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Environmental Science experiments and science fair projects

Hands-on environmental science projects covering pollution, recycling, water quality and sustainability. Each one lists the exact materials, the time and cost involved, the variables to control and a data table you can fill in — so it works as a class activity or as a full science fair entry.

23 published projects in this collection

Choosing a environmental science project

Environmental projects score well at fairs when they connect a measurement to a real local question — your tap water, your street, your school yard.

What every project includes

A research question and hypothesis, an independent and dependent variable, the variables you hold constant, a materials list with costs, numbered steps, safety guidance and a reproducibility score based on how completely the method is documented.

Projects to try

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Environmental Science

Does a solar oven get hotter with more reflectors?

Build a cardboard solar oven and measure inside temperature with different numbers of reflectors.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Several days
$15 materials

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Environmental Science

Does traffic affect air particle levels near a road?

Set out sticky collection cards at different distances from a road and count deposited particles.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$10 materials

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Environmental Science

Does a green roof model stay cooler than a bare roof?

Compare temperatures under planted, gravel and bare model roof panels in the sun.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$20 materials

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Environmental Science

Does the direction a slope faces change how plants grow there?

Survey north- and south-facing slopes in the same area and compare plant cover with light and moisture.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
1–2 weeks
$8 materials

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Environmental Science

Does a homemade filter improve how clear muddy water looks?

Build layered bottle filters and compare turbidity before and after filtering.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
1 day
$12 materials

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Environmental Science

Does rain change how many earthworms appear at the surface?

Count worm casts and surface worms in the same plots before and after rainfall.

Beginner
Elementary +3
1–2 weeks
$5 materials

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Environmental Science

Does removing an invasive plant increase the number of native species nearby?

Survey plant biodiversity in plots with high, medium, and low invasive plant density to explore effects on native plant diversity.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$5 materials

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Environmental Science

Does the amount of fertiliser applied affect the amount that runs off into water?

Simulate rainfall on soil samples treated with different fertiliser amounts and test the resulting runoff water for nutrient concentration using a test kit.

Challenging
Middle School +2
Several days
$22 materials

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Environmental Science

How much of a household's trash could be diverted through recycling and composting?

Sort and weigh a household's trash daily for a week, categorizing items as recyclable, compostable, or true landfill waste.

Beginner
Elementary +3
1–2 weeks
$5 materials

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Environmental Science

How does distance from a highway affect measured sound levels?

Use a smartphone decibel meter app to measure noise levels at increasing distances from a busy road and map the results.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$5 materials

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Environmental Science

Does litter type break down at different speeds outdoors?

Expose contained samples of common litter materials outdoors and track mass loss over weeks.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Longer
$10 materials

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Environmental Science

Does planting density change how much water soil holds?

Water pots with different numbers of plants and track how quickly soil moisture falls.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
1–2 weeks
$15 materials

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Environmental Science

How much particulate matter settles on surfaces near a busy road versus a park?

Set up petroleum-jelly-coated cards at varying distances from traffic to compare particulate deposition rates.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
1–2 weeks
$10 materials

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Environmental Science

Which materials biodegrade fastest when buried in soil?

Bury small samples of different materials in identical soil conditions and measure mass loss to compare biodegradability.

Beginner
Elementary +2
1–2 weeks
$8 materials

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Environmental Science

Is it hotter in paved areas than in grassy areas at the same time of day?

Measure surface temperatures of different urban surface types at multiple times during a sunny day to investigate the urban heat island effect.

Beginner
Elementary +3
1 day
$15 materials

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Environmental Science

How many microplastic particles are found in sand from different beach locations?

Extract and count microplastic fragments from sand samples collected at varying distances from a stormwater outlet using flotation separation.

Challenging
Middle School +2
Several days
$25 materials

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Environmental Science

Does turning off standby power reduce a home's daily electricity use?

Use a plug-in energy monitor to compare electricity use of a set of devices left on standby versus fully unplugged when not in use.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
1–2 weeks
$20 materials

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Environmental Science

Does turbidity change how far light travels through pond water?

Measure light penetration through water samples with varying turbidity levels created by adding measured amounts of soil.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Several days
$15 materials

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Environmental Science

Do plants grow better with compost?

Grow identical seedlings in soil with different compost ratios and track growth.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Longer
$20 materials

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Environmental Science

Does composting speed change with the mix of green and brown material?

Build small compost jars with different ratios and track temperature and volume loss.

Intermediate
Middle School +2
Longer
$12 materials

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Environmental Science

Which material filters water most effectively?

Build simple bottle filters with different layers and compare the clarity of the filtered water.

Intermediate
Elementary +3
Several days
$14 materials

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Environmental Science

Does colour affect how quickly a surface heats up?

Place identical containers covered in different colours in sunlight and record temperature.

Beginner
Elementary +3
1 day
$8 materials

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Environmental Science

Leaf-Powered Evaporation Engine: Making a Solar Water Pump

In this hands-on project, students build a simple, safe device that uses evaporation from plant leaves and a small wick to lift water a short distance into a clear collection tube. The activity explores how evaporation, capillary action, and solar heating can combine to move water without motors or batteries. Learners measure how fast water is transported under different light levels and leaf types and record data to analyze which factors most affect the pump's performance.

Beginner
6 +4
1-2 hours
$12 materials

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Preparing for a fair? Read the science fair guide or record your data in the lab.