Types of Projects

Learn more about different kinds of projects you can complete!

Can I do a report or do I need to do an investigation?

The science & engineering fair is for sharing your investigations-- we do not have a category for research papers or reports.

Does my project need to follow the scientific method?

'Scientific Method' is a phrase used to describe how scientists answer questions and test their ideas about the world. The scientific method is listed as having 5 steps, or sometimes 6 steps, or perhaps 7... However, there is not one specific list of steps all scientists follow! The process of science isn't as simple as following a recipe-- Watch this video to see the scientific process in action!

Does my project have to be an experiment?

While some scientists do experiments, there are many other ways that they investigate the world, and many ways in which people in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics apply scientific ideas to design and evaluate solutions to problems! You can do an experiment for your project, but you can also explore the options below for ideas about other kinds of projects you can do.

Do I need fancy scientific equipment to do a project?

Nope! You can do a science investigation using very few things-- or even items in your home! For example, investigating how quickly the length of daylight changes, the phases of the moon, or the kinds of wildlife found in your neighborhood only require your powers of observation! Check out this story about how scientists are using ordinary equipment and shadows to 'see' around corners, or stories of kids who made scientific discoveries!