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.
PhysicsEasy
CD and paper Newton colour disc that turns white when spun
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
White light is a mixture of the seven spectrum colours. When a disc painted in rainbow sectors spins fast, the eye blends the colours and sees a pale white or grey.
You will need
- An old CD or a cardboard circle 12 cm wide
- Seven coloured pencils or paints
- A pencil or a marble
- A paper circle to cover the CD
- A glue stick
- A ruler and a protractor
Safety: An adult must trim the paper with scissors if the CD is to be cut. Keep the spinning disc away from the eyes.
Take it further: Change the width of the colour sectors and see how the blended colour shifts.
PhysicsMedium
Shoebox spectroscope using a piece of CD as a grating
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A CD has fine tracks that spread light into colours by diffraction. The spectroscope shows that different bulbs and tubes have different colour patterns.
You will need
- A shoebox or a long cardboard tube
- A piece of an old CD, about 3 cm square
- A razor blade or two blades as a slit (adult only)
- Black paper and tape
- A CFL or LED tube, a filament bulb and daylight (not the Sun directly)
- A mobile phone camera or just your eye
Safety: An adult must cut the CD and use the blade. Never look at the Sun through the device.
Take it further: Photograph each spectrum with your phone and compare the colour order along the strip.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Coin-cell LED night lamp with an ice-cream stick switch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A complete circuit of a cell, an LED and a switch lights the lamp. It shows that current flows only in a closed loop and that an LED works in one direction only.
You will need
- A 3 V coin cell (CR2032) from an old toy or remote
- A 5 mm LED
- An ice-cream stick
- Aluminium foil from chocolate wrappers
- A plastic jar or bottle as the shade
- Tape and a card base
Safety: Keep coin cells away from small children because they are dangerous if swallowed. Never use mains electricity. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Add a second coin cell in series for a red LED pair and see how brightness changes.
ChemistryMedium
Bohr atom models for the first ten elements with beads and wire
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Electrons fill shells around the nucleus in order: two in the first shell and up to eight in the second. The models show how this explains the valency of the first ten elements.
You will need
- Thermocol balls or clay for nuclei
- Different coloured beads for protons, neutrons and electrons
- Thin wire or cardboard circles as shells
- A cardboard base
- Glue
- Markers
Safety: An adult must cut the wire and thermocol. Avoid sharp wire ends.
Take it further: Add the next ten elements with a third shell and see how sodium and chlorine can form a bond.
ChemistryEasy
Ball and stick molecules of water, CO2 and methane from clay and sticks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Atoms join to form molecules in fixed shapes. Water is bent, carbon dioxide is straight and methane is a tetrahedron, which affects their properties.
You will need
- Clay or dough in 3 colours
- Toothpicks or matchsticks without heads
- An egg tray to keep the parts
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Glue
Safety: Use only toothpicks or matchsticks with the heads removed by an adult. Keep small parts from young children.
Take it further: Make ethene or benzene using flexible wire for double bonds.
ChemistryMedium
Periodic table wall chart of the first 20 elements with shell cups
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Elements in the same column have the same number of outer electrons and similar properties. The chart shows the pattern of metals, non-metals and noble gases.
You will need
- A large chart paper or the back of an old flex banner
- Egg tray cups cut singly
- Poster paint in four colours
- Beads for electrons
- Glue and a marker
- A ruler
Safety: An adult must cut the egg tray and flex. Keep beads away from small children.
Take it further: Extend the chart to the next 10 elements and add their common uses.
BiologyMedium
Blood circulation model with a squeeze-bottle heart and coloured water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The heart pumps blood in a loop through the lungs and the body, and valves make it flow one way. The model shows double circulation with a pump and two tube loops.
You will need
- A soft squeeze bottle with a spout
- Two non-return valves from old pumps, or a flap of balloon rubber
- Transparent tubes, about 2 metres
- Red and blue food colour
- A tray and a bucket
- Cardboard backboard
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle and tubes. Do the experiment over a tray to catch spills.
Take it further: Compare the flow when you squeeze faster, as in exercise.
PhysicsMedium
Syringe-powered hydraulic arm from cardboard and ice-cream sticks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Pushing a liquid in a closed system passes the force along without loss, so a small push at one syringe moves the arm at another. It is the idea behind brakes and JCBs.
You will need
- Four 10 ml syringes (without needles, from a medical shop)
- Two metres of clear tube
- Water with a drop of food colour
- Cardboard and ice-cream sticks
- Hot glue or fevicol
- Split pins and a base board
Safety: Use syringes without needles. An adult must use the glue gun and cut the cardboard.
Take it further: Measure the load lifted using a 10 ml syringe versus a 20 ml one.
MathsMedium
Straw and pipe-cleaner dome that shows why triangles are rigid
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A four-sided frame can collapse but a triangle cannot change shape without changing the length of a side. A dome of triangles is strong and light.
You will need
- About 40 drinking straws
- A packet of pipe cleaners or thread
- Scissors (adult help)
- A ruler
- A square of straws for comparison
- A tray
Safety: An adult must cut the straws. Cut pipe cleaner ends are sharp, so bend them in.
Take it further: Check Euler’s formula V minus E plus F equals 2 for your dome.
PhysicsMedium
Archimedes screw water lifter from a bottle and a plastic tube
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Turning a spiral of tube lifts water uphill without a pump. The device is a screw that lifts water in a few turns, used for thousands of years.
You will need
- A 1 litre plastic bottle or a thick PVC pipe
- About 3 metres of transparent soft tube
- A bamboo stick or a long pencil
- Strong tape
- Two buckets
- A handle made of a cardboard disc
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Work over a tray and wipe up spills to avoid slipping.
Take it further: Use a different number of turns and plot the water lifted per minute.
PhysicsMedium
Savonius wind turbine from two halves of a plastic bottle
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A vertical turbine with curved cups catches the wind from any direction. It shows how kinetic energy of the wind is turned into rotation.
You will need
- One 2 litre plastic bottle
- A bamboo skewer or a long nail as the axle
- Two circular discs of cardboard
- A bottle cap base or a bearing made of a bead
- Wire or tape
- A small hand fan to make wind
- A ruler and a stopwatch
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Smooth edges with tape and keep fingers away from the turning blades.
Take it further: Connect a small motor to the axle and see if an LED glows.
PhysicsEasy
Pot-in-pot clay cooler: how evaporation keeps food cool
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water evaporating from wet sand between two clay pots takes heat from the inner pot. The test shows a temperature drop with no electricity.
You will need
- Two clay pots, one smaller to fit inside the other
- Sand
- Water
- A wet cloth
- Two thermometers
- A notebook
Safety: Handle clay pots carefully because they can break and have sharp edges.
Take it further: Compare the cooling on a dry day and a rainy day.
PhysicsMedium
Cardboard gear train with a cap handle and a measured speed ratio
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Gears change speed and turning force. A small gear driven by a large one spins faster but with less force, and the speed ratio equals the ratio of teeth.
You will need
- Corrugated cardboard
- Four bottle caps or round lids with teeth cut in them
- Cardboard teeth glued around the discs
- Skewers as axles
- A base board
- Paper strips marked with a colour
- A stopwatch
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard and skewers. Mind the sharp tips of skewers and cover them with clay.
Take it further: Add an idler gear and see the direction and ratio stay the same.
EnvironmentEasy
Bowl and cup solar still that makes clean water from salty water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water evaporates in the sun and condenses on cool plastic, leaving salt behind. It is a small model of how the water cycle and distillation work.
You will need
- A large steel or plastic bowl
- A small glass or cup
- Cling film or a clear plastic sheet
- A small stone
- Salty water made with 2 spoons of salt in a bowl
- Tape
- A sunny spot
Safety: Do not drink the collected water unless the equipment is clean and an adult has checked it. Keep hands away from hot water.
Take it further: Add a black cloth under the bowl and see if the yield increases.
BiologyMedium
Model of the human eye with a water-filled bottle lens
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The eye lens forms an upside-down image on the retina, and the brain turns it upright. A water lens and screen show how focus works and why spectacles help.
You will need
- A round clear plastic bottle or a plastic ball cut in half
- Water
- A small cardboard box painted black as the eyeball
- Butter paper as the retina
- A torch and a candle-shaped drawing
- Concave and convex lenses from an old pair of glasses (optional)
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle. Use the torch and do not use a real flame.
Take it further: Measure the focal length of the bottle lens by focusing the image of a distant window.
PhysicsMedium
Straw and tape wave machine for transverse waves
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A disturbance can travel along a line of objects without the objects moving along. The machine shows a transverse wave with crest, trough, wavelength and speed.
You will need
- About 40 bamboo skewers or drinking straws
- Strong double-sided tape or long clear tape
- Jelly beans or clay balls for weights
- A table edge or a stand
- A ruler and a stopwatch
- A marker
Safety: An adult must trim the sharp tips of the skewers and cover them with clay.
Take it further: Change the weights and see how the wave speed changes.
PhysicsMedium
Principle of moments board from a ruler and paper-clip hooks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A beam stays balanced when the clockwise moment equals the anticlockwise moment. The board lets students test the rule with known weights.
You will need
- A 30 cm ruler or a wooden scale
- A thread to hang it
- Paper clips as hooks
- Small identical coins or nuts as weights
- A stand made from a cardboard box
- Pencil and notebook
Safety: Keep small coins and nuts away from small children. An adult should help set up the stand.
Take it further: Use unequal arms and find the mass of an unknown object using the law.
PhysicsMedium
Cardboard dam model that shows why a dam is thicker at the base
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water pressure grows with depth, so the base of a dam must be thicker than the top. The model has a spillway and a sluice gate and shows how stored water gives energy.
You will need
- A large plastic tub or tray
- Corrugated cardboard covered with plastic film
- Clay or plasticine to seal gaps
- A bottle with water
- Small paper boats
- Waterproof tape and a ruler
Safety: Work over a tray. An adult must cut the cardboard and clean up the spilled water.
Take it further: Compare the jet distance at three different depths and plot it.
MathsMedium
Straw and protractor clinometer to find building height by trigonometry
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The height of a tall object can be found from the angle of elevation and the distance to its base using tan of the angle. The clinometer measures that angle.
You will need
- A cardboard protractor or a printed one
- A drinking straw
- Thread and a small weight (a nut)
- Tape
- A measuring tape
- Notebook and calculator
Safety: Do not look at the Sun through the straw. Measure on level ground and away from traffic.
Take it further: Measure the height of a tree and check it using shadow lengths.
PhysicsMedium
Newton’s cradle from marbles, thread and an ice-cream stick frame
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When one ball hits a row of balls, the one at the far end swings out and the others stay still. This shows that momentum and energy are conserved in an elastic collision.
You will need
- Five identical steel balls or large marbles
- Strong thread
- Ice-cream sticks to make a frame
- Strong glue or tape
- A ruler
- Small beads and clay to hold the thread
Safety: An adult must cut and glue the frame. Keep marbles away from small children.
Take it further: Replace one marble with a heavier one and see what happens.
PhysicsEasy
Pizza box solar oven that warms a cup of water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Foil reflects sunlight into the box, a clear cover traps heat, and a black cup absorbs it. The test shows how reflection, absorption and trapping of heat make a solar cooker.
You will need
- A clean pizza box or a shoe box
- Aluminium foil
- Black paper or paint
- Cling film or a clear plastic sheet
- A stick to prop the lid
- A thermometer
- A steel cup with water
Safety: The box and cup can become hot, so an adult must handle them. Never look at the reflected glare; wear sunglasses.
Take it further: Change the tilt of the flap with the Sun and note the best angle.
BiologyMedium
Layered foam sheet model of a leaf cross-section with stomata
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A leaf has an epidermis, palisade cells full of chloroplasts, loose spongy cells with air spaces, veins and stomata. The layers are built to catch light and let gases move.
You will need
- Coloured foam sheets or thin thermocol layers
- Green and yellow clay
- Straws cut for vein tubes
- A cardboard base
- Glue and a pen
- Pins and labels
Safety: An adult must cut the foam and straws. Keep pins away from small children.
Take it further: Peel a thin layer from a leaf and look for stomata under a microscope.
PhysicsMedium
Spool block and tackle that lifts a brick: counting the ropes
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Several rope sections supporting a load share its weight. The mechanical advantage equals the number of supporting rope sections, so you pull a longer length with less force.
You will need
- Four empty thread spools or round discs
- Strong string, about 4 metres
- Two ice-cream stick frames or cardboard holders
- A hook and a half-brick or a bag of sand
- A spring balance or a rubber band
- A measuring tape
Safety: Keep feet clear of the load. An adult must supervise lifting heavier loads and cut the frame pieces.
Take it further: Compute efficiency as work out divided by work in for each setup.
ChemistryMedium
Does salt or sugar change the boiling point of water?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Dissolved salt or sugar raises the boiling point of water by a small amount that grows with the number of dissolved particles. You measure the rise with a lab thermometer and compare it with the tiny amount people imagine when they salt cooking water.
You will need
- A steel pan or small vessel
- A lab thermometer reading up to 110 C (borrow from school)
- Common salt, 4 spoons
- Sugar, 4 spoons
- A measuring cup and 4 cups of water
- A gas stove or induction plate (adult only)
- Notebook and a clock
Safety: An adult must run the stove and hold the pan, because boiling water and steam cause bad burns. The thermometer must hang from a stand or clamp and never rest on the pan bottom. Keep children at arm length from the steam.
Take it further: Compare your readings with the calculated rise using 0.5 C per mole of dissolved particles in a kilogram of water.
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.