Environmental Science · Pollution
Measure air quality with sticky cards
Hang petroleum-jelly cards at five locations and compare the particles they collect in a week.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
606 projects · 13 streams · every class
Science projects 24
Experiments, working models and investigations in physics, chemistry, biology, earth and space. Most can be done at home or in a school lab, and each one says what it costs and how long it takes.
24 Science projects
Astronomy and Space · Observational Astronomy
Track the Moon's phases for a month
Sketch the Moon every clear night for a month and explain the pattern with a ball-and-lamp model.
- Beginner
- 2–4 weeks
- Free
Biology + Environmental Science
Map the biodiversity of a school ground
Survey plants and small animals with quadrats and calculate a biodiversity index for different areas.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Free
Environmental Science · Climate
Calculate your household's carbon footprint
Collect a month of electricity, fuel, travel and food data and convert it into kilograms of carbon dioxide.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Free
Biology + Sports and Exercise Science
Measure how exercise changes pulse rate and recovery
Record pulse before, during and after exercise for several volunteers and compare recovery times.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Free
Environmental Science · Waste Management
Audit your school's waste for a week
Sort and weigh one week of school waste by type and propose how to cut the largest share.
- Easy
- 1–2 weeks
- Under 250
Environmental Science + Physics
Compare the energy use of bulbs
Measure the brightness and heat of LED, CFL and filament bulbs and calculate the yearly cost of each.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- 250–500
Chemistry · Analytical Chemistry
Separate ink colours with paper chromatography
Separate the dyes in marker pens on filter paper and calculate an Rf value for each colour.
- Beginner
- 1–3 hours
- Under 250
Physics · Magnetism
Map the magnetic field of bar magnets with a phone
Use the phone's magnetometer to measure how field strength falls with distance from a magnet.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- Under 250
Biology · Zoology
Survey the birds of your neighbourhood
Do weekly point counts of birds at three sites and compare species between habitats.
- Easy
- 2–4 weeks
- Free
Physics + Music, Theatre and Writing
Study the physics of a musical instrument
Measure how the length of a string or the water level in a bottle changes the pitch.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Physics · Dynamics
Test which shapes fall slowest: a parachute study
Make parachutes of different sizes and shapes and time their fall with the same load.
- Beginner
- 1 day
- Under 250
Astronomy and Space · Satellites
Track the International Space Station
Predict, watch and time passes of the space station and calculate its orbital speed.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Free
Chemistry + Environmental Science
Test the hardness of water from different sources
Compare tap, well, bottled and rain water by how much soap each needs to form lather.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Astronomy and Space + Environmental Science
Measure light pollution in your area
Count the stars visible in one constellation from several places and map the darkness of the sky.
- Easy
- 1–2 weeks
- Free
Biology · Animal Behaviour
Study the behaviour of ants at a food source
Offer ants different foods and record which they prefer and how trails form.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Chemistry + Crops, Soil and Horticulture
Map the pH of soil around your school
Test soil pH at ten spots round your school or home and draw a map of the results.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Environmental Science · Pollution
Study the noise levels around your school
Map sound levels at ten points at different times and compare them with recommended limits.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Free
Earth Science · Geology
Classify local rocks and make a rock key
Collect ten rocks, test hardness, streak and reaction to vinegar, and build an identification key.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Environmental Science · Climate
Measure how trees cool their surroundings
Record air and surface temperatures under trees, on grass, on concrete and on tar through a day.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Physics · Mechanics
Investigate how temperature affects the bounce of a ball
Chill and warm identical balls and measure how bounce height changes with temperature.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Chemistry + Fashion and Craft
Find the best natural dye and mordant for cotton
Dye cotton with turmeric, beetroot, onion skin and tea, and test which survives washing.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Earth Science + Crops, Soil and Horticulture
Test soil types for water holding and drainage
Pour water through sand, clay and loam and measure how much each holds and how fast it drains.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Earth Science · Meteorology
Build a rain gauge and keep a weather log
Make a rain gauge and thermometer station and record the weather daily for a month.
- Beginner
- 2–4 weeks
- Under 250
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