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.
ChemistryEasy
Soap bubble wands: do square wands make square bubbles?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Bubbles are always round, whatever the shape of the wand. Soap film pulls itself into the shape with the least surface, which is a sphere.
You will need
- Four pipe cleaners or thin wires (under Rs 50)
- A cup of water with 3 spoons of dish soap
- A tray
- A spoon of sugar
- A straw
Safety: Keep soap away from eyes. An adult must watch and wipe the floor when it gets slippery.
Take it further: Make giant bubbles with a loop of string on two sticks.
ChemistryMedium
Steel wool in a jar: how much of the air is oxygen?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Steel wool rusts by using up the oxygen in a closed jar, so water rises in the jar to take the place of the oxygen. The water rises by about one fifth of the air column, showing that air is about 21 percent oxygen.
You will need
- A tall clear glass or bottle with a straight side, cut-off 1 litre bottle is fine
- A bowl or tray of water
- A pad of plain steel wool, about 5 g
- White vinegar, about 100 ml
- A ruler
- A marker pen
- A small plate or tape
Safety: An adult must cut the bottle and handle the steel wool, which has sharp fibres: wear gloves. Rinse and dry hands afterwards. Do not use soapy steel wool pads.
Take it further: Repeat the test with a sealed jar that has a drop of salt water on the wool and see whether it rusts faster.
ChemistryEasy
Why diet cans float and regular cans sink: sugar and density
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Sealed cans of regular and diet soft drinks look the same, but in a tub of water the regular one sinks and the diet one floats. The sugar dissolved in the regular drink raises its density above that of water.
You will need
- One sealed can or bottle of a regular fizzy drink
- One sealed can of the diet or sugar-free version of the same brand
- A large tub or bucket of water
- A kitchen scale if available
- A notebook
- Several cups, 1 spoon of sugar and 1 spoon of salt
Safety: Keep the cans sealed and do not shake them. Dry the floor if water spills. Do not drink the test water.
Take it further: Make a hydrometer from a straw and clay and rank four drinks by density.
ChemistryMedium
Homemade cold pack: temperature drop when citric acid meets baking soda
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
When citric acid and baking soda dissolve and react in water, the mixture gets colder, which shows an endothermic change that takes heat from the surroundings. It is the opposite of burning, which gives heat out.
You will need
- Citric acid powder (nimbu ka sat), about 20 g
- Baking soda, about 20 g
- Three plastic cups
- A thermometer reading 0 to 100 °C
- Water at room temperature, 100 ml
- A spoon and a teaspoon
- A kitchen scale or measuring spoons
- A notebook
Safety: Citric acid powder irritates eyes, so an adult must supervise and the child must wear glasses. Do not taste, and wash hands after. Never use a closed bottle for the reaction.
Take it further: Find the mass ratio of acid to soda that gives the largest temperature fall.
ChemistryChallenging
Solubility against temperature: kitchen salt compared with alum
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The amount of a solid that dissolves in 100 ml of water changes with temperature, but differently for each solid. Alum dissolves several times more at 60 °C than at room temperature, while salt barely changes.
You will need
- Common salt, about 100 g
- Alum (fitkari) powder, about 50 g
- A steel pan with water for a hot water bath
- Three glass jars or steel cups
- A thermometer up to 100 °C
- A kitchen scale with 1 g steps or a measuring spoon
- A stirring stick
- Graph paper
Safety: An adult must heat the water and pour the hot water. Use tongs or cloth to hold hot containers, and keep children away from the stove. Do not taste alum and keep it out of the eyes.
Take it further: Add a third substance such as baking soda and plot all three on one graph.
ChemistryMedium
Limewater from chuna: is there more carbon dioxide in the breath we blow out?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Limewater turns milky when carbon dioxide passes through it, because insoluble calcium carbonate forms. Breath blown out turns it milky faster than ordinary air does, which shows that exhaled air has more carbon dioxide.
You will need
- Edible slaked lime (chuna), a pinch, about 2 g
- A clean jar of 500 ml water
- Two clear glasses
- Two straws
- A small bicycle pump or a plastic syringe with a tube
- A paper coffee filter
- A funnel
- Safety glasses
Safety: Slaked lime irritates the skin and eyes. An adult must prepare the limewater, and everybody must wear safety glasses. Blow out only through the straw and never suck the liquid in. Wash hands well.
Take it further: Compare breath after rest and after two minutes of jogging by counting breaths needed for milkiness.
ChemistryMedium
Bringing back tarnished silver with aluminium foil and baking soda
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Black tarnish on silver is silver sulphide, and it can be turned back to shiny silver without scrubbing, using aluminium foil, baking soda and hot water. It is a small electrochemical cell in which aluminium is more reactive than silver.
You will need
- A tarnished silver coin, ring or spoon (or a clean cheap silver-plated item)
- Aluminium foil
- Baking soda, 2 spoons
- A steel or glass bowl
- Hot water, about 300 ml
- Tongs
- A soft cloth
- Gloves
Safety: An adult must heat and pour the hot water. Use tongs to remove the item. Work in a ventilated room because a mild egg smell of hydrogen sulphide can form. Do not use valuable family jewellery or jewellery with stones.
Take it further: Time how long a standard tarnished piece needs to turn clean at 50 °C, 60 °C and 70 °C.
ChemistryMedium
Yeast as a catalyst: foam height from 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down very slowly on its own but very fast when yeast is present. Yeast contains the enzyme catalase, a catalyst, and the oxygen released makes a tall foam with a little dish soap.
You will need
- 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from a pharmacy, 200 ml
- Dry yeast, 2 teaspoons
- Warm water, 50 ml
- Liquid dish soap
- A tall narrow bottle or measuring cylinder of 250 ml
- A tray to catch the foam
- A ruler
- Safety glasses and gloves
Safety: Wear safety glasses and gloves. Use only 3 percent peroxide and never a stronger hair-bleach grade. An adult must supervise. Do not close the bottle, because oxygen is released. Wash the foam down the sink with plenty of water.
Take it further: Test whether boiled yeast works and explain what happens to the enzyme when it is heated.
ChemistryMedium
Diaper crystals: how much water do they hold, and what does salt do?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
The white powder inside a baby diaper is a polymer that soaks up many times its mass of fresh water and turns to gel. It absorbs far less from salty water, which shows how dissolved salt changes the way it works.
You will need
- A clean unused diaper or a packet of water-absorbing crystals from a garden shop
- Three plastic cups
- A measuring cup or syringe
- Common salt
- A kitchen scale
- A spoon
- A tray and a plastic bag for waste
Safety: An adult must cut the diaper open and shake out the powder outside. Avoid breathing the dust and keep it away from eyes and mouth. Never put the swollen gel down the drain, because it blocks pipes; put it in the dustbin.
Take it further: Grow two seedlings, one in soil with the crystals and one without, and compare how often they need water.
ChemistryEasy
Tyndall torch beam: telling solutions from colloids and suspensions
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A torch beam is invisible in clear salt water but shows up as a bright path in dilute milk or starch water. The particles of a colloid are big enough to scatter light, and those of a true solution are not.
You will need
- A bright torch or phone light
- Five clear glasses
- Salt, sugar, milk, starch (cornflour), chalk powder or mud
- Water
- A cardboard sheet with a small hole
- A dark room
- A notebook
Safety: Do not shine the torch into anyone’s eyes. Do not taste the mixtures. Wipe up spills.
Take it further: Add a few drops of lemon juice to the milk water and see what happens to the beam as the proteins clump.
ChemistryEasy
Cornflour and water oobleck: a mixture that acts both solid and liquid
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A thick mix of cornflour and water flows slowly when poured but turns hard when it is hit or squeezed. It is a suspension whose behaviour depends on how fast you push it.
You will need
- Cornflour, about 200 g
- Water, about 100 ml
- A wide bowl
- A spoon
- Measuring spoons or cup
- A tray
- A plastic bag for disposal
Safety: Use only food-grade cornflour. Do not wash the oobleck down the sink, as it can block the pipe: scrape it into the dustbin. Do not eat it, and wipe the floor, which can become slippery.
Take it further: Put oobleck on a speaker cone or a large tray and play loud music to see it form finger-like shapes, with an adult’s help.
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.