Compost Pile

• An idea for an eco-friendly science project that your students can carry out over the long term will win over the hearts and minds of science fair judges. Instruct students to regularly draw pictures, take photographs and record data for the duration of their project to display at their science fair stall. Have students set up a compost pile on school grounds -- a location near the cafeteria is ideal as there is plenty of food waste generated each day. Get students to design posters advertising the presence and intended use of the compost heap. Students can also carry out a mini-experiment where they bury an aluminum can in the compost and dig it up a month later to demonstrate why non-biodegradable materials should not be composted.
  
  

Air Particles and Air Quality

• One example of an environmental science project that may win the blue ribbon come science fair day involves measuring the amount of air pollution on school grounds. Get students to collect a few empty milk cartons, cut them into equal-sized, flat squares then draw a 1-inch black square on the inside edge of each piece of carton. Students should punch a hole in the center of the top of each square (outside the black square) and run a string through the hole. Have students smear a thin layer of petroleum jelly inside the black squares before tying them to trees with the string. After three days, have the students collect the squares and count the number of particles caught in the petroleum jelly. Students should chart their results and present them at the science fair, identifying the least and most polluted areas on school grounds.
  
  

Ocean Life and Oil Spills

• Students can bring this project to life by setting up and conducting their experiment on the day of the science fair. Have students fill a large glass bowl 3/4 full of distilled water and insert a few pipettes of blue food coloring until the solution looks like an authentic ocean. Students can then put a few bath toys in the water, including those that float and sink. Then, with an assembled audience, have students add 500ml of cooking oil to simulate a significant oil spill. Students should allow the oil to spread as they deliver a presentation about the devastating effect of oil spills. After about 10 minutes, students should remove the bath toys from the oily water and demonstrate how covered in oil they have become.
  
  

Are There Dangerous Levels of Lead in Local Soil?

• To complete this environmental science project, students will need a home lead testing kit and several collections of soil samples. Using a stainless steel spoon and paper cups, students should go onto school grounds and collect soil samples by removing all grass from a surface and digging down 6 inches. Have students gather a controlled amount of soil by weighing it out on the spot before sealing the cups with plastic wrap and clearly labeling the exact source of the soil. Students should take at least five samples from each area of school grounds. Have students follow the instructions on their home lead testing kit and chart their findings before presenting them at the science fair.