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.
MathsEasy
Cardboard teaching clock with hands that move together
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The minute hand goes round 12 times for every one round of the hour hand. Learners can set times and see how hours, minutes and angles connect.
You will need
- A cardboard circle of 25 cm
- Two strips of card for hands
- A split pin
- Markers
- Ruler and protractor
- Two small bottle caps to link the hands (optional)
Safety: An adult must cut the card circle and make the hole for the pin.
Take it further: Make a 24-hour version with an outer ring to learn railway time.
MathsEasy
Ice-cream stick fraction wall for halves, quarters and eighths
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Equal parts of the same whole can be compared by length. The wall shows that one half equals two quarters and four eighths.
You will need
- About 40 ice-cream sticks or card strips of equal length
- Poster colours
- A ruler and pencil
- Glue
- A cardboard backing sheet
- A marker
Safety: An adult must cut the sticks if they need trimming. Keep paint away from the mouth.
Take it further: Add thirds and sixths and find which fractions can be compared directly.
MathsMedium
Straw and protractor clinometer to find building height by trigonometry
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The height of a tall object can be found from the angle of elevation and the distance to its base using tan of the angle. The clinometer measures that angle.
You will need
- A cardboard protractor or a printed one
- A drinking straw
- Thread and a small weight (a nut)
- Tape
- A measuring tape
- Notebook and calculator
Safety: Do not look at the Sun through the straw. Measure on level ground and away from traffic.
Take it further: Measure the height of a tree and check it using shadow lengths.
MathsEasy
How much does rice swell? Water ratio and volume maths
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Rice soaks up water and swells, and the amount of cooked rice depends on the ratio of rice to water. By measuring in cups you practise ratio and volume and see how much bigger the rice becomes.
You will need
- 2 cups of rice
- Water
- A steel measuring cup
- Three small pots (adult only)
- A kitchen scale if available
- A stove (adult only)
- Notebook with a table
Safety: An adult must cook the rice and drain the pots, because steam can burn. Children read and write the measurements only.
Take it further: Try basmati and everyday rice and compare how much each swells.
MathsEasy
Which paper towel or tissue soaks up the most? A fair test with maths
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
You compare tissue papers or paper towels for absorbency and cost by measuring grams of water held per sheet and per rupee. It is a practice in fair testing, averaging and unit costs.
You will need
- Three or four brands of paper towel or tissue
- A kitchen scale (to 1 g)
- A bowl of water and a measuring cup
- A clip or tongs
- A calculator
- A notebook
- A pencil
Safety: Wipe up the water so the floor is not slippery. Use clean tissue only.
Take it further: Test the strength when wet by hanging coins on each sheet until it tears.
MathsEasy
Best buy at the kirana shop: unit price of five everyday items
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The cheapest looking pack is not always the best buy. Dividing the price by the weight or volume gives the unit price, which lets you compare packs of different sizes fairly.
You will need
- A notebook or sheet with a table
- A calculator
- Prices and pack sizes of five items such as rice, dal, oil, biscuits and soap
- Small and big pack of each, noted from a shop or from home
- A pencil
- Graph paper
- A kitchen scale for checking weights
Safety: Go to the shop with an adult and do not touch things without permission. Note prices only and do not collect personal information.
Take it further: Compute the yearly saving for your home if it buys the best buy of each of ten items.
MathsMedium
Decoding the home electricity bill: units, slabs and appliance costs
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A bill is calculated from units used, in kilowatt hours, at slab rates plus fixed charges. By computing the energy of each appliance and checking it against the bill, you apply percentages, multiplication and a piecewise function.
You will need
- A recent electricity bill (copy the numbers, not the account details)
- The power rating labels of home appliances
- A notebook and a calculator
- A clock for timing use
- Graph paper
- A spreadsheet if available
Safety: Read ratings from labels only and do not open any appliance or touch wiring or the meter. An adult must handle everything electrical.
Take it further: Compare an LED bulb with an old filament bulb for yearly cost, including purchase price.
MathsMedium
Piggy bank mathematics: simple against compound interest
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Money in a deposit can earn simple interest, only on the original amount, or compound interest, on the growing total. Tables and graphs for Rs 1,000 over ten years show how the two grow apart.
You will need
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- A calculator
- Graph paper in two colours
- A deposit rate from a bank notice, such as 6 percent per year
- A pencil
- A ruler
- A piggy bank for a drawing
Safety: No real money is invested for this project, and no personal bank details are shared. Do not give financial advice; this is for learning maths only.
Take it further: Work out the compound amount for interest added half-yearly and monthly and compare.
MathsEasy
The discount puzzle: 20 percent off then 10 percent off
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two successive discounts do not add up to one big discount. A 20 percent off followed by 10 percent off is worth 28 percent, not 30. You test this with real prices from a sale and learn to calculate discounts correctly.
You will need
- A notebook and a pencil
- A calculator
- Price tags or newspaper advertisements of five items
- A ruler
- Graph paper
- Play money or coins
- A friend to check your work
Safety: No special safety needed. Work with real prices only from advertisements, and never share personal details.
Take it further: Find out what a Rs 500 item costs with GST added before and after a discount, and say which is cheaper.
MathsEasy
Scaling a recipe: ratios, fractions and measuring cups
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A recipe is a set of ratios, so halving or doubling it means multiplying every amount by the same number. You rewrite a simple recipe for 2, 4 and 10 people and practise fractions and unit conversion.
You will need
- A simple recipe, such as poha or lemonade, for 4 people
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A notebook
- A kitchen scale
- A pencil
- A calculator
- An adult to supervise any cooking
Safety: An adult must handle the stove and knives. Children measure, calculate and write only. Check for food allergies in your family.
Take it further: Find the cost of the recipe per person using the prices of ingredients.
MathsEasy
How many tiles for the floor? Area, wastage and cost by newspaper model
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The number of tiles needed depends on the area of the room divided by the area of a tile, plus some extra for cutting. You model a room with newspaper sheets as tiles and then work out the count and cost for a real room.
You will need
- Old newspapers
- A measuring tape or a ruler
- Scissors (adult helps)
- Sticky tape
- A calculator
- A notebook
- A tile price from a shop or a leaflet
Safety: An adult must handle scissors and help with measuring in the room. Do not climb on furniture to measure.
Take it further: Find the number of tiles for an L-shaped room by splitting it into two rectangles.
MathsMedium
Is a 1 kg packet really 1 kg? Sampling and averages with a kitchen scale
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No two packets weigh exactly the same, so averages, ranges and standard deviation describe how close the packets are to the printed weight. You weigh sample packets and decide whether the pack is accurate.
You will need
- 10 to 20 packets of sugar, rice or salt, of the same brand
- A kitchen scale with 1 g accuracy
- A notebook or spreadsheet
- A calculator
- Graph paper
- A pencil
- A bag to carry the packets
Safety: Do not open the packets and take them back to the shelf or the shop. Ask the shopkeeper’s permission before weighing, and do not accuse any shop of cheating.
Take it further: Compare two brands of the same item and find which has the more consistent weight.
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
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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.
MathsEasy
Measuring with my hand span and my foot
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Measuring means comparing with a unit. Hand spans and feet are handy units, but they differ from person to person, which is why we need a standard unit like the centimetre.
You will need
- A ruler or measuring tape (free from school bag)
- Paper and pencil
- A table, a door and a bed to measure
- A friend or parent to measure too
Safety: No special safety needed. Walk carefully when measuring on the floor.
Take it further: Measure a door and a bed with spans and then guess the answer in centimetres before checking with the tape.
MathsEasy
Shape detective: find circles, squares and triangles at home
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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
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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
Paper tiles that fit together: which shapes leave no gaps?
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Some shapes, like squares, triangles and hexagons, can cover a floor without gaps. Others, like circles, leave gaps. This is why floors are tiled with certain shapes.
You will need
- Coloured paper or old greeting cards (free)
- A ruler and pencil
- Scissors
- Glue
- A big sheet of paper
- A paper cup to trace circles
Safety: An adult must help children with scissors.
Take it further: Try mixing two shapes, like squares and triangles, to make a new pattern.
MathsEasy
Cardboard clock with hands that move: hours and half hours
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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
My day on a clock chart: wake, school, play and sleep
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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
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.
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.
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.