Perhaps the hardest step of a science project is deciding the topic.  To have a good science project you must start with a good question.  A good science project question should meet all of the following criteria:

1. The questions should involve a choice or a decision.
2. The question can be answered by doing a hands on experiment.
3. A numerical measurement from the hands on experiment answers the question. 

Below are some suggestions for simple science projects.

But first, let's consider the question:

Should my project be on a Complex Topic or a Simple Topic?

Remember that the focus of a science project is to learn about the scientific process. Understanding the rigorous process of scientific testing to obtain objective results is the ultimate goal. Consequently, simple project ideas are more appropriate than complex topics for students who are doing their first science project or who have not yet mastered the scientific process concept. Simple topics allow students to focus on the process of solving problems with the scientific method.

SIMPLE SCIENCE PROJECT IDEAS

PLANTS

• Which type of liquid (tap water, salt water, sugar water, fish tank water, rain water, canal water, pool water, ocean water, polluted water, tea, surge, coffee, etc.) makes plants grow the tallest? have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which amount of water makes a plant grow the tallest? have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which type of soil (sand, clay, dirt, potting soil) makes a plant grow the tallest?
• Which type of plant can grow through a maze the quickest?
• Which type of plant has the most sugar in it's leaves? (use glucose test tape)
• Which color light (red, blue, green, white) will make a plant grow the tallest?   have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which temperature water will make a plant grow the tallest?  have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which amount of vitamins makes a plant grow taller?  have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which kind of vitamin makes a plant grow taller?  have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which brand of pesticide makes a plant grow slower?  have fewer flowers? flower slower? produce fruit slower? produce less fruit?
• Which amount of pesticide makes a plant grow slower?  have fewer flowers? flower slower? produce fruit slower? produce less fruit?
• Which type of grass (Bahai, Floratam, etc) can grow with the least amount of water?
• Which type of grass (Bahai, Floratam, etc) can grow with the highest concentration of salt?
• Which type of grass plug (Bahai, Floratam, etc.) can cover a patch of sand (or other type of soil) in the least amount of time?
• What is the lowest pH rain water (vinegar water) in which a plant can live?
• Which companies brand of seed will produce the tallest plant?  have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Seeds exposed to which temperature for 24 hours will then germinate the fastest? produce the tallest plant?  have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Seeds soaked in which type of liquid (rain water, tap water, salt water, polluted water, soda, juice, coffee) will then germinate the fastest? produce the tallest plant?   have more flowers? flower quicker? produce fruit quicker? produce more fruit?
• Which type of mulch (cypress, pine bark, eucalyptus) conserves the most water? (weigh watered pot of soil before and after)
• What is the smallest amount of mulch that will keep soil adequately wet? (weigh watered pot of soil before and after)
• Which type of mulch (cypress, pine bark, eucalyptus) allows the fewest weeds to grow?
• What is the smallest amount of mulch that prevents weeds from growing?
• Which brand of aspirin keeps cut flowers fresh for the longest period of time?
• What amount of aspirin keeps cut flowers fresh for the longest period of time?

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

• Which type of sugar (regular white sugar, brown sugar, Equal, Sweet-n-Low) will attract the most ants?
• Which type of spider web can hold the most weight?
• Which can pull a higher percentage of their body weight, a cockroach, ant, or a student?
• Which type of soft drink are the most bees attracted to?
• Which color do ants the most ants crawl to? ( put sugar on colored paper squares)

ENVIRONMENT

• What environmental factor (water, sun, temperature, soil, etc.) makes a newspaper disintegrate the fastest?
• What type of garbage (banana peel, newspaper, bread, piece of meat, etc.) take the longest to decay buried in the ground?
• Which type of material (gravel, sand, water, clay, dirt, etc.) used to fill a liter bottle painted black collects the most solar energy? (measure the temperature)
• Which body of water in your area has the highest pH level?
• Which kind of plants stop the most dirt from being eroded away? (make a model to test)
• What is the lowest pH rain water that can visibly damage car paint?

HEAT

• What is the effect of different colored roof tiles on the temperature of a house? (make a model)
• Which color water solution absorbs the most heat?
• Which brand of 100 watt light bulb gives off the most heat?
• Which type of insulation keeps a house the coolest in the sun? (make a model)
• Which color paper can be burned the fastest using a magnifying glass?

FOOD

• What factor can effect how many kernels of popcorn will actually pop? (freezing, warming, soaking in water or salt water, etc.?)
• Which type of banana has the most sugar, green , yellow or brown? (use glucose test tape)
• What type of food has the most calories per gram, peanuts, popcorn, or fruit loops? (use a calorimeter)
• Which type of fruit contains the most water?
• Which type of vegetable contains the most water?
• Which type of gum has the most sugar? (weigh, chew 10 min., dry, weigh again, calculate %)
• Which type of apple has the most seeds?
• What brand of orange has the most seeds?
• Which brand of mozzarella cheese will stretch the farthest without breaking?
• Which type of cheese will stretch the farthest without breaking?
• Which brand of oranges contains the most juice?

ADVERTISEMENT CLAIMS

• Which brand of paper towel absorbs the most water?
• Which paper towel is holds the most weight without tearing?
• Which brand of raisin bran cereal has the most raisins?
• Which brand of paper plate can hold the most weight without collapsing?
• Which brand of plastic spoon can hold the most weight without breaking?
• Which brand of toothpaste can remove coffee or coke stains the best?
• Which brand of panty hose can be run across the coarsest sand paper without running?
• Which brand of shaving soap lathers the longest?
• Which brand of glue holds the most weight without breaking?
• Which brand of weed killer kills a particular weed the quickest?
• Which brand of detergent fades the color of a fabric the least?
• Which brand of biodegradable soap breaks down the quickest?
• Which type of facial tissue absorbs the most water?
• Which type of facial tissue can be run across the coarsest sand paper without tearing?
• Which brand of soap takes the longest to dissolve?
• Which brand of popcorn has the most kernels pop?
• Which brand vacuum cleaner picks up the most dirt?
• Which brand of popcorn makes the biggest volume of popcorn?(biggest popped kernels)
• Which brand of computer can copy a disk the fastest?
• Which brand computer printer can print the fastest?
• Which radio station plays the most music (no talking or commercials) from 5 PM to 5:30 PM? (when the most people are driving home from work)
• Which brand of potato chips has the smallest percent of broken chips by weight?
• Which brand of fishing line can hold the most weight?
• Which brand of thread can hold the most weight?
• Which brand of toilet paper can be run across the coarsest sand paper without tearing?
• Which brand of zip lock bag can withstand the most weight without breaking open?
• Which brand of garbage bag can hold the most weight without breaking open?
• Which brand of garbage bag can be dragged the farthest distance on a driveway without tearing open?
• Which brand of garbage bag is the hardest to puncture?
• Which brand of band aid sticks for the longest period of time underwater?
• Which brand of tape sticks can hold the most weight?