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Intro to Independent Science Projects

What is an Independent Science Project?

An independent science project is a hands-on scientific or engineering investigation that follows a structured process to explore a specific project question and communicates findings to an audience through presentations or science fairs.

See the table at the bottom of this page for more information about what is (and isn't!) an independent science project.

Benefits of Independent Science Projects

Engaging students in independent science or engineering projects offers them a unique chance to design their own learning experiences, mirroring the innovation and problem-solving processes used by real-world scientists and engineers. Here are the key benefits your students will gain through participating in science projects:

  1. Applying the Scientific Method or Engineering Design Process
    Students learn to ask questions and find answers using structured approaches, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  2. Engagement & Empowerment
    By choosing their own project topics, students engage more deeply and passionately in the learning process and are empowered to innovate solutions to real-world problems.
  3. Developing Time Management, Executive Functioning, and Communication Skills
    Managing a multi-step project teaches students how to plan, prioritize, and execute tasks efficiently. Presenting their findings helps students develop clear communication and presentation skills.
  4. Aligning with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
    Science projects provide hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences that align with NGSS, ensuring students meet essential scientific practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. Learn more about how science projects support NGSS.
  5. Enhancing Math, Reading, and Writing Skills
    Science projects align with Common Core standards to help students enhance math and data science skills by collecting, summarizing, and interpreting data, understanding linear models, and making inferences from samples. They also practice literacy skills through background research and writing research papers, engaging with scientific texts, citing evidence, summarizing information, following procedures, and integrating multiple sources. Learn more about how science projects support Common Core standards.

Science Project Success Stories

Suhana, 7th-grade student and winner of a Broadcom Coding with Commitment award, with display board from the 2023 Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AzSEF); MESA trebuchet students

Read about how students and teachers are finding success through independent science projects on our blog!

What Is/Isn't an Independent Science Project

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What is an Independent Science Project? What is NOT an Independent Science Project?
  • Doing hands-on science and/or engineering
  • Choosing a scientific or engineering question to investigate
  • Following the scientific method or engineering design process
  • Working individually or in a small team
  • Communicating work to an audience through classroom presentations, expos, and/or science fairs
  • Performing demonstrations of scientific and/or engineering concepts
  • Displaying collections of scientific artifacts
  • Conducting literature searches about science/engineering topics and summarizing learning
  • Following a procedure for a class lab experience
  • Engaging in unfocused exploration without a specific goal
Examples:
  • Testing the solubility and UV-blocking ability of different sunscreens
  • Testing the impact of dataset size on the accuracy of a machine learning model
  • Building, testing, and iterating a robot to collect trash on a pond
  • Each student or small team chooses a different project question and follows a unique procedure using the scientific method or engineering design process
  • Presenting research methods and findings using a display board, research paper, and/or oral presentation to classmates, community members, or science fair judges
 Examples:
  • Showing a volcano eruption model or demonstrating how a circuit works
  • Showcasing a rock or fossil collection
  • Summarizing articles about Mars rovers in a research paper or presentation
  • Doing a chemistry lab activity where every student follows the same procedure to answer the same question
  • Documenting the types of plants, insects, or birds in an area without trying to answer a specific research question

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