Primary students are encouraged to carry out and submit projects where they carry out their own original hands-on science investigation. This means they should ask a specific question (an aim), make an informed prediction (a hypothesis), then plan and test it scientifically (a fair test).

A good project will show:

• What they were trying to find out and the science concepts linked to it
• How they tested their idea
• What results they got
• What they learned from the results and how it connects to science concepts

All projects must include:

• A written report*
• A logbook (a record of what they did during the project)

For students in Years K–10, the program now accepts a wider range of submission formats, including posters, templated tables, and slide decks, alongside traditional written reports. Some suggested formats can be found on the Resources page. This change is intended to support more accessible and flexible ways for students to communicate their work, while maintaining a focus on evidence, reasoning, and clear explanation.

Students can also include extra documents to help show their work, such as data sheets, videos, or survey results.

REPORT

A formal report is the final write-up of a science investigation.

There is no set way to write it, but it should include these parts:

1. Background Research – An introduction to the topic and why it is interesting to you. An explanation of what you already know about the topic from what you have read.
2. Questioning and Predicting – A clear and specific statement about what you want to find out (your Aim) and a prediction (Hypothesis) about what you think will happen and why.
3. Planning the investigation – List all the equipment you will need and explain how you will make your investigation a fair test.
4. Conducting the investigation – Write the Method as step-by-step instructions of what you did.
5. Recording Data – Collect and write down all the information and results you get. Use tables, charts or diagrams.
6. Analysing Data – Look at your results and describe any patterns or trends you can see.
7. Discussion and Conclusion – Discuss what your results mean and write a conclusion to sum up your investigation.

LOGBOOK

Real scientists keep lab books, and your logbook is just like that – a diary of what has been done during the investigation. You should use it to record every step of your project. Write in it often and include the date each time.

Every time you work on your project, you should:

• Write the date
• Add a short note about what you did
• Include your data (what you found out)

You can also include:

• Your ideas and why you chose your topic
• Notes from your research
• Drawings or photos of your work

Your logbook can be written by hand in a book or typed on a computer (like a Google Doc) but must be saved as a PDF file before you submit it.

Make sure you remove your name, your school’s name, and your teacher’s name from all parts of your report and logbook.

For more detailed advice and templates look in the Resources tab.