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.
EnvironmentMedium
How many litres does your family use in a day? A water audit
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
You measure how much water each daily activity uses by counting buckets, mugs and tap flows, and then work out litres per person per day. The result helps find where water can be saved.
You will need
- A 1 litre bottle or a measuring jug
- A bucket with litre marks
- A stopwatch
- A notebook with a table
- A calculator
- A bar chart sheet
- A family member to help
Safety: Do the measurements with an adult, and wipe up spills so no one slips. Never measure water from a tank or well alone.
Take it further: Estimate how many litres a leaking tap wastes in a month by timing the drips into a measuring jug.
EnvironmentEasy
Foil panel solar cooker that warms a pot of water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A panel cooker uses flat foil-covered reflectors to bounce extra sunlight onto a dark pot sealed in a clear bag. It shows that sunlight can heat water without any fuel.
You will need
- Two cardboard sheets about 50 cm square
- Aluminium foil and glue
- A small black steel or aluminium pot with lid
- A clear oven bag or large transparent plastic bag
- A thermometer (0 to 110 C)
- Two bricks or books to prop the panels
Safety: Never look at the bright reflected beam; wear sunglasses. An adult must handle the hot pot. Keep the water only warm to hot, not boiling, and never leave the cooker unattended.
Take it further: Change the panel angle in steps of 15 degrees and find the angle that gives the highest temperature.
EnvironmentMedium
Solar still in a basin that separates fresh water from salty water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Sunlight evaporates water from salty or muddy water, and the vapour condenses on a cool plastic sheet as clean water. It models how sea or borewell water could be made drinkable with free heat.
You will need
- A wide steel or plastic basin
- A small glass or steel cup
- A clear plastic sheet or cling film
- A rubber band or string
- A small pebble
- Salt and tap water
- Black paper or cloth
Safety: Do not drink the collected water unless an adult has had it checked. Keep the still out of reach of small children and handle the warm basin with a cloth.
Take it further: Compare yield with and without the black paper, and with a steeper plastic sheet.
EnvironmentMedium
Solar dryer cabinet against open-air drying of chilli and fruit
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A covered, ventilated box dries food faster and cleaner than open-air drying. Weighing equal slices each day shows how quickly water leaves in each method.
You will need
- A cardboard or wooden box about 40 cm by 30 cm
- Clear plastic sheet for the lid
- Black paper for the floor
- Thin net or mesh trays
- Banana, mango or chilli slices
- A kitchen scale (0.1 g if possible)
- A few small holes for air
Safety: An adult must slice the food with a knife and handle chillies; wear gloves and do not touch eyes. Do not eat food dried in an experiment with other materials; use clean food only for a separate batch.
Take it further: Add a second black metal sheet as an absorber and see if the drying time drops further.
EnvironmentMedium
Paper and sawdust briquettes: how long do they burn compared with wood?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Waste paper, sawdust and crop leaves can be pressed into fuel blocks. Burning equal masses under adult supervision and timing a water boil shows the energy in each fuel.
You will need
- Old newspaper torn into bits
- Sawdust or dry crop leaves
- A bucket of water and a cloth to squeeze
- A tin can with holes as a mould
- A kitchen scale
- A small steel pot of water and a thermometer
- A safe metal tray
Safety: An adult must do all burning, outdoors, in a metal tray with a bucket of water and sand nearby. Never use plastic or glossy paper. Do not burn briquettes indoors, and keep hair and clothes away.
Take it further: Try different ratios of paper to sawdust and decide which gives the longest burn.
EnvironmentChallenging
Tin-can rocket stove model that boils water with a handful of twigs
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A rocket stove has an insulated chimney and a small fuel feed so the fuel burns hot and clean. Comparing the boil time against a three-stone fire shows how a design change saves fuel.
You will need
- One large tin can and one medium can
- Sand or ash for insulation
- A metal grill or three nails for the pot rest
- Dry twigs
- A steel pot and 500 ml water
- A thermometer and stopwatch
- A metal tray and sand bucket
Safety: An adult must cut the metal and do all burning, outdoors on bare ground, with a bucket of water and sand ready. Wear closed shoes, keep children and pets away, and never use fuel indoors.
Take it further: Change the feed-hole size and find the best opening for a fast, clean flame.
EnvironmentMedium
Classroom lighting audit: lux readings and how much LEDs would save
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Measuring light levels and counting lamp hours shows where electricity is wasted. Comparing old tube lights with LED tubes on paper gives the units and rupees saved per year.
You will need
- A phone lux-meter app or a light meter
- A notebook and a floor plan sketch
- Wattage labels read from the lamps
- A calculator or spreadsheet
- The school’s electricity bill (ask the office)
- A ruler and a tape measure
Safety: Do not touch lamps or fittings; an adult must climb any ladder and switch off at the board before reading labels. Never open a lamp or fitting.
Take it further: Repeat for the whole school and suggest three changes with their payback time.
EnvironmentEasy
Straw, leaf, paper and bare soil: which mulch keeps pots moistest?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A layer of mulch slows evaporation from the soil surface. Weighing identical pots each day shows how much water each mulch saves, which helps farmers during dry spells.
You will need
- Five identical small pots or cut bottles with soil
- Dry straw, dry leaves, shredded paper and gravel
- A kitchen scale
- A measuring cup
- A shaded sunny windowsill or balcony
- Labels and a notebook
Safety: Wash hands after touching soil and mulch. Keep pots on a stable ledge so they do not fall.
Take it further: Plant a bean in each pot and see which mulch grows the tallest plant.
EnvironmentMedium
Greywater reuse: rice-wash, soapy and tap water on bean seedlings
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water used in the kitchen can sometimes be reused on plants, but soap can harm them. Growing seedlings with different kinds of used water shows which can be safely reused.
You will need
- Bean or mung seeds
- Four pots with soil
- Rice-washing water, mild soapy water, vegetable-wash water and tap water
- Labels and a measuring cup
- A ruler
- A notebook
Safety: Use only mild washing-up water diluted well. Never use bleach, toilet cleaner or strong detergents. Wash hands after use, and do not eat the test plants.
Take it further: Measure the soil pH after each treatment to see how the water changes the soil.
EnvironmentMedium
Polyhouse tunnel against open bed: temperature, humidity and seedling growth
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A plastic tunnel holds warmth and moisture and protects plants from wind and rain. Comparing a covered bed with an open bed shows how polyhouses extend the growing season.
You will need
- Two small garden beds or trays of soil
- Bent wire or cane hoops
- Clear plastic sheet
- Two thermometers and a hygrometer (or humidity app)
- Seeds such as tomato or coriander
- A ruler and a notebook
Safety: An adult must bend wire hoops and cut plastic. Open the tunnel on hot afternoons so seedlings do not overheat, and wash hands after handling soil.
Take it further: Add a shade net over the tunnel and test whether it keeps the temperature in the best range.
EnvironmentMedium
Terraces and contour furrows against straight slopes: runoff model
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Terracing and ploughing along the contours slow rain runoff and hold soil on hillsides. A sand tray model measures the soil and water lost on each slope.
You will need
- Three plastic trays or boxes with a spout at one end
- Garden soil or sand
- A watering can with a sprinkler head or a perforated bottle
- Three catch cups
- A tilted board or books
- A measuring cup and a kitchen scale
Safety: Work outdoors or over a tray. Wash hands after handling soil. Do not use trays near electrical items.
Take it further: Plant grass seeds on one tray and test the effect of vegetation cover as well.
EnvironmentMedium
Five home water cleaning methods ranked with a clarity tube
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Cloth, sand, charcoal, alum and boiling each do different jobs. A homemade clarity tube ranks how well each method clears water, and the project explains which methods also remove germs.
You will need
- Muddy water made from garden soil
- Cotton cloth, a funnel, clean sand, crushed charcoal and gravel
- A pinch of alum
- A clear tube with a black dot at the bottom
- A measuring cup
- A pan for boiling (adult)
Safety: An adult must boil the water and handle hot items. Do not drink any water from the test. Charcoal dust is messy, so wear a mask when crushing.
Take it further: Combine the steps in the best order to design a four-stage household treatment.
EnvironmentMedium
Sunlight bottle disinfection model: temperature in clear, black-backed and shaded bottles
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The solar disinfection (SODIS) method leaves clear water in sunlight for hours so heat and ultraviolet light weaken germs. Measuring temperature in different bottle set-ups shows how to make it work better.
You will need
- Four clear PET bottles with lids
- Black paper or paint
- Foil
- Four thermometers
- Tap water
- A sunny roof or open space
- Tape and a watch
Safety: This project only measures temperature; do not drink water from the experiment. An adult must supervise roof work. Do not claim that treated water is safe without proper testing.
Take it further: Compare the temperature on a clear, a hazy and a cloudy day.
EnvironmentMedium
Recharge pit model that refills a borewell tube from roof water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Roof rain can be led through a filter pit into the ground to raise the water table. The model shows how a recharge pit with gravel and sand layers refills a borewell.
You will need
- A large clear plastic bucket or box
- Gravel, coarse sand and fine sand
- A perforated plastic tube as the borewell
- A small tray roof with a downpipe made from a bottle
- A watering can for rain
- A ruler and marker
- A cup of dye for tracing
Safety: Cut plastic with an adult. Keep the model on a stable table over a tray, and wash hands after handling gravel and sand.
Take it further: Time how fast the water drains in the pit with different sand mixes.
EnvironmentMedium
Cutting pond evaporation with shade, floating balls and an oil film
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Open ponds and tanks lose a lot of water by evaporation in summer. Testing four covers on trays of water shows which method saves the most water.
You will need
- Five identical shallow trays or basins
- Foil or a cloth shade
- Table tennis balls or small floating balls
- A few drops of cooking oil
- A measuring cup or syringe
- A ruler to read water depth
- A sunny, safe spot
Safety: Do not pour oil into drains or natural waters. An adult must clean up oily water. Keep trays out of reach of small children and pets.
Take it further: Repeat on a windy and a calm day and see how wind changes the loss.
EnvironmentMedium
Litres per kilo of rice, wheat and vegetables: a virtual water table
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Growing food uses a lot of water. Collecting published figures and farm data for crops shows which foods use the most water and how a family’s diet affects its water footprint.
You will need
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- Water-use figures for crops from an agriculture book or an official agriculture website
- A weekly menu of a family meal
- A calculator
- Interviews with a local farmer or gardener (with an adult)
- Chart paper and colours
Safety: Visit a farm only with an adult and permission. Follow the farmer’s instructions near water channels and machines.
Take it further: Compare the virtual water in your meals with the water you use for washing and drinking.
EnvironmentEasy
Newspaper roll pencil stand
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Old newspaper can be turned into something useful. Reusing paper saves trees and reduces waste.
You will need
- Ten to fifteen sheets of old newspaper (free)
- Glue stick or flour paste
- A pencil or thin stick to roll around
- Scissors
- Poster colour or coloured paper
- A tin or a round base for shape
Safety: An adult must supervise with scissors.
Take it further: Make a small basket the same way for the dining table.
EnvironmentEasy
Bottle cap mosaic picture of a fish or a flower
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Plastic caps can be reused to make art. We sort by colour and see how many small parts make a large picture.
You will need
- Forty to sixty plastic bottle caps of different colours (free)
- A stiff cardboard sheet or an old board
- Fevicol or strong glue
- A pencil
- A wet cloth
- A drawing of a fish or flower
Safety: An adult must use any strong glue. Caps are small, so keep them from young children.
Take it further: Make a larger mosaic as a group with classmates and display it at school.
EnvironmentEasy
Egg carton flowers and a crawling caterpillar
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Waste egg cartons can be turned into toys and decorations. A caterpillar model also shows the first stage of a butterfly.
You will need
- One cardboard egg carton (free)
- Poster paints and a brush
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pipe cleaners or thread
- Two small beads or paper for eyes
Safety: An adult must cut the carton and use the scissors.
Take it further: Watch a real caterpillar on a plant for a week and draw how it changes.
EnvironmentEasy
Old sock puppet family for a storytelling show
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Old clothes can be reused instead of thrown away. Making puppets and telling stories also builds speaking and imagination.
You will need
- Three or four old socks (free)
- Buttons for eyes (free)
- Wool or cloth scraps for hair
- Fevicol or fabric glue
- A needle and thread
- Felt or paper for mouths and ears
Safety: An adult must do any sewing and use the glue. Keep buttons away from very young children.
Take it further: Make a stage from a cardboard box and add a curtain from cloth.
EnvironmentEasy
Newspaper gift bag to replace plastic bags
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A strong paper bag can be folded from old newspaper, which cuts down use of plastic bags. Folding and gluing teach geometry too.
You will need
- Four sheets of old newspaper (free)
- Glue stick or paste
- Scissors
- Two pieces of string or old ribbon
- A hole puncher or an adult to make holes
- A ruler
Safety: An adult must help with the hole punching and scissors.
Take it further: Make bags in three sizes and test the weight each can carry.
EnvironmentEasy
Plastic bottle hanging planter for a small herb
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A waste bottle can hold soil and a living plant. Drainage holes let extra water out so roots do not rot.
You will need
- One empty plastic bottle of 1 or 2 litres (free)
- Soil, a handful or two
- Seeds of coriander or tulsi, or a small cutting
- String, 1 metre
- Scissors and a nail for holes
- Paint or paper to decorate
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle and make the holes with a nail.
Take it further: Hang three bottles in a row with different plants and compare growth.
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.