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
Rainbow in a glass (density tower)
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Water with more sugar dissolved in it is denser, so it sinks below water with less sugar. Layers of differently sweetened, coloured water stack up like a rainbow.
You will need
- Sugar and warm water
- Four food colours
- Four cups and a tall clear glass
- A spoon or a syringe (no needle) for pouring slowly
Safety: An adult should handle the warm water.
Take it further: Pour the layers in the opposite order and see what happens.
BiologyEasy
What do seeds need to sprout?
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Seeds need water, air and warmth to germinate. Most seeds sprout even in the dark, but the seedlings need light to turn green and keep growing.
You will need
- Moong or chana seeds
- Cotton wool and small bowls
- Water
- Labels for each set-up: dry, wet, under water, in the fridge, in the dark
Take it further: Measure the shoots every day and draw a growth chart for each set-up.
PhysicsEasy
Sink or float, and the clay boat
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Whether something floats depends on its density and its shape. A ball of clay sinks, but the same clay shaped into a boat floats, because it pushes aside more water.
You will need
- A tub of water
- Objects such as a coin, a cork, a key, a leaf and a plastic spoon
- Modelling clay
- Small coins or marbles to load the boat
Take it further: Which boat shape carries the most coins before it sinks?
PhysicsEasy
Air pressure holds up water
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Air pushes on everything around us. When the glass is turned over, the air pressure pushing up on the card is enough to hold the water in.
You will need
- A glass filled to the brim with water
- A smooth postcard or stiff card
Safety: Do it over a sink or a bucket.
PhysicsEasy
Electromagnet
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
An electric current in a coil of wire makes a magnetic field. Wound round an iron nail, the coil becomes a magnet you can switch off, and more turns of wire make it stronger.
You will need
- A large iron nail
- Enamelled copper wire
- A 1.5 V cell in a holder
- Paper clips
- Sandpaper to clean the wire ends
Safety: The wire and cell get warm: disconnect between tests. Use cells only, never the mains.
Take it further: Count how many paper clips it lifts with 20, 40 and 60 turns, and plot a graph.
ChemistryEasy
Red cabbage indicator
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Red cabbage juice changes colour with acids and bases: pink or red in acids, purple when neutral, and blue, green or yellow in bases.
You will need
- Red cabbage leaves and hot water
- A strainer and clear cups
- Lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda solution, soap water and tap water
Safety: An adult should handle the hot water. Do not taste anything, and do not test bleach or toilet cleaners.
Take it further: Soak filter paper in the juice and dry it to make your own indicator paper.
EnvironmentMedium
Solar water heater model
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Black surfaces absorb more sunlight than shiny or white ones, and a clear cover traps the heat, so water in a black, covered container warms fastest.
You will need
- A shoe box lined with foil
- Two small bottles, one painted black and one left clear
- Cling film or a sheet of glass
- A thermometer
- Water
Take it further: Record both temperatures every 15 minutes and plot them on one graph.
PhysicsEasy
Static electricity and a jar electroscope
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Rubbing a balloon moves electric charge onto it. A charged object attracts light things, and in the electroscope the two foil leaves get the same charge and push apart.
You will need
- A glass jar with a card lid
- A metal paper clip or thick wire
- Two small strips of aluminium foil
- A balloon or a plastic comb
Take it further: Static works best on dry days. Try it on a humid day and compare.
EnvironmentEasy
Soil erosion with and without plants
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Plant roots hold soil together. When water is poured on, bare soil washes away much faster than soil covered with grass or dead leaves.
You will need
- Three plastic bottles cut lengthwise
- Soil, grass seedlings and dry leaves
- Three cups to collect the run-off
- Water in a mug
Take it further: Compare how muddy the water in each cup is, and how much soil settles at the bottom.
MathsEasy
The angles of a triangle add up to 180°
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Tear off the three corners of any paper triangle and place them side by side: they always make a straight line, which is 180 degrees.
You will need
- Paper triangles of different shapes
- Colours to mark each corner
- A protractor to check
EnvironmentEasy
Compost in a bottle
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Microbes and small creatures break peels and leaves down into compost, but plastic does not break down. Layers of wet "greens" and dry "browns" rot best.
You will need
- A large plastic bottle with air holes
- Soil
- Vegetable peels and dry leaves
- A small piece of plastic and of paper for comparison
- A water spray
Safety: Wash your hands after handling soil and compost.
EnvironmentEasy
Greenhouse effect in a jar
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
A covered jar in the sun warms faster than an open one. It is a simple model of how greenhouse gases keep heat near the Earth; the real atmosphere traps heat by absorbing infrared rather than by stopping air moving.
You will need
- Two identical jars
- Two thermometers
- Cling film or a lid
- Sunlight or a lamp
- A notebook for readings
EnvironmentEasy
Air pollution sticky cards
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Dust and soot in the air settle on surfaces. Sticky cards left in different places show where the air carries the most particles.
You will need
- White cards
- Petroleum jelly
- String
- A magnifying glass
- Labels for each place: roadside, garden, classroom, kitchen
ChemistryEasy
Lemon and potato battery
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Two different metals in an acidic juice make an electric cell, turning chemical energy into electrical energy. One lemon gives less than one volt, so several are joined in series to light an LED.
You will need
- Four lemons or potatoes
- Copper strips or coins, and galvanised (zinc-coated) nails
- Wires with crocodile clips
- An LED and a multimeter
Safety: Do not eat the fruit afterwards.
Take it further: Does the distance between the metals, or the type of fruit, change the voltage?
ChemistryEasy
What makes iron rust?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Iron rusts only when both air (oxygen) and water are present, and salt water speeds it up. Nails kept dry, or in boiled water sealed with a layer of oil, stay bright.
You will need
- Four iron nails and four test tubes or jars
- Tap water, salt water, boiled water and a little oil
- A drying agent such as anhydrous calcium chloride
- Labels
Safety: Wear gloves to handle calcium chloride and keep it away from eyes. An adult should boil the water.
ChemistryEasy
Paper chromatography of inks
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Many inks are mixtures of colours. As water climbs the paper, each colour travels a different distance, depending on how well it dissolves and how strongly it sticks to the paper.
You will need
- Filter paper or coffee filter strips
- Sketch pens of different brands
- A glass of water
- A pencil and clips
Take it further: Measure each colour’s distance and work out its Rf value: the distance moved by the colour divided by the distance moved by the water.
PhysicsMedium
Light trapped in a stream of water
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Light inside the water meets the surface at a large angle and is totally internally reflected, so it follows the curved stream. Optical fibres carry internet signals the same way.
You will need
- A clear plastic bottle with a hole near the bottom
- Water
- A low-power laser pointer or a bright torch
- A dark room and a basin
Safety: Never shine a laser into anyone’s eyes. Use a low-power pointer, with an adult.
ChemistryMedium
Electrolysis of water
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An electric current splits water into hydrogen at the negative electrode and oxygen at the positive one. About twice as much hydrogen as oxygen collects, which matches the formula H₂O.
You will need
- A 9 V battery
- Two pencil leads or graphite rods as electrodes
- Water with baking soda dissolved in it
- Two small test tubes
- A plastic tray
Safety: Use baking soda, not common salt, which gives off chlorine gas. Keep flames away and use a battery only.
ChemistryEasy
pH of household substances
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pH measures how acidic or basic a solution is on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 neutral. Universal indicator or pH paper shows the value by its colour.
You will need
- pH paper or universal indicator
- Samples: lemon juice, curd, milk, tea, soap water, baking soda solution, tap water
- Clear cups and droppers
- The colour chart
Safety: Do not taste the samples or test strong cleaners.
BiologyMedium
Does the colour of light affect plant growth?
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light strongly and reflects most green light, so seedlings under green filters usually grow more weakly than those in white light.
You will need
- Six small pots of the same seedlings
- Red, blue, green and clear cellophane
- Boxes or frames to cover each pot
- A ruler and a notebook
Take it further: Keep everything else the same (water, soil, temperature) so the test is fair.
MathsEasy
Probability with coins and dice
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With only a few throws the results are uneven, but as the number of throws grows, the share of heads gets closer to one half and each face of a die to one sixth.
You will need
- Coins and dice
- A tally sheet
- Graph paper or a spreadsheet
MathsEasy
Fibonacci numbers in nature
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In the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 and so on, each number is the sum of the two before it, and the ratio of neighbours gets closer to about 1.618, the golden ratio. The spirals on sunflower heads and pine cones often come in Fibonacci numbers.
You will need
- Pine cones, sunflower heads or pineapples
- Coloured markers to count the spirals
- Graph paper
- A calculator
ChemistryMedium
Vitamin C in fruit juices
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Vitamin C reacts with iodine. When iodine solution is added drop by drop to a juice containing starch, the blue-black colour appears only after all the vitamin C is used up, so more drops mean more vitamin C.
You will need
- Iodine solution and starch solution
- Fresh and packaged juices
- A dropper or a burette
- A measuring cylinder and small beakers
Safety: Iodine stains and is harmful if swallowed: do not drink any sample, and work with your teacher.
ChemistryEasy
Foaming capacity of soaps
Show detailsHide detailsWhat it shows
Soaps differ in how much lather they make. In hard water, calcium and magnesium salts react with soap to form scum, so less foam forms.
You will need
- Samples of different soaps
- Distilled water and tap water
- Test tubes with stoppers
- A ruler and a stopwatch
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.