10 End of the Year Science Activities for Middle School You Don’t Want to Miss

What’s inside: This post shares fun and engaging end-of-year science activities for middle school students, including hands-on labs like UV bead experiments, wind-powered race cars, bubble gum investigations, and dry ice stations.

Your students are going to love these end-of-the-year science activities!

The end of the school year is the perfect time to engage students in hands-on activities that not only reinforce what they learned this year but also leave them with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

I love all of the opportunities to think beyond the state curriculum and jump into end-of-the-year science activities that leave students with a love of science!

In this post, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite end-of-the-year science activities for middle school students.

1. UV Radiation Lab

UV beads are an inexpensive and FUN way for students to explore solar radiation!!

I love this lab activity because it’s a great way to reinforce the importance of protecting your skin from the sun before students head out the door this summer!

Students will investigate the answers to these questions and more in this lab.

• Does swimming underwater provide protection from the sun?
• Are you 100% protected from UV radiation if you are sitting in the shade?

I purchased my beads on Amazon several years ago, and they are a huge hit each year!

One tip that I’ve learned over the years is to thread several beads on a plastic zip tie. Not only does it make it easy for students to handle the beads, but it also gives them a chance to observe color change on several beads at once.

2. Wind-Powered Race Car STEM Activity

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Every year, students LOVE this easy prep STEM race car activity!

You can tie this end-of-the-year science activity in with forces or wind power. It’s also great as a stand-alone STEM challenge!

Materials:

• box fan
• meter sticks
• tape
• Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars

Set up:

1. Create a track with meter sticks taped to the floor. I try to make the track about half a car wider than the width of the cars.
2. I provide students with minimal supplies to design their cars, including construction paper, tape, straws, and toothpicks. I let them use anything they might have in their backpack to encourage creativity.
3. Set the fan at the end of the track and allow students to test their cars and revise.
4. After about 30 minutes of testing and building, students race the cars to see which design goes the farthest.

3. End-of-Year Memory Book

Are you looking for an end-of-the-year project that doubles as a keepsake for your students?

This fun project is always a hit with my students because it’s a chance to reflect on all of the fun they’ve had throughout the school year.

Bonus: their answers give me a lot of insight about what made their year special. 🙂

This no-prep end-of-the-school-year project is available in both digital and easy-to-fold print versions.

👉Take a peek at these videos to see what you’ll find in the print and digital versions!

4. Bubble Gum Scientific Method Lab

I’m not a fan of bubble gum in the classroom, so this lab is always a treat!

In this hands-on activity, students chew, investigate, and discover how different gum brands change in mass over time.

This no-prep lab is perfect for teaching and reinforcing key science concepts like independent and dependent variables, constants, and more — all while making real-world connections students will remember!

Inside you’ll find detailed directions, differentiated graphic organizers, data tables, and even an answer key.

Want to keep the activity low cost? My students were more than happy to bring in gum from home!

5. Paper Helicopter Lab

My students rate this paper helicopter lab as one of the best labs of the year!

I love it because the only supply needed is a piece of paper and a great place to drop the helicopter from.

In the past we’ve dropped from chairs, tables, the school stage, bleachers (on a calm day) and the “catwalk” in our new school.

6. Scientist Quote Puzzle

The end of the year always comes with a little bit of chaos — extra time after testing, weird schedules, and classes you only see for 20 minutes.

Instead of scrambling for something to fill the gaps, grab this meaningful time filler!

It’s the perfect way to keep students engaged, even on those uneven, unpredictable days.

7. Heart Rate Lab

I love getting students outside and moving, and this end-of-the-year science activity is the perfect opportunity!

One of my favorite things about the heart rate lab is that the only materials needed is a stopwatch.

In this differentiated lab, students investigate the effect of exercise on their heart rate.

This activity can be completed as a whole class, or students can complete it as a small group.

Want more details?

8. Dry Ice Lab

Take your science labs to the next level with dry ice investigations!

Your students will love exploring dry ice with this set of six inquiry-based dry ice stations.

Each station uses commonly found household objects (such as a popsicle stick, balloon, and penny) for students to investigate dry ice.

First time using dry ice? Check out this post to learn where to purchase dry ice, how to store it, and basic safety procedures!

9. Non-Newtonian Fluid Lab

Looking for a hands-on science activity that’s equal parts fun and educational?

This Non-Newtonian Fluid Lab will have your students totally hooked!

Perfect for an end-of-the-year activity, this mystery substance investigation blends observation, reading comprehension, and critical thinking as students explore the strange behavior of non-Newtonian fluids.

With a guided lab, reading passage, and a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) writing task included, this no-prep activity makes it easy to keep students engaged while reinforcing important science skills.

Just add cornstarch and water—and get ready for some serious science excitement!

10. Glow Stick Lab

Add a pop of science (and color!) to your lesson plans with the Glow Stick Lab! 

This low-prep, high-engagement activity is a student favorite—and for good reason.

As students test how temperature affects the brightness of glow sticks, they’ll dive into the scientific method, explore chemical reactions, and connect their learning to heat transfer concepts.

With editable materials, differentiated CER organizers, and built-in reading comprehension, it’s everything you need for a meaningful, hands-on science lesson… and yes, glow sticks are required (and totally worth it!)

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BONUS: End of Year Science Awards

✨ And if you’re looking for the perfect way to wrap up your science year with heart and humor, don’t miss the End-of-Year Science Certificates!

These playful, science-themed awards celebrate not just academic growth, but the character and curiosity your students have shown all year long.

From the Magnetic Scientist to the Geology Gem, there’s something for everyone—and they’re ready to print or personalize in minutes! 🎓🧪

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Need more end-of-the-year science activities?

Check out this post – No-Prep, End of the Year Activities Students Love