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 roboticsMedium
555 tone generator with a knob that changes the pitch of a piezo disc
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Running a 555 astable fast enough produces audio frequencies. A potentiometer changes the timing resistance, so turning the knob slides the pitch up and down, demonstrating the link between frequency and pitch.
You will need
- One NE555 timer IC
- A 1 kΩ resistor and a 100 kΩ potentiometer
- A 10 nF ceramic capacitor (marked 103) and a second 10 nF for pin 5
- A passive piezo disc or a small 8 Ω speaker with a 100 Ω series resistor
- A 9 V battery with a snap connector
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: Battery power only. The sound can be shrill; keep it away from ears and pets.
Take it further: Add a second 555 running at 2 Hz to pin 5 of the first and you have a two-tone siren.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Magnetic door alarm with a reed switch that sounds when the door opens
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A reed switch closes when a magnet is near and opens when it moves away. With the magnet on the door and the switch on the frame, opening the door removes the magnet, and a transistor circuit turns the buzzer on, the same way shop door sensors work.
You will need
- A normally open glass reed switch
- A small magnet such as a fridge magnet or a neodymium disc
- One BC547 transistor
- A 10 kΩ resistor and a 1 kΩ resistor
- An active buzzer rated 3 to 12 V
- A 9 V battery with a snap connector
- A breadboard, jumper wires and tape
Safety: Reed switches are thin glass; bend the leads gently with pliers, never near the glass body. Keep small magnets away from young children.
Take it further: Add a relay latch so the alarm keeps sounding even after the door is pushed shut again.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Bicycle wheel revolution flasher with a spoke magnet and a reed switch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A magnet on a spoke closes a reed switch on the fork once every turn, flashing an LED. Counting flashes in a known time and knowing the wheel circumference gives the bicycle speed, the same method a bike speedometer uses.
You will need
- A normally open reed switch
- A small magnet and cable ties or tape
- One red LED and a 150 Ω resistor
- A 2 x AA battery holder with cells (3 V)
- About 1 m of twin wire
- A bicycle, a measuring tape and a stopwatch
Safety: Test with the bicycle upside down or on a stand, never while riding on the road. Keep hands clear of the spokes.
Take it further: Feed the reed switch pulses into an Arduino and display the speed on a small screen.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Thermistor hot water warning that beeps when a cup gets too hot
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An NTC thermistor loses resistance as it warms. In a voltage divider with a potentiometer, warming raises the transistor base voltage until it switches a buzzer on, giving an adjustable temperature alarm like the one in a geyser or a kettle.
You will need
- A 10 kΩ NTC thermistor
- A 10 kΩ potentiometer and a 1 kΩ resistor
- One BC547 transistor
- An active buzzer rated 3 to 12 V
- A 9 V battery with a snap connector
- A breadboard, jumper wires and a cup of warm (not boiling) water
- A thermometer if available
Safety: An adult must pour the warm water; use water below 60 °C. Keep the breadboard and battery dry; only the thermistor on long leads goes near the cup.
Take it further: Swap the thermistor and the pot so the circuit sounds when something gets cold, for a fridge door alarm.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Cold night warning LED for seedlings using an NTC thermistor
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
With the thermistor placed on the ground side of a voltage divider, cooling raises its resistance and the base voltage, lighting an LED when the air drops below a set temperature. It shows how the same sensor can trigger on cold instead of heat just by swapping its position.
You will need
- A 10 kΩ NTC thermistor
- A 10 kΩ potentiometer and a 1 kΩ resistor
- One BC547 transistor
- One blue or white LED and a 470 Ω resistor
- A 9 V battery with a snap connector
- A breadboard, jumper wires, a bag of ice and a small plastic bag
Safety: Battery power only. Keep the thermistor in a dry plastic bag when testing with ice so water never reaches the circuit.
Take it further: Replace the LED with a relay module that switches on a battery lamp over the seedling tray.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Relay latching alarm that stays on after one press until reset
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A relay module can hold itself on: once its coil is energised, its own contact keeps feeding the coil even after the trigger button is released. This latch is how real alarm panels remember that a sensor tripped, until someone presses reset.
You will need
- A 5 V single-channel relay module
- A 4 x AA battery holder with cells (6 V) for the module, or a 3 x AA holder if your module pulls in at 4.5 V
- A push button for trigger and a push button for reset
- An active buzzer rated 3 to 12 V
- One red LED and a 470 Ω resistor
- Jumper wires and a breadboard
Safety: Battery power only; the relay contacts are rated for mains but you must never connect mains. Check the module label for its coil voltage.
Take it further: Replace the trigger button with the reed switch door sensor so a door opening latches the alarm on.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Night fan: an LDR and relay module that start a motor when it gets dark
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A small sensor signal can control a bigger load through a relay. The LDR and transistor sense darkness, the relay module switches a separate motor circuit, and the two circuits never share current, which is how electronics controls heavy machinery.
You will need
- One LDR, a 10 kΩ resistor and a 1 kΩ resistor
- One BC547 transistor
- A 5 V single-channel relay module
- A 4 x AA battery holder with cells (6 V) for the sensor side
- A 3 V DC toy motor with a cardboard propeller and its own 2 x AA holder
- A breadboard and jumper wires
Safety: Battery power only; the relay contacts may be rated for mains but the mains is never used. Keep fingers clear of the propeller.
Take it further: Swap the LDR for the thermistor divider so the fan starts when the room gets hot instead of dark.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Solar powered spinner: a small solar cell drives a toy motor top
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A solar cell turns light directly into electrical energy. Connected to a toy motor with a paper disc, it spins in sunlight, slows in shade and stops indoors, showing how output depends on the amount and angle of light.
You will need
- A small solar cell rated about 5 to 6 V, 100 mA or more
- A 3 V DC toy motor
- A coloured paper disc or bottle cap for the top
- Two wires and tape
- Cardboard to prop the cell at an angle
Safety: Use the cell outdoors in sunlight but do not look at the sun. The motor runs above its rated voltage only briefly in full sun, so stop if it gets warm.
Take it further: Measure the cell voltage with a multimeter at different angles and plot voltage against angle.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
How the angle of a solar cell changes its voltage and LED brightness
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The electrical output of a solar cell falls as the light strikes it at a shallower angle, because the same beam is spread over a bigger area. Measuring voltage and current at known tilt angles shows why rooftop panels in India are tilted roughly at the latitude angle.
You will need
- A small solar cell rated about 6 V
- A multimeter
- One red LED and a 220 Ω resistor
- A protractor and a cardboard stand with a hinge of tape
- A notebook and a sunny morning
Safety: Do not look at the sun. Work in the shade of a hat and take breaks; test in the morning or late afternoon rather than at midday in summer.
Take it further: Build a two-position tracker that tilts the cell by hand each hour and compare total output with a fixed cell.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
PIR corridor light that stays on for a set time after movement
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A passive infrared (PIR) sensor detects the heat of a moving person. An Arduino switches a 12 V LED strip on through a relay and keeps it on for a timer period that restarts with every new movement, so the light never cuts out while someone is still walking.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano clone and USB cable
- An HC-SR501 PIR sensor module
- A 5 V relay module
- A 12 V LED strip, 20 to 30 cm, with a 12 V adapter or battery pack
- A 10 kΩ potentiometer for setting the hold time
- Jumper wires and a breadboard
Safety: Low voltage only: the relay switches the 12 V strip, never a mains lamp. An adult must check the adapter connections.
Take it further: Add an LDR so the light only works after dark, and log each trigger time to the serial monitor.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Room comfort meter with DHT11 and an OLED display
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A DHT11 measures temperature and relative humidity, an Arduino calculates a heat index, and a small OLED screen shows the readings with a comfort message. The project shows how a digital sensor sends numbers over one wire.
You will need
- An Arduino Nano or Uno clone and USB cable
- A DHT11 temperature and humidity module
- A 0.96 inch I2C OLED display (SSD1306)
- Jumper wires and a breadboard
- A 9 V battery and clip or a power bank for the stand
Safety: USB or battery power only. Keep the OLED glass away from bending.
Take it further: Swap the DHT11 for a DHT22 and compare readings, or log readings to the serial plotter over a whole day.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Flame sensor store room alarm with a small sprinkler pump
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An infrared flame sensor module detects the flicker and wavelength of a flame from a metre away. The Arduino sounds an alarm and runs a 5 V submersible pump through a relay so a tiny sprinkler sprays water on the model store room.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno clone and USB cable
- An IR flame sensor module (single or 5-way)
- A 5 V submersible mini pump with plastic tube
- A 5 V relay module
- A buzzer and a red LED with a 220 Ω resistor
- A plastic tray, a small water tub and a cardboard model room
- Jumper wires
Safety: Test the sensor with a candle held by an adult, at arm's length, over a metal tray, and keep water away from the Arduino. Never leave the candle unattended. The pump runs on 5 V only.
Take it further: Use a 5-way flame sensor array and turn a servo so the sprinkler points towards the strongest reading.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Automatic curtain that opens at dawn using an LDR and a DC motor
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An LDR measures daylight, the Arduino decides open or closed, and an L298N driver runs a geared DC motor in either direction to pull a string curtain across a model window. Two limit switches stop the motor at each end.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno clone and USB cable
- An LDR and a 10 kΩ resistor
- An L298N motor driver module
- A geared DC motor (BO or TT, 3 to 6 V)
- Two micro limit switches
- A cardboard window frame, a cloth curtain, string and a thread spool for the pulley
- A 6 V battery pack (4 AA)
Safety: Battery power only. Keep fingers away from the string and spool while the motor runs. Small parts: keep away from young children.
Take it further: Add a DS3231 clock so the curtain also closes at a set bedtime regardless of light.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Rain sensor that closes a model window with a servo when drops fall
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A rain sensor board has interleaved copper tracks whose resistance drops when water bridges them. The Arduino reads that change and swings a servo to shut a hinged cardboard window, then reopens it when the board dries.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano clone and USB cable
- A rain drop sensor module with its comparator board
- An SG90 servo
- A cardboard window frame with a hinged flap
- A paper clip and thread for the servo link
- Jumper wires and a 5 V power bank
Safety: Keep water on the sensor board only, away from the Arduino. USB power only.
Take it further: Use the analog value to show rain intensity on three LEDs: light, medium, heavy.
Electronics and roboticsMedium
Tipping bucket rain gauge with a reed switch counted by Arduino
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Rain collected by a funnel fills one side of a tiny see-saw bucket; when it tips, a magnet passes a reed switch and the Arduino counts one tip. Knowing the volume per tip and the funnel area gives rainfall in millimetres on an LCD.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano clone and USB cable
- A reed switch and a small neodymium magnet
- A plastic funnel, a plastic bottle and a strip of plastic for the twin bucket
- A thin nail or wire for the pivot
- A 16x2 I2C LCD
- A 9 V battery and jumper wires
- A measuring syringe or cup for calibration
Safety: Keep the electronics in a sealed box under the funnel. Small magnets must be kept away from young children.
Take it further: Add an ESP8266 and post the daily total to a free weather sharing site.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Field bird scarer that flaps and beeps when a PIR detects movement
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A PIR sensor detects a bird or animal entering a model field; the Arduino then flaps a shiny ribbon with a servo and plays random beeps for a few seconds. Random timing stops birds getting used to it, a real problem with fixed scarecrows.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano clone and USB cable
- An HC-SR501 PIR sensor
- An SG90 servo and a strip of shiny foil or old CD
- A buzzer
- A 6 V battery pack (4 AA)
- A stick and a cardboard field with paper crops
Safety: Battery power only. Keep fingers clear of the flapping arm.
Take it further: Add a small solar panel and a rechargeable pack, and log the number of triggers per day.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Grain store humidity alarm with an ESP8266 that warns the phone
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A DHT11 inside a model grain bin watches humidity; stored grain spoils and grows mould when air humidity stays high. The NodeMCU shows the reading on a phone page, sounds a buzzer and sends an alert when humidity stays above a limit for a set time.
You will need
- A NodeMCU ESP8266 and USB cable
- A DHT11 module
- A buzzer and a red LED with a 220 Ω resistor
- A plastic container with some rice or wheat
- A 5 V power bank
- A phone on the same Wi-Fi
Safety: USB power only. Do not eat grain used in the demonstration after it has been dampened.
Take it further: Add a second sensor outside and show the inside and outside readings side by side.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Classroom noise meter with a sound sensor, LED bar and OLED readout
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A microphone sound sensor module gives a voltage that swings with sound pressure. The Arduino measures the swing over short windows, shows it on an LED bar and an OLED, and flashes a warning when the class is too loud for too long.
You will need
- An Arduino Uno or Nano clone and USB cable
- A sound sensor module with analog output (MAX4466 or KY-038 type)
- Ten LEDs or a 10-segment LED bar with 220 Ω resistors
- A 0.96 inch I2C OLED
- A buzzer
- Jumper wires and a breadboard
Safety: USB or battery power only.
Take it further: Calibrate against a phone sound meter app and display an estimated dB value.
PhysicsMedium
Joule heating: water temperature rise against voltage
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An electric current heats a resistor, and the heat produced in a fixed time is V squared divided by R, times t. Doubling the voltage on the same coil makes it deliver four times the heat.
You will need
- About 1 m of enamelled constantan (Eureka) wire wound into a coil of 3 to 5 ohm (from an electrical shop)
- Four D cells in a holder, or a 6 V battery pack
- A small steel or plastic cup with 100 mL of water (weigh it with a kitchen scale)
- A thermometer reading to 0.5 degrees C
- A wire switch made from a clip and a pin
- A multimeter for the voltage and the current
- A phone stopwatch and a thick cloth to wrap the cup
Safety: An adult must check the coil and the connections; the coil and the cup can get hot, so never touch the coil with a bare hand while the current flows, and keep the switch off between readings. Use only cells, never mains electricity.
Take it further: Keep the voltage fixed and use coils of two different lengths to show that heat in a fixed time is inversely proportional to R at constant voltage.
PhysicsMedium
Potential divider: output voltage from a pencil lead and an LDR
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two resistors in series share the cell’s voltage in proportion to their resistances. Replacing one with an LDR makes the output voltage change with light, which is how many sensors work.
You will need
- Three AA cells in a holder (4.5 V)
- Two fixed resistors of 1 kohm and 10 kohm
- A light dependent resistor (LDR)
- A graphite pencil lead or a 10 kohm preset as a slider
- A multimeter
- A breadboard and wires (or crocodile clips)
- A torch and a dark box or cardboard tube
Safety: Use cells only. An adult should check the wiring before the cells are connected.
Take it further: Use the LDR divider output to drive a transistor that switches on an LED when the room darkens, and find the light level at which it switches.
PhysicsMedium
Force on a current carrying wire: swinging foil strip in a magnet gap
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A wire carrying current in a magnetic field feels a sideways push, F = B I L. Reversing the current or the magnet reverses the push, as Fleming’s left-hand rule says.
You will need
- Two ceramic ferrite magnets from an old loudspeaker, placed on a steel strip or an iron bar to make a gap
- A strip of kitchen aluminium foil, 1 cm wide and 15 cm long, folded to a stiff ribbon
- Two cells (3 V) in a holder and a rheostat or 10 ohm resistor
- A wooden frame or a cardboard box with two paper clips as hangers
- A protractor and a ruler
- Flexible wire, a switch and crocodile clips
Safety: An adult must supervise: the foil can get warm and the current is large for a short time, so tap the switch only for a second or two. Keep magnets away from phones, watches and bank cards.
Take it further: Estimate the field B between the magnets from F = B I L using the swing angle and the mass of the foil strip.
PhysicsMedium
Torch bulb V-I curve: why a hot filament is not ohmic
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A bulb’s filament gets hotter as the current rises, and a hotter metal resists more. The graph of voltage against current therefore bends and the bulb does not obey Ohm’s law.
You will need
- A 2.5 V torch bulb with a holder
- Four AA cells in a holder (6 V; use one to four cells as steps)
- A multimeter used as a voltmeter and another for current, or a single one used twice
- A 10 ohm rheostat or a 22 ohm pencil-lead slider
- A switch, wires and crocodile clips
- Graph paper
Safety: An adult must check the wiring. Do not push a 2.5 V bulb above 3 V: it will burn out and the glass could pop. Use cells only.
Take it further: Measure a pencil-lead resistor over the same range and show that its graph is much closer to a straight line.
PhysicsMedium
Convex lens focal length from a u-v graph on a metre rule bench
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A convex lens forms a real, inverted image on a screen at a distance that depends on where the object is. The lens formula links the two distances to the focal length, and a graph of 1/v against 1/u gives f accurately.
You will need
- A magnifying glass or a reading lens of about 10 to 20 cm focal length
- A metre rule or a long wooden strip as the optical bench
- A torch or a bright LED lamp with a cross cut in black paper as the object
- A white card or cardboard as the screen
- Clay or clothes pegs to hold the lens, object and screen upright
- A pencil, a notebook and graph paper
Safety: Never point the lens at the Sun; an adult must make the cross cut in the paper.
Take it further: Measure the magnification v / u for each position and plot it against v to find a second value of f.
PhysicsMedium
Concave mirror: where the image forms and how big it is
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The size, position and nature of the image in a concave mirror change as the object moves from far away to inside the focal length. The mirror formula and magnification can be checked with real readings.
You will need
- A concave shaving or make-up mirror (about 20 to 30 cm focal length)
- A torch or a candle-substitute LED lamp with a cross-wire stencil
- A white card screen
- A metre rule or tape on a table
- Clay or clothes pegs for holders
- Graph paper
Safety: Do not let the mirror focus the Sun on skin, paper or cloth; an adult must supervise outdoor tests of the focal length.
Take it further: Use a spoon-sized convex mirror and show that it always gives a small, upright, virtual image.
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.