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 spaceMedium
Paper-mache globe with latitude and longitude lines
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The globe shows how the Earth is a sphere, with latitudes parallel to the equator and longitudes running pole to pole. A place can be located by its two numbers.
You will need
- A large balloon
- Old newspaper torn into strips
- Flour paste (flour and water)
- Poster paints
- A thread and a marker
- A stand made of a cardboard ring
- A small string loop
Safety: Wash your hands after using paste. An adult must handle any pins for the axis.
Take it further: Use a torch to show how the tilt makes day length change.
Earth and spaceEasy
Cloth windsock that shows wind direction and strength
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A windsock points away from the wind and lifts higher as the wind gets stronger. It is used at airports and can be compared with a Beaufort chart.
You will need
- An old cotton cloth, about 60 cm by 40 cm
- Strong wire or a cut plastic bottle ring
- Thread and needle or stapler
- A stick or pole
- Orange and white paint or cloth strips
- A string
Safety: An adult must bend and cut the wire. Do not climb to fix it high up.
Take it further: Record direction and strength for a week and draw a wind rose.
Earth and spaceMedium
Equatorial sundial from a paper plate tilted to your latitude
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A sundial tells time by the shadow of a pointer that is parallel to the Earth’s axis. The shadow moves 15 degrees every hour because the Earth turns 360 degrees in 24 hours.
You will need
- A paper plate or a round cardboard disc
- A pencil or a stick as the gnomon
- A cardboard wedge cut to your latitude angle
- A compass (direction) or phone compass
- A protractor and marker
- Tape
Safety: Do the work outdoors in daylight, and avoid looking at the Sun directly. An adult must cut the cardboard.
Take it further: Plot the difference between sundial and clock through the year.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Hand-crank orrery with bottle-cap planets that orbit at different speeds
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Planets nearer the Sun take less time to go round it. The crank turns four arms at different rates so you can see Mercury race ahead of Earth.
You will need
- Cardboard sheet 40 cm square
- Four bottle caps as planets, a yellow ball for the Sun
- Four rubber bands and different sized spools or card discs as pulleys
- Skewers as axles
- Straws as bearings
- Glue, tape and markers
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard and skewers. Cover the ends of the skewers with clay.
Take it further: Add Jupiter and work out how many turns of Earth give one of Jupiter.
Earth and spaceEasy
Shoebox moon phases viewer with a foam ball and a torch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Moon always has one half lit by the Sun, but we see different amounts of it as it moves round the Earth. The box shows each phase from the viewer’s eye.
You will need
- A shoebox with a lid
- A polystyrene or paper ball painted white
- A torch
- A skewer to hold the ball
- Black paper
- A small hole as an eye window (adult cut)
Safety: An adult must cut the box. Use a torch, not a candle or a flame.
Take it further: Keep a real Moon diary for a month and compare it with your sketches.
Earth and spaceMedium
Capillary rise of water in sand, silt and clay columns
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water climbs up through the tiny gaps between soil grains. Fine clay lifts water highest but slowly, and coarse sand lifts it only a little but fast, which matters for how crops reach water.
You will need
- Three clear plastic bottles or tubes, 20 cm long, with the bottoms cut off
- Muslin cloth and rubber bands
- Dry sand, silt or fine garden soil, and clay soil
- A shallow tray of coloured water
- A ruler and a stopwatch
- A funnel to pack soil evenly
Safety: An adult must cut the bottles. Wash hands after handling soil and wear a dust mask when pouring dry clay.
Take it further: Mix sand and clay in different ratios to find the mix that gives good height and speed.
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.
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.
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 spaceEasy
Moon diary: sketching the Moon’s shape and rise time for 30 nights
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Moon’s lit shape changes in a steady cycle of about 29.5 days, and it rises roughly 50 minutes later each night. Your own sketches show this pattern better than any picture in a book.
You will need
- A notebook with a circle printed or drawn on every page
- A pencil and a yellow crayon
- A watch or phone clock
- A free spot with a view of the sky
- A paper calendar
Safety: Observe from a roof or lawn only with an adult nearby, and never use a torch near other people’s eyes.
Take it further: Compare your sketches with the dates of Purnima and Amavasya on a panchang calendar.
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.
Earth and spaceEasy
Stretched cloth gravity well with marbles in orbit
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A heavy ball on a stretched cloth makes a dip, and small marbles rolled nearby curve round it and spiral in. This is a simple analogy for how a massive object like the Sun pulls on planets and why orbits slowly lose energy to friction.
You will need
- A stretchy cloth such as an old dupatta or Lycra, about 1 m square
- A large hoop, round basin rim or cardboard frame to hold it
- A heavy ball or a stone wrapped in cloth
- Several marbles of different sizes
- Clips or strong tape
- A phone for slow-motion video
Safety: Place the frame on a table or the floor and keep marbles away from small children. Watch your toes if the heavy ball falls.
Take it further: Put two balls of different weights on the cloth to model a double star and see how marbles behave.
Earth and spaceMedium
ISRO missions timeline strip from Aryabhata to Gaganyaan
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
India’s space journey took place in steps, from a first satellite in 1975 to Moon and Mars missions and crewed spaceflight plans. A scaled timeline shows how fast the steps came and what each learnt.
You will need
- A long strip of chart paper or an old newspaper roll, 2 m
- Coloured markers and a ruler
- Small model pictures drawn on cards or cut from old magazines
- Glue and string for hanging
- Books or the official ISRO site to check dates
- Scrap card for rocket cutouts
Safety: Use scissors carefully; an adult should help young children cut card.
Take it further: Add a second line for another country’s missions and compare the pace of development.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Night-sky clock that tells time from the Saptarishi stars
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Saptarishi (Great Bear) pattern turns around the Pole Star once in about 24 hours, like a giant clock hand. A simple two-disc instrument called a nocturnal can use it to tell the time at night.
You will need
- Two cardboard or thick card discs, 15 cm and 10 cm wide
- A long thin strip of card for the pointer arm
- A paper fastener or screw
- A protractor and a pencil
- A phone compass and a clock for checking
- A torch with red cellophane
Safety: An adult must go with you at night, and keep your hands away from the sharp end of the fastener.
Take it further: Make a second version using the W of Cassiopeia and compare the readings.
Earth and spaceMedium
Globe and torch model of sunrise time gaps across India
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
India uses one standard time, but the Sun rises about two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat. A globe and torch show why places east and west of each other have different local times.
You will need
- A globe or a ball with India marked on it
- A torch or table lamp
- A table in a dark room
- Sticky dots in two colours
- A printed table of sunrise times for a few cities
- A notebook
Safety: Keep the lamp bulb away from paper and fingers because it can get hot. An adult must set up the lamp.
Take it further: Work out the local solar time at five cities and compare it with the clock time.
Earth and spaceEasy
Pinhole projector for watching a partial solar eclipse safely
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A tiny hole makes an upside-down image of the Sun on a screen. During a partial eclipse the image shows a bite taken out of the disc, so you can watch without looking at the Sun.
You will need
- A long cardboard box or a tube, about 60 cm
- Aluminium foil, a pin and tape
- A sheet of white paper for the screen
- Black paper to cover the inside
- Scissors and a marker
- A ruler
Safety: Never look straight at the Sun, not even through the pinhole, sunglasses or a telescope. Stand with your back to the Sun, and an adult must supervise.
Take it further: Watch dappled sunlight under a tree during a partial eclipse and explain why the spots become crescents.
Earth and spaceEasy
Why we see one face of the Moon: a walk-around model with a friend
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The Moon turns once on its axis in the same time it takes to go once round Earth, so the same side always faces us. You can act this out with two people to feel why.
You will need
- A chair or stool to stand for Earth
- A friend as the Moon
- A ball with a smiley face marked on one side
- Chalk to draw a circle on the floor
- A stopwatch
- A notebook
Safety: Walk slowly in a clear space and keep chairs out of the path.
Take it further: Look up which space probes have photographed the far side and compare it with the near side.
Earth and spaceMedium
Measuring the Moon’s angular size with a coin and a metre ruler
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An object’s apparent size depends on its distance. A coin held at arm’s length that just covers the Moon gives the Moon’s angular size, about half a degree, and then its real diameter can be estimated.
You will need
- A one-rupee coin of known width, 2.5 cm
- A metre ruler or a long stick
- A friend to measure
- A notebook and calculator
- A reference for the Moon’s distance, about 384,000 km
Safety: Observe from a safe place at night with an adult, and do not walk backwards while looking up.
Take it further: Measure the Moon near the horizon and high in the sky to test the Moon illusion.
Earth and spaceChallenging
Eratosthenes’ method: estimating Earth’s size from two cities’ shadows
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two sticks in two cities, measured at noon on the same day, give different shadow angles. The difference, together with the distance between the cities, gives the circumference of Earth.
You will need
- A vertical stick, 1 m long, at each city (a partner school or friend can help)
- A plumb line and a tape
- A map or an app for the distance between the two places in km
- A calculator and protractor
- A phone to share the shadow lengths
Safety: Do not look at the Sun. Stay in shade between readings, and have an adult supervise.
Take it further: Use shadow data from a school in another continent through an online project to improve the result.
Earth and spaceMedium
Comet model whose tail always points away from the Sun
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A comet’s tail always points away from the Sun, even when the comet is moving away. The solar wind and light push the dust and gas outwards, so the tail leads when the comet is going away.
You will need
- A foam or paper ball for the nucleus
- Cotton wool or thin strips of tissue paper for the tail
- A table fan or hair-dryer on cool setting to act as the Sun
- A cardboard ring track for the orbit
- A stick and a string
- Black paper background
Safety: Use only a fan with guards, and an adult must plug in the fan. Do not use a hot dryer near paper.
Take it further: Research why a comet has a separate curved dust tail and a straight gas tail.
Earth and spaceMedium
Mars rover model with rocker-bogie suspension from cardboard
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A rocker-bogie suspension lets a six-wheeled rover climb over rocks twice the wheel size without tipping. The body stays almost level because the arms pivot.
You will need
- Corrugated cardboard and ice-cream sticks
- Six bottle caps as wheels
- Wooden skewers for axles and pivots
- Straws as bearings
- Glue, tape and a hole punch
- A small tray with pebbles for a test track
Safety: An adult should cut cardboard and trim skewer points.
Take it further: Add a small motor and battery so the model can climb a ramp by itself.
Earth and spaceEasy
Pebble collection: sort by colour, feel and weight
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Rocks and pebbles come from bigger rocks that wear down. They differ in colour, smoothness and weight, and we can sort them by these properties.
You will need
- Ten small pebbles from a garden, river bank or road side (free)
- An egg carton to hold them
- A bowl of water and a cloth
- A kitchen or hand balance if possible
- Paper labels and pencil
Safety: Wash your hands after touching soil and stones. An adult must come when collecting near a river, road or building site.
Take it further: Test whether each pebble sinks or floats and whether any is magnetic.
Earth and spaceEasy
My weather diary with sun, cloud and rain symbols
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Weather changes from day to day. Writing it daily lets us see patterns, such as how many sunny days there were in a week.
You will need
- A notebook or a sheet of chart paper
- Pencil and crayons
- A ruler
- A thermometer if you have one
- Stickers or symbols you draw yourself
Safety: No special safety. Do not stare at the Sun when checking the sky.
Take it further: Keep the diary for a month and ask a grandparent how the weather was at the same time of year long ago.
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.