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.
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 roboticsMedium
Hand-wave theremin: an ultrasonic sensor that plays higher notes as your hand nears
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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 roboticsMedium
Touch-free soap dispenser with an ultrasonic sensor, relay and small pump
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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 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 roboticsMedium
Double-clap switch for a 5 V USB lamp with a sound sensor and relay module
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A sound sensor turns the loud burst of a clap into a signal. The Arduino counts claps within a time window and toggles a relay, which switches a small lamp on and off.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano
- A KY-038 or similar microphone sound sensor module with digital output
- A 5 V single-channel relay module
- A 5 V USB LED lamp (not a mains lamp) with a USB lead
- A power bank
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: Use only a low-voltage 5 V USB lamp. Never connect a mains lamp or plug to this relay: leave that to a qualified electrician. Keep the relay contacts away from loose wires.
Take it further: Add a second relay and use three claps for a USB fan.
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
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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.
ChemistryMedium
How much calcium carbonate is in an eggshell? Mass loss in vinegar
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Eggshell is mostly calcium carbonate. When it reacts with vinegar it gives off carbon dioxide, so the loss in mass of the flask tells you how much calcium carbonate was present.
You will need
- 3 to 4 clean dry eggshells, crushed to powder (kitchen waste)
- White vinegar, 250 ml
- A wide jar or conical flask of 500 ml
- A scale reading to 0.1 g or better
- A paper cup for the powder
- A piece of cotton wool or loosely folded foil to cover the mouth
- A spoon and a notebook
Safety: An adult must supervise. The mixture froths strongly, so use a jar much bigger than the liquid. Wash hands after handling raw eggshell because it can carry germs.
Take it further: Repeat with chalk, marble chips and a sea shell, and compare the percentage of calcium carbonate in each.
ChemistryMedium
Hot or cold? Temperature change when different solids dissolve
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Dissolving some solids makes the water colder (endothermic) and dissolving others makes it warmer (exothermic). The reason is the balance between the energy needed to break the solid apart and the energy released as water surrounds the particles.
You will need
- A thermometer reading to 0.5 or 1 degree
- 2 foam or paper cups nested together as a simple calorimeter
- A measuring cylinder or syringe for 50 ml of water
- Garden urea, baking soda, citric acid, table salt and sugar, 5 g of each
- Dehumidifier calcium chloride crystals, 5 g (adult only)
- A stopwatch and a spoon
- A kitchen scale
Safety: An adult must supervise and handle the calcium chloride and urea with gloves and wear goggles. Do not taste any chemical and wash hands afterwards. Calcium chloride is an irritant and can become hot.
Take it further: Estimate the heat absorbed using q = mass of water x 4.18 x temperature change and compare the values per gram of each solid.
ChemistryMedium
Iron nail in copper sulphate: weighing the copper that appears
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A more reactive metal pushes a less reactive metal out of its salt solution. Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate, and the mass of copper formed can be compared with the mass of iron used.
You will need
- A clean iron nail, about 5 to 6 g (rub with sandpaper)
- Copper sulphate crystals, 5 g (from an agri or lab supply shop)
- A glass of 100 ml and warm water
- A scale reading to 0.01 g if possible (a jeweller can weigh it)
- A strip of aluminium foil and a piece of copper wire for comparison
- Paper towel
- A spoon and a notebook
Safety: An adult must supervise. Copper sulphate is harmful if swallowed and irritates eyes and skin, so wear gloves and goggles and keep it away from food and children. Pour waste into a labelled container for the teacher, not down the drain.
Take it further: Test a zinc strip, a magnesium ribbon and a piece of tin foil in the same solution and rank the metals from most to least reactive.
ChemistryMedium
Cooling curve of candle wax: where the temperature stops falling
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When liquid wax freezes it gives out latent heat, so the temperature stays nearly steady while it solidifies. The flat part of the cooling curve marks the freezing point.
You will need
- A lab thermometer reading to 110 degrees C
- Pieces of ordinary candle wax, about 20 g
- A test tube or a small steel tumbler
- A steel pan of hot water for a water bath
- A stopwatch or phone timer
- A clamp or a clothes peg on a stand to hold the tube
- Graph paper
Safety: An adult must supervise. Heat the wax only in a water bath, never over a flame, because wax can catch fire. Hot water scalds, so use tongs or a cloth, and keep the thermometer away from the flame or hot plate.
Take it further: Repeat with ice made from salty water and compare the freezing point and the shape of the curve with pure water.
ChemistryMedium
Does salt raise the boiling point of water? A measured test
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A dissolved solid raises the boiling point of water, and the rise grows with the amount of solute. This is called boiling point elevation and is a colligative property.
You will need
- A lab thermometer reading to 110 degrees C
- A steel pan of 500 ml and a gas stove or induction plate
- Table salt: 0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 g in separate packets
- A kitchen scale
- A clamp and stand, or a long spoon to hold the thermometer away from the base
- A measuring jug
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must do all the heating and handle the boiling water. Keep children away from the stove. Do not touch the pan, and do not let the thermometer rest on the hot base. Let the pan cool fully before pouring.
Take it further: Repeat with sugar and compare the effect per mole to show that ions count separately.
ChemistryMedium
Charles’s law with a sealed syringe in cold and hot water baths
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A fixed amount of gas at constant pressure expands steadily as its temperature rises. A graph of volume against temperature is a straight line that points to about minus 273 degrees C.
You will need
- A 50 or 60 ml plastic syringe with a smooth plunger (from a medical store)
- A cap or a piece of clay to seal its tip
- Ice, warm water and a kettle of hot water (adult use)
- A large steel bowl or pan
- A thermometer reading to 100 degrees C
- A rubber band to hold the syringe on a ruler
- A drop of cooking oil for the plunger
- Graph paper
Safety: An adult must handle the hot water. Do not use water above 70 degrees C. Do not push the syringe hard against a closed tip, since the plunger can pop out.
Take it further: Keep the temperature fixed and press the plunger by adding known weights to test Boyle’s law, that pressure times volume is constant.
ChemistryMedium
Catalyst race: which kitchen catalyst breaks down hydrogen peroxide fastest?
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Catalysts speed up a reaction without being used up. Yeast and raw potato contain catalase, an enzyme that breaks hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, and the volume of oxygen collected measures how fast it works.
You will need
- Hydrogen peroxide 3 per cent, 150 ml (pharmacy)
- A pinch of dry yeast, 2 g of raw potato paste, 2 g of carrot paste and 2 g of boiled potato paste
- A plastic bottle of 250 ml with a one-hole cork or clay seal
- A pipe or a clean straw pipe and an inverted bottle full of water in a bowl
- A measuring cylinder or syringe
- A stopwatch
- A small spoon for each catalyst
Safety: An adult must supervise. Wear goggles because hydrogen peroxide irritates eyes. Do not seal the reaction bottle completely or it may burst, and do not drink or taste anything. Wash hands afterwards.
Take it further: Test the effect of temperature on yeast by chilling or warming the peroxide to 10, 30 and 50 degrees C.
ChemistryMedium
Dyeing cotton with turmeric and onion skin: does a mordant help?
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Many natural dyes wash out of cotton unless a mordant is used. A mordant such as alum forms a link between the dye and the fibre, making the colour stronger and more lasting.
You will need
- 4 pieces of white cotton cloth, 10 cm by 10 cm each
- Turmeric powder, 2 teaspoons, and dry onion skins, a handful
- Alum (phitkari), 3 g
- A steel pan, a spoon and a stove (adult)
- Water
- Mild soap or detergent
- A clothes line and sunny place
- Labels and a notebook
Safety: An adult must supervise all heating. Use tongs, because the cloth and water are hot. Do not use cooking pans afterwards for food. Do not taste the dye or alum.
Take it further: Try tea, marigold petals and beetroot and record which dyes are fast to washing and to light.
ChemistryMedium
Spinach leaf pigments separated by paper chromatography with Rf values
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A green leaf contains several pigments. Paper chromatography separates them because they travel up the paper at different speeds, and the ratio of distances, the Rf value, identifies each one.
You will need
- Fresh spinach or other leaves, 3 to 4
- Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) 70 per cent or higher, 50 ml
- Strips of filter paper or coffee filter, 2 cm by 15 cm
- A tall glass or jar and a pencil to hang the strip
- A coin or a spoon for crushing the leaf
- A ruler
- A small cup and clear tape
- A lid or foil to cover the jar
Safety: An adult must supervise. Rubbing alcohol is flammable and its fumes irritate. Work in a ventilated space with no flame, stove or candle nearby. Do not taste it and keep it away from children.
Take it further: Compare pigments of a green leaf, a red amaranth leaf and a dry autumn leaf to see which pigments are missing.
MathsMedium
Width of a pond or river from a baseline and the sine rule
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You can find a distance you cannot measure directly by measuring a baseline and two angles. The sine rule in the triangle then gives the width.
You will need
- A measuring tape or a 10 m rope marked in metres
- A protractor and a plumb line, or a clinometer app on a phone
- Two sticks or flags for the ends of the baseline
- A flat piece of cardboard 30 cm by 30 cm for a sighting board
- A straw taped along its edge for sighting
- A pencil and graph paper
- A calculator with sin
Safety: Keep well away from the water edge. An adult must come along and stay with the group. Do not climb trees or walls to take readings.
Take it further: Use two landmarks to measure the distance between them across the water using two baselines.
MathsMedium
Sine wave drawn by a turning wheel and a moving roll of paper
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The height of a point on a turning wheel, measured above the centre, follows a sine curve in time. Tracing it on moving paper gives amplitude, period and a smooth wave.
You will need
- A cardboard disc of radius 10 cm
- A pushpin or a nail through the centre to a board
- A pencil or a coloured pen as a pointer
- A long strip of paper, 60 cm by 10 cm, or a roll of receipt paper
- A ruler and a protractor
- A set square
- A second sheet of graph paper for plotting
- Tape
Safety: An adult must help with the pin or the nail so that fingers are not pricked.
Take it further: Fix two pens at 90 degrees on the disc to trace sine and cosine waves together on the same paper.
MathsMedium
Arm span against height: scatter plot, mean, spread and best-fit line
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two measurements on the same person can be linked. Collecting data for a class and drawing a scatter plot, a line of best fit and a correlation shows how statistics finds a pattern in data.
You will need
- A measuring tape or a metre stick with a long string
- A wall with a chalk mark for height
- Data from 30 or more classmates with their permission
- Graph paper or a spreadsheet
- A calculator
- A table for name code, height and arm span
- A transparent ruler
Safety: Take measurements with the person standing straight and use only first names or code numbers on the sheet. Ask permission before measuring anyone.
Take it further: Compare the line for boys and girls separately and for different age groups.
MathsMedium
Area of a leaf by random dots: a Monte Carlo estimate with a check
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The area of an odd shape can be estimated by throwing random points on a square that contains it. The share of points that land inside the shape estimates the share of the square it covers.
You will need
- A flat leaf such as peepal or banyan
- A sheet of graph paper with 1 mm or 2 mm squares
- A pencil and a ruler
- A die or two for random coordinates, or a calculator with random numbers
- A table of results
- A 10 cm by 10 cm square drawn on a card
- A phone with a calculator or a spreadsheet
Safety: No special safety. Take leaves only from the ground or with permission, and do not pick from protected trees.
Take it further: Find the area of the map of your state on a printed outline using the same method.
MathsMedium
Monty Hall with three cups: should you switch? 100 trials and the proof
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In the three-door puzzle, switching wins two times out of three, though many people feel that it is a fifty-fifty choice. Playing it many times and listing all the outcomes shows why.
You will need
- Three paper cups
- One coin or small ball to hide
- A partner to act as the host
- A tally table with two columns: stay and switch
- Paper and pencil
- A tree diagram on a chart
- A calculator
Safety: No special safety. Play fairly and do not peek.
Take it further: Write a small program or a spreadsheet formula that plays 10,000 games and shows the two win rates.
MathsMedium
How long is a game of snakes and ladders? 100 simulated games
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The number of turns to finish a game is random but has a stable average. Playing or simulating many solo games gives the mean game length and shows how the snakes and ladders change it.
You will need
- A snakes and ladders board
- A die and a counter
- A tally table of 100 game lengths
- Graph paper for a histogram
- A calculator or a spreadsheet
- A second board without snakes and ladders, drawn on paper
- A pencil
Safety: No special safety.
Take it further: Find the chance that a game ends in under 20 throws from the simulation and compare it with the hand data.
MathsMedium
Balancing a cardboard triangle at its centroid, checked by coordinates
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The point where the three medians of a triangle meet is its centroid, and a flat triangle balances there. Its coordinates are the average of the three vertex coordinates.
You will need
- A sheet of thick cardboard
- Graph paper to glue on it
- A pencil, ruler and scissors
- A sharp pencil tip or a blunt needle stuck in an eraser as a pivot
- Glue
- A compass
- Calculator
Safety: An adult must supervise cutting. Keep the needle covered and use a blunt point for balancing.
Take it further: Cut a cardboard map of India and find its balance point by hanging it from two points and drawing plumb lines.
MathsMedium
Taxicab geometry on a city grid: distances, midpoints and square circles
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
On a street grid you cannot travel diagonally, so the distance is the sum of the horizontal and vertical steps. With this rule a circle looks like a diamond, which shows that geometry depends on how distance is defined.
You will need
- A large sheet of graph paper or a chalk grid on the floor
- Coloured pens
- String
- A ruler
- A small toy or cap as a taxi
- A map of a nearby town with a grid-like area
- Paper for tables
Safety: If you draw on a floor or playground, do it away from traffic and use washable chalk.
Take it further: Define an ellipse and a parabola in taxicab geometry and sketch them.
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.