Science projects
Your Science Exhibition Guide
Choose a project, build it, present it and answer the judges with confidence
Science project idea finder
1028 science project ideas, from class 1 to college.
Find a project by class, subject and type. Every idea explains the science it shows, what you need, how long it takes and how to stay safe, with free ebooks and ready-made kits if you need them. 929 ideas have numbered steps and viva questions on their own page.
Every idea by class: Class 1 to 5, Class 6 to 8, Class 9 and 10, Class 11 and 12, College and diploma.
Want a complete build with diagrams? 16 free detailed project guides
- Class 1 to 5Simple, safe models made with help at home.224 ideas
- Class 6 to 8Working models of the science you learn in class.485 ideas
- Class 9 and 10Energy, electricity, light and first robots.467 ideas
- Class 11 and 12Investigatory projects for the practical exam.331 ideas
- College and diplomaArduino, IoT and sensor projects.119 ideas
Idea finder
Find your project
Choose your class and what interests you, or search for a word such as magnet, solar, heart or robot. Open any card for a summary, or its title for the full page with the science, the steps and the viva questions.
BiologyMedium
Mendel with coins: tossing a pea cross to find the 3 to 1 ratio
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When two hybrid tall pea plants are crossed, each offspring gets one gene copy from each parent at random. Tossing two coins 100 times copies this and shows the 1 to 2 to 1 genotype and 3 to 1 appearance ratios.
You will need
- Two coins of the same kind
- A table to record the tosses
- A pen or pencil
- A calculator
- Graph paper
- A group of classmates to pool results
- A chart of the cross written as a Punnett square
Take it further: Use two pairs of coins of different kinds for two traits, such as seed shape and colour, and find the 9 to 3 to 3 to 1 ratio for a dihybrid cross.
BiologyMedium
Coloured bead necklace from DNA to mRNA to a short protein
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The order of bases in a gene is copied into a messenger strand, and every three bases of that strand name one amino acid. Four colours of beads show the copying and reading step by step.
You will need
- Beads in four colours: A (red), T (blue), G (green), C (yellow)
- A fifth colour for U (white)
- Two long pieces of string or pipe cleaners
- A card with a codon table of six codons
- Small labels or paper flags for amino acids
- A ruler and glue dots
- A notebook
Safety: Beads are small parts: keep them from young children and do not put them in the mouth. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Make a second necklace using real codons from a short stretch of the insulin gene from a school textbook and translate it.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Car parking sensor with an Arduino whose beeps speed up as the wall nears
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An ultrasonic sensor measures distance from the time an echo takes to return. The Arduino turns this distance into LED steps and a beeping speed, like the sensor in a car bumper.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board with a USB cable
- An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor
- A piezo buzzer (active)
- Green, yellow and red LEDs with three 220 Ω resistors
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A cardboard toy car or box to mount the sensor
Safety: Powered from a USB port or a laptop only. Check the sensor power wires before plugging in, because reversed 5 V and ground can damage the module.
Take it further: Add a small OLED display that shows the distance in centimetres in large digits.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Digital room thermometer with an LM35 and LCD showing the day’s minimum and maximum
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The LM35 gives 10 millivolts for every degree Celsius. The Arduino reads this voltage with its analog input, converts it to degrees and shows the present, lowest and highest readings on a screen.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- An LM35 temperature sensor in TO-92 package
- A 16 x 2 LCD with an I2C backpack (address usually 0x27)
- A push button for resetting
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A USB cable and power bank
Safety: USB power only. Check the LM35 legs before powering: with the flat face towards you, they are +5 V, output and ground from left to right.
Take it further: Store a reading every ten minutes in the EEPROM and print a day’s graph on the Serial Plotter.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Sonar radar sweep: a servo-mounted ultrasonic sensor mapping a room on a laptop
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Turning an ultrasonic sensor on a servo and sending angle and distance to a laptop builds a polar map of the objects around, like a radar sweep. It combines timing, servo control and serial communication.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- An SG90 micro servo
- An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor
- A bracket or card to mount the sensor on the servo
- A 4 x AA battery holder (6 V) or a power bank for the servo
- A laptop with the Processing app (free)
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: USB and low voltage only. Do not turn the servo by hand when it is powered. Keep the sensor cable loose enough not to snag.
Take it further: Add a second servo to tilt the sensor and make a rough 3D scan of a small box.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Digital lap stopwatch with an Arduino, three buttons and an LCD
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The millis() timer counts milliseconds since the board started. Storing the start time and subtracting it from the present value gives elapsed time, which can be shown to a hundredth of a second.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD
- Three push buttons (start/stop, lap, reset)
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A power bank or USB cable
- A cardboard case
Safety: USB power only.
Take it further: Use two infrared sensors as start and stop gates to time a toy car down a ramp.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Reaction time tester with random delay and false start detection (Arduino)
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The time between a light and your button press is your reaction time, usually around 0.2 to 0.3 seconds. A microcontroller timer measures it to a thousandth of a second, so you can compare people and conditions.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- A green LED, a red LED and two 220 Ω resistors
- A big push button
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD (or use the Serial Monitor)
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A notebook for results
Safety: USB power only.
Take it further: Add a buzzer and compare light and sound reaction times for the same people.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Model door lock opened by a 4 digit keypad code and a servo bolt
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Arduino compares the keys typed with a stored code and turns a servo to slide a bolt only when they match. After three wrong tries it locks out for a minute, showing basic access control logic.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- A 4 x 4 matrix keypad
- An SG90 micro servo
- A red LED, a green LED and two 220 Ω resistors
- A piezo buzzer
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD (optional)
- A cardboard or wooden door model, breadboard and wires
Safety: USB power only. This is a classroom model and must not be used to guard anything valuable. Keep the servo wire clear of the moving bolt.
Take it further: Store the code in EEPROM and add a key sequence that lets the owner change it.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
RFID card door opener with an MFRC522 reader that logs who entered
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A passive RFID card has no battery: the reader powers it through radio waves and reads its unique ID. The Arduino checks the ID against a list and opens a servo door for known cards only.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- An MFRC522 RFID module with two cards or tags (13.56 MHz)
- An SG90 micro servo
- Green and red LEDs with two 220 Ω resistors
- A buzzer
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A cardboard door model
Safety: USB power only. The MFRC522 runs from 3.3 V, never 5 V: connect its VCC only to the Arduino 3.3 V pin. Use only cards you own.
Take it further: Add a DS3231 clock and log each entry with the real date and time on an SD card.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Fingertip pulse sensor showing heartbeats on the Serial Plotter and a beat LED
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Each heartbeat changes the amount of blood in the fingertip, and so changes how much light passes through or reflects. A green LED and a light sensor see this tiny change, which the Arduino turns into a beat rate.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- A pulse sensor module (analog, 3 to 5 V)
- A red LED and a 220 Ω resistor
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD or the Serial Plotter
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A velcro strap or tape
Safety: USB power only. This is a school demonstration, not a medical device. Do not use it to decide anything about health.
Take it further: Record pulse every minute for ten minutes during rest and after exercise and plot the recovery curve.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Four-servo robot arm that copies the angles of four knobs
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Each joint of the arm is a servo whose angle is set by a PWM signal. Reading four potentiometers and mapping each to 0 to 180 degrees lets you pose the arm by hand-turned knobs and pick up light objects.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- Four SG90 or MG90S servos
- Four 10 kΩ potentiometers
- Arm parts: laser-cut acrylic kit, or cardboard and ice-cream sticks
- A 5 V 2 A power bank or battery pack for the servos
- A 470 µF capacitor and a breadboard
- Jumper wires and screws
Safety: Keep fingers away from the joints when powered. Cut sticks and card with an adult. Never power several servos from the Arduino 5 V pin, as the current surge is too large.
Take it further: Record the arm positions in an array and replay them so the arm repeats a pick-and-place routine by itself.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Mini sumo robot that finds its opponent and stays inside the white-edged ring
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Sumo robots search for an opponent, push it out of a black ring and stop at the white border. This needs edge detection with reflective sensors and distance sensing, with simple decision priority in the code.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- Two TCRT5000 reflective infrared sensor modules for the edge
- An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor for the front
- An L298N motor driver and two gear motors with wheels
- A 7.4 V two-cell lithium pack with a switch
- A chassis with a front scoop made from a thin metal or plastic sheet
- A black board with a white edge about 80 cm across
Safety: Charge lithium cells only with a proper charger and an adult. Keep hands off the robot during a match. Sharp metal edges on the scoop must be filed smooth.
Take it further: Add two side sensors so the robot can see an opponent that attacks from the side.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Two-gate speed meter that times a toy car with infrared sensors
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Speed is distance divided by time. Two infrared beams a known distance apart start and stop a timer as a car passes, so its speed can be found to a good accuracy and compared with a stopwatch.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- Two infrared obstacle sensor modules
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD
- A toy car and a ramp (a board and books)
- A metre ruler and tape
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: USB power only.
Take it further: Use three gates to measure the acceleration of the car on the ramp.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Hand-wave theremin: an ultrasonic sensor that plays higher notes as your hand nears
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Arduino turns the distance of your hand into the frequency of a tone, so you can play music in the air. It shows how a sensor reading can be mapped to a sound.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor
- A small speaker (8 Ω) with a 100 Ω resistor in series, or a piezo buzzer
- A push button to switch the scale
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A card tube to guide the sound
Safety: USB power only. Keep the sound level low for your ears.
Take it further: Add a second sensor to control the volume with another hand using a digital potentiometer or PWM.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Barometer and altimeter with a BMP280 that detects which floor you are on
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Air pressure falls with height, by about 12 pascals for each metre near the ground. A BMP280 sensor can measure this so precisely that it can tell one floor of a building from the next.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A BMP280 pressure sensor module (check whether it is 3.3 V or has a 5 V regulator)
- A 0.96 inch OLED display (SSD1306, I2C)
- A power bank
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A notebook, a tape measure
Safety: USB power only. Check the voltage rating of the BMP280 module: a bare 3.3 V chip is damaged by 5 V.
Take it further: Carry it in a bag to a hill station and compare the altitude reading with a map height.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Internet clock showing Indian time on an OLED, set automatically by NTP
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Computers set their clocks by asking time servers over the internet using the Network Time Protocol. A NodeMCU can do the same and display accurate Indian Standard Time without a clock chip.
You will need
- A NodeMCU ESP8266 board with a micro USB cable
- A 0.96 inch SSD1306 I2C OLED display
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A phone hotspot or home Wi-Fi with a known password
- A power bank
- A small box as case
Safety: USB power only. Do not share your Wi-Fi password in published code; keep it in the sketch only on your own computer.
Take it further: Add a buzzer alarm and a web page that lets you set the alarm time from your phone.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Stepper motor turntable that turns a product by 10 degrees for 360 degree photos
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A stepper motor turns in exact small steps instead of spinning freely. The Arduino counts steps to rotate a platform through an exact angle, which is how 3D scanners, printers and camera sliders position things.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A 28BYJ-48 5 V stepper motor with ULN2003 driver board
- A 5 V 1 A power bank or battery pack for the motor
- A push button
- A round card or plywood platform 12 cm across and a hub
- A small object to photograph, and a phone on a stand
Safety: Low voltage only. Keep hair and fingers away from the turning platform. The motor and driver chip get warm after long use; switch off when finished.
Take it further: Make the Arduino trigger the phone shutter through a Bluetooth remote so the full turn is automatic.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Medicine time reminder box with a DS3231 clock, buzzer and LCD
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A real time clock chip keeps time even when the board is off, using a coin cell. The Arduino compares it with set alarm times and sounds a buzzer until a button is pressed.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A DS3231 real time clock module with a CR2032 cell
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD
- A buzzer and a green LED with a 220 Ω resistor
- A push button to say the dose has been taken
- A box with three compartments and a power bank
Safety: USB power only. This is a reminder model for learning, not a medical device: a family member must always check the real doses. Do not rely on it for anyone’s health.
Take it further: Add a second button to snooze the alarm for ten minutes.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Touch-free soap dispenser with an ultrasonic sensor, relay and small pump
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When a hand comes within about 10 cm, the sensor detects it and the Arduino runs a small pump for a fraction of a second. It shows how sensors, relays and timers are combined in a hygiene device.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- An HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor
- A 5 V single-channel relay module
- A 3 to 6 V mini submersible pump with a short tube
- A 4 x AA battery holder (6 V) for the pump
- A 1N4007 diode
- A plastic bottle for soap solution and a tray
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: Low voltage battery only. Use dilute liquid soap for testing, never alcohol sanitiser, as it is flammable. Keep the Arduino and relay away from liquid and use a tray to catch drips. An adult must help with drilling the bottle.
Take it further: Add a counter on an OLED that shows how many doses were given and a low-level warning.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Digital kitchen scale built from a load cell, an HX711 amplifier and an Arduino
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A load cell is a metal bar whose resistance changes by a tiny amount when it bends under a weight. The HX711 amplifies and digitises this change so the Arduino can show the mass in grams.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A 5 kg bar load cell with an HX711 module
- Two plywood or acrylic plates about 12 cm square and four spacers (nuts and bolts)
- A 16 x 2 I2C LCD
- A push button for tare
- A known reference mass, such as a 500 g packet of sugar or 1 kg of packed rice
- Jumper wires
Safety: USB power only. Do not place more than 5 kg on the scale or the load cell is permanently damaged. Mount the plates so that the force acts at the free end of the bar.
Take it further: Add a price-per-kilogram keypad entry so the scale shows the cost of loose goods.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Temperature-controlled 5 V fan with PWM speed steps and a logic-level MOSFET
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Pulse width modulation switches a fan on and off thousands of times a second; the fraction of time it is on sets the average power and speed. The Arduino raises the duty cycle as the temperature climbs, as a computer cooling fan does.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- An LM35 temperature sensor
- An IRLZ44N logic-level N-channel MOSFET
- A small 5 V DC fan drawing under 200 mA
- A 1N4007 diode, a 100 Ω resistor and a 10 kΩ resistor
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A USB power bank
Safety: USB power only. Keep fingers out of the fan blades. The MOSFET can get warm if the fan current is too high.
Take it further: Add a second threshold that sounds a buzzer if the temperature passes 50 degrees.
Electronics and roboticsChallenging
Cricket scoreboard with MAX7219 LED matrices, scoring buttons and over counter
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A MAX7219 chip drives a whole 8 x 8 LED matrix from three wires. The Arduino keeps the score, wickets and balls in variables and shows them as scrolling or fixed text, like a small scoreboard.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A 4-in-1 MAX7219 8 x 8 LED matrix module (32 x 8 LEDs)
- Five push buttons for 1 run, 4, 6, wicket and undo
- A 5 V power bank or USB supply
- A breadboard and jumper wires
- A cardboard or wooden frame
Safety: USB power only. The matrix is bright, so do not stare at it from a short distance, and it may get warm; switch it off when not in use.
Take it further: Add a second Arduino and an nRF24L01 so the scorer can sit away from the board.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Old TV remote that switches three LEDs and a servo through an IR receiver
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A remote control flashes an invisible infrared LED in a coded pattern, and a receiver module decodes it into a number. The Arduino can read that number and act on it, so any old remote becomes a controller for your projects.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or compatible board
- A VS1838B or TSOP1738 infrared receiver module
- An old TV or set-top box remote with fresh cells
- Three LEDs with three 220 Ω resistors
- An SG90 micro servo
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: USB power only. Do not use remote controls that have cracked battery cases or leaking cells.
Take it further: Control a 2WD robot from the remote, using four keys as forward, back, left and right.
ChemistryMedium
Which antacid neutralises the most acid? A vinegar drop count
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Antacids are bases or salts of weak acids that react with acid and neutralise it. Counting how many drops of vinegar one tablet can neutralise lets you compare brands fairly, per tablet and per gram.
You will need
- 3 to 4 different antacid tablets from a pharmacy (used only for testing, never eaten)
- White vinegar, 100 ml
- Red cabbage indicator, 20 ml (boil chopped cabbage in water and strain)
- A dropper or a clean pen refill tube
- 4 small glasses
- A teaspoon and a mortar or a spoon for crushing
- A kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 g (a jeweller’s shop will weigh for you)
- A notebook and a white paper background
Safety: An adult must supervise. Do not eat the tablets or any solution you make. Wash hands after crushing the tablets and do not touch your eyes.
Take it further: Compare milk of magnesia, baking soda and chalk powder as antacids per gram and say which is the most effective base by mass.
Before you start
How to choose a good project
Six things to think about before you decide. A project you understand and finish well beats a big one you rush.
Start with a question
Good projects answer a question you are curious about: why does iron rust, which fabric keeps tea hottest, how does a robot follow a line? A question gives your project a purpose.
Check what is asked
Find out whether your teacher wants a working model, a still model or an investigatory project, the size limits, the topic or theme, the date, and whether ready-made models are allowed.
Match your time and class
Each idea here shows a class band, a difficulty and a rough time. Choose something you can finish properly with time to test it, rather than something huge you have to rush.
Pick science you can explain
Judges and examiners ask how it works. Choose an idea whose science you understand, or can learn from your textbook and the free ebooks, and practise explaining it.
List materials and costs
Write down everything you need before you start. Many models use things from home; motors, LEDs, sensors and boards are easy to buy as spare parts or in a kit.
Make it your own
Change one thing and measure what happens, add a chart of your readings, or show a real-life use. Even a well-known model becomes yours when you add your own observations.
Plan your time
A four-week project timeline
Work backwards from the date of your exhibition or submission. Short of time? Do the same steps faster, but never skip testing.
- 4 weeks before
Choose and get it approved
- Shortlist two or three ideas
- Write your aim or question in one sentence
- Show your teacher and agree the idea
- 3 weeks before
Read and collect materials
- Read the science in your textbook and a free ebook
- Sketch the design with measurements
- Collect or buy the materials and spare parts
- 2 weeks before
Build and test
- Build one part at a time and test each part
- For an investigation, repeat each reading at least three times
- Write every observation in a notebook with the date
- 1 week before
Write the report and chart
- Aim, materials, method, observations, result and conclusion
- A neat table or graph of your readings
- A chart or poster with a labelled diagram
- Last 2 days
Rehearse
- Practise a one-minute explanation out loud
- Prepare answers to the questions below
- Pack spares: cells, wires, tape and glue
On the day
Present it with confidence
You will usually have a minute or two to explain your project, then questions. Practise both out loud at home.
A one-minute explanation
- 1Name and question“My project is a … It answers the question …”
- 2What it showsOne sentence of science, in your own words.
- 3How it worksPoint to each part as you explain it.
- 4What you foundYour readings or result, and what they mean.
- 5Real lifeWhere the same science is used every day.
Questions judges often ask
- What does your project show, in one sentence?
- How does it work? Which law or idea of science is behind it?
- What did you change, and what did you measure?
- What went wrong while you were making it, and how did you fix it?
- Where is this idea used in real life?
- What would you improve if you made it again?
What your project file needs
- Title page with your name, class and school
- Aim or question
- Introduction: the science behind it
- Materials list
- Method, step by step, with a diagram
- Observations in a table
- Result and conclusion
- Precautions and safety
- Sources: books and websites you used
Projects and kits
Ready-made projects, kits and spare parts
Need a working model, a kit to build yourself, or a motor, LED, battery or sensor to finish your own? Every idea card links to the matching section of the store.
School Projects, Class 1 to 9
Ready-made working models for class 1 to 9: science, maths, physics, chemistry and biology.Browse
School Projects, Class 10 to 12
Working models and investigatory projects for class 10, 11 and 12.Browse
Best Out of Waste
Models made from bottles, cardboard and old parts, for waste-management themes.Browse
Robotics and Coding
Robot kits, Arduino projects, line followers, obstacle avoiders and smart projects.Browse
DIY Kits
Kits with every part and step-by-step instructions, to build the model yourself.Browse
Components and Spares
Motors, LEDs, batteries, switches, wires, sensors and breadboards to build or repair.Browse
Engineering Projects
Minor and major projects for diploma and BTech students.Browse
Cannot find what you need? Ask the head office on WhatsApp.
Free ebooks
Free books for making projects
Step-by-step project books for every class, plus guides to exhibitions, project files and viva questions. Free to download, read and print.
Science projects
Writing a Science Project File
How to write the report, from the cover page to the bibliography
Science projects
Viva Questions for Science Projects
How to answer examiner questions, with sample questions for popular projects
Science projects
Easy Science Projects for Class 1 to 5
Simple, safe projects young children can make with a little help
Science projects
Science Projects for Class 6 to 8
Working models matched to middle-school science topics
Science projects
Investigatory Projects for Class 11 and 12
Topics, method and report structure for physics, chemistry and biology
Stay safe
Safety rules for every project
Read these with a parent before you start. Ideas that need extra care carry their own safety note on the card.
Never use mains electricity
Power your models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Never connect anything home-made to a wall socket.
Adult help for sharp and hot tools
Cutters, blades, glue guns, soldering irons and drills need an adult beside you. Cut away from your body on a board.
Chemicals with care
Use only safe household materials at home. Acids, stains and other lab chemicals are for the school lab with your teacher. Wear goggles and never taste anything.
Flames only with an adult
Candles and burners only with an adult present and water nearby. Tie back long hair and keep paper away.
Look after batteries
Do not short-circuit a battery, mix old and new cells, or puncture or heat a lithium battery. Remove batteries when the model is stored.
Small parts away from little ones
Magnets, button cells and small parts can be swallowed. Keep them away from younger brothers and sisters, and wash your hands after making.
Questions about science projects
Still have a question?
Chat on WhatsAppWhat is the difference between a working model, a still model and an investigatory project?
A working model moves or works to show a principle, such as a windmill that lights an LED. A still model shows how something is built or arranged, such as the layers of the Earth. An investigatory project asks a question and answers it by experiment: you change one thing, measure the result and draw a conclusion from your readings.
Can I buy a ready-made project?
Check your school’s rules first: some competitions want models made by the student, and some allow ready-made ones. Either way, you must understand how it works and be able to explain it. A good approach is to build from a kit, or to add your own measurements and chart to a ready-made model.
How long does a school project take?
Each idea here shows a rough time for the making. Leave extra time for reading, testing, the report and practice: three to four weeks from choosing to presenting is comfortable for most school projects.
What should go in my project report or file?
A title page, your aim, the science behind it, the materials, the method with a diagram, your observations in a table, the result and conclusion, precautions, and the books and websites you used. The free ebook “Writing a Science Project File” explains each part.
What if my model stops working on the day?
Carry spare cells, wires and tape, and test everything when you arrive. Take a short video or photos of it working at home. If something still fails, explain calmly what should happen and what you would check: judges value understanding as much as a perfect model.
More help
Stuck on a project?
Read the student help pages, try the free calculators for circuits and units, or ask the head office on WhatsApp.