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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.

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Want a complete build with diagrams? 16 free detailed project guides

Smiling primary school children with a solar system model and a volcano model
1029 ideas8 subjects5 project types

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.

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.

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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

  1. 1Name and question“My project is a … It answers the question …”
  2. 2What it showsOne sentence of science, in your own words.
  3. 3How it worksPoint to each part as you explain it.
  4. 4What you foundYour readings or result, and what they mean.
  5. 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?
Free ebook: viva questions for science projects

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
Free ebook: writing a science project file

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.

Open the store

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.

All science project ebooks

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?

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What 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.

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