Science projects
Your Science Exhibition Guide
Choose a project, build it, present it and answer the judges with confidence
Science project idea finder
1029 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. 930 ideas have numbered steps and viva questions on their own page.
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.332 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.
Earth and spaceEasy
Paper windsock that shows wind strength and direction
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A windsock blows out like a flag in the wind. It points away from the wind direction and rises higher when the wind is stronger.
You will need
- A sheet of light paper or a plastic bag about 30 cm long (free)
- Strips of coloured ribbon or paper
- A wire hanger or a piece of thick wire
- Glue or tape
- String about 60 cm
- A stick or pole to hang it from
Safety: An adult must bend the wire and fix the sock high up. Wire ends must be taped.
Take it further: Mark north, south, east and west on the ground below and write the compass direction each day.
MathsEasy
Cardboard clock with hands that move: hours and half hours
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A clock face has twelve numbers, and the short hand shows hours while the long hand shows minutes. Moving the hands helps us read time.
You will need
- A paper plate or round cardboard (free)
- Two strips of cardboard for hands
- A brass paper fastener
- A marker and ruler
- Scissors
Safety: An adult must cut the plate and make the hole for the fastener.
Take it further: Learn quarter past and quarter to and show them on the clock.
MathsEasy
Number hopscotch: hop to add and subtract
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Adding is moving forward on a number line and subtracting is moving back. Hopping makes the idea physical and fun.
You will need
- Chalk or masking tape (free)
- A flat floor or courtyard
- A small stone or beanbag
- Number cards 1 to 3 made from paper
- A friend
Safety: Play on a dry, flat, non-slippery floor. An adult must watch.
Take it further: Use a number line to 100 and hop in tens.
Earth and spaceEasy
Garden treasure hunt using north, south, east and west
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Directions are named by the Sun and the compass. We find east where the Sun rises, then work out north, south and west.
You will need
- A small compass or a phone compass (free)
- A small treasure, such as a sweet or a toy
- Paper and pencil
- Chalk
- A garden, terrace or a playground
Safety: An adult must supervise on a terrace or near a road.
Take it further: Add diagonal directions like north-east to your clues.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Conductor or insulator? Tester with one cell and a bulb
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Some materials let electric current pass and some do not. A bulb lights up when the circuit is complete and a conductor is in the gap.
You will need
- One 1.5 V cell (AA) (under Rs 50)
- One 1.5 V torch bulb and holder
- Three short pieces of insulated wire with bare ends
- Sticky tape
- Items to test: coin, key, pencil lead, eraser, plastic spoon, cloth, paper clip, wooden stick
Safety: Use only a small cell and never touch mains sockets or plugs. An adult must strip the wire ends and stay with you while you test.
Take it further: Test a steel spoon, a pencil and water, and a tap-water bowl, but only with an adult.
Electronics and roboticsEasy
Cardboard lighthouse that lights with one cell and a bulb
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A complete circuit with a cell, a bulb and a switch makes light. A lighthouse model shows how light guides ships at night.
You will need
- A cardboard tube or a rolled chart paper (free)
- One 1.5 V cell and a bulb with holder (under Rs 50)
- Two pieces of insulated wire
- A paper clip and two pins for a switch
- A cardboard base
- Paint and tape
Safety: An adult must strip the wires and press the pins. Use only a small cell, never mains power.
Take it further: Add a second bulb in the circuit and see if both are as bright.
PhysicsEasy
Drinking straw whistle: shorter straw, higher sound
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Sound is made by vibrations. A shorter vibrating column of air gives a higher sound, and a longer one gives a lower sound.
You will need
- Four plastic drinking straws
- Scissors
- A ruler
- A new straw for each player
- Paper and pencil
Safety: An adult must cut the straws. Use a new clean straw for each person and do not share.
Take it further: Make a pan pipe from straws cut to different lengths and play a tune.
PhysicsEasy
Comb and paper kazoo: feel your voice buzz
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Vibrating paper makes a buzzing sound louder. We can feel the vibration on our lips.
You will need
- A plastic comb (free)
- A piece of thin paper or tissue paper
- A friend
- A clean tissue to wipe the comb
Safety: Use a clean comb for each player and wipe it before use.
Take it further: Try thicker paper and thin plastic and see which buzzes best.
ChemistryEasy
Soap bubble wands: do square wands make square bubbles?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Bubbles are always round, whatever the shape of the wand. Soap film pulls itself into the shape with the least surface, which is a sphere.
You will need
- Four pipe cleaners or thin wires (under Rs 50)
- A cup of water with 3 spoons of dish soap
- A tray
- A spoon of sugar
- A straw
Safety: Keep soap away from eyes. An adult must watch and wipe the floor when it gets slippery.
Take it further: Make giant bubbles with a loop of string on two sticks.
PhysicsEasy
Simple diamond paper kite and a flying test
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A kite flies because wind pushes on it at a slant and string holds it. The tail keeps it steady.
You will need
- A sheet of light paper or a polythene sheet about 40 cm square (free)
- Two thin bamboo sticks or ice cream sticks, 40 cm and 35 cm
- Glue or tape
- Thread, about 20 metres on a stick
- Strips of cloth for a tail
- Scissors
Safety: Never fly a kite near power lines, roads or roofs without railings. An adult must supervise and never use manja or glass-coated thread.
Take it further: Try a shorter and a longer tail and see which flies better.
PhysicsEasy
Paper pinwheel that spins in the breeze
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Moving air can push on slanted blades and make them turn. Wind energy is used the same way in windmills.
You will need
- A square sheet of paper, 15 cm (free)
- A pencil with an eraser end or a thin stick
- A pin or a drawing pin
- Scissors and a ruler
- A bead or button
Safety: An adult must cut and press the pin. Keep the pin end blunt with the eraser.
Take it further: Attach a thread to the pencil and see if it can lift a feather.
PhysicsEasy
Static comb: lifting paper bits and bending a water stream
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Rubbing some things together gives them an electric charge, called static electricity. A charged comb can pull tiny paper bits and bend a thin water stream.
You will need
- A plastic comb (free)
- A dry woollen cloth or your dry hair
- Tiny bits of paper, 1 cm
- A tap with a thin stream of water
- A dry day
Safety: Do this on a dry day. Never use mains electricity. An adult must help at the tap.
Take it further: Compare a plastic comb, a steel spoon and a balloon to see which gets charged.
BiologyEasy
Funnel and rubber-tube stethoscope that lets you hear a heartbeat
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A funnel gathers the faint sound of the heart and the tube guides it to the ear, so a heartbeat sounds louder than it does through the air. You hear two sounds, lub and dub, made by the heart valves closing.
You will need
- A plastic funnel about 8 cm wide
- About 60 cm of clean soft rubber or plastic tube that fits the funnel stem
- A balloon or thin plastic sheet for a diaphragm
- A rubber band
- Cotton wool and spirit swabs for cleaning
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must cut the plastic and help with the tube. Clean the earpiece with a swab before another child uses it, and never hold the funnel hard against the chest.
Take it further: Measure the heart rate of a sleeping dog or cat with an adult’s help and compare it with a human.
BiologyEasy
Blind spot card: finding the place in your eye that cannot see
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Where the optic nerve leaves the retina there are no light-sensing cells, so a small spot in each eye cannot see. A cross and a dot on a card show the dot vanishing when its image falls on this blind spot.
You will need
- A white card about 15 cm by 10 cm
- A black marker
- A ruler
- A friend or a mirror
- A notebook
Safety: No special hazard. Do not stare for long and take a short rest if your eyes feel tired.
Take it further: Find the blind spot of a family member and compare whether it is at the same distance for both eyes.
BiologyMedium
Card microscope with a water-drop lens to see onion peel cells
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A tiny drop of water held in a hole acts like a strong magnifying lens, and with it the brick-like cells of an onion peel can be seen. It shows that all living things are made of cells.
You will need
- A strip of stiff card or plastic 15 cm by 3 cm
- A thin plastic sheet from a packet, about 3 cm square
- A pin and a small straw for placing the drop
- A fresh onion
- A torch or window light
- Two glass slides or a clear plastic slip
- A drop of diluted tea or ink for staining
Safety: An adult must cut the onion and help with the pin. Do not look at the sun through the lens, and keep the stain away from your eyes.
Take it further: Compare onion cells with cells from a cheek swab seen under a school microscope and note the differences.
BiologyEasy
Bile model: how liver juice breaks oil into tiny droplets
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Oil and water do not mix, but a drop of detergent makes oil spread into tiny droplets. Bile salts in the small intestine do the same job to fat, so that enzymes can work on it faster.
You will need
- Two clear glass jars or test tubes
- Water
- Cooking oil
- A few drops of liquid dishwashing soap
- A dropper
- A spoon
- Food colouring or turmeric powder to colour the oil
- A ruler and a stopwatch
Safety: Do not taste anything. Keep the soap away from the eyes and wash hands after the work. An adult must supervise the use of food colouring.
Take it further: Repeat with different amounts of soap and plot the time for separation against the number of drops.
ChemistryMedium
Bringing back tarnished silver with aluminium foil and baking soda
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Black tarnish on silver is silver sulphide, and it can be turned back to shiny silver without scrubbing, using aluminium foil, baking soda and hot water. It is a small electrochemical cell in which aluminium is more reactive than silver.
You will need
- A tarnished silver coin, ring or spoon (or a clean cheap silver-plated item)
- Aluminium foil
- Baking soda, 2 spoons
- A steel or glass bowl
- Hot water, about 300 ml
- Tongs
- A soft cloth
- Gloves
Safety: An adult must heat and pour the hot water. Use tongs to remove the item. Work in a ventilated room because a mild egg smell of hydrogen sulphide can form. Do not use valuable family jewellery or jewellery with stones.
Take it further: Time how long a standard tarnished piece needs to turn clean at 50 °C, 60 °C and 70 °C.
PhysicsEasy
Long spring waves: transverse and longitudinal pulses you can see
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A long coiled spring or a stretched coil of telephone cord can carry two kinds of waves: sideways shakes make transverse waves and push-pull shakes make longitudinal waves. In both, the wave travels along but the coils only move back and forth.
You will need
- A long soft coil spring toy, or a telephone handset cord, or a few metres of thick rope
- A smooth floor or long table
- A piece of ribbon to tie to one coil as a marker
- A stopwatch
- A measuring tape
- A helper
Safety: Do not overstretch the spring or let go of it suddenly, because it can snap back and hurt. Work on the floor with enough space and keep faces away from the ends.
Take it further: Shake the spring at a steady rate to make a standing wave with nodes and measure its wavelength.
PhysicsMedium
Baking-tray ripple tank: reflection and refraction of water waves
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A shallow tray of water lit from above shows ripples as bright and dark lines on white paper below. Ripples reflect from a barrier and bend when they pass from deep to shallow water, because waves travel more slowly in shallow water.
You will need
- A clear glass or plastic tray, about 30 cm by 20 cm, or a glass baking dish
- Water
- White paper or a sheet of white card for the screen
- A bright LED torch or phone light
- Four books to raise the tray
- A ruler, a pencil and a dropper
- A flat piece of plastic about 2 mm thick
Safety: Keep the lamp and phone away from water and wipe spills at once. Use only battery lights, never a mains lamp near the water. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Use two dippers together to show interference between two sets of circular waves.
PhysicsMedium
Electrophorus: charging a foil plate again and again by induction
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A foil plate with an insulating handle can be charged over and over from one rubbed plastic sheet without losing the sheet’s charge. It shows charging by induction and earthing, and the plate can make a small spark in a dark room.
You will need
- A polythene or thermocol sheet, about 30 cm by 30 cm
- A piece of wool or dry hair-free woollen cloth
- A foil pie plate or a round plate of card covered with aluminium foil
- A plastic cup or bottle glued upside down at the middle of the plate as an insulating handle
- A small paper strip or a foil ball on a thread to detect charge
- A dry day
Safety: The sparks are tiny and harmless but can surprise you. Use only on a dry day, away from electronics and away from people with pacemakers. An adult must supervise.
Take it further: Charge the plate and use it to charge a jar electroscope or a hanging foil ball by induction, and compare the deflection.
PhysicsEasy
Convection currents drawn with food colour in hot and cold water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Hot water is lighter than cold water, so a drop of colour in hot water rises in a plume while colour in cold water sinks. This movement of a fluid carrying heat is convection and drives sea breezes and boiling in a pot.
You will need
- Two tall clear glasses
- Water, hot from the tap or a flask, about 60 °C, and cold from the fridge
- Food colouring or ink, a few drops
- A dropper or a straw
- A small bottle
- A thermometer
- Tray
Safety: An adult must handle hot water, which should not be boiling. Keep the glasses on a tray and away from the table edge. Colouring can stain clothes.
Take it further: Place a block of coloured ice at one end of a tray of warm water and photograph the currents every 30 seconds.
MathsEasy
Straw and hinge model of parallel lines cut by a transversal
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two parallel straws cut by a third straw make eight angles, and the model shows that corresponding angles and alternate angles are equal while co-interior angles add up to 180 degrees. Turning one straw so the lines are no longer parallel breaks these rules.
You will need
- Three long straws or ice cream sticks of different colours
- A cardboard sheet 30 cm by 20 cm
- Paper fasteners or pins with clay
- A protractor
- A ruler
- Markers
Safety: An adult should push the paper fasteners through the card and cover any sharp ends with tape.
Take it further: Use the rules to find the angles in the frame of a window grille or a railway track picture.
MathsMedium
Pin and thread board for the circle theorem: angle at the centre is double
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
On a circle, an arc makes an angle at the centre exactly twice the angle it makes at any point on the remaining circumference. Moving the pin around the circle shows that the angle at the edge does not change.
You will need
- A thick cardboard or thermocol sheet 30 cm square
- A compass and a pencil
- About 12 pins or small nails with heads
- Coloured thread
- A protractor
- A white sheet to glue on the board
- A ruler
Safety: An adult must supervise the use of pins and compass points. Push pins in fully so heads are the only part left above, or cover points with clay.
Take it further: Show that opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral add to 180 degrees with four pins.
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.