10 Awesome & Easy Homeschool High School Science Projects

With two dual enrolled high schoolers under my belt, I know that high schoolers need some serious science! But don’t worry—these experiments won’t leave you stressed out. I’ve collected 10 easy homeschool high school science projects, that I’ve done with my teens, and they all went over surprisingly well. Whether you’re teaching chemistry, biology, or physics, these projects are my “dad approved” fantastic ways to get hands-on. And yep, I’ve included some free scientific method printables for high schoolers to help keep track of their work!

Structure

In no particular order, I will walk you through the materials required, how we did the experiment, and what my students learned. This will help you get a gist of how you can perform the experiments with your students. But BEWARE, just like in my articles “10 Fun and Easy Science Projects for Grades 1-5,” and “10 Awesome & Easy Homeschool Middle School Science Projects,” as the homeschool dad, my projects can get pretty crazy and never lack fun!

2. Electroplating Experiment

Time for some chemistry! They’ll love watching how different metals bond through the process of electroplating.

Materials: Copper wire, a 9-volt battery, copper sulfate solution, and metal objects.

How It Went: They connected the battery to their metal object and placed it in the solution. Voila—copper started to coat the object!

What They Learned: They got hands-on with chemical reactions and metallic bonding, and learned how electroplating can be used in the real world.

3. The Egg in Vinegar Experiment

The “naked egg” experiment is a classic. It’s easy, quick, and kids are fascinated by it. Who wouldn’t love a rubbery egg?

Materials: Eggs, vinegar, and a clear container.

What We Did: We submerged an egg in vinegar and let it sit for a couple of days. The shell dissolved, leaving the egg membrane intact. They poked it, of course, and loved how it felt!

What They Learned: They saw osmosis at work and learned about the effects of acids on calcium carbonate.

4. Build a Simple Motor

This was simple, but the perfect STEAM project.

Materials: Copper wire, magnets, and a battery.

What We Did: Create a coil from the wire, position it with magnets, and watch it spin with the battery’s power.

What They Learned:  Electromagnetism and circuitry.

5. Acid-Base Reactions with Baking Soda and Vinegar

My students could not wait to blow up their ballons. This is funny since my students are all girls. I believe this project would be enjoyable in a open area and…maybe some goggles!

Materials: Baking soda, vinegar, and a balloon.

What We Did: Use the reaction to blow up a balloon, showing gas release.

What They Learned:  Chemical reactions, acids, and bases.

6. Water Filtration System

This project was not only educational but it’s also lifesaving. Being able to filter your water in an emergency is an important skill! You can’t go wrong with this one and you only need a few items from Walmart or your local craft store.

Materials: Sand, gravel, activated charcoal, and a plastic bottle.

What We Did: Layer materials in the bottle to filter water.

What They Learned:  Filtration and water purification.

7. Oil Spill Cleanup Experiment

This project was inspired by my Green Girl! She loves taking care of the planet and keeping the ocean clean, so naturally, the oil spills have to go!

Materials: Vegetable oil, water, cotton balls, and dish soap.

What We Did: Simulate an oil spill and test different materials to clean it up.

What They Learned:  Environmental science and pollution control.

8. Balloon Rocket Experiment

This had to be my absolute favorite experiment—I did it a million times, seriously! The boy in me came alive as I launched those balloons across the room, enjoying the priceless reactions from my daughters.

Materials: Balloons, straws, string, and tape.

What We Did: Attach a balloon to a straw, thread it on a string, and let it zip across the room.

What They Learned:  Newton’s Third Law of Motion.

9. pH Indicator with Red Cabbage

Grab a small bundle of test tubes off Amazon if you don’t already own any. Here are the ones we own, but we have had these for some time. There are other variations online as well.

Materials: Red cabbage, water, and household items (like lemon juice and baking soda).

What We Did: Boil cabbage, pour the juice into test tubes, and test different items like the lemon juice, oil or some baking soda.

What They Learned: Acidity and alkalinity. Watch the color changes to see the effects. This was really a fun way to teach kids about the pH scale and the chemical properties of everyday substances!

10. Build a Hydraulic Arm

Materials: Syringes, tubing, cardboard, and tape.

What We Did: Design a simple hydraulic arm to lift small objects.

• We designed the arm using cardboard, ensuring it has joints for movement.
• Next, we connected syringes using the tubing to create the hydraulic system.
• Now, attach the syringes to the arm using tape.
• Lastly, fill the syringes with water and test the movement.

What They Learned: Hydraulics, pressure, and mechanics. We watched the arm lift small objects and discussed how the movement of water through the tubing translates into mechanical motion.

It was a great way to demonstrate the principles of hydraulics, pressure, and basic mechanics in a hands-on, engaging way!

Grab the Free Scientific Method Printables for High School!

High school science calls for more serious data collection and analysis, so I created free scientific method printables for high school students to help them document their findings. Your teens will love working like real scientists, and you’ll appreciate the added structure to their studies.

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