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Best Science Fair Project Websites for Kids

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Websites with Science Fair Projects for Kids and High School Students

These 12 free websites (and 15 more from readers) have hundreds of science fair projects, experiments, and advice for a really good science fair project. They suggest easy projects for kids and more challenging award-winning science fair projects for high school students. Some of the sites described below provide ideas. Some give you step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments. Some provide kids advice on creating projects for science fairs. And some have help forums where kids can get help when they're stuck. Many of these science fair project websites have videos to illustrate their experiments.

You may need more background in the topic area of your project. There are lots of free websites for that too. Scoot over to LearningReviews.com list of Science Websites and choose - animals, chemistry, biology, etc. - to learn more about your subject.

Above all, have fun! There are so many free resources for fun and interesting science projects.

Some of these sites have forums, which require registration with an email address. Children under age 13 need parent approval to register and submit questions to these forums.

The best science fair projects for your kids answer questions they are genuinely curious about and are not so challenging that an adult needs to do most of the work.

#1 Science Buddies

Strength: Detailed science projects and advice for kids

I most often recommend Science Buddies to students and parents starting work on a science fair project. This is an award-winning site was created by the Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation, and has a wealth of resources.

First is the Project Ideas section where you can browse a list of projects by area of study. Or try the Topic Selection Wizard. You answer a series of questions about your science interests and grade level, then you get a list of projects best suited to your situation.

The projects are very detailed. Each includes the background, questions to consider, a list of required supplies and equipment, and step-by-step instructions for the experimental procedure.

The next helpful resource is an extensive Science Fair Project Guide. Here you'll learn more about how to use the scientific method to build your project, how to write your report, and how to display your work. There is also advice on safety procedures, selecting supplies, and techniques.

Finally, you can go to the Ask an Expert Forum if you need more assistance. Look to see if another student has asked a similar question that answers yours. If you've been unable to resolve your problem with the help of a teacher or parent, this group of volunteer scientists will do their best to help you.

The Science Buddies site is easy to navigate. And and the extent of their resources is incomparable.

#2 Cool-Science-Projects.com

Strength: Tips for creating award-winning science fair projects

The folks at Cool-Science-Projects.com will walk you through all the steps of creating a science project. You'll find advice and resources for simpler projects for a homework assignment, as well as advice on creating show-stopper competition projects.

There are lots of ideas here by grade level. A few of the ideas have step-by-step instructions for carrying them out. The site's biggest strength is the section it devotes to advice on creating a winning science fair project.

#3 Steve Spangler's Science Experiments

Strength: Entertaining videos of experiments to spark you own project ideas

Steve Spangler's Science Experiments is a particularly useful website for science teachers and homeschool parents. Steve is a teacher's teacher who is televised weekly in Denver and who has appeared on nationally televised shows, demonstrating experiments and explaining the science behind them. He also conducts teacher training seminars throughout the country.

On this site, you can access his collection of science experiments, recipes and projects. His library of projects is accompanied by videos of how to use materials and equipment to conduct experiments. He also has an online store of supplies and equipment.

Steve's delight in science experiments is entertaining, and he'll get you and your kids excited about their experiments too!

#4 Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab

Strength: Advice for creating a successful science fair project

Reeko is passionate about science. His passion is contagious at Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab. Reeko takes a humorous and engaging approach to getting kids interested in science.

Reeko's focus is science experiments. He does not provide guidance for school science projects. But his experiments are a breeding ground for science project ideas.

This award-winning site has games, puzzles and quizzes. And there is a new forum where you can ask a question if you're having problems with your experiment or science in general.

#5 DragonflyTV

Videos of experiments with accompanying variation ideas for home experiments

DragonflyTV delves into experiments conducted by kids. The folks at PBS Kids Go! offer up plenty of videos of kids conducting experiments.

Then they provide ideas of variations your children can pick from for their own experiments. Or kids can give the Super Science Spinner a whirl until they find an idea they like. DragonflyTV also offers their 12 steps to science fair success.

#6 Science Fair Ideas Exchange

Strength: Detailed instructions, videos and illustrations of projects

Science Fair Ideas Exchange provides dozens of ideas for projects and experiments. If you need more than written explanations and illustrations, look here. The site is hosted by Bill Beaty of The Science Club.

Many projects are accompanied by a video that shows the key steps in creating your experiment or device. Projects are categorized as simple, medium and advanced.

Some of the video-taped experiments are hazardous, and should be supervised by an adult or conducted only by science teachers.

Take a break for experiment identification

Meet Steve Spangler - Making Science Fun: by SteveSpanglerScience | video info

94 ratings | 122,927 views

Short clips and cool science experiments from a few of Steve Spangler's television appearances. About Steve Spangler Science... Steve Spangler is a celebrity teacher, science toy designer, speaker, author and an Emmy award-winning television personality. Spangler is probably best known for his Mentos and Diet Coke geyser experiment that went viral in 2005 and prompted more than 1,000 related YouTube videos. Spangler is the founder of www.SteveSpanglerScience.com, a Denver-based company specializing in the creation of science toys, classroom science demonstrations, teacher resources and home for Spangler's popular science experiment archive and video collection. Spangler is a frequent guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where he takes classroom science experiments to the extreme. Check out his pool filled with 2,500 boxes of cornstarch! Cool Science Toys - http://www.SteveSpanglerScience.com Sign up for the Experiment of the Week - http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment-of-the-week Watch Spangler's Science Videos - http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/video/ Attend a Spangler Hands-on Science Workshop for Teachers - http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/teacher_training/ Visit Spangler's YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/stevespanglerscience Join the conversation on Steve Spangler's blog - http://www.SteveSpangler.com Additional Information: On the education side, Spangler started his career as a science teacher in the Cherry Creek School district for 12 years. Today, Steve travels extensively training teachers in ways to make learning more engaging and fun. His hands-on science boot camps and summer institutes for teachers inspire and teach teachers how to prepare a new generation for an ever-changing work force. Over the last 15 years, he has also made more than 500 television appearances as an authority on hands-on science and inquiry-based learning. On the business side, Spangler is the founder and CEO of Steve Spangler Science, a Denver-based company specializing in the creation of educational toys and kits and hands-on science training services for teachers. The companys unique business strategies and viral creations have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Wired and TIME Magazine where online readers voted Steve Spangler #18 in the Top 100 Most Influential People of the Year for 2006 (what were they thinking?). You'll find more than 140 Spangler created products available online at SteveSpanglerScience.com and distributed to toy stores and mass-market retailers worldwide. Spangler joined NBC affiliate 9News in 2001 as the science education specialist. His weekly experiments and science segments are designed to teach viewers creative ways to make learning fun. His now famous Mentos Geyser experiment, turning 2-liter bottles of soda into erupting fountains, became an Internet sensation in September 2005 when thousands of people started posting their own Mentos explosions on YouTube.com. As founder of SteveSpanglerScience.com, Spangler and his design team have developed more than 140 educational toys and science-related products featured by mass-market retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R' Us, Discovery Channel Stores and over 1,400 independent specialty toy stores. His educational science catalog and on-line business offers more than a thousand science toys and unique learning resources. Recently, Spangler has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, WIRED, the History Channel, Food Network and TIME Magazine where on-line readers voted Steve Spangler #18 in the Top 100 Most Influential People of the Year for 2006. His recent appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show have taught viewers how to blow up their food, shock their friends, create mountains of foam, play on a bed of nails, vanish in a cloud of smoke and how to turn 2,500 boxes of cornstarch and a garden hose into a swimming pool of fun.

curated content from YouTube

#7 Science Fair Information

Strength: Great advice for planning and completing your project & ideas for solar projects

The Make It Solar Science Fair Information provides detailed information on carrying out a project using the scientific method and steps illustrated here. For teachers who have a website, Make It Solar provides the code to put the illustration at the right into your site with a link to its science fair info.

You'll also find planning guides, research tips, illustrations of display layouts. The site's focus is solar energy, so they furnish details on how to create several solar energy science projects.

#8 MadSci Network

Strength: Answers to your science experiment and project questions

Created by MadSci Network & Third Sector New England, MadSci Network is a great place to get answers to your science questions. Their extensive Q&A archive can help you as you build your project.

The MadSci Library provides links to other resources by topic area. Look for answers to common science fair questions at the MadSci FAQ page.

If you can't find an answer in their archives of past questions, submit your own question.

#9 ZOOMsci

Strength: Kids' comments on how the experiments worked for them

ZOOMsci from by PBS Kids & WGBH has dozens of science activities for children in grades K-8. The emphasis is on having fun with science experiments, as opposed to a rigorous scientific method.

Pick an activity, carry it out, then record your observations and comments on the ZOOMsci site. Personally identifiable information is not collected here.

#10 Scientific Methods at pppst.com

Strength: Lessons to help kids learn the scientific method

Teachers and homeschool parents can make use of the resources for elementary and middle school students at Scientific Methods at pppst.com. There are presentations to use when teaching the scientific method, as well as printable materials.

For kids, there are links numerous resources to help them learn and remember the steps contained in the scientific method.

One of Mr. Donn's greatest strengths is that his material is readable at the upper elementary age level. So adults don't have to do a lot of interpretation.

#11 Hands-on Activities

Strength: Detailed instructions for experiments

At Exploratorium's Hands-on Activities page, you'll find lots of ideas for experiments and science projects. Activities are grouped by topic such as food, living things, or sports science.

Each activity provides a list of needed materials and step-by-step instructions. Illustrations and photos accompany the instructions. A few even have videos.

Note that some of the activities are not true "activities" but rather information on how something, like cycling, works.

If you are making a model of the solar system to scale, you have to take a look at the Build a Solar System activity. There is a scale calculator that uses the diameter of the sun you plan to create to calculate the dimensions for all of the planets and orbit radius of each planet.

#12 Step-by-Step Science Fair Success

Strength: Advice for teachers and schools on organizing a successful science fair

Step-by-Step Science Fair Success is a guide for teachers and schools to use in planning a science fair. Lily Ning, a middle school teacher, discusses:

Preplanning, sending out letters, and rules for group projects
Creating guidelines, submission categories, and scientific methodology to be used
Student tasks in proposing, planning, carrying out, and displaying project results
Assessment using a rubric and grading sheets for the notebook, paper, and display
Judging rubric

Directory of Science Project Websites

from LearningReviews.com

Science Projects and Experiments Websites

There are more than 30 science fair project and experiment websites listed in LearningReviews.com Directory of Science Project Websites. Some of the sites have simple experiments for kids to carry out at home. Others have more sophisticated projects for high school students and science fairs. Kids, parents and teachers write reviews about the sites they like best.

Other Science categories on the site help you to learn more about chemistry, astronomy, biology, etc., as you prepare for your science project.

Science Project Steps

Award-winning science fair projects include these key steps

Get Ready for Your Science Fair with Janice VanCleave

Janice VanCleave is a teacher, scientist and author of award-winning science books for kids. This virtual field trip is hosted on Meet Me at the Corner.org, where you can find more science fair project ideas.

Best Science Fair Project Websites for Kids

Websites with Science Fair Projects for Kids and High School Students

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

#1 Science Buddies

Strength: Detailed science projects and advice for kids

#2 Cool-Science-Projects.com

Strength: Tips for creating award-winning science fair projects

#3 Steve Spangler's Science Experiments

Strength: Entertaining videos of experiments to spark you own project ideas

#4 Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab

Strength: Advice for creating a successful science fair project

#5 DragonflyTV

Videos of experiments with accompanying variation ideas for home experiments

#6 Science Fair Ideas Exchange

Strength: Detailed instructions, videos and illustrations of projects

Take a break for experiment identification

#7 Science Fair Information

Strength: Great advice for planning and completing your project & ideas for solar projects

#8 MadSci Network

Strength: Answers to your science experiment and project questions

#9 ZOOMsci

Strength: Kids' comments on how the experiments worked for them

#10 Scientific Methods at pppst.com

Strength: Lessons to help kids learn the scientific method

#11 Hands-on Activities

Strength: Detailed instructions for experiments

#12 Step-by-Step Science Fair Success

Strength: Advice for teachers and schools on organizing a successful science fair

Directory of Science Project Websites

from LearningReviews.com

Science Project Steps

Award-winning science fair projects include these key steps

Get Ready for Your Science Fair with Janice VanCleave

2012 Science Fair Contests & Competitions

For children who want to compete on a national level

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Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

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Want More Help with Your Science Project or Experiment?

Take a look at these books and videos for more ideas

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More Great Ideas for Cool Science Projects and Science Fair Advice

Do you know of a site with great science projects and experiments?

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Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

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Reviews of Other Free Educational Websites

What's your approach to science fair projects?

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