If understanding the fundamentals of an engineering sub-field is something you’re keen on, and you have an urge to try your hand at creating something yourself, then an engineering project may be the best outlet for your curiosity. The earlier you get into it, the greater the opportunity to learn, and middle school is the perfect time for it. From simple machines to eco-friendly innovations, there are projects that cater to a range of skills and interests.

To help you get started, we have put together a list of 15 project ideas that will introduce you to some of the fundamentals of engineering and design and let you practice how to utilize them in real life. Whether you have a science fair coming up, or are just looking to understand a concept in greater detail, you can refer to this list for details.

1. Simple Machines Park

What to do: Begin by researching the six types of simple machines: lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge. Challenge yourself to identify everyday objects that use these principles. Next, using household items and craft supplies, design and build miniature models of each type of machine. For instance, create a lever using a ruler and a fulcrum (like a small block), or a pulley system with string and spools. The goal is to demonstrate and understand how each machine makes work easier, such as lifting a heavy object or splitting materials.

Skillsets: Basic physics, creativity, problem-solving. You will need to understand the basics of physics, such as the Laws of Motion and the principles of leverage and gravity. Some basic skill in craft work is also required.

Ideal for: Beginners interested in mechanical engineering concepts.

Drawbacks: You will need to source the materials to create your mock-ups, as household items may not always be appropriate.

Tips: Encourage experimentation with different materials to see how they affect the machine's efficiency. You can check out some interesting engineering project ideas on the Science Buddies website.

2. Eco-Friendly House Model

What to do: This project involves designing a scale model of a house that incorporates sustainable features. First, consider what makes a home eco-friendly - energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of renewable resources. Sketch the house design, focusing on aspects like solar panels for electricity, rainwater harvesting systems for water usage, and large windows for natural lighting. Once you’re satisfied, construct the house model using recycled materials, integrating the eco-friendly features. This project will not only familiarize you with the principles of design and architecture but also give you an appreciation for the challenges and solutions to incorporating environmental considerations in material science.

Skillsets: Design thinking, environmental awareness, creativity. You’ll need to be familiar with the basic concepts of load bearing as well as some idea of the properties of different materials.

Ideal for: Students with an interest in civil engineering and sustainability.

Drawbacks: Some design and architecture concepts can be complex and you may require guidance from teachers or some simplification. Construction of the project can also require some toolwork, for which you should ideally seek help from an adult mentor or parent.

Tips: Archkidecture is a great online resource if you’re interested in this topic. Use online resources like Pinterest or library books for inspiration on eco-friendly designs.

3. Water Filtration System

What to do: The objective here is to understand and build a basic water filtration system using everyday materials. Start the project by first exploring the challenge of water pollution and the importance of clean drinking water, something that you will either learn in class at school or can be explored on YouTube. Spend some time researching natural and man-made filtration methods, then try to design a system using materials such as sand, gravel, cotton, and activated charcoal. The simplest way is to layer these materials in a plastic bottle cut in half, with the neck of the bottle serving as the spout for filtered water, but there are multiple other variants you can reliably create. By testing this system with dirty water (made with harmless materials like soil), observe the filtration process and tabulate the results.

Skillsets: Environmental science, chemistry, critical thinking. Knowledge of the water cycle, the properties of different materials and the basic fundamentals of fluid mechanics is required to attempt this project.

Ideal for: Beginners and slightly advanced students interested in environmental engineering.

Drawbacks: It can naturally be a messy project and requires a safe space to work and possibly some supervision.

Tips: Test different material layers and orders to see which is most effective. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab has a great step-by-step guide to such a project.

4. Rubber Band Powered Car

What to do: This is a very interesting project in which you will build a car powered by the potential energy of stretched rubber bands. This project is all about energy types and how potential energy can be converted into kinetic energy. You will design your car using materials like cardboard, straws for axles, and rubber bands for the propulsion mechanism. The car's body can be crafted from lightweight materials such as balsa wood or thick cardstock, with wheels that can be made from bottle caps or CDs. The key learning point is to experiment with the car's design to maximize distance and speed, understanding the effects of weight and friction.

Skillsets: Physics, design, experimentation. Naturally a project like this requires a grasp of the principles of kinematics such as the conservation of momentum, potential energy, kinetic energy and the Laws of Motion.

Ideal for: The more complex the design, the more advanced you need to be to design it. Even for a basic design we recommend this for slightly advanced middle schoolers.

Drawbacks: Assembly can be quite challenging and may require you to source specific materials.

Tips: Science Buddies has a straightforward guide on designing an entry level model. Test the car on different surfaces to learn about the impact of friction on motion, and with different types of rubber bands.

5. Miniature Catapult

What to do: If ancient siege engines always fascinated you in movies and history shows, then this is a project you’ll love because it involves building a miniature catapult. While designing the catapult, you will learn much about the practical usage of materials for various functions, as well as the principles of tension and momentum. Using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, a spoon (as the arm), and a small object for the counterweight, you will construct your own catapult. The challenge is to adjust the tension and arm length to change the projectile's distance and accuracy. This project teaches principles of physics, such as tension, trajectory, and gravity, in an extremely fun and interactive way.

Skillsets: History, physics, engineering design. While the project gives you a lot of leeway with experimentation, it’s best if you understand the basic principles of leverage and motion.

Ideal for: Beginners with a curiosity about historical engineering.

Drawbacks: There can be some safety concerns with projectiles if you put too much tension into the catapult arm and use metal or glass balls, so be careful!

Tips: Start with soft, lightweight projectiles to ensure safety. The STEM Inventions channel on YouTube has a really detailed video to help you get started.

6. Solar Oven

What to do: This project will help you explore renewable energy by building a solar oven that uses the sun's energy to cook food. Using a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper, you will construct your very own solar oven. The foil reflects the sunlight into the box, where it's absorbed by the black paper and trapped by the plastic wrap, heating the inside of the oven. You can and should experiment with cooking different foods, like s'mores or nachos, observing the effects of sunlight intensity and oven angle on cooking time.

Skillsets: Renewable energy, scientific observation, environmental science. This is great for beginners as much of your learning will come via observation, which will then help you understand the theoretical concepts of thermodynamics.

Ideal for: Beginners interested in thermodynamics and alternative energy sources.

Drawbacks: It is naturally a weather-dependent project that requires sunny days for effective use.

Tips: Use a thermometer to measure the oven's internal temperature and experiment with different angles to maximize heat absorption. NASA’s Climate Kids program has a solid guide on how to design this project.

7. Wind-Powered Generator

What to do: This project will introduce you to the principles of wind energy by constructing a simple wind-powered generator. It’s an excellent way to practically learn how wind turbines convert wind energy into electrical energy. Using cardboard, a small motor (from a hobby store or an old toy), and any material suitable for blades (like plastic spoons or stiff paper), start building your turbine. Attach the blades to the motor, which, when turned by the wind, generates a small amount of electricity that can power an LED light or a digital watch. The project encourages experimentation with blade design and turbine placement to optimize power generation.

Skillsets: Renewable energy, physics, electrical engineering basics. This is another project that is excellent at helping you understand the theoretical concepts after you have seen them in action yourself.

Ideal for: Intermediate students with a keen interest in renewable energy projects.

Drawbacks: Requires access to a small motor and some electrical components. You should ask a teacher or parent for help in sourcing these components.

Tips: Test the turbine in different locations and wind conditions to find the best setup for electricity generation. Teach Engineering has a step-by-step explanation of the construction as well as principles of this project.

8. Earthquake-Proof Structure

What to do: If you want to learn about civil engineering and earthquake mitigation, the best way to do it is by designing and building a model of an earthquake-proof structure yourself. You will need to start with researching building techniques that improve stability and resilience, as well as the important properties of materials for the same. Using materials like straws, toothpicks, marshmallows, and rubber bands, construct a model building that will be tested on a homemade shake table (a flat surface mounted on rubber balls or balloons). The challenge is to design a structure that can withstand shaking without collapsing, teaching students about the importance of flexible materials and strong foundations.

Skillsets: Civil engineering, materials science, problem-solving. This is a more advanced project requiring you to understand the theory behind construction, else the project will quite literally fall apart.

Ideal for: Slightly advanced students interested in architecture and disaster-proof design.

Drawbacks: Building a shake table may require additional resources. There is also some homework required in brushing up on all the relevant concepts.

Tips: Spend some time researching real-world earthquake-proof buildings for inspiration and design ideas. The American Society of Civil Engineers has put out a document that contains several variants of this project of increasing complexity, great for learning basic to advanced concepts and challenging yourself.

9. DIY Electric Motor

What to do: In this project, you will build a simple electric motor to understand the basics of electromagnetism and motor function. This is a good introduction to magnetic fields and how they can be used to create motion. You will need a battery, copper wire, magnets, and a screw. You’ll have to coil the wire to create a simple armature and position it between the poles of the magnets, connected to the battery. When the circuit is complete, the armature will spin. This project demystifies the principles behind electric motors, and as you experiment with different coil sizes and wire lengths you will learn even more about the properties of electromagnetism.

Skillsets: Electromagnetism, circuit design, physics. Aside from having a basic understanding of these topics, you will also need to know how to set up a safe and reliable electrical circuit.

Ideal for: Intermediate students with an interest in electrical engineering.

Drawbacks: Handling of small components and batteries can be a little complex and ideally requires supervision, so ask a teacher or a parent for help.

Tips: Science Buddies has a highly detailed video as well as explanation of the what and how of this project that contains all you need to know.

10. Smartphone Projector

What to do: By creating a simple projector that can magnify the screen of a smartphone onto a wall, you can learn a lot about optics and the behavior of light while creating a cool utility item for yourself. The project starts with an exploration of how light can be manipulated to enlarge images. Using a shoebox, a magnifying glass, and some tape, you will construct your projector. The magnifying glass is mounted at one end of the box, acting as the lens, while the smartphone is placed inside, opposite the lens. By adjusting the distance between the phone and the lens, you can focus the projected image. This project is a fun way to learn about light, lenses, and basic optical principles.

Skillsets: Optics, physics, creative design. It is a simple project that does not require a great deal of expertise as you will learn the concepts by practice.

Ideal for: Beginners fascinated by technology and physics.

Drawbacks: The only thing you need to keep in mind is that a projector requires a dark room for effective use.

Tips: Experiment with different magnifying glasses and box sizes to improve image quality and size. Here’s a detailed rundown of the project over at The STEM Laboratory.

11. Hydraulic Lift

What to do: This project serves as an introduction to the principles of hydraulics and fluid mechanics by building a hydraulic lift. It’s an easy, hands-on way to understand how hydraulic systems use fluid to transmit force. You will use syringes, tubing, water, and a platform (like cardboard) to construct a lift. By pushing and pulling on the syringes, they control the platform's elevation. This project can be a great introduction to mechanical engineering concepts, demonstrating how machines can multiply forces and the practical applications of fluid dynamics.

Skillsets: Fluid mechanics, mechanical engineering, problem-solving.

Ideal for: Intermediate students curious about how machines work.

Drawbacks: Potential for leaks; requires precision in assembly.

Tips: Use food coloring to make the water visible in the tubing, which will visually help you understand how the system works. The folks over at STEAM Powered Family have a highly detailed page on how to make this project and the principles involved.

12. Automated Plant Watering System

What to do: This project is an opportunity to combine your skills in electronics and coding to create an automated system that waters plants based on soil moisture levels. You’ll need to be up to date on basic electronics and programming concepts. Using a microcontroller (like Arduino), a soil moisture sensor, and a water pump, you’ll be utilizing simple code to monitor the moisture level and activate the pump when the soil becomes too dry. This project is a good introduction to the more advanced integrations of coding and electronics, while also learning a bit about basic biology and crop science.

Skillsets: Coding, electronics, environmental science. This is an advanced project and requires a working knowledge of coding, circuits, and signal systems.

Ideal for: Advanced students interested in robotics and automation.

Drawbacks: Requires access to electronic components and basic coding knowledge.

Tips: Here is a fairly detailed resource to help you create one such system.

13. Rube Goldberg Machine

What to do: A Rube Goldberg machine is a complex contraption designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overcomplicated way. While it sounds strange, designing a machine that uses a series of chain reactions to accomplish a task, such as popping a balloon or pouring a cup of water is actually a fun and educational experience. This project encourages creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of physics. Using everyday items, you will plan and build your machine, focusing on the transfer of energy between different parts. This project is not only a fun challenge but also a practical lesson in mechanics and engineering design.

Skillsets: Creativity, physics, engineering design. This is probably the most creative project in this list and perfect for people of all skill levels.

Ideal for: All skill levels, particularly those with a creative streak.

Drawbacks: Can be time-consuming and require space.

Tips: As Tinkerlab explains on their page, designing a Rube Goldberg Machine is more about having a creative vision that utilizes basic mechanical principles than anything else. Search for inspiration from your household materials and the internet, gather what you have, and get to assembling.

14. Bridge Building Challenge

What to do: In this project, you will learn about the principles of structural engineering by designing and building a model bridge. The challenge is to create a bridge that is both lightweight and capable of holding a significant amount of weight. You should start with researching different types of bridges (beam, arch, suspension) and the forces acting on them (tension, compression). Using materials like straws, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, and glue, students will design their bridge. The project culminates in a testing phase where weights are gradually added to the bridge until it reaches its breaking point. This exercise will teach you about the importance of material selection, distribution of forces, and architectural design in engineering.

Skillsets: Structural engineering, problem-solving, material science. While it’s useful to have an existing knowledge of the principles of load distribution and force, attempting this project itself will teach you a lot about the subject.

Ideal for: Students interested in architecture and civil engineering, suitable for a range of skill levels.

Drawbacks: Requires patience and precision in construction. You will fail quite a few times, and that’s part of the process.

Tips: Try to research and model your designs after real-world bridges for inspiration and 

practical understanding. Carnegie Mellon University has created a bridge building challenge that can help you get started.

15. DIY Weather Station

What to do: This project aims to build a basic weather station that can track temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. This is useful for understanding the concepts of meteorology and the importance of weather prediction. Using simple sensors available in educational kits or online, you will assemble your weather station, connecting the sensors to a microcontroller. You’ll also learn to read and interpret sensor data and, with basic programming, display this information. This project can be extended to include data logging over time, offering insights into weather patterns and the climate. It's a great way to combine electronics, coding, and environmental science into a single, engaging project.

Skillsets: Electronics, programming, environmental science. Due to the extensive usage of circuits and sensors and their integration with display devices, this project requires a grounding in both electronics as well as basic programming.

Ideal for: Intermediate to advanced students with an interest in technology and the environment.

Drawbacks: Requires access to specific sensors and a basic understanding of programming.

Tips: The Raspberry Pi Foundation has a detailed online tutorial explaining the concepts behind this project, what you need to get started, and how to bring it all together.

These projects are designed to cater to a wide range of interests and skill levels, ensuring that every middle school student can find something exciting and challenging to work on. By providing detailed instructions and focusing on the learning process, these projects aim to inspire a deeper understanding of engineering principles and a passion for innovation.

If you’re interested in working on hands-on projects in the field of AI or ML, consider applying to the Veritas AI programs!

Founded by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI allows you to learn the fundamentals of computer science and AI. You get a chance to work 1–1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and more to write research papers or build unique projects. Last year, we had over 1000 students apply to do AI work with us, and our alums went on to study computer science and AI at top universities. You can find the application form here.