Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids

Science fairs can be exciting, but choosing the right science fair project is key! Kids often want to take on projects that require too many ingredients or too much time. Instead, help them find easy science fair projects that use simple materials and deliver great results.

Choosing the Best Science Fair Project

Below, you’ll find easy-to-follow fair project ideas and practical tips for selecting an engaging and achievable science project.

How to Pick an Easy Science Fair Project

To create an easy science fair project, focus on these key factors:

💡Learn about the scientific method for your next science project.

1. Start with a Great Question

A good hypothesis begins with a question that can be tested with an experiment. Effective questions focus on causes and effects. For example:

• How does the amount of water affect plant growth?
• What makes ice melt faster?
• Does exercise impact heart rate?
• Is wingspan equal to height?

🔎 Learn how to write a hypothesis with kids.

2. Do Some Research

Before starting, research the topics behind your experiment. Use books, safe online sources, and hands-on observation to gather scientific data. Instead of searching big questions, break them down into keywords like “capillary action in plants” or “how oxygen affects chemical reactions.”

💡We have a few more tips from a teacher here!

3. Use Simple & Inexpensive Materials

Great science fair projects don’t require expensive materials. Many experiments use common household supplies: baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, paper towels, ice cubes, lemons, and other household items.

💡Learn more about how to put together a Science Fair Display Board here.

FREE Printable Science Fair Project Guide

The science fair project guide includes our NEW big list of science fair ideas and a sample outline for conducting your investigations. Grab the free science fair guide and the big list to start today!

Easy Science Fair Project Ideas

Here are some easy and exciting fair ideas for elementary to middle school students.

Chemistry Experiments

• Why Does a Volcano Erupt? – Create a simple volcano using baking soda and vinegar for an exciting eruption experiment.
• How Fast Does Candy Dissolve in Different Liquids? – Test how Skittles or a similar candy dissolve in water, salt water, and other liquids like milk or juice.
• Does Acid Affect Teeth? – Use lemon juice, vinegar, and soda to see how acids break down eggshells, simulating tooth enamel. COMING SOON
• Salt Water Density Experiment – Explore how salt water affects the density of floating objects.

Physics & Engineering

• How Can You Make a Rubber Band Car Go Farther? – Experiment with different rubber bands and wheel sizes to optimize movement.
• How Do Sound Waves Travel? – Watch sound waves move candy or use a balloon and a tuning fork to explore vibrations and how sound moves.
• Aluminum Foil Circuits – Create simple electrical circuits using aluminum foil and batteries.
• Earthquake Experiment – Build a simple structure and test its stability during simulated shaking.
• Egg in a Bottle Experiment – Demonstrates how air pressure can pull an egg into a bottle.
• Static Electricity Balloon Experiment – Tests how rubbing a balloon on different materials affects static charge.
• Homemade Barometer – Tracks air pressure changes over time.
• Lava Lamp Science Experiment – Uses oil, water, and baking soda to explore density and chemical reactions.
• Mentos and Soda Reaction – Investigates how carbonation reacts with Mentos to create an eruption.
• Magnet Strength Experiment – Compares the strength of different magnets using paper clips.
• Floating and Sinking Objects – Tests buoyancy with different materials.
• Shadow Length Experiment – Observe how shadows change throughout the day based on the sun’s position.
• Cloud in a Jar Experiment – Simulates cloud formation.
• Paper Airplane Science Project – Test how design changes affect flight distance.

Biology & Environmental Science Projects

• How Does Water Travel Through a Plant? – Investigate capillary action by placing celery in colored water and observing changes.
• Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? – Try leaf chromatography to separate pigments in leaves.
• How Do You Stop Apples from Turning Brown? – Compare how lemon juice and other different liquids slow oxidation.
• Insulation Experiment – Test which materials provide the best insulation to retain heat.
• Sugar Cube Experiment – Observe how different liquids affect sugar cube dissolution.
• Reaction Time Experiment – Measure how fast someone reacts to a dropped ruler.
• Heart Rate Investigation – Explore how different activities impact heart rate.
• What Colors Absorb Heat? – Investigate how different colors affect heat absorption.
• Plant Growth Experiment – Explore how different variables, such as light or water, affect plant growth.
• Bread Germ Science Experiment – Test how different environments affect mold growth on bread slices.
• Germination Speed Test – Compares how light and temperature affect seed sprouting.
• Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment – Investigate how water moves through gummy bears in different solutions.
• Wingspan Investigation – Measure and compare wingspans to study proportional relationships in biology.

Research-Based Science Fair Projects

• The Water Cycle in a Bag – Create a water cycle model using a sealed plastic bag to show evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
• What Is Acid Rain? – Plants and acid-base reactions will be used to study the environmental impact of acid rain.
• How Do Pollinators Help Plants? – Observe pollinators in action and research their role in plant reproduction.
• Water Evaporation Experiment – Track how different factors impact the evaporation rate of water.
• Does Color Affect Taste? – Investigate whether the color of food changes perceived flavor.
• Paper Towel Experiment – Compare the absorbency of different brands of paper towels.
• Stroop Effect Experiment – Test how word color affects reading speed and accuracy.
• Water Filtration Lab – Design a simple water filter to clean dirty water.
• Oil Spill Clean Up Demonstration – Explore different methods to clean up an oil spill and their effectiveness.

Helpful Resources To Get You Started