Programming 8th Grade Science Fair Projects

Creating a Video Game
Encryption and Data Security
Coding and Debugging
Website Development
App Development
Artificial Intelligence Chatbot
Password Strength Analysis
Data Visualization
Machine Learning for Prediction
Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking

Simple 8th Grade Agricultural Science Fair Projects

Crop Rotation Experiment
The Impact of Soil Types on Plant Growth
Hydroponics vs. Soil-based Farming
Pesticides and Pollinators
Composting and Soil Fertility
Plant Nutrient Analysis
Aquaponics Systems
Food Preservation Techniques
The Impact of Fertilizer Types on Plant Growth
Biodegradable vs. Non-Biodegradable Packaging

Best Material Science Projects

Testing Conductivity of Materials
Materials for Solar Cells
Strength of Materials
Materials for Filtration
The Science of Superconductors
Materials for Insulation
Shape Memory Alloys
Materials for Nanotechnology
The Science of Polymers

Most Interesting Science Fair Projects In Materials for 3D Printing

Geology and Earth Science Projects
Mineral Identification
Rocks and Minerals Collection
Geological Mapping
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
Volcanic Eruptions
The Rock Cycle
The Geological History of Your Region

What Is An Abstract For A Science Fair Project

An abstract for a science fair project is a concise summary that provides a brief overview of your entire project. It’s typically one paragraph long and serves as a quick introduction to your project, giving readers a glimpse of what your project is about, what you did, and what you found. The abstract should include the following key elements:

1. Purpose/Objective: Explain the main goal or purpose of your project. What question were you trying to answer or what problem were you investigating?

2. Methodology: Briefly describe the methods and procedures you used to conduct your experiment or research. Include any important variables or materials used.

3. Results: Summarize the key findings or outcomes of your project. What did you discover or observe during your experiment or research?

4. Conclusion: State your project’s conclusion or the significance of your findings. What did you learn from your project, and how does it contribute to scientific knowledge or real-world applications?

5. Implications: If relevant, mention any potential implications or applications of your findings.

6. Recommendations: Suggest any recommendations for further research or experiments related to your project.

How To Choose A Good Science Fair Project

Choosing a science fair project can be an exciting but challenging task. Here are some steps to help you select the right science fair project:

1. Identify Your Interests

Start by thinking about your interests and passions. Consider what topics in science or technology fascinate you the most. Projects are more enjoyable and engaging when they align with your interests.

2. Narrow Down the Field

Science is a vast field. Narrow down your interests to specific areas like biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, environmental science, or computer science. This will help you focus your project search.

3. Review Guidelines

Review the guidelines and requirements provided by your school or science fair organizers. Ensure you understand the project length, presentation format, and any specific themes or rules for the fair.

4. Brainstorm Ideas

Brainstorm a list of potential project ideas within your chosen field. Think about questions or problems you’d like to explore. Don’t worry about the feasibility at this stage; just generate as many ideas as possible.

5. Research and Feasibility

Research each idea to determine its feasibility. Can you access the necessary materials and equipment? Is it safe to conduct the experiment? Are there resources available to help you understand the topic? Consider the complexity and time required for each idea.

6. Choose a Testable Hypothesis

Once you’ve narrowed down your ideas, choose one with a clear, testable hypothesis. A hypothesis is a statement that predicts an outcome. It should be specific, measurable, and based on existing knowledge.

7. Consult with Teachers or Mentors

Seek guidance from your science teacher or a mentor, if available. They can provide valuable input, help refine your project idea, and ensure it aligns with educational goals and safety standards.

Conclusion – 8th Grade Science Fair Projects

With these 149+ 8th grade science fair projects and experiments, students have a wide range of exciting topics to choose from. Keep in mind to select a project that aligns with your interests and challenges you to learn new concepts.

It offers the opportunity for creative exploration. Additionally, ensure that your project adheres to safety guidelines and ethical considerations.

The process of conducting a science fair project involves problem-solving, critical thinking, data collection, analysis, and presentation skills. Whether you’re interested in biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and environmental sciences, there’s a fascinating project waiting for you.

So, pick your favorite project idea, dive into your research, and enjoy the wonderful world of science!

What makes a winning science fair project?

If you want to win at the higher science fair levels, originality and innovativeness are extremely important. Develop a new method or technique, or research something nobody knows about.

What are the 7 steps of the scientific method?

There are seven steps to the scientific method: Question, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Analysis, Conclusion, and Communication.

What is a good science fair question?

These are examples of good science fair project questions: How does water purity affect surface tension? When is the best time to plant soy beans? Which material is the best insulator?

What is science project work?

A science project is an independent study of a particular topic that uses the scientific method in order to answer a specific question about how or why something is being impacted in our world.

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