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
Neem, garlic and soap sprays compared on leaf-eating damage
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Natural sprays can reduce insect damage on crops without strong pesticides. Counting damaged leaves on sprayed and unsprayed plants gives data on which home-made spray works best.
You will need
- Four similar potted plants such as okra, brinjal or cabbage
- Neem leaves, garlic and mild soap
- Four spray bottles and a muslin cloth
- Water
- Labels, gloves and a hand lens
- A notebook for weekly counts
Safety: An adult must crush garlic and neem and mix the sprays. Wear gloves and do not touch eyes. Never spray onto food that will be eaten, keep sprays away from pets, and wash hands after use.
Take it further: Combine two sprays and test whether the mix works better than either alone.
BiologyEasy
Ant repellents compared: turmeric, chalk, clove powder and vinegar line
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Ants follow chemical trails and avoid some household substances. Counting how many ants cross a line of each substance gives a safe test of natural repellents.
You will need
- A saucer with a spoon of sugar syrup as bait
- Turmeric, chalk dust, clove powder and diluted vinegar
- A small tray or plate to place the bait
- A magnifying glass
- A timer
- A notebook
Safety: Wash hands after handling spices. Do not touch ants with fingers, and do not use sprays or strong chemicals. Release no ants indoors; do the test outdoors where ants already live.
Take it further: Test whether the repellent still works after one hour in the sun.
BiologyEasy
Class seed bank of local varieties with germination record cards
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Saving seeds of local vegetables, pulses and flowers keeps variety alive. A record card for each seed packet teaches how farmers collect, dry, label, store and test seeds.
You will need
- Seeds of at least eight local plants (from kitchen or garden)
- Small paper envelopes or glass jars
- Silica gel or dry rice to keep seeds dry
- Labels and a marker
- A shoebox or tin as the bank
- Cotton wool and a plate for germination tests
Safety: Wash hands after handling seeds, especially treated or sprayed ones. Only collect seeds from untreated plants. Do not taste seeds, and keep the bank away from children and pets.
Take it further: Retest the same seeds after three months to see how storage changes germination.
BiologyMedium
Seed age and storage method: how germination falls with time
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Seeds lose the ability to sprout over time, and storage conditions change how fast. Testing old and new seeds kept in different ways shows how to store seed for the next season.
You will need
- Seed lots of different ages (for example this year, last year and two years old)
- Petri dishes or plates with tissue
- Jars with lids, rice grains or ash
- Fridge space or a cool shelf
- A measuring cup and labels
- A notebook for counts
Safety: Wash hands after handling seeds. Do not use seeds treated with chemicals. An adult should handle jars stored in the fridge.
Take it further: Test whether soaking in water before sowing helps old seeds sprout.
BiologyMedium
Protecting stored pulses from weevils with neem, ash and turmeric
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Grain stores lose food to weevils and beetles. Comparing traditional protectants in sealed jars shows how farmers can protect stored pulses without chemical sprays.
You will need
- Four glass jars with lids
- Pulses such as moong or gram from a store (not treated)
- Dried neem leaves, wood ash, turmeric powder
- A hand lens
- A kitchen scale
- Labels and a notebook
Safety: Wash hands after handling grain and powders. Wear a dust mask when mixing ash and turmeric. Do not eat pulses used in the experiment, and keep jars away from food and children.
Take it further: Compare grain dried in the sun with grain that has not been dried before storage.
BiologyMedium
Earthworm food choice chamber: what do vermicompost worms prefer?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A choice chamber lets worms pick between foods. The amount eaten of each food shows what to feed a vermicompost bin and what to avoid.
You will need
- A shallow plastic tray divided into four sections with card
- Compost earthworms from a vermicompost bin
- Banana peel, tea leaves, dry leaves, citrus peel
- Damp soil or old compost
- A kitchen scale
- A damp cloth to cover
Safety: Wear gloves and wash hands after handling worms and soil. Handle worms gently and return them to their bin afterwards. Keep the tray away from food areas.
Take it further: Test whether worms prefer chopped or whole food of the same kind.
EnvironmentMedium
Polyhouse tunnel against open bed: temperature, humidity and seedling growth
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A plastic tunnel holds warmth and moisture and protects plants from wind and rain. Comparing a covered bed with an open bed shows how polyhouses extend the growing season.
You will need
- Two small garden beds or trays of soil
- Bent wire or cane hoops
- Clear plastic sheet
- Two thermometers and a hygrometer (or humidity app)
- Seeds such as tomato or coriander
- A ruler and a notebook
Safety: An adult must bend wire hoops and cut plastic. Open the tunnel on hot afternoons so seedlings do not overheat, and wash hands after handling soil.
Take it further: Add a shade net over the tunnel and test whether it keeps the temperature in the best range.
EnvironmentMedium
Terraces and contour furrows against straight slopes: runoff model
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Terracing and ploughing along the contours slow rain runoff and hold soil on hillsides. A sand tray model measures the soil and water lost on each slope.
You will need
- Three plastic trays or boxes with a spout at one end
- Garden soil or sand
- A watering can with a sprinkler head or a perforated bottle
- Three catch cups
- A tilted board or books
- A measuring cup and a kitchen scale
Safety: Work outdoors or over a tray. Wash hands after handling soil. Do not use trays near electrical items.
Take it further: Plant grass seeds on one tray and test the effect of vegetation cover as well.
ChemistryMedium
Alum against moringa seed powder: which clears muddy water faster?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Coagulants make tiny suspended particles clump together and sink. Comparing alum (phitkari) with crushed moringa seed shows two ways to clear turbid water before filtering.
You will need
- Four clear jars or bottles
- Muddy water (clay soil stirred in water)
- Alum (phitkari) and moringa seeds
- A mortar or a clean stone to crush seeds
- A spoon and a timer
- A laser pointer or a torch for a clarity check
- A white card with a black cross
Safety: An adult must supervise crushing seeds. Do not drink any of the treated water, because it is not tested. Alum can irritate eyes, so wash hands after use.
Take it further: Vary the dose of alum from 0.1 g to 1 g and find the best amount.
EnvironmentMedium
Five home water cleaning methods ranked with a clarity tube
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Cloth, sand, charcoal, alum and boiling each do different jobs. A homemade clarity tube ranks how well each method clears water, and the project explains which methods also remove germs.
You will need
- Muddy water made from garden soil
- Cotton cloth, a funnel, clean sand, crushed charcoal and gravel
- A pinch of alum
- A clear tube with a black dot at the bottom
- A measuring cup
- A pan for boiling (adult)
Safety: An adult must boil the water and handle hot items. Do not drink any water from the test. Charcoal dust is messy, so wear a mask when crushing.
Take it further: Combine the steps in the best order to design a four-stage household treatment.
EnvironmentMedium
Sunlight bottle disinfection model: temperature in clear, black-backed and shaded bottles
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The solar disinfection (SODIS) method leaves clear water in sunlight for hours so heat and ultraviolet light weaken germs. Measuring temperature in different bottle set-ups shows how to make it work better.
You will need
- Four clear PET bottles with lids
- Black paper or paint
- Foil
- Four thermometers
- Tap water
- A sunny roof or open space
- Tape and a watch
Safety: This project only measures temperature; do not drink water from the experiment. An adult must supervise roof work. Do not claim that treated water is safe without proper testing.
Take it further: Compare the temperature on a clear, a hazy and a cloudy day.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Sand tank with two wells: drawdown and well interference
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Pumping water from a well lowers the water table around it in a cone shape. Two close wells lower each other’s water, which is why borewells too near each other fail in summer.
You will need
- A clear plastic box or aquarium about 40 cm long
- Clean coarse sand
- Two perforated plastic tubes with mesh as wells
- Two syringes or small pumps with tubing
- Dyed water
- A marker and ruler
Safety: An adult must cut and drill the tubes. Place the tank on a stable table in a tray. Wipe up spills at once, and keep electrical devices away from water.
Take it further: Add a layer of clay to the model and see how it changes the shape of the drawdown.
EnvironmentMedium
Recharge pit model that refills a borewell tube from roof water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Roof rain can be led through a filter pit into the ground to raise the water table. The model shows how a recharge pit with gravel and sand layers refills a borewell.
You will need
- A large clear plastic bucket or box
- Gravel, coarse sand and fine sand
- A perforated plastic tube as the borewell
- A small tray roof with a downpipe made from a bottle
- A watering can for rain
- A ruler and marker
- A cup of dye for tracing
Safety: Cut plastic with an adult. Keep the model on a stable table over a tray, and wash hands after handling gravel and sand.
Take it further: Time how fast the water drains in the pit with different sand mixes.
PhysicsMedium
Gravity dam profile model: why the base is thick and the top thin
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water pressure grows with depth, so dams are thicker at the bottom. A model dam in a tray of water shows that a trapezoid profile resists the push of water better than a thin wall.
You will need
- A rectangular plastic tray or tank
- Clay or soft plasticine, or wet sand
- A thin cardboard wall to compare
- A spring balance or a small weight on a thread
- A ruler
- Water and food colour
Safety: Keep the tank on a table over a tray and wipe up spills. Do not stand on wet floors. Use only a small tank so the load is safe.
Take it further: Test a curved arch dam shape and compare with the straight dam.
PhysicsMedium
Canal lock model that lifts a boat between two water levels
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A lock raises or lowers boats by letting water in or out of a chamber between gates. The model shows how water finds its own level and moves a boat with no engine lift.
You will need
- A long plastic box or tray
- Three card dividers with waterproof tape
- Two small gates made from plastic sheet
- A foil or plastic toy boat
- Water and a jug
- A ruler and food colour
Safety: Work over a tray and keep floors dry. An adult must cut thick plastic. Do not use electric items near water.
Take it further: Add a side tank that stores some lock water to save it.
Earth and spaceEasy
Crumpled paper watershed that traces rain and pollution to the river
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A watershed is the land that drains to one river. Spraying water on a crumpled sheet shows ridges, valleys and how water, and anything on the ground, ends up in the stream.
You will need
- A large sheet of thin paper or an old newspaper
- A waterproof tray or a plastic sheet
- Washable markers in two or three colours
- A spray bottle of water
- Cocoa powder or tea as pretend pollution
- A pencil and ruler
Safety: Use only washable markers and food-safe powders. Cover the table with a plastic sheet and wipe up water after use.
Take it further: Find the real watershed boundaries of your local river on a map and compare with the model.
EnvironmentMedium
Cutting pond evaporation with shade, floating balls and an oil film
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Open ponds and tanks lose a lot of water by evaporation in summer. Testing four covers on trays of water shows which method saves the most water.
You will need
- Five identical shallow trays or basins
- Foil or a cloth shade
- Table tennis balls or small floating balls
- A few drops of cooking oil
- A measuring cup or syringe
- A ruler to read water depth
- A sunny, safe spot
Safety: Do not pour oil into drains or natural waters. An adult must clean up oily water. Keep trays out of reach of small children and pets.
Take it further: Repeat on a windy and a calm day and see how wind changes the loss.
PhysicsMedium
Archimedes screw water lifter from a bottle and a coil of tube
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A screw turning in a tilted tube lifts water upward, an idea used for thousands of years to irrigate fields. The model shows how a simple machine moves water uphill without a motor.
You will need
- A thick transparent plastic tube or hose about 1 m long
- A rigid cylinder such as a 2 litre bottle or a wide pipe
- Strong tape
- A tray and two buckets
- A hand crank from a wooden stick
- Food colour for the water
- Rubber bands
Safety: An adult must cut plastic and tubes. Work over a tray and keep floors dry. Keep fingers away from the turning parts.
Take it further: Add more turns of tube and see if the lift per minute improves.
PhysicsMedium
Hand pump model from a bottle, tube and two one-way flaps
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A hand pump uses a piston and one-way valves to lift water from a well. The model shows how pushing and pulling the handle makes water move in one direction.
You will need
- A cut plastic bottle as the cylinder
- A rubber-sealed plunger from a syringe or cut rubber
- Two balloon flaps as one-way valves
- Flexible tubing
- A stick as the handle and a pivot
- A bucket of water and a jug
- Strong tape and glue
Safety: An adult must cut plastic and handle sharp edges. Work over a tray and keep fingers clear of the moving handle.
Take it further: Compare a pump with a larger and a smaller cylinder and see the water per stroke.
EnvironmentMedium
Litres per kilo of rice, wheat and vegetables: a virtual water table
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Growing food uses a lot of water. Collecting published figures and farm data for crops shows which foods use the most water and how a family’s diet affects its water footprint.
You will need
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- Water-use figures for crops from an agriculture book or an official agriculture website
- A weekly menu of a family meal
- A calculator
- Interviews with a local farmer or gardener (with an adult)
- Chart paper and colours
Safety: Visit a farm only with an adult and permission. Follow the farmer’s instructions near water channels and machines.
Take it further: Compare the virtual water in your meals with the water you use for washing and drinking.
Earth and spaceEasy
Solar system to scale on a school field, planet by planet
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When distances between planets are drawn to the same scale as their sizes, space turns out to be almost entirely empty. Walking from the Sun to Neptune makes this gap between worlds felt in your legs.
You will need
- A ball or paper disc about 14 cm wide for the Sun
- Seeds, peppercorns and beads for the planets
- A measuring tape or a 50 m rope with knots
- Chalk or small flags
- A notebook and a calculator
Safety: Work on the field with a teacher present, away from traffic and the school gate.
Take it further: Add Pluto and the nearest star, and work out how many kilometres of your field the nearest star would need.
Earth and spaceMedium
Star trail sketches that show the Earth turning
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Stars appear to turn around the Pole Star because Earth spins on its axis once a day. Sketches made hours apart reveal arcs, and the amount of turning matches about 15 degrees an hour.
You will need
- A fixed window frame or a camera stand made from a bamboo stick
- Black chart paper and a white gel pen
- A protractor and a ruler
- A torch with red cellophane over it
- A watch
- A phone compass to find north
Safety: An adult must stay with you for night observing; do not climb on parapets.
Take it further: Fix a phone on a stand and take a ten-minute time-lapse of the northern sky to compare with your sketch.
Earth and spaceMedium
Equinox noon shadow: finding your latitude with a vertical stick
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
On an equinox the Sun is directly over the equator at noon. The angle of the Sun above the horizon at your place is then 90 degrees minus your latitude, so a shadow measurement gives your latitude within a degree or two.
You will need
- A straight stick or pipe about 1 m long
- A plumb line made of thread and a nut
- A spirit level or a transparent water-filled tube
- A tape measure
- Chalk
- A phone to check your latitude later
Safety: Do not look at the Sun. Work in sunlight with a hat and drinking water.
Take it further: Find your latitude on three different days and plot the Sun’s changing noon angle through the year.
PhysicsMedium
Two-lens refracting telescope from a pair of magnifying glasses
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A long-focus lens gathers light from a distant object and forms a small image. A second short-focus lens acts as a magnifier for that image, so far-away objects look larger and nearer.
You will need
- One magnifying lens of long focal length, about 40 cm (objective)
- One magnifying lens of short focal length, about 5 cm (eyepiece)
- Two cardboard tubes, one sliding inside the other
- Black paper and glue
- A metre ruler
- Tape and a wooden stand
Safety: Never point the telescope at the Sun, because it can burn your eye. An adult must handle glass lenses.
Take it further: Make the telescope with a third lens to turn the image upright and discuss why binoculars use prisms.
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.