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
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 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.
MathsEasy
Button sorting game: colour, size and number of holes
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The same set of things can be sorted in many ways, and each rule makes different groups. Sorting is the first step of handling data and of seeing patterns.
You will need
- A handful of old buttons, about 30 (free from a tailor or old clothes)
- Four paper plates or sheets of paper
- A pencil and a notebook
- A small tin or bowl to hold the buttons
Safety: Buttons are small. An adult must stay close and keep them away from very young children, who may put them in their mouths.
Take it further: Sort the buttons with two rules at once, such as big and red, and see how many buttons fit both.
MathsEasy
Feely bag: guess the shape by touch alone
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
We can know shapes by their edges and corners, not only by looking. Feeling flat and solid shapes trains children to count sides, corners and curves.
You will need
- A cloth bag or an old sock
- Five or six small objects of different shapes, like a ball, dice, bangle, small box and cone (from the home)
- Paper and a pencil for score
- A friend or family member to play with
Safety: Use only soft, blunt objects with no sharp edges. An adult must choose the objects.
Take it further: Use flat cardboard cut-outs of triangle, square and circle and guess these in the bag too.
PhysicsEasy
Sound guessing jars: shake and listen
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Different things make different sounds when shaken, because hard, soft, big and small things hit the inside of the jar differently. We can use hearing to work out what is hidden.
You will need
- Six small opaque containers with lids, like small steel tins or covered cups (free)
- Rice, dal, a few coins, cotton wool, sand and a pebble
- A marker and paper stickers
- A notebook
Safety: An adult must close the lids tightly and keep small things like coins away from very young children.
Take it further: Make two tins with the same thing but different amounts and hear whether more rice sounds louder or softer.
BiologyEasy
Nature walk collection tray with labels
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Plants and their parts come in many sizes, shapes and colours. Collecting and sorting fallen things makes us look closely and notice differences.
You will need
- A flat cardboard tray or a shoebox lid (free)
- A cloth bag or a polythene bag for collecting
- Double-sided tape or glue
- Sticky labels or paper strips and a pencil
- A magnifying glass if you have one
Safety: An adult must come on the walk. Pick up only fallen leaves, seeds and twigs. Do not pick flowers from plants, touch mushrooms or handle anything with thorns or insects.
Take it further: Repeat the walk in another season, such as after the monsoon, and compare the two trays.
BiologyEasy
Leaf colour matching chart: how many greens?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Leaves are not all the same green. Their colours show the plant type and age, and children learn to compare and name shades.
You will need
- Five to eight fallen leaves of different plants (free)
- Poster colours or crayons in green, yellow and brown
- A sheet of white paper or a notebook page
- A glue stick
- A pencil
Safety: Pick only fallen leaves. An adult must help if poster colours are used on clothes and furniture.
Take it further: Collect leaves again after a month and compare whether the shades have changed.
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.
PhysicsEasy
Paint mixing: a colour wheel from red, yellow and blue
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Three paints, red, yellow and blue, can be mixed to make many other colours. Mixing shows how colours relate to each other.
You will need
- Poster paints in red, yellow and blue (under Rs 50, or use water colours)
- A white paper plate or a circle of white paper
- A paint brush
- A small cup of water
- A paper towel
- A ruler and pencil
Safety: Wear old clothes and use only child-safe paints. An adult must help with spills. Wash hands after painting.
Take it further: Mix all three paints together in equal parts and see what colour comes out.
PhysicsEasy
Hand shadow animals: big and small shadows with a torch
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A shadow forms when something blocks light. The nearer the object is to the light, the bigger and softer the shadow is.
You will need
- A torch (free)
- A plain wall in a dark room
- Your hands
- A paper and pencil to record
Safety: Do not shine the torch into anyone’s eyes. An adult must be present in a dark room.
Take it further: Make a shadow puppet from card on a stick and put on a short play.
Earth and spaceEasy
Cloud watching sketch book with cloud shapes
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Clouds come in different shapes and heights, and each kind tells us something about the weather coming.
You will need
- A notebook or drawing book (free)
- Pencil and crayons in blue, grey and white
- A shaded spot to look at the sky
- A clock or watch
Safety: Never look at the Sun directly. An adult must come when you sit on a roof or a balcony.
Take it further: Use a clear plastic sheet with a grid to estimate how much of the sky is covered each day.
BiologyEasy
Seed collection box: 12 seeds from the kitchen and garden
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Seeds differ in shape, size, colour and surface. Each shape helps the plant spread its seeds by wind, water or animals.
You will need
- An egg carton with twelve cups (free)
- Twelve different seeds, like rice, mustard, jeera, lentil, tamarind, mango stone and watermelon seed
- Paper labels and pencil
- Glue
- A magnifying glass if you have one
Safety: Do not put seeds in the mouth. An adult must supervise, as some seeds are small or sharp.
Take it further: Plant each seed in a small pot and record which sprouts first.
BiologyEasy
Fingerprint cards: loops, whorls and arches
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Every person has a different pattern of ridges on their fingertips. The patterns fall into a few main types: loops, whorls and arches.
You will need
- A washable ink pad or a soft pencil and sticky tape (under Rs 50)
- White paper
- A magnifying glass if you have one
- Pencil and notebook
- Wet tissue for cleaning fingers
Safety: Use only washable, non-toxic ink. An adult must help and keep ink away from the eyes and mouth.
Take it further: Lift a print from a glass using pencil dust and clear tape.
BiologyEasy
Egg carton teeth model: incisors, canines and molars
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
We have different teeth for different jobs: cutting, tearing and grinding. A model helps us remember them and brush each properly.
You will need
- A cardboard egg carton with 12 cups (free)
- White paint or white paper
- Pink or red paper for the gums
- Scissors and glue
- A marker
- An old toothbrush
Safety: An adult must cut the carton. Do not use a toothbrush after it has been used on teeth.
Take it further: Count your own teeth with a mirror and record how many milk teeth have fallen out.
MathsEasy
Shape detective: find circles, squares and triangles at home
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Shapes are everywhere around us. Looking for them helps children name shapes and count their sides and corners.
You will need
- Old magazines or newspapers (free)
- Scissors
- Glue
- A big sheet of paper
- Pencil and crayons
Safety: An adult must help with the scissors for young children.
Take it further: Add pentagons and hexagons by looking at a honeycomb or a carrom board picture.
MathsEasy
Bead string patterns: AB, AAB and ABC necklaces
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A pattern is something that repeats in a set order. Making and continuing patterns builds the skill of predicting what comes next.
You will need
- Beads or small coloured pasta tubes or paper bits (free)
- A piece of thick thread or wool, 40 cm
- A piece of tape for the end
- Paper and crayons to record
Safety: Small beads can be a choking risk. An adult must stay with young children.
Take it further: Make a growing pattern, where the number of beads increases each time.
MathsEasy
Dot rangoli: patterns with lines and symmetry on dots
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Joining dots makes patterns that have symmetry. Both halves of the drawing look the same, like a rangoli.
You will need
- Squared paper or paper with a dot grid drawn using a ruler (free)
- Pencil and coloured pens
- A ruler
- A small mirror (free)
Safety: No special safety. Use a blunt pencil.
Take it further: Draw a rangoli with colours using dry rice flour on the floor outside, with an adult.
MathsEasy
My day on a clock chart: wake, school, play and sleep
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Time passes in hours, and we can show our day as parts on a clock. This helps us plan our time and see how long each task takes.
You will need
- A big sheet of paper or a paper plate
- Coloured pens or crayons
- A ruler and pencil
- A watch or a wall clock
- A parent to help
Safety: No special safety.
Take it further: Make a weekend chart and compare it with the school day.
MathsEasy
Paper money class shop: buy, sell and give change
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Money is used to buy things, and shopkeepers give back change. Playing shop teaches adding prices, counting notes and finding change.
You will need
- Paper cut as play notes and coins of Re 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 (free)
- Small items from home to sell, such as pencils, erasers and biscuits
- Price tags on paper
- A small box as a till
- Paper and pencil for a bill
- A friend or family as customers
Safety: Use only play money and no real notes. An adult must supervise the shopkeeper.
Take it further: Add a discount sign, such as Rs 2 off, and see how the bill changes.
MathsEasy
Rupee coins and notes matching cards
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Money has different values, and we can make the same amount in many ways. Matching games help children count in ones, twos, fives and tens.
You will need
- Cardboard or old greeting cards cut into 20 cards (free)
- Crayons and a pencil
- A few real or play coins to look at
- A pair of scissors
- A friend to play with
Safety: An adult must cut the cardboard. Use play money for the game, not real notes.
Take it further: Make Rs 20 in as many ways as you can and write each way.
Earth and spaceEasy
Map of my room drawn on squared paper
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A map is a picture of a place seen from above, drawn smaller than real. Using squares to stand for steps shows what scale means.
You will need
- A sheet of squared paper (free)
- Pencil and ruler
- Crayons
- A measuring tape or your own steps
Safety: No special safety. Move furniture only with an adult.
Take it further: Draw the map of your whole house and mark the way from your bed to the kitchen.
Earth and spaceEasy
Picture map from home to school with landmarks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A map can show the way with landmarks and symbols. Children learn directions such as left, right, near and far.
You will need
- A big sheet of paper or chart paper
- Pencils and crayons
- A ruler
- Small stickers or drawn symbols
- A parent to walk with you
Safety: An adult must walk with you and help cross roads. Draw only after you reach home.
Take it further: Time the walk and mark the time between each landmark.
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.