young adult science experiments

12 Exciting Science Experiments for Teens to Spark Curiosity and Learning + 3 Extra Ideas

Exploring the fascinating world of science through hands-on experiments is a surefire way for teenagers to wrap their heads around complex concepts in a meaningful way. Far from the dry textbook approach, these activities encourage observation, measurement, and manipulation of variables – fostering valuable analytical and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in their future pursuits. Plus, the thrill of discovery can inspire and galvanize curious minds to dive deeper into the wonders of STEM.

12 Science Experiment for Teens

Experiment 1: make a lava lamp, experiment 2: create a homemade battery, experiment 3: build a bridge out of spaghetti, experiment 4: make a potato battery, experiment 5: create a fire extinguisher.

Introduce the science of combustion to your students in a hands-on and exciting way with this experiment! Using simple items found in the household, your students will have the opportunity to create their very own fire extinguisher. Not only will this activity engage their creativity, but it will also provide a deeper understanding of the science behind combustion.

Experiment 6: Build a Hovercraft

Experiment 7: extract dna from strawberries, experiment 8: make a solar oven, experiment 9: create a cloud in a jar, experiment 10: build a cardboard rollercoaster, experiment 11: make a cartesian diver, experiment 12: create a homemade stethoscope, 3 additional cool science experiments for teens, extra experiment 1: make a water filter, extra experiment 2: create an electromagnet, extra experiment 3: build a rube goldberg machine, 3 services for science experiments for teenagers, leave a comment cancel reply.

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Science Experiments for Teens

June 28, 2021 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

I’m really excited about this brilliant collection of science experiments for teens ! My eldest son is 14, so I’ve tried to choose activities that I know he has enjoyed recently and some to challenge even older children as well!

If you have an older child with younger siblings one idea is to ask them to create an activity for the younger ones or even set up their own science lesson with a plan and resources.

Science projects for teens using technology

Homemade phone speaker.

This homemade iPhone speaker has been a huge hit in our house. We experimented with different types of cups and changing the length of the cardboard tube to see how the sound changed. It’s a great science investigation and practical too!

Makey Makey Projects

I bought a MakeyMakey several years ago and the children have all enjoyed creating simple projects for it.

Our latest one was a homemade operation game , it was much easier than I thought to put together and has been used over and over again!

A banana piano is another fun project using a Makey Makey and works really well as a science demonstration for a school open day or science fair !

Electricity Projects for Teens

Electricity projects are great for older children as they generally work first time and the end result is obvious, satisfying and sometimes useful too!

Babble Dabble Do has some fantastic salty circuits ! We haven’t tried these yet, but they are on my list.

Make your own torch with a Pringles tube. The purple one in the photo is a head torch made by my daughter who wanted to make something slightly unusual.

We’ve also got some spooky light up houses with switches made from a paperclip and paper! These are great for Halloween, but could also be turned into beach huts or a Santa’s grotto.

Our scribble bots are brilliant fun, but do need a few supplies, such as a motor, battery and wires. They are definitely worth the effort though and can be kept and used over and over again.

Space Projects

Our bottle rocket is always popular and can be easily extended by designing and building a launch pad, decorating it, adding extra weight or even a toy passenger.

This baking soda rocket is easy enough for teens to make, but do take care as it shoots up very quickly.

I love the look of Childhood101’s stomp rocket too!

Chemistry Projects for Teens

Removing the shell from an egg is always fun! Once the shell is gone the naked egg is perfect for learning about osmosis ! If you place the egg in water for a few hours it will expand as water moves through the membrane into the egg. If you put it in a solution of sugar and water it will shrink as water moves from the egg into the sugar solution.

Blow up a balloon with lemon juice , or yeast and warm water. This is a great activity for learning about respiration ( yeast and water ) or chemical reactions.

Make a density column . This can be very simple ( just oil and water ) or more complicated with lots of layers. The trick is to gently pour each new layer down the side of the container so it rests on the layer below.

Coke and Mento explosions are always fantastic fun! Definitely do this one outdoors though!

Fun Science Tricks

Pushing a skewer through a balloon without it popping never fails to impress people!

An inertia experiment is very easy to set up and looks impressive too! Simply pull the cardboard sheet out from under the tube and watch as the lemon ( or small ball ) drops straight into the glass.

These toothpick stars from The STEM Laboratory are brilliant as well!

Human Body Experiments for Teens

Investigate the effect of exercise on heart rate with and easy investigation where you measure pulse rate before and after exercise.

This pumping heart model is a great way to learn how the heart works and very easy to make.

These sporty science ideas will keep kids busy for weeks! Test reaction times, find out why balls bounce and lots more sport themed science activities!

Kitchen Science Experiments for teens

Create a whole meal of science experiments including a starter, main meal, dessert and even drinks!

Our favourite is the plant cell pizza, followed by baked alaska!

Making slushy drinks with ice and salt is great fun, you can also use the same method to make ice cream or frozen yoghurt.

A red cabbage indicator is a brilliant home chemistry experiment and can be used for testing the pH of kitchen ingredients, making colour changing potions or even finding out whether the air you breathe out is acidic or alkaline!

Honeycomb is delicious and easy to make too. Kids can add their own twist by adding chocolate or sprinkles to the top!

Organise a Science Bake Off with friends and discover chemistry in the kitchen!

Sugar crystals are great fun to grow and perfect for learning about concentrations and saturated solutions.

Plant Experiments for teens

Make a delicious edible model of a plant cell . This one doesn’t keep very well, but I also have a modroc version if you need a longer lasting cell model.

Make plain white flowers colourful using the power of transpiration. We’ve found that natural food colours don’t work for this so you’ll need to find non natural colours.

This pasta plant cell model is amazing too!

Finally, if you’re looking for something super simple, try one of our science experiments using only paper .

You might also like one of my science books! Snackable Science is full of edible experiments, This IS Rocket Science is great for learning about space and the forces involved in space travel and Reach for the Stars is a new science story book with activities at the end of each chapter.

Finally, travel around the world with my Around the World in 50 Experiments series!

Contains affiliate links

Last Updated on May 26, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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20 Awesome Science Experiments You Can Do Right Now At Home

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Morenike Adebayo

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We can all agree that science is awesome. And you can bring that awesomeness into your very own home with these 20 safe DIY experiments you can do right now with ordinary household items.

1. Make Objects Seemingly Disappear Refraction is when light changes direction and speed as it passes from one object to another. Only visible objects reflect light. When two materials with similar reflective properties come into contact, light will pass through both materials at the same speed, rendering the other material invisible. Check out this video from BritLab  on how to turn glass invisible using vegetable oil and pyrex glass.

2. Freeze Water Instantly When purified water is cooled to just below freezing point, a quick nudge or an icecube placed in it is all it takes for the water to instantly freeze. You can finally have the power of Frozone from The Incredibles on a very small scale! Check out the video on this "cool" experiment. 

3. Create Oobleck And Make It Dance To The Music Named after a sticky substance in a children’s book by Dr Seuss , Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it can behave as both a solid and a liquid. And when placed on a sound source, the vibrations causes the mixture to gloopily dance. Check out these instructions from Housing A Forest  on how to make this groovy fluid funk out in every way.

4. Create Your Own Hybrid Rocket Engine With a combination of a solid fuel source and a liquid oxidizer, hybrid rocket engines can propel themselves. And on a small scale, you can create your own hybrid rocket engine, using pasta, mouthwash and yeast. Sadly, it won’t propel much, but who said rocket science ain’t easy? Check out this video from NightHawkInLight on how to make this mini engine.

5. Create "Magic Mud" Another non-Newtonian fluid here, this time from the humble potato. "Magic Mud" is actually starch found in potatoes. It’ll remain hard when handled but leave it alone and it turns into a liquid. Make your own “Magic Mud” with this video.

6. Command The Skies And Create A Cloud In A Bottle Not quite a storm in a teacup, but it is a cloud in a bottle. Clouds up in the sky are formed when water vapor cools and condenses into visible water droplets. Create your own cloud in a bottle using a few household items with these wikiHow instructions .

7. Create An Underwater Magical World First synthesized by Adolf van Baeyer in 1871, fluorescein is a non-toxic powder found in highlighter pens, and used by NASA to find shuttles that land in the sea. Create an underwater magical world with this video from NightHawkInLight .

9. Make Your Own Lava Lamp Inside a lava lamp are colored bubbles of wax suspended in a clear or colorless liquid, which changes density when warmed by a heating element at the base, allowing them to rise and fall hypnotically. Create your own lava lamp with these video instructions.

10. Create Magnetic Fluid A ferrofluid is a liquid that contains nanoscale particles of metal, which can become magnetized. And with oil, toner and a magnet , you can create your own ferrofluid and harness the power of magnetism! 

12. Make Waterproof Sand A hydrophobic substance is one that repels water. When sand is combined with a water-resistant chemical, it becomes hydrophobic. So when it comes into contact with water, the sand will remain dry and reusable. Make your own waterproof sand with this video .

13. Make Elephant's Toothpaste Elephant’s toothpaste is a steaming foamy substance created by the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which sort of resembles giant-sized toothpaste. Make your own elephant’s toothpaste with these instructions.

14. Make Crystal Bubbles When the temperature falls below 0 o C (32 o F), it’s possible to freeze bubbles into crystals. No instructions needed here, just some bubble mix and chilly weather.

15. Make Moving Liquid Art Mixing dish soap and milk together causes the surface tension of the milk to break down. Throw in different food colorings and create this trippy chemical reaction.

16. Create Colourful Carnations Flowers absorb water through their stems, and if that water has food coloring in it, the flowers will also absorb that color. Create some wonderfully colored flowers with these wikiHow instructions .

17. "Magically" Turn Water Into Wine Turn water into wine with this  video  by experimenter Dave Hax . Because water has a higher density than wine, they can switch places. Amaze your friends with this fun science trick.

18. Release The Energy In Candy (Without Eating It) Dropping a gummy bear into a test tube with potassium chlorate releases the chemical energy inside in an intense chemical reaction. That’s exactly what's happening when you eat candy, kids.

19. Make Water "Mysteriously" Disappear Sodium polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer, capable of absorbing up to 300 times its own weight in water. Found in disposable diapers, you can make water disappear in seconds with this video .

20. Create A Rainbow In A Jar Different liquids have different masses and different densities. For example, oil is less dense than water and will float on top of its surface. By combining liquids of different densities and adding food coloring, you can make an entire rainbow in a jar with this video .

There you have it – 20 experiments for you to explore the incredible world of science!

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40+ Easy Science Experiments For Students: Lots Of Great Ideas

Categories Activities & Ideas

Science is one of the most intriguing subjects to learn in school. It’s so varied and it can be a lot of fun for kids – especially when it comes to conducting science experiments. However, science experiments do not always have to be about beakers and bunsen burners. There are several ways that students can conduct easy science experiments, and it does not require a lot of resources or money to do so.

But what exactly are the options?

Well, if you are a teacher or a parent looking for easy science experiments for students, then we’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive list below shows you plenty of options that they can take part in.

So, if you’re ready to find out a lot more – then read on for lots of ideas!

Easy Science Experiments For Students! 

Without any further delays, let’s dive right into this list of some easy science experiments for students. We’re sure that your young minds will love some of these!

1. Dancing Pepper

Perhaps one of the most intriguing and fun experiments is the dancing pepper experiment. It shows kids how substances behave differently when placed on water in an effort to show how molecular behavior can differ with surface tension.

This can result in some things appearing to dance, so it’s a pretty fun experiment to observe! 

2. Colored Celery 

This is a pretty basic experiment but it can help to show kids how plants absorb water. You just need either celery or a white flower and some colored water. Once the celery is placed in the colored water, it can help kids to visualize how plants sustain themselves.

3. Dissolve Or Not?

This experiment can help teach kids about different solutions, but it’s more about showing kids the way to create their own hypotheses. For example, having six different substances and six different solutions, questioning whether it will dissolve and why they think so. 

4. Volcano (Baking Soda)

Every kid will have fond memories of this experiment. It’s a super fun and easy science experiment that shows how bases and acids react when they are in contact with one another, and it results in a miniature volcano! 

5. The Skittles Experiment 

This is a cool way to learn about diffusion. You simply need a packet of Skittles and observe what happens when each different color coating is exposed to shallow, cold or hot water. 

6. Burn The Bill 

Don’t panic, you won’t be burning any money with this experiment . It’s an easy way to teach kids about combustion, so you can use any paper item. 

7. Dr. Seuss’ Butter Experiment

Any fans of Dr. Seuss may recognize this experiment. You simply need to put heavy whipping cream into a tight jar and observe how the fat molecules clump together and form a butter product!

8. Liquids And Layers 

Using items that you can find in your pantry, this experiment can help to show kids how liquids have different densities and how they might operate.

9. Egg Crystal Geode 

Merging Springtime and Geology together, this is a fun experiment whereby kids can make their own geodes and learn about super-saturated solutions.

10. Make Rain In A Jar 

This quick and simple experiment can help to show students how rain occurs. As we know, rain is the result of warm, humid air converging with cold air in the upper atmosphere. 

So, using a jar and a plate, you can place ice and water into a jar and show kids how rain works by making your own in a jar! 

11. The Unpoppable Balloon 

Students will be intrigued by how you can put a sharp stick through a balloon and it won’t pop! It’s a quick and simple experiment that demonstrates polymers.

12. Float Or Sink?

This experiment is pretty basic but it’s quite important to learn. It can be conducted anywhere too, but it’s best during hot weather using a lake or river. 

Create a hypothesis with multiple items and question whether or not you believe certain items will sink or float. 

13. Make Your Own Sand 

Any kid will get a kick out of making their own sand ! The experiment doesn’t need too many resources or items, but it’s something you need to ensure before you start.

14. Make Your Own Barometer 

This experiment can help show kids how air pressure has an effect on the weather. The best way to do this is to build your own barometer! 

15. Create A Solar Oven

This is a quick and easy way to show students how radiant heat works. By harnessing its power, there are many things you can do! You just have to be careful.

16. The Sticky Ice Experiment 

It’s really fun to show students how salt has an effect on water and its freezing point. You need water, salt, and some string to carry this one out!

17. An Egg In A Bottle

Using a small bottle, some matches, and an egg, you can show your students how objects may react to adaptations in air pressure.

18. Make A CD Garden 

You’re certain to have some old CD cases around. If so, you can get kids involved in making their own CD case garden and observe the ways that plants grow!

19. The Gummy Worm Dance 

When an acidic liquid is mixed with a neutral solution, it’s possible for some things to react in hilarious ways that kids will love. Place a gummy worm in a jar and mix the solutions to watch your students laugh at the results.

20. Make A Green Penny 

If you have an old penny lying around, then why not test out this experiment , which takes about three days? It’s a cool way to learn about metal and chemical reactions , though! 

21. Soap Popcorn 

This experiment needs supervision from an adult, but it’s awesome to watch. Using Charles’ law, simply place a bar of soap in a microwave and watch how it expands as it heats up. 

22. The Cabbage PH Indicator 

Students can test out the PH levels of different liquids simply by using cabbage. It’s pretty simple to perform and it’s cool to watch.

23. Can Ice Grow?

This experiment needs to be followed step by step, but it’s really interesting to observe. With some basic steps, you can get your students to observe how ice might grow and form towers.

24. Paper Cup – The Strength In Numbers 

Using several paper cups and some cardboard sheets, this is an outdoor experiment that can help to demonstrate weight distribution and how paper cups can hold body weight when in numbers.

25. Separate Pepper And Salt 

Draw from the power of static electricity via a plastic spoon and show students how easy it is for matter to divide and separate – which can be shown with salt and pepper.

26. Fireworks In A Jar

At the right time of year, you can theme this experiment using oil, water, food coloring, and a jar. It’s a super fun project to help kids understand density – and the results are pretty! 

27. Water And Oil Discovery Bottles 

Most of us will be familiar with making water and oil discovery bottles from when we were kids, and it continues to be a super fun experiment for students today. All the bright colors are an awesome sensory experience for kids.

28. Color Mixing With Coffee Filters

This experiment is more for younger students, but it’s simple and effective. Using coffee filters, you can add liquids to watch how the filters absorb them and change colors, making mixes which make new colors.

29. Create Fizzy Lemonade 

A tasty experiment for the summer, this can help teach kids how mixing base liquids with acid creates a chemical reaction – but it results in something that you can enjoy at the end! 

30. Magic Milk 

This simple experiment needs a few items; milk, dish soap, and food coloring. This is a super colorful and fun thing to do and can help show kids how molecular behavior might work, how surface tension works, and a little bit about an object’s density.

31. Walking On Eggs 

Another experiment that can show the power of weight distribution is walking on eggs. Show your students how something so fragile can withstand body weight when in large numbers.

32. Create A Hydraulic Elevator 

This experiment sounds more complex than it actually is. You just need to use some sticks and large medicine droppers. It’s a classic experiment that many STEM teachers have used in the classroom before.

33. Demonstrate Inertia 

Newton’s first law of motion can be demonstrated pretty easily, and it’s never too early or too late to show students how it works! 

34. Grow Your Gummy Bears

When it comes to students and science, what better way to teach them than using candy ? Using all areas of the major sciences, you can turn little gummy bears into big gummy bears! 

35. The Disappearing Egg Shell

Students of all ages enjoy watching this experiment , and it’s helpful to show them the ways that chemical reactions operate.

36. Coca-Cola Tooth Experiment 

This is a classic experiment that can help show students the effects of sugary drinks on their teeth. When your students are young and losing their baby teeth, ask them to bring in a tooth and show them the horrible effects in a jar! 

37. Small Tornado In A Bottle

Most of us performed this experiment when we were students, and it’s super fun to keep it going with your own students. Demonstrating centripetal force by creating a water vortex in a bottle is awesome! 

38. Make A Bag Leak-Proof

Another experiment that demonstrates polymers, you need a plastic bag, some water, a sharp pencil, and some patience – and you can show kids the seemingly impossible!

39. Make A Non-Newtonian Fluid 

There are substances out there that get firmer when pressure is applied to them, and these are known as non-Newtonian fluids. It’s really intriguing to see how fluids can behave in such ways, so your students are bound to get a kick out of this.

40. Demonstrate Capillaries

You can show kids how our capillaries function using items you can find pretty much everywhere. It’s super cool and colorful and you’re bound to excite everyone with this in the classroom.

41. Make Candy Rock 

Students, candy, and rocks – they go hand in hand! Your students will love to create their own candy rock and watch as the rock crystals grow.

42. Make The Super Bubble

You can show students how to make a better version of bubble mixture to create much larger bubbles, called superbubbles! 

43. Frozen Vegetable Oil Paintings

Here’s another classic experiment that most kids have conducted when they were in the classroom. It’s a fun way to show kids how some liquids behave when they are frozen, and as vegetable oil behaves differently – you can make awesome paintings! 

44. Make An Ice Magnifying Glass 

This experiment is pretty simple, but we like to add something more fun to it. Once you have made your ice magnifying glass, show your students how glass behaves underwater by designing a real magnifying glass (do not allow them to do this though).

Glass under water can be cut and sliced in much different ways than above the surface, so you can easily create your own glass designs to show your students in a safe way.

45. Can Eggs Float?

Finally, on our list, we have the experiment that has shown students for years how eggs can float on water if salt is added to the liquid. It’s a simple way to explain density, and it’s always a good idea to bring in the Dead Sea example.

The Dead Sea is so salty that people can simply float on its surface, but it’s also deadly because if you turn around – it’s difficult to get your head out of the salty water! 

Things To Remember

There are always things you should remember when it comes to these sorts of experiments. Some are much more obvious than others, but it’s always important to ensure we’re on the same wavelength. These include the following.

Safety 

Conduct a health and safety risk assessment before you carry out any experiment, and always be aware of any safety equipment you and your students may need to wear. Be sure to take reasonable care with all of your experiments (and best to do a trial run first!).

Reinforce Learning 

It’s all fine and good demonstrating the experiments, but you must ensure that you reinforce the student’s learning by asking questions at the end of the lesson. It’s also wise to set some theoretical homework based on their practical experiment. 

Do Your Research 

It’s of course critical that you know exactly what you are doing before you show your students, but it’s also as important to know your students. For example, if an experiment is more tailored for younger students, do not try it for older kids.  You may also like: 1st grade science project ideas .

The Bottom Line 

And that’s our comprehensive list of the easiest science experiments that you can show students in the classroom, at home, or out in the field! We hope you have enjoyed our guide and you’ve found some amazing new experiments for your students! Good luck.

Top tip: Teach your students about the most famous inventors while they work on their own science experiments.

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15 Classic Science Experiments for Kids and Teens!

If you’re looking for an idea for an upcoming science project, or just looking for something fun to do one afternoon… you’ve come to the right place because we listed some science experiments in this blog!

Here at Student-Tutor, we love science!

From Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tesla, to today’s modern renegades like Steven Hawkings, Carl Sagan, and Elon Musk; we see the way science has transformed and revolutionized our world and the way we think about things.

It is without a doubt that these influential leaders once found themselves tinkering, learning, and experimenting as kids and teenagers. Here are some fun science experiments these great scientists may have once enjoyed!

Here Are 10 of the Best Kid’s Science Experiments to Try Today!

These classic science experiments are perfect for learning in the classroom whether you are enrolled in a private or public school . You can also do this at home! Make sure you get your parent or teacher’s permission before jumping in… some of these can be messy! Also, there are some school clubs  that will teach you more of these so find one and join.

1. Rubber Egg Science – Via: Little Bins for Little Hands

Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

The first experiment on this list is one you may already have all of the supplies for!

If you weren’t already aware, there are many different fun egg science experiments ! In this example, we’ll be looking at the timeless “Rubber Egg” experiment; where we’ll be using acetic acid (vinegar) to cause a chemical reaction with calcium carbonate (the eggshell).

The reaction looks like this:

To get started, all you will need is:

• 1 Egg… or a Dozen!
• 1 Mason Jar or Glass Vase.
• 1 Bottle of White Vinegar.
• 1 Week’s Time.

Steps to create this experiment:

• Place your egg inside the jar or vase.
• Cover the egg with vinegar.
• Wait 24 hours, then drain the jar and fill with fresh vinegar.
• Leave the egg in the vinegar for 7 full days, record any changes you observe.
• Drain vinegar, rinse, and report any observed changes to the egg.

Observations and results:

Over the course of this experiment, the egg will undergo a significant change to its physical properties…

Did you notice anything strange or unusual?

• Did you notice any bubbles along the sides of the egg?
• Was the egg soft after the week had passed?
• Can you see through it with a flash light?
• Does the egg bounce?
• Will it pop if you squeeze it?
• What caused this transformation to the shell?
• Why do you think this happened?

The egg looks translucent when you shine a flashlight through it because the hard outside shell is gone. The only part that remains is the thin membrane called a semipermeable membrane. You might have noticed that the egg got a little bigger after soaking in the vinegar. Here’s what happened…Some of the water in the vinegar solution (remember that household vinegar is 96% water) traveled through the egg’s membrane in an effort to equalize the concentration of water on both sides of the membrane. This flow of water through a semipermeable membrane is called osmosis. Via: Steve Spangler Science

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Sick Science!

2. Potato Powered Alarm Clock – Via: PBS Kids

Source: Robert Lee Fulghum

Renewable energy is the future!

With populations all across the world seeking out new ways to power devices, stay cool in the summer, and access all the other many benefits of modern electrical power; maybe it’s time we learn how we can start making our own totally FREE electricity… from potatoes! This is one of the many science experiments that promote sustainable living!

Here’s what you’ll need to start your own tiny power plant:

• Two Potatoes and One Kitchen Plate.
• Three 8″ Pieces of Insulated Copper Wire (each with 2″ of insulation removed).
• Two Pennies.
• Two Common Galvanized Nails.
• One Digital Alarm Clock.
• Advanced: Digital Multimeter.
• Cut a potato in half and put the two halves on a plate so they stand on their flat ends.
• Wrap the end of one piece of wire around a galvanized nail and wrap the end of a second piece of wire around a penny.
• Stick the nail and penny into one half of the potato so that they’re not touching each other.
• Wrap the third piece of wire around the other penny and put it into the other half of the potato.
• Put the other nail into the second half of the potato, but this nail should not have wire wrapped around it.
• Connect the wire from the penny on the first half of the potato to the nail that has no wire on it in the second half of the potato.
• Touch the free ends of the wires to the wires coming out of the digital clock, get power through the clock.
• Advanced: Use your digital multi-meter to see how much power you can generate through the potatoes.

Did your clock turn on? No? Try connecting the wires in different ways… did anything change?

A potato battery is an electrochemical battery, otherwise known as an electrochemical cell. An electrochemical cell is a cell in which chemical energy is converted to electric energy by a spontaneous electron transfer. In the case of the potato, the zinc in the nail reacts with the copper wire. The potato acts as a sort of buffer between the zinc ions and the copper ions. The zinc and copper ions would still react if they touched within the potato but they would only generate heat. Since the potato keeps them apart, the electron transfer has to take place over the copper wires of the circuit, which channels the energy into the clock. Presto! You have potato power. Via: Kidzworld

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Taras Kul

3. Alka-Seltzer Powered Film Canister Rocket – Via: The Science Kiddo

Source: The Science Kiddo

We think most young scientists would agree… there’s almost nothing more fun than sending a rocket soaring into the air! In fact, there are many science experiments that aim to imitate the same concept.

Though you may not be sending a Tesla Roadster from Earth to Mars , you can certainly get some incredible results from launching this Alka-Seltzer powered rocket from an open parking lot! This is another one the science experiments which is perfect for understanding how even the smallest of rockets create enormous amounts of thrust using high-pressure gas. For a detailed overview of basic rocket science, check out “ How Rocket Engines Work ” by How Stuff Works.

No fuel rods necessary… just grab:

• One or more snap-top plastic bottles –  Ex: 35mm film canisters (vintage, right?), Airborne tablet tubes, M&M Minis tubes, etc… get creative!
• A bottle of water.
• Alka-Seltzer tablets.
• Cardboard & hot glue to construct a proper rocket frame (optional).
• Protective goggles – Safety first!
• Construct your rocket.
• Add water (fuel) to your canister.
• Drop one Alka-Seltzer tablet (oxidizer) into canister.
• Quickly close the canister, set rocket upright, and take cover!
• Blast Off!!

Source: NASA

Did your rocket take flight as expected!?

• How high did your rocket fly? Advanced: Rocket Equations
• What happens if you use more/less fuel?
• What happens if you use more/less oxidizer?
• What fuel/oxidizer ratio worked the best for your specific canister?
• How did the cardboard body design affect your rocket’s flight path?

So what makes the explosion happen? It is actually the same chemistry that happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar together. An acid plus a base mix to form carbon dioxide gas, which are the bubbles you see. When enough carbon dioxide has been produced the pressure builds until the container can no longer contain it, at which point the top pops off and the gas and liquid explode out. Alka-Seltzer is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which acts as a base. When the tablets are solid and dry the acid and base don’t react, but as soon as they are immersed in water they react to form carbon dioxide. This is what causes the explosion. Via: The Science Kiddo

See this experiment in action, courtesy of GrandadIsAnOldMan .

4. Rain Cloud in a Jar – Via: Fun Learning for Kids

Source: Fun Learning for Kids

Here’s one of the most interesting science experiments for the next generation of meteorologists!

This is one of the easiest Earth science experiments for kids which will help them visualize how clouds are formed, and how Earth’s water cycle creates rain! Making clouds in a jar is easier than you might think! This experiment is perfect for the classroom, or for learning at home!

We’ll only need a few ingredients to make awesome jar clouds:

• One large glass mason jar or plastic cup.
• Shaving cream – Foam, not gel.
• Food coloring or washable watercolors.
• Pipettes or eye droppers.
• Fill the large jar with water until it is about 3/4 full.
• Use your shaving cream to create a thick cloud layer on top of the water.
• Wait 1-3 minutes for the foam to settle.
• Drop food coloring or watercolor on top of foam.
• Observe what happens within and below your cloud!

Source: Google Galaxy Science

What did you notice after you dropped the coloring into the cloud?

• Did the cloud change colors?
• Did the colors stay suspended for a moment before dropping?
• What caused the colors to make it through the cloud?
• Did different colors have a different effect?
• What happens if you use warm vs cold water?

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air. When the vapor hits cold air, it turns back into droplets of water. Those tiny drops of water floating in the air collect and “stick” together to form clouds. When clouds get so full of water that they can’t hold any more, the water falls back to the ground as rain. Via: Kidspot

See this experiment in action, courtesy of HooplaKidzLab .

5. Classic Erupting Volcano Science Project – Via: ThoughtCo.

Source: Red Tricycle

Here we have probably one of the most popular, yet controversial science experiments of the last decade!

Almost all students, at some point, have heard of science experiments involving DIY erupting volcanoes.

Given its incredible simplicity, overwhelming popularity at science fairs, and the endless potential for customization, the erupting volcano has sometimes been deemed “lazy” or “uninspired” by some teachers, as it relates to fair and/or class project submissions. However… we’re not here for a grade… we’re here to have some fun! So without further ado, we present the world-famous erupting volcano experiment!

This project has two main parts, the volcano itself and the chemicals that cause the eruption.

You will need the following:

• 6 cups flour.
• 2 cups salt.
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil.
• Warm water.
• Plastic soda bottle.
• Dish washing detergent.
• Food coloring.
• Baking dish or another pan.
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed).
• Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold your fresh dough around it, creating a volcano shape. Make sure you don’t cover the bottle’s hole or drop dough into it!
• Allow your volcano to dry and harden, then paint it as desired (optional).
• Fill the bottle most of the way with warm water and a bit of red food color.
• Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle. (Detergent helps trap the bubbles produced by the reaction so you get better lava!)
• Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the liquid.
• Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle… then step back!
• Observe the eruption and record your thoughts!

What happened after you added the vinegar to the bottle?

• Was the eruption as mellow or violent as you expected?
• What happens if you use more baking soda?
• What happens if you use less warm water?
• Can you think of any way to make the eruption bigger?
• How can you make the eruption last longer?

The red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. In this reaction, the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle until the gas bubbles out of the volcano. This is a good representation of what happens in real volcanoes. Via: Weather Wiz Kids .

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Kids Go Smart

6. Making a Sundial – Via: LASP Colorado.

Source: We Have Kids

Though we don’t see sundials used as much as other time tracking devices, understanding how they work can open a student’s perspective to a broader sense of how the Earth’s position in space, relative to the sun, creates our daily and annual cycles!

Students who follow the detailed guide provided by LASP will find themselves with a home made sundial and the opportunity to track the movement of the sun, and determine the time of local solar noon.

• 1 Wooden dowel or similar pole at least 50cm long.
• 12-24 Shadow markers (flags, rocks, sticks, nails, etc.)
• 1 Meter stick.
• Select a day that will be sunny for at least seven hours.
• Head outside to a relatively flat spot that will be out of the shadow of buildings and trees. Place the pole in the ground making certain that it is perpendicular to the ground using a plumb bob (a piece of string with a weight on it) or a level. Measure and record the height from the ground to the top of the pole.
• Put a #1 on the first object (rock, flag, etc.) you will use to mark the position of the shadows. Place the marker on the ground at the end of the shadow and to record the time from your watch.
• Measure and record the distance from the base of the gnomon to the end of the shadow in the table provided. (Optional: Also measure the angle using a compass.)
• Visit the gnomon at least once an hour for the remainder of the day. Measure the length of the shadow (and the optional angle), place a new numbered marker at the end of the shadow, and record the time of day.
• Use your notes to determine which marker is closest to the pole. This is the time of the shortest shadow and is the observation closest to solar noon. If you have the time, you can take more frequent measurements around the time of this observation on the following day to get a better estimate of solar noon.

• What is the path of the sun as it moves across the sky?
• Does the path of the sun across the sky and the pattern of the shadows from the gnomon on the dial change during the year?

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Waylight Creations!

7. Diet Coke and Mentos Eruption Experiment – Via: Science Kids

Source: Image Kid

Here we have one of the most legendary experiments of the modern day! We present to you, the Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment!

First things first, do NOT attempt this experiment indoors! This will, without a doubt, make a HUGE mess! Though simple in its form, this timeless experiment is sure to entertain young scientists of all ages. Make sure you grab some eye protection for this one! Once you’ve done the experiment with traditional Diet Coke, try repeating the steps with other beverages!

• 2-liter(s) of Diet Coca-Cola
• 2-liter(s) of other beverages (optional).
• Roll(s) of Mentos Mints.
• 1 Funnel or tube (optional).
• Set up your materials OUTSIDE. Grassy areas work best!
• Stand the 2-liter of Diet Coke upright and unscrew the lid.
• If you’ll be using a funnel or other device, attach it to the top of the Coke bottle now.
• Quickly drop 1/2 of the Mentos pack into the Coca-Cola bottle and RUN!
• Record observations.

Source: Simply Designing

• How long did it take for the geyser to begin?
• If you add more Mentos, is the eruption bigger?
• Did the type of beverage make a difference?

Although there are a few different theories around about how this experiment works, the most favoured reason is because of the combination of carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the little dimples found on Mentos candy pieces. The thing that makes soda drinks bubbly is the carbon dioxide that is pumped in when they bottle the drink at the factory. It doesn’t get released from the liquid until you pour it into a glass and drink it, some also gets released when you open the lid (more if you shake it up beforehand). This means that there is a whole lot of carbon dioxide gas just waiting to escape the liquid in the form of bubbles. Dropping something into the Diet Coke speeds up this process by both breaking the surface tension of the liquid and also allowing bubbles to form on the surface area of the Mentos. Mentos candy pieces are covered in tiny dimples (a bit like a golf ball), which dramatically increases the surface area and allows a huge amount of bubbles to form. The experiment works better with Diet Coke than other sodas due to its slightly different ingredients and the fact that it isn’t so sticky. I also found that Diet Coke that had been bottled more recently worked better than older bottles that might have lost some of their fizz sitting on shop shelves for too long, just check the bottle for the date. via: Science Kids !

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Olivia Rose !

8. Fizzy Lemonade Drink Experiment – Via: Amazing Girls Science

Source: Learn With Play

After trying the last 7 experiments, you might be thirsty! So, here’s an experiment you can drink when you’re finished!

In this tasty science experiment, you’ll be combining an acid with a base (just like in our awesome volcanoes)… but this will probably be a lot more refreshing than if you drank the vinegar eruption!

• Fresh Ripe Lemons!
• Drinking Water.
• Baking Soda.
• Sugar / Honey / other Sweetener.
• Squeeze as much of the juice from the lemon as you can into the glass.
• Pour in an equal amount of water as lemon juice.
• Stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
• Observe and note effects.
• Give the mixture a taste and add in some sugar if you think it needs to be sweeter.
• What happened when you added the baking soda?
• What happens if you use less water in the mix?
• What ratio of the ingredients gave you the greatest reaction?
• Did the shape of the cup change anything?
• How did it taste?? Did you need any sweetener?

The mixture you created should go bubbly and taste like a lemonade, soda, fizzy or soft drink, if you added some sugar it might even taste like a lemon flavored soft drink you’ve bought at a store. The bubbles that form when you add the baking soda to the lemon mixture are carbon dioxide (CO2), these are the same bubbles you’ll find in proper fizzy drinks. Of course they add a few other flavored sweeteners but it’s not much different to what you made. If you are wondering how the carbon dioxide bubbles formed, it was because you created a chemical reaction when you added the lemon (an acid) to the baking soda (a base). via: Science Kids !

See this experiment in action, courtesy of HM 4U

9. Making Putty, Flubber, or Slime Experiment – Via: Science Kids at Home

Source: Our Best Bites

This experiment is another timeless classic! It’s gone by MANY names over the years, but our favorite is… FLUBBER!

If you’re reading this and have not seen Robin Williams in Flubber … you might not be ready for this experiment! P.S. That movie features a ton of funny science experiments!

In this gooey kids science experiment, we’ll be combing a few more household items to create something totally strange and amazing! Please note, this experiment has a few more steps and parental / teacher supervision is recommended.

Subjects: Chemistry / Polymers

• Borax (can be found with laundry detergents in most grocery stores).
• White glue.
• 2 glass jars with lids.
• Food coloring or liquid paint (optional, but totally worth it!)
• Pour 4 cups of water into a large glass jar.
• Add 1/4 cup Borax and stir until it is dissolved.
• In the 2nd jar, mix 1 cup water and 1 cup white craft glue.
• Tighten the lid and shake well until mixed.
• Add food coloring or paint to the water and glue mixture.
• Pour 1 cup of the Borax solution in a cup.
• Add 1/4 of the glue solution to this mixture.
• Use your finger or a device to give the mixture a stir.
• Observe Results.
• Remove the putty from the solution and knead it to get the finished texture.

• What happened when you combined the two solutions?
• How long did it take for the reaction to happen?
• Was your flubber sticky or smooth?
• Does it bounce like in the movie?
• Did you choose to give your flubber a color? If so, which one?

In the flubber experiment, borax starts out as a solid but creates a mixture with the glue and water. The glue is also a liquid. When they are combined, they create a colloid polymer. A colloid is a mixture where the particles are too large to dissolve but small enough to remain suspended in the liquid. A polymer is a long chain of molecules that look something like strands of cooked spaghetti. With a polymer colloid, the suspended particles are long polymer strands. If the polymer chains slide past each other easily, then the substance acts like a liquid, because the molecules flow. If the molecules hook together at a few places along the strand, then the substance behaves like a rubbery solid. Borax is responsible for hooking the glue’s polymer molecules together to form the putty-like material. When you stretch the putty, it stretches without breaking, but can be “snapped off” cleanly. It bounces higher than a rubber ball, with a rebound of 80%. If you hit it with a hammer, it keeps its shape, but pushing it with light pressure flattens it easily. If you just let the putty sit or squish it with your fingers, the molecules slide over each other and the material flows. When you drop it like a rubber ball, the impact tries to make the molecules move past each other very fast. It doesn’t work. They’re too tangled. via: Science Kids at Home !

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Whiz Kid Science

10. Light Color Heat Absorption Experiment – Via: Discovery Express Kids

Source: Raising Life-Long Learners

If you’ve ever burned your toes on blacktop/asphalt paving in the summer, but questioned why dirt or the concrete around the pool isn’t so bad… then you’re going to love science experiments like this one!

Today, we’re going to test whether or not the color of a surface ACTUALLY makes a difference in how hot things can get! This final kids science experiment is going to test the difference between the extremes of black and white; however, we recommend you repeat the process with all of your favorite colors! Pro Tip: Get a pad of various colored construction papers, all of the same thickness. You can also try a variation of this experiment using food coloring in water (as shown in the picture).

• 2 or more identical glasses or mason jars.
• Black construction paper.
• White construction paper.
• Other construction paper (optional).
• Food coloring (optional).
• Tape or rubber bands.
• Thermometer(s).
• A sunny day
• Cut black construction paper to the same height as one of the glasses.
• Wrap the black construction paper around the glass so it covers the entire outside surface.
• Tape the paper in place or put a rubber band around the glass to hold the paper in place (see image below).
• Repeat steps 2-4 with the other containers using white paper, other colored paper, or add food coloring (if desired).
• Fill all of the glasses with water. Make sure they have the same amount of water in them, and make sure you use the same temperature of water in both glasses.
• Use the thermometer to take the temperature of the water in each glass, then record this as your starting temperature.
• Use the thermometer to take each glass’s temperature every 15 minutes for two or more hours. Record the temperatures and the times for each entry.
• Take note of your observations as you go.
• When the two hours are up, you can use this data in combination with an excel spreadsheet or google doc to create a line graph that represents th temperature change in each glass. Temperature should be your Y-axis and time should be your X-axis.
• Optional bonus: Remove the glasses from sunlight and bring them inside. Record their temperature for another hour or two and observe which one COOLS the fastest!

Source: Inspiration Laboratories

• Did one color heat up more rapidly than the others?
• Did they all reach the same temperature at the end?
• Did one color release the heat / cool faster?
• How do you see this information being applied in real life? Think construction materials!

We know that sunlight includes IR and UV as well as visible light. Certain types of paint may reflect more or less IR and UV light than others. You may have heard of Light Reflectance Value (LRV), which is used to measure how much visible light a certain color reflects, but there’s also a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) which measures how much solar heat (i.e., infrared light) a given material reflects If we look up the LRVs for the colors white and black, we find that white reflects 80% of visible sunlight, and black reflects only 5%. So we can conclude that, regardless of the color of the interior, the car with the darker paint job will have the higher temperature. via: MadSci Network: Physics !

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Curiosity Catalase

11. Floating paperclip – Via: Science Bob

Image source: Science Bob

This experiment is very simple, and yet very enjoyable to do. This will help you understand why some insects are able to walk in the water.

• Dry paper clips
• Water in a bowl
• Tissue paper
• Any pencil with an eraser
• Make sure that the bowl is filled with water.
• Tear a piece of tissue paper.
• Drop the piece of tissue on the water surface.
• Place the paper clip on the top of the tissue. Make sure that you won’t touch the water in doing so.
• Using the eraser end of the pencil, poke the tissue to make it sink. If you did it correctly, the paperclip will float.

• What did you notice when you gently put the paperclip on top of the tissue?
• Did the paperclip remained floating or did it sink along with the tissue?

The paperclip was able to float because of SURFACE TENSION. In other words, the water surface develops a skin where the water molecules hold close together. If you did it right and you followed all the steps, the water molecules can support your paperclip. This is how water striders appear like they are walking on water when in fact, they are held up by surface tension.

12. Plastic milk – Via: Science Bob

Milk isn’t just for drinking. They can also teach you about chemical reactions through some science experiments. We have included one fun project here for you to accomplish. Just make sure that you are accompanied by an adult as you do this.

• One cup of milk (any brand)
• 4 teaspoons of white vinegar
• A medium-sized bowl
• Ask an adult to heat up the milk but not up to the boiling point.
• Pour the milk into the bowl through the assistance of your adult companion.
• Mix the vinegar to the milk and stir it for one minute.
• Strain the milk so you are left with lumpy blobs.
• Collect the blobs and press them together when they already cooled down. You’ll finally have the plastic milk that you can mold.
• Were you able to get milk blobs from your experiment?
• What is the texture of the blobs?

Through combining milk and vinegar, you were able to produce a substance called CASEIN. This is plastic-like so you can mold it into any shape you want. How is this possible, you ask. The milk protein and the acid in the vinegar produce this substance when you started mixing them. It is important to note, however, that this is different from true plastics or polymers.

13. Make a snow globe – Via: Science Fun

In this experiment, we will teach you how to make a snow globe that you can add as a little accent for your home. Ask the help of an adult friend if you are having difficulties so you can add this to the list of science experiments you successfully made.

• A jar with a lid
• White glitter for the snow effect
• Small toys (animals, trees, etc)
• Glue or tape
• Glue all the little toys you found on the lid of the Jar. If you want to make a mini Christmas village, then you may do so.
• Fill half of the jar with glycerin and the other half with water. Stir afterward.
• Add some glitter to make it look like it’s snowing inside your jar. You can also add more if you want to achieve the blizzard effect.
• Put the lid on which contains the toys.
• Put some tape of glue around the lid so the glycerin and water combination won’t spill accidentally.
• Did you notice that as you shake your globe, the fluid inside does not flow like normal water?
• Did the fluid cause the snow effect?

Because you combine the water with glycerin, you were able to create your own snow globe. Glycerin has a high viscosity so it looks like the snow is slowly falling down inside the jar. Viscosity dictates how a fluid easily pours so you when you shake or turn your snow globe, the liquid slows down the glitters as gravity pulls them down. This is one of the science experiments that are fun to create and the output is also something you can use and display afterwards.

14. Expanding soap – Via: Science Fun

Some science experiments seem weird. Just like this one. We do not recommend doing this alone so you better ask the help of an adult friend. In this experiment, we will look at the possibility of expanding a little ivory soap. Read on to learn more.

• Large microwave
• Place the ivory soap inside the bowl.
• Put it inside the microwave for two minutes.
• Notice how it grows! Take a video if you like.
• Wait several minutes before taking it out from the microwave so it can cool down.
• How big did the soap grow in the span of two minutes?
• What is the texture of the soap after getting it out from the microwave?

Because the ivory soap has a lot of air bubbles in it, there is a high possibility that it will grow once it is heated for several minutes. The air bubbles expanded when it was put inside a microwave, resulting in a massive soap. Since soaps are solids, it will remain expanded even when it cooled down. You can still use the soap you experimented it by cutting it into smaller pieces.

15. Dancing raisins – Via: Coffe Cups and Crayons

This is probably considered one of the top easy science experiments out there. You will be able to do this in three simple steps without needing the supervision of an adult. If you would love to see how air bubbles work in lifting objects in the water, then you will enjoy this.

• Clear sodas
• Fill the three glasses with different kinds of sodas and the other one with water. Make sure to use sodas that weren’t refrigerated.
• Put the raisins into the soda and watch them dance!
• Put raisins on the water and compare its movement to the raisins you put into the soda.
• Did the raisins sink when you put them in the soda?
• Did they float after some time?
• What was the movement of the raisins you put in the soda as compared to the ones that you dropped in the glass with water?

Since the raisins are denser than the soda, it initially sunk to the bottom. However, because air bubbles formed outside the raisins, they started to float all the way to the top. They fall back down once all the bubbles already popped. This makes them appear as if they were dancing. There are a lot of science experiments similar to this one that will show you how objects dance when put in soda.

As you can see, there is a TON of safe, fun, and easy science experiments you can do at home or in the classroom! There are also some educational apps for kids that will teach you these. Which ones of these top 15 did you try yourself? Are there any others you’d recommend to the Student-Tutor community? Post them below!

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Easy Science Experiments Every Young Scientist Needs To Try

I love letting my kids explore when it comes to science. Creating their own experiments and chasing their curiosity is fascinating to watch. Often I feel like I am simply being pulled along on their scientific journey. But there are a few tried and true science experiments every child should do. These are simple science experiments. Very easy to set up and do, and great for young scientists who are still learning their passion for science. These are also great for parents and teachers who need quick and easy hands on science lessons.

Simple Science Experiments for Kids

What you will discover in this article!

Sometimes the most simple things can bring incredible joy and opportunities. Science is one of those areas that doesn’t need to be difficult to be meaningful.

I’ve had a number of readers reach out asking for science ideas. They are unsure of their ability to teach science and do experiments with their kids. Or perhaps they have a large group of kids across many ages and abilities, and they need something that will resonate with all ages. Or maybe they need something for a rainy day and want to do something meaningful, with no screens, that will help them connect with their kids and have fun. But they have no idea where to start.

I’m here to tell you that not only can science be easy, it can also be incredibly fun. Doing science experiments with your kids will teach them critical thinking skills, the process of discovery, the power of science, investigative skills, and best of all it will provide you with a way to connect with your kids and create lasting memories. My kids still talk about science experiments we did 5 years ago. These are the moments that stay with kids!

Today I want to share some super simple science experiments that you can do at home without spending a ton of money.

The best thing about these simple science experiments is that they will excite your kids, fuel their passions, inspire their curiosity, and foster self-confidence. All without costing you a fortune, or stressing you out.

TIPS ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY DO SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS WITH KIDS

Before I list my top picks for simple science, I want to share a few tips on how to be successful at doing these experiments. When I hear from readers that they are having issues, the cause of their confusion or frustration usually stems from one of the following areas.

First, make sure you read the instructions. I know I have fallen prey to this one before. We get so excited about science we don’t thoroughly do our homework and read the instructions. Inevitably we end up making mistakes, but that’s not always a bad thing either. One of the activities below was made all the more special due to mistakes we made by not reading all the instructions! But still, if you make a mistake go back and read the instructions. Or get someone with fresh eyes to read the instructions in case you are missing something.

If you are unsure about one of the supplies, take a look below the supply list on any of these activities and click on the images to get more details on the items. Perhaps in your part of the world an item goes by a different name than I have used. Or perhaps it is packaged differently. Clicking through will also help you have a clear understanding of exactly what the supply is if you are unsure. Usually these links go to Amazon where you can get more details, read up on others comments on the item, and order the exact item I am recommending.

Next, if you run into issues, do some research. Google your issue, perhaps someone has a similar issue and they have an answer that will solve your dilemma.

Also, try using the scientific method to test different variables or variations to see if you can pinpoint where the error is occurring in your experiment.

Some of our greatest learning experiences have come from our failures, and going through the process of finding the solution. Mistakes have huge value in science. Embrace them! Learn and grow from them! I promise, your experiment will have so much more value if you embrace the unknown and open the door to the opportunities afforded by a mistake.

Now onto my top picks!

TOP PICKS FOR SIMPLE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

This experiment is so beautiful, and yet so simple. We only recently did it for the first time and I have no idea why I waited so long. It uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your house, but it has huge wow factor. Kids will want to do this experiment over and over again. For the older kids, turn it into a Magic Milk Science Fair style investigation .

Bottle Rockets

This is such a fun STEM project to do outdoors. It includes an engineering challenge, as kids build a launch pad for their bottle rocket. Then the excitement of the impressive and powerful chemical reaction that launches the bottle rocket into the sky! Bottle Rockets are a must do science activity in the summer.

Simple Chemistry From The Pantry

This is always my kids favourite activity. Take anything we can find in the pantry, combine it like a wizard in potions class with other ingredients, and watch what happens! This is the perfect activity to foster curiosity and discovery. One test will lead kids to wonder about how other items might react. Soon you will have your very own little scientist begging to do science over and over again as they come up with new theories and predictions. Simple chemistry is sometimes the best!

Here are just a few of our Pantry Science experiments.

Kids love slime. It may have been all the rage about a year ago, but most kids are still obsessed with this stuff. If you haven’t already mastered making slime, now is the time! See this is one of those experiments that took us months of failures, and applying research and the scientific method until we found a method that worked! Since then we have created hundreds of different slimes, all using this slime recipe as the base.

I’m going to be brutally honest with you here. We much prefer Oobleck to slime. If you are going to pick just one, pick Oobleck every time. Oobleck (a non-Newtonian Fluid that is solid under pressure and liquid without pressure) has so many amazing scientific properties. It is completely fascinating. We have done some amazing experiments with Oobleck and it all starts with one very simple recipe.

Want to try something different? We made a cornstarch slime that was part oobleck, part slime!

Why Does Water Rise

When we first did this experiment, even I was shocked! We knew how to do the steps, to make the water magically rise in this experiment, but since my kids are young scientists they used their investigation skills to dig in and really understand why the water would rise. This is where simple science becomes compelling and motivating!

Hatching Dino Eggs or Rainbow Rocks

This is such a simple idea, but has massive wow factor that kids will be talking about for years. Whenever I do this project with a group, I am always amazed at how into it everyone gets. And I mean everyone, from preschoolers to adults, everyone wants to hatch a dino egg or reveal a rainbow ! All using simple chemistry and ingredients that are in your kitchen right now.

Walking Rainbow

Remember earlier I talked about embracing your mistakes and science fails and turning them into amazing learning experiences? This Walking Rainbow experiment was exactly that for us. See I didn’t research it properly. I didn’t read up on exactly how to do this experiment before starting. I just jumped in. And it failed miserably. So followed my own tips above. I did some research and actually read all the instructions (novel concept, I know! Sometimes we get a little too enthusiastic and jump in too quickly), and we turned the whole thing into an even richer experience than if we had done it correctly from the start. Plus it is gorgeous!

Milk Plastic

I have no idea where I first learned you could make plastic from milk , but I am so glad I did! The concept of being able to make hard plastics so easily from milk is just fascinating. Even though they are bioplastics, they are incredibly durable. Our lasted 3 years until our kittens got a hold of them and chewed them up, forcing me to through them out. Once again this is an easy experiment, using items you have in the pantry. Yes, to make plastic! Cool, eh?

Balloon Races

This activity is a great one for learning about physics and getting the kids up and moving! We’ve had so much fun with our balloon races over the years. The kids love coming up with a theme like Rudolf Races at Christmas or Cupid’s Arrow races at Valentine’s. Whether you choose to do a theme and decorate your balloons or not, this physics science experiment will have kids giggling, laughing and learning!

Skittles Experiment

It doesn’t get any more simple than this! Skittles and water . That’s all you need to create a gorgeous experiment that kids will have kids gasping in wonder. For your older kids, up the challenge by seeing what designs they can create, or have them create works inspired by the masters, like our Starry Night inspired Skittles Experiment. Science has never been so simple, or so sweet.

Build a Water Clock

This is such a simple experiment that can be scaled in difficulty for your older kids. I recommend building a simple water clock then challenging the kids to build their own, better, version!

Enjoy and remember there is so much more science out there! Follow passions and interests. Let kids guide you and explore and discover together. It will make your journey through science so much more valuable and meaningful. These are moments of great connection that your kids will remember for the rest of their lives!

So get out there and create some science!

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61 Wet and Wild Outdoor Science Experiments and Activities

The whole world is one big science classroom.

The only thing more fun than hands-on science is taking it outside! These outdoor science experiments and activities are perfect for taking advantage of sunny days. Fly kites, dissect flowers, experiment with sound and water, and so much more! There is something on our list for everyone from adults all the way down to toddlers.

You’ll only need simple supplies for most of these, so any teacher or family can head out to learn about chemistry, biology, physics, and more. To make it even easier to find the right outdoor science activities, we’ve rated each one for difficulty:

• Easy: Simple, short activities you can do with little or no prep needed.
• Medium: These activities take a little longer or require a few extra supplies but are still fairly simple.
• Advanced: Activities that require more unusual supplies or complex skills.

Outdoor Science Experiments That Get a Little Messy

Nature and wildlife outdoor activities, weather and climate outdoor science experiments, more outdoor science experiments and activities.

1. Wrap a watermelon in rubber bands

You’ve probably seen videos of this making the rounds online, so why not try it out yourself? This is one of those outdoor science experiments that’s easy to do, but make sure you wear safety equipment like goggles. (Medium)

2. Send a geyser sky-high

This is one of those outdoor science activities that simply can’t be done anywhere other than outdoors. Kids will marvel at the chemical reaction that sends diet soda shooting high in the air when Mentos are added. (Medium)

Learn more: Mentos and Coke Experiment (Plus Free Worksheet!)

3. Construct a LEGO waterwheel course

Explore the power of water with a cool homemade LEGO water course that includes a dam and a water wheel. This engineering project is fun to play with when you’re done. (Medium)

Learn more: LEGO Course

4. Find the best soap bubble solution

It’s easy to mix your own soap bubble solution with just a few ingredients. Let kids tweak the recipe to find the best proportion of ingredients to blow the longest-lasting bubbles with this fun outdoor science experiment. (Medium)

Learn more: How To Make a Homemade Bubbles Mixture at The Spruce Crafts

5. Blow giant bubbles

Bubbles are part of many fun outdoor science experiments. Once you’ve blown the longest-lasting bubbles, move on to creating the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen! Learn how in the video. (Medium)

6. Brew some elephant toothpaste

This experiment is popular with kids and adults alike! Don your safety goggles, mix a few ingredients, and watch the “elephant toothpaste” fly! (Medium)

Learn more: Elephant Toothpaste Experiment Plus Free Worksheet

7. Explode plastic baggies

Vinegar and baking soda experiments are always a big hit with kids, and this one is no exception. They’ll love seeing the bags pop from the chemical reaction, and you’ll be glad the mess is outside. Plus, learn how to make a DIY volcano here! (Easy)

Learn more: Exploding Baggies

8. Conduct an egg drop

Here’s another classic outdoor science project you won’t want to move inside—the egg drop. Challenge kids to engineer a container that will protect an egg from a long fall (this is especially fun to do from upper-story windows). (Medium)

9. See water pollution in action

Learn about the challenges of cleaning up polluted water sources like rivers and lakes with this interesting outdoor science activity. Pair it with a visit to a local water-treatment plant to expand the lesson. (Medium)

Learn more: Water Pollution Experiment

10. Set up a musical science pool

This project is equally fun as a sensory experience and as a science experiment. Fill a kiddie pool with water, then place metal mixing bowls of different sizes inside. Finally, let kids experiment with different combos of waters, bowls, and drumsticks (i.e., wooden spoons). (Medium)

Learn more: Musical Science Pool

11. Paint a shadow with homemade chalk paint

Head outside and have kids trace the outlines of their shadows. Then mix up some homemade chalk paint and let kids get creative painting their shadows. (Medium)

Learn more: Shadow Sidewalk Chalk Art

12. Make and melt frozen oobleck

Oobleck is a strange non-Newtonian fluid that’s both fun and fascinating to play around with. For a new twist on this classic experiment, freeze some oobleck, then take it out into the sun and see what happens when it melts. (Medium)

Learn more: Frozen Oobleck

13. Assemble a nest

Birds build intricate nests, and they make it look easy. Can you do the same? Gather some materials outdoors, and try to make your own nest. (Easy)

Learn more: Build a Nest

14. Explore 1 square foot

There’s an amazing amount of life in every square foot of nature. Grab your magnifying glasses or microscope, and take a closer look at the ground you walk on every day. (Easy)

Learn more: Square Foot Outdoor STEM Project

15. Explode a DIY seed pod

Find out how some plants spread their seeds far and wide with this cool balloon experiment. Fill it with seeds and air, then pop it outside on a breezy day and watch the seeds fly! (Medium)

Learn more: Seed Dispersal Activity

16. Forecast the weather with pine cones

Fun fact: Pine cones open and close according to the weather in order to protect or disperse the seeds inside. Use that fact to your advantage and create a pine cone weather station in your backyard. (Easy)

Learn more: Pine Cone Weather Station

17. Put together a simple microscope

This DIY microscope isn’t very powerful, but it does magnify small objects so you can see details. It’s also really simple to make. Looking for a stronger microscope you can take on the go? Try this portable model that hooks up to your cell phone. (Easy)

Learn more: Mini Microscope

18. Create nature discovery bottles

Stroll through the great outdoors and have kids collect interesting natural objects. Use recycled soda or water bottles to display their specimens. (Easy)

Learn more: Nature Sensory Bottles

19. Play a game of Nature Bingo

Give your nature walk more direction by giving students specific items to seek out. You can make your own boards, or hit the link below for free printables for every season. (Easy)

Learn more: Nature Bingo

20. Start a nature journal

Nature journals are a great way to partner writing and outdoor science while building kids’ observational skills. You can use any sturdy notebook or check out the link below for free printable journal pages and a fun DIY carry-along journal project. (Easy)

Learn more: Nature Journal

21. Make and plant DIY seed bombs

Use recycled materials to create “seed bombs.” Then plant them in the schoolyard or send kids home to use them in their own gardens. Students learn about ecology, recycling, and plant life cycles. (Medium)

22. Experiment with limestone rocks

Kids  love to pick up rocks, and there are plenty of great science experiments you can do with them. In this one, you pour vinegar over a rock to see if it bubbles. If it does, you’ve found limestone! (Easy)

Learn more: Vinegar and Limestone Test

23. Contribute to citizen science

Use a cell phone to snap pictures of everything you find on a nature walk, then report those sightings to Project Noah. This citizen science project is dedicated to documenting every living thing on Earth! (Easy)

Learn more: Project Noah

24. Learn about plant transpiration

This simple project demonstrates how plants get rid of excess water they don’t need, a process known as transpiration. The supplies and method are simple enough for anyone to try it. (Easy)

Learn more: Transpiration

25. Learn to identify trees

Give trees a closer look and learn to identify them by their leaves and seeds. These jars preserve the leaves and seeds for future study too. (Medium)

Learn more: Tree ID Scavenger Hung

26. Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Take kids outdoors to use their five senses with this free printable scavenger hunt activity. They’ll hone their observation skills and learn so much about the world around them. (Easy)

Learn more: Nature Scavenger Hunt

27. Help monarch butterflies

You may have heard that monarch butterflies are struggling to keep their populations alive. Join the fight to save these beautiful insects by planting your own butterfly garden, monitoring monarch populations, and more. Get all the info you need at the link. (Advanced)

Learn more: Monarch Watch

28. Count tree rings to explore dendrochronology

Your students might know you can count tree rings to find out how old a tree is, but do they know why that’s true? Students will undoubtedly get a kick out of exploring dendrochronology. (Medium)

Learn more: Tree Rings and Dendrochronology

29. Seek out signs of birds

Have you ever noticed that birds can be difficult to spot, even though signs of them are all around? This free printable scavenger hunt helps you find evidence that birds live nearby. Just look for nests and food sources and listen for their sounds. (Medium)

Learn more: All About Birds Scavenger Hunt

30. Attract birds with a DIY bird feeder

Bring all the birds to the yard with this easy recycled bird feeder project. Kids can learn to identify common backyard birds in your area. Visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s educators resource page for more ideas. (Easy)

31. Identify birds with an app

Some birds are easy to identify, but others stump even longtime bird-watchers. If you’re looking for outdoor science activities for kids who love feathered friends, check out the free Merlin Bird ID app. It listens to bird calls and identifies them in a snap! It works with photos too. (Easy)

Learn more: Merlin Bird ID

32. Estimate the height of a tree

Kids work in pairs to estimate the height of a tree in this project that puts the M in STEM. Get a free printable at the link below to walk you through the process. (Medium)

Learn more: Outdoor STEM: Measuring Tree Height

33. Dissect a flower

Take a plant apart to look at the various parts, like the roots, flower, bud, and more. (Medium)

Learn more: Investigating a Plant

34. Craft tree bark rubbings

Each tree has its type of bark, and making crayon rubbings is an easy and fun way to take a closer look. Put together a whole portfolio and label each with the kind of tree it comes from. (Easy)

35. Pit hydroponics against soil

Grow veggies using soil and hydroponics. Then, conduct your own taste test to see if one is better than the other. (Advanced)

36. Cast animal tracks

Explore wildlife biology by becoming an expert tracker! Learn to identify tracks and take casts. Turn this into an experiment by trying different methods to take casts, or use it as a method of identifying wildlife in the woods. (Advanced)

Learn more:  How to Find & Collect Animal Tracks

37. Gaze at the clouds

Look up and take some time to admire the clouds. Craft this cute “cloud viewer” and find a cloud in the sky. Then, identify what type it is, and learn more about how clouds form. (Easy)

Learn more: Make Your Own Cloud Viewer

38. See the greenhouse effect in action

Climate change can be a contentious topic, so start by teaching kids about the greenhouse effect, which is easy to see and understand using this simple experiment. Then, urge them to explore data collected by scientists so they can learn to make informed decisions about topics like global warming. (Easy)

Learn more:  Teaching About the Greenhouse Effect

39. Assemble an anemometer

Scientists use anemometers to measure wind speed. Build this DIY version and do some outdoor science experiments about weather science with your kids. (Medium)

Learn more: Anemometer

40. Turn a bottle into a rain gauge

All you need is a plastic bottle, a ruler, and a permanent marker to make your own rain gauge. Monitor your measurements and see how they stack up against meteorology reports in your area. (Medium)

Learn more: How To Make a Rain Gauge

41. Harness the power of the wind

Wind turbines have become common sights in some parts of the country as we explore alternative energy sources. Build your own to learn how they work with this outdoor science experiment. (Medium)

Learn more: Build a Wind Turbine

42. Fly a kite

You can learn a lot about physics when you make and fly your own kite. Experiment with different designs to see whose kite flies the highest or the longest. (Easy)

Learn more: How To Make a Simple Kite

43. Compost food scraps in a bottle

Food waste is a big problem, contributing to much of the material that winds up in landfills. Teach kids how to compost with kitchen scraps in a plastic bottle, and use the compost to feed your plants. (Medium)

Learn more: Soda Bottle Compost

44. Grow a carbon sugar snake

If you’re looking for outdoor science experiments that are sure to excite your students, try this eye-popping chemical reaction demonstration. You only need simple supplies like sugar, baking soda, and sand, but the element of fire makes this experiment best done outdoors. (Medium)

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake

45. Construct a dirt battery

This outdoor science project is similar to building a battery from a lemon, but you also get to dig in the dirt! Kids learn about electric currents and conductivity. (Medium)

Learn more: Dirt Battery

46. Test the power of sunscreen

We slather kids in sunscreen when they’re playing outside, but do they understand why? Try this fun little experiment, which demonstrates how sunscreen protects from the sun’s harmful rays. (Easy)

Learn more: STEM Sunscreen Experiment

47. Build a solar oven

Explore the power of the sun when you build your own solar ovens and use them to cook some yummy treats. (Medium)

Learn more: Solar Oven

48. Blast off with bottle rockets

Just a few simple supplies let you use the power of air pressure to send a homemade bottle rock soaring to the heavens! Get full instructions in the video. (Medium)

49. Make sun prints

You’ll need to buy special paper for this outdoor science project, but it’s easy to find. Kids will love creating their own patterns and experimenting to find which objects work best. (Medium)

Learn more: Sun Prints

50. Launch Ping-Pong balls with a catapult

Young kids will simply adore building this basic catapult and watching Ping-Pong balls soar! Older kids can experiment by changing the position of the fulcrum, the length of the board, and the objects being flung. (Easy)

Learn more: DIY Catapult

51. Test out parachutes

Gather a variety of materials (try tissues, handkerchiefs, plastic bags, etc.) and see which ones make the best parachutes. You can also find out how they’re affected on windy days or find out which ones work in the rain. (Easy)

Learn more: How To Make a Parachute

52. Swing a glass of water to learn about centripetal force

When you do this experiment right, you won’t make a mess at all. But while kids are still getting the hang of swinging glasses of water around their heads, you’ll probably want to make this an outdoor science activity. (Medium)

53. Become a human sundial

Choose a sunny day and grab some sidewalk chalk—your students are about to become sundials! They’ll practice measuring skills and learn about the movement of the sun across the sky. (Easy)

Learn more: Human Sundial

54. Build a light box

Kids can entertain themselves for hours with a big empty cardboard box. Channel that energy by turning a box into a place to learn about light refraction and reflection, using colored water in plastic bottles. (Medium)

Learn more: Light Box

55. Float a baking soda–powered boat

Here’s another experiment using the classic baking powder and vinegar reaction. This one uses it to power these cute little DIY boats! A kiddie pool is the perfect spot for this outdoor science project. (Medium)

Learn more:  Baking Soda Boat

56. Slide into friction science

Head out to the playground, gather up a variety of objects, and hold races to see which ones make it down the slide first. This is a fun introduction to friction and inclined planes. (Easy)

Learn more: Exploring Ramps and Friction on a Slide

57. Test your local water quality

Once you’ve “cleaned up” your water, try testing it to see how clean it really is. Then head out to test other types of water. Kids will be fascinated to discover what’s in the water in their local streams, ponds, and puddles. Water-testing kits are readily available online— try this set available on Amazon . (Advanced)

Learn more: Water Quality Experiment

58. Make a rainbow

Spotting a rainbow in the sky is always a magical experience. Let kids experiment with different methods to learn how they can create rainbows of their own, anytime they like! (Easy)

59. Send a tea bag flying

Hot air rises, and this experiment can prove it! You’ll want to supervise kids with fire, of course, but this is a really cool concept to see in action. (Medium)

Learn more: Flying Tea Bag Experiment

60. Find your way with a DIY compass

Here’s an old classic that never fails to impress. Magnetize a needle, float it on the water’s surface, and it will always point north. (Easy)

Learn more: Simple Magnetic Compass

61. Make a solar desalinator

Clean freshwater is a valuable commodity. Construct solar-powered desalination devices with readily available materials, and find the most effective desalination methods. (Advanced)

Outdoor science experiments don’t have to be limited to spring or summer! Bookmark the Coolest Winter Science Experiments and Activities .

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How to Win Science Fairs as a Grown-Ass Adult

Bonus: You won't set your house on fire.

Unless you’re gainfully employed as a scientist, you probably haven’t done much science since high school other than work on your own reproductive biology. That’s a shame, because while you head to the farmer’s market or carefully consider what bar to spend your paycheck on, you could be spending less than $20 holding your own science fair at home. Why leave the joy of basic science experiments to children and President Obama ? Be the scientist you know yourself to be, regardless of whether you remember the periodic table or not.

Here are six experiments to try out, some of which involve alcohol and some of which can be done while simultaneously consuming alcohol. Perform at your own caution, and don’t sue us if you screw up.

Make a Cloud in a Bottle

Clouds: You know them as puffs of tiny water vapors and ice crystals in the sky and the things sometimes you think look like animals . Make your own pseudo-cloud at home using a bike pump, rubbing alcohol, plastic bottle, and wine cork. These instructions come from the helpful YouTube show, Household Hacker .

Instant cloud!

Pour the rubbing alcohol into the plastic bottle and swirl it around until the entire inside is covered. Grab your wine cork, drill a hole down its middle, and attach it to your bike pump’s valve (that’s the part you put in the tire) — this is now your plug. Take that cork attached valve, and fit it into the top of the bottle.

Now is when the magic happens: Slowly pump four or five times, then pull the plug out. Wha la the drastic temperature change will cause the alcohol vapor and air molecules to stick together, creating yourself a cloud in a bottle.

Make Magic Mud

It’s very likely that you made magic mud in second grade. If so, good for you; now you can do it while drinking a gin and tonic.

For this experiment, you’ll need potatoes, tonic water, a strainer, a food processor, and two big bowls (if you don’t have potatoes you can also use corn starch). Get to business — these directions are courtesy of YouTuber Grant Thompson . Chop the potatoes into the smallest pieces possible with either your food processor or a knife. Slide those bits into a large mixing bowl and then use enough hot water to cover them completely.

You’re going to then stir them around for a few minutes before straining the potato bits from the water. The water is what you want — take that and let it sit for about ten minutes. That’s when you’ll notice the water has separated into normal looking water and a white layer. Pour out the water so you only have the white layer, flush it out with some clean water, and then dump out that water so you only have your goop. Let that sit around for two days; it’ll turn into a white powder.

Spoiler: This is what you're making.

This is where the gin and tonic come in: Get the tonic and pour it onto your crumbly powder to turn the potato gunk into magic mud . Because tonic water contains quinine, and quinine becomes fluorescent under black light , your magic mud also turns fluorescent. If you mess with it and constantly roll the magic mud, you’ll find that it acts and feels a lot like pizza dough. If you stop, it collapses into a goo. That’s because this mixture is a suspension of two states of matter — when pressure is applied it acts like a solid, and when that pressure is released it flows like a liquid.

Make Handheld Fireballs

First of all, be careful with this experiment. The whole idea is that you can hold the fireball you’re about to create, but let’s be real: How certain are you that you won’t mess up? Be extra safe the first time you try this by wearing flame retardant gloves and perform the whole experiment away from flammable materials.

That said, the whole gimmick behind this thing is to hold fire in your bare hand. To do so, cut a two- to six-inch piece of fabric from a material that won’t catch fire at low temperatures, like cotton or wool. Roll that piece of fabric tightly up, thread a needle into it, and sew it tightly into a ball. Then you’re going to wet the ball with a lighter fluid like Naphtha or a heater fuel like Kerosene.

This is probably a different fireball than you're used to.

Put the ball onto a fire-safe surface, douse it with your lighter fluid, then set it aflame. You should be able to pick it up from its side and hold it for a few seconds, like an everyday Human Torch. Because vapors are burning all over the ball you can hold it without getting burned.

Mess Around with Fluorescein

Fluorescein is what you’re after — the stuff that’s inside highlighters and what Chicago uses to dye its river green on St. Patrick’s Day. YouTube channel NightHawkInLight advises this experiment be done outside and with a hot plate to avoid any danger.

For this experiment, you’ll need 15 highlighter markers. Unscrew the bottom of the markers to pull out the tube of bright yellow coloring — that’s your fluorescein. Now you’ll need a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a quarter-inch hose top. Drill this top into the lid of the bottle, so that it’s easier to squirt out the alcohol. You need this to extract the fluorescein from the tubes — hold the tube over a bowl and pump the alcohol into the tube to flush out the fluorescein. When you have your bowl of fluorescein mixed with alcohol, put that into a sauce pan, place it on your hot plate, and set to a low simmer.

That’s the dangerous part — alcohol vapors are flammable so you want to make sure you’re in a very well ventilated area with nothing flammable nearby. The alcohol vapor will evaporate out of the pan, leaving you with a syrupy burnt orange concoction of fluorescein. If you pour this into a bowl of water and shine a black light on it, you’ll see it spiral into spectacular lime green pillars.

Fluorescein will  change from orange-red to green-yellow.

Make a Noodle Rocket

This experiment also comes from the YouTube channel NightHawkInLight . Here you’re making your very own hybrid rocket fuel engine — the sort of rocket engine that is a combination of a solid fuel source and a liquid or gaseous oxidizer. Your solid fuel source in this experiment is also what you can make for dinner later: ziti macaroni noodles. The oxidizer will be pure oxygen gas.

Take that Elon Musk.

To make this oxygen gas, you’ll need hydrogen peroxide and active dry yeast. Before you get into that, take the lid and drive a tiny hole in the center of it. Then fill the canning jar three-fourths of the way with hydrogen peroxide and then throw in a quarter of a teaspoon of yeast. This is going to start bubbling — put on the lid but do not screw on the seal that usually comes with canning jars; you need the lid to be able to pop off if it all becomes too pressurized.

Now grab your safety glasses ya’ll, because science is happening. Place your pasta so that a bit of it has gone through the hole in your lid. Then light the top of the ziti up. You’ll see a steady fire burn through the core of the pasta, because a flow of oxygen is being pushed up towards it. Because the heavy weight of the oxygen source and the lack of any nozzle, your jar isn’t going to go flying. But you are recreating how many advance rockets work . Take that, Elon Musk.

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37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

General Education

Are you looking for cool science experiments for kids at home or for class? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of 37 of the best science experiments for kids that cover areas of science ranging from outer space to dinosaurs to chemical reactions. By doing these easy science experiments, kids will make their own blubber and see how polar bears stay warm, make a rain cloud in a jar to observe how weather changes, create a potato battery that'll really power a lightbulb, and more.

Below are 37 of the best science projects for kids to try. For each one we include a description of the experiment, which area(s) of science it teaches kids about, how difficult it is (easy/medium/hard), how messy it is (low/medium/high), and the materials you need to do the project. Note that experiments labelled "hard" are definitely still doable; they just require more materials or time than most of these other science experiments for kids.

#1: Insect Hotels

• Teaches Kids About: Zoology
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Messiness Level: Medium

Insect hotels can be as simple (just a few sticks wrapped in a bundle) or as elaborate as you'd like, and they're a great way for kids to get creative making the hotel and then get rewarded by seeing who has moved into the home they built. After creating a hotel with hiding places for bugs, place it outside (near a garden is often a good spot), wait a few days, then check it to see who has occupied the "rooms." You can also use a bug ID book or app to try and identify the visitors.

• Materials Needed
• Shadow box or other box with multiple compartments
• Hot glue gun with glue
• Sticks, bark, small rocks, dried leaves, bits of yarn/wool, etc.

#2: DIY Lava Lamp

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions
• Difficulty Level: Easy

In this quick and fun science experiment, kids will mix water, oil, food coloring, and antacid tablets to create their own (temporary) lava lamp . Oil and water don't mix easily, and the antacid tablets will cause the oil to form little globules that are dyed by the food coloring. Just add the ingredients together and you'll end up with a homemade lava lamp!

• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Antacid tablets

#3: Magnetic Slime

• Teaches Kids About: Magnets
• Messiness Level: High (The slime is black and will slightly dye your fingers when you play with it, but it washes off easily.)

A step up from silly putty and Play-Doh, magnetic slime is fun to play with but also teaches kids about magnets and how they attract and repel each other. Some of the ingredients you aren't likely to have around the house, but they can all be purchased online. After mixing the ingredients together, you can use the neodymium magnet (regular magnets won't be strong enough) to make the magnetic slime move without touching it!

• Liquid starch
• Adhesive glue
• Iron oxide powder
• Neodymium (rare earth) magnet

#4: Baking Soda Volcanoes

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions, earth science
• Difficulty Level: Easy-medium
• Messiness Level: High

Baking soda volcanoes are one of the classic science projects for kids, and they're also one of the most popular. It's hard to top the excitement of a volcano erupting inside your home. This experiment can also be as simple or in-depth as you like. For the eruption, all you need is baking soda and vinegar (dishwashing detergent adds some extra power to the eruption), but you can make the "volcano" as elaborate and lifelike as you wish.

• Baking soda
• Dishwashing detergent
• Large mason jar or soda bottle
• Playdough or aluminum foil to make the "volcano"
• Additional items to place around the volcano (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

#5: Tornado in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Weather
• Messiness Level: Low

This is one of the quick and easy and science experiments for kids to teach them about weather. It only takes about five minutes and a few materials to set up, but once you have it ready you and your kids can create your own miniature tornado whose vortex you can see and the strength of which you can change depending on how quickly you swirl the jar.

• Glitter (optional)

#6: Colored Celery Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Plants

This celery science experiment is another classic science experiment that parents and teachers like because it's easy to do and gives kids a great visual understanding of how transpiration works and how plants get water and nutrients. Just place celery stalks in cups of colored water, wait at least a day, and you'll see the celery leaves take on the color of the water. This happens because celery stalks (like other plants) contain small capillaries that they use to transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.

• Celery stalks (can also use white flowers or pale-colored cabbage)

#7: Rain Cloud in a Jar

This experiment teaches kids about weather and lets them learn how clouds form by making their own rain cloud . This is definitely a science project that requires adult supervision since it uses boiling water as one of the ingredients, but once you pour the water into a glass jar, the experiment is fast and easy, and you'll be rewarded with a little cloud forming in the jar due to condensation.

• Glass jar with a lid
• Boiling water
• Aerosol hairspray

#8: Edible Rock Candy

• Teaches Kids About: Crystal formation

It takes about a week for the crystals of this rock candy experiment to form, but once they have you'll be able to eat the results! After creating a sugar solution, you'll fill jars with it and dangle strings in them that'll slowly become covered with the crystals. This experiment involves heating and pouring boiling water, so adult supervision is necessary, once that step is complete, even very young kids will be excited to watch crystals slowly form.

• Large saucepan
• Clothespins
• String or small skewers
• Candy flavoring (optional)

#9: Water Xylophone

• Teaches Kids About: Sound waves

With just some basic materials you can create your own musical instrument to teach kids about sound waves. In this water xylophone experiment , you'll fill glass jars with varying levels of water. Once they're all lined up, kids can hit the sides with wooden sticks and see how the itch differs depending on how much water is in the jar (more water=lower pitch, less water=higher pitch). This is because sound waves travel differently depending on how full the jars are with water.

• Wooden sticks/skewers

#10: Blood Model in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Human biology

This blood model experiment is a great way to get kids to visual what their blood looks like and how complicated it really is. Each ingredient represents a different component of blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.), so you just add a certain amount of each to the jar, swirl it around a bit, and you have a model of what your blood looks like.

• Empty jar or bottle
• Red cinnamon candies
• Marshmallows or dry white lima beans
• White sprinkles

#11: Potato Battery

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity
• Difficulty Level: Hard

Did you know that a simple potato can produce enough energy to keep a light bulb lit for over a month? You can create a simple potato battery to show kids. There are kits that provide all the necessary materials and how to set it up, but if you don't purchase one of these it can be a bit trickier to gather everything you need and assemble it correctly. Once it's set though, you'll have your own farm grown battery!

• Fresh potato
• Galvanized nail
• Copper coin

#12: Homemade Pulley

• Teaches Kids About: Simple machines

This science activity requires some materials you may not already have, but once you've gotten them, the homemade pulley takes only a few minutes to set up, and you can leave the pulley up for your kids to play with all year round. This pulley is best set up outside, but can also be done indoors.

• Clothesline
• 2 clothesline pulleys

#13: Light Refraction

• Teaches Kids About: Light

This light refraction experiment takes only a few minutes to set up and uses basic materials, but it's a great way to show kids how light travels. You'll draw two arrows on a sticky note, stick it to the wall, then fill a clear water bottle with water. As you move the water bottle in front of the arrows, the arrows will appear to change the direction they're pointing. This is because of the refraction that occurs when light passes through materials like water and plastic.

• Sticky note
• Transparent water bottle

#14: Nature Journaling

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, scientific observation

A nature journal is a great way to encourage kids to be creative and really pay attention to what's going on around them. All you need is a blank journal (you can buy one or make your own) along with something to write with. Then just go outside and encourage your children to write or draw what they notice. This could include descriptions of animals they see, tracings of leaves, a drawing of a beautiful flower, etc. Encourage your kids to ask questions about what they observe (Why do birds need to build nests? Why is this flower so brightly colored?) and explain to them that scientists collect research by doing exactly what they're doing now.

• Blank journal or notebook
• Pens/pencils/crayons/markers
• Tape or glue for adding items to the journal

#15: DIY Solar Oven

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy

This homemade solar oven definitely requires some adult help to set up, but after it's ready you'll have your own mini oven that uses energy from the sun to make s'mores or melt cheese on pizza. While the food is cooking, you can explain to kids how the oven uses the sun's rays to heat the food.

• Aluminum foil
• Knife or box cutter
• Permanent marker
• Plastic cling wrap
• Black construction paper

#16: Animal Blubber Simulation

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, zoology

If your kids are curious about how animals like polar bears and seals stay warm in polar climates, you can go beyond just explaining it to them; you can actually have them make some of their own blubber and test it out. After you've filled up a large bowl with ice water and let it sit for a few minutes to get really cold, have your kids dip a bare hand in and see how many seconds they can last before their hand gets too cold. Next, coat one of their fingers in shortening and repeat the experiment. Your child will notice that, with the shortening acting like a protective layer of blubber, they don't feel the cold water nearly as much.

• Bowl of ice water

#17: Static Electricity Butterfly

This experiment is a great way for young kids to learn about static electricity, and it's more fun and visual than just having them rub balloons against their heads. First you'll create a butterfly, using thick paper (such as cardstock) for the body and tissue paper for the wings. Then, blow up the balloon, have the kids rub it against their head for a few seconds, then move the balloon to just above the butterfly's wings. The wings will move towards the balloon due to static electricity, and it'll look like the butterfly is flying.

• Tissue paper
• Thick paper
• Glue stick/glue

#18: Edible Double Helix

• Teaches Kids About: Genetics

If your kids are learning about genetics, you can do this edible double helix craft to show them how DNA is formed, what its different parts are, and what it looks like. The licorice will form the sides or backbone of the DNA and each color of marshmallow will represent one of the four chemical bases. Kids will be able to see that only certain chemical bases pair with each other.

• 2 pieces of licorice
• 12 toothpicks
• Small marshmallows in 4 colors (9 of each color)
• 5 paperclips

#19: Leak-Proof Bag

• Teaches Kids About: Molecules, plastics

This is an easy experiment that'll appeal to kids of a variety of ages. Just take a zip-lock bag, fill it about ⅔ of the way with water, and close the top. Next, poke a few sharp objects (like bamboo skewers or sharp pencils) through one end and out the other. At this point you may want to dangle the bag above your child's head, but no need to worry about spills because the bag won't leak? Why not? It's because the plastic used to make zip-lock bags is made of polymers, or long chains of molecules that'll quickly join back together when they're forced apart.

• Zip-lock bags
• Objects with sharp ends (pencils, bamboo skewers, etc.)

#20: How Do Leaves Breathe?

• Teaches Kids About: Plant science

It takes a few hours to see the results of this leaf experiment , but it couldn't be easier to set up, and kids will love to see a leaf actually "breathing." Just get a large-ish leaf, place it in a bowl (glass works best so you can see everything) filled with water, place a small rock on the leaf to weigh it down, and leave it somewhere sunny. Come back in a few hours and you'll see little bubbles in the water created when the leaf releases the oxygen it created during photosynthesis.

• Large bowl (preferably glass)
• Magnifying glass (optional)

#21: Popsicle Stick Catapults

Kids will love shooting pom poms out of these homemade popsicle stick catapults . After assembling the catapults out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons, they're ready to launch pom poms or other lightweight objects. To teach kids about simple machines, you can ask them about how they think the catapults work, what they should do to make the pom poms go a farther/shorter distance, and how the catapult could be made more powerful.

• Popsicle sticks
• Rubber bands
• Plastic spoons
• Paint (optional)

#22: Elephant Toothpaste

You won't want to do this experiment near anything that's difficult to clean (outside may be best), but kids will love seeing this " elephant toothpaste " crazily overflowing the bottle and oozing everywhere. Pour the hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and dishwashing soap into the bottle, and in the cup mix the yeast packet with some warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, add the yeast mixture to the bottle, stand back, and watch the solution become a massive foamy mixture that pours out of the bottle! The "toothpaste" is formed when the yeast removed the oxygen bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide which created foam. This is an exothermic reaction, and it creates heat as well as foam (you can have kids notice that the bottle became warm as the reaction occurred).

• Clean 16-oz soda bottle
• 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 packet of dry yeast
• Dishwashing soap

#23: How Do Penguins Stay Dry?

Penguins, and many other birds, have special oil-producing glands that coat their feathers with a protective layer that causes water to slide right off them, keeping them warm and dry. You can demonstrate this to kids with this penguin craft by having them color a picture of a penguin with crayons, then spraying the picture with water. The wax from the crayons will have created a protective layer like the oil actual birds coat themselves with, and the paper won't absorb the water.

• Penguin image (included in link)
• Spray bottle
• Blue food coloring (optional)

#24: Rock Weathering Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Geology

This mechanical weathering experiment teaches kids why and how rocks break down or erode. Take two pieces of clay, form them into balls, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, leave one out while placing the other in the freezer overnight. The next day, unwrap and compare them. You can repeat freezing the one piece of clay every night for several days to see how much more cracked and weathered it gets than the piece of clay that wasn't frozen. It may even begin to crumble. This weathering also happens to rocks when they are subjected to extreme temperatures, and it's one of the causes of erosion.

• Plastic wrap

#25: Saltwater Density

• Teaches Kids About: Water density

For this saltwater density experiment , you'll fill four clear glasses with water, then add salt to one glass, sugar to one glass, and baking soda to one glass, leaving one glass with just water. Then, float small plastic pieces or grapes in each of the glasses and observe whether they float or not. Saltwater is denser than freshwater, which means some objects may float in saltwater that would sink in freshwater. You can use this experiment to teach kids about the ocean and other bodies of saltwater, such as the Dead Sea, which is so salty people can easily float on top of it.

• Four clear glasses
• Lightweight plastic objects or small grapes

#26: Starburst Rock Cycle

With just a package of Starbursts and a few other materials, you can create models of each of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Sedimentary "rocks" will be created by pressing thin layers of Starbursts together, metamorphic by heating and pressing Starbursts, and igneous by applying high levels of heat to the Starbursts. Kids will learn how different types of rocks are forms and how the three rock types look different from each other.

• Toaster oven

#27: Inertia Wagon Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Inertia

This simple experiment teaches kids about inertia (as well as the importance of seatbelts!). Take a small wagon, fill it with a tall stack of books, then have one of your children pull it around then stop abruptly. They won't be able to suddenly stop the wagon without the stack of books falling. You can have the kids predict which direction they think the books will fall and explain that this happens because of inertia, or Newton's first law.

• Stack of books

#28: Dinosaur Tracks

• Teaches Kids About: Paleontology

How are some dinosaur tracks still visible millions of years later? By mixing together several ingredients, you'll get a claylike mixture you can press your hands/feet or dinosaur models into to make dinosaur track imprints . The mixture will harden and the imprints will remain, showing kids how dinosaur (and early human) tracks can stay in rock for such a long period of time.

• Used coffee grounds
• Wooden spoon
• Rolling pin

#29: Sidewalk Constellations

• Teaches Kids About: Astronomy

If you do this sidewalk constellation craft , you'll be able to see the Big Dipper and Orion's Belt in the daylight. On the sidewalk, have kids draw the lines of constellations (using constellation diagrams for guidance) and place stones where the stars are. You can then look at astronomy charts to see where the constellations they drew will be in the sky.

• Sidewalk chalk
• Small stones
• Diagrams of constellations

#30: Lung Model

By building a lung model , you can teach kids about respiration and how their lungs work. After cutting off the bottom of a plastic bottle, you'll stretch a balloon around the opened end and insert another balloon through the mouth of the bottle. You'll then push a straw through the neck of the bottle and secure it with a rubber band and play dough. By blowing into the straw, the balloons will inflate then deflate, similar to how our lungs work.

• Plastic bottle
• Rubber band

#31: Homemade Dinosaur Bones

By mixing just flour, salt, and water, you'll create a basic salt dough that'll harden when baked. You can use this dough to make homemade dinosaur bones and teach kids about paleontology. You can use books or diagrams to learn how different dinosaur bones were shaped, and you can even bury the bones in a sandpit or something similar and then excavate them the way real paleontologists do.

• Images of dinosaur bones

#32: Clay and Toothpick Molecules

There are many variations on homemade molecule science crafts . This one uses clay and toothpicks, although gumdrops or even small pieces of fruit like grapes can be used in place of clay. Roll the clay into balls and use molecule diagrams to attach the clay to toothpicks in the shape of the molecules. Kids can make numerous types of molecules and learn how atoms bond together to form molecules.

• Clay or gumdrops (in four colors)
• Diagrams of molecules

#33: Articulated Hand Model

By creating an articulated hand model , you can teach kids about bones, joints, and how our hands are able to move in many ways and accomplish so many different tasks. After creating a hand out of thin foam, kids will cut straws to represent the different bones in the hand and glue them to the fingers of the hand models. You'll then thread yarn (which represents tendons) through the straws, stabilize the model with a chopstick or other small stick, and end up with a hand model that moves and bends the way actual human hands do.

• Straws (paper work best)
• Twine or yarn

#34: Solar Energy Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy, light rays

This solar energy science experiment will teach kids about solar energy and how different colors absorb different amounts of energy. In a sunny spot outside, place six colored pieces of paper next to each other, and place an ice cube in the middle of each paper. Then, observe how quickly each of the ice cubes melt. The ice cube on the black piece of paper will melt fastest since black absorbs the most light (all the light ray colors), while the ice cube on the white paper will melt slowest since white absorbs the least light (it instead reflects light). You can then explain why certain colors look the way they do. (Colors besides black and white absorb all light except for the one ray color they reflect; this is the color they appear to us.)

• 6 squares of differently colored paper/cardstock (must include black paper and white paper)

#35: How to Make Lightning

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity, weather

You don't need a storm to see lightning; you can actually create your own lightning at home . For younger kids this experiment requires adult help and supervision. You'll stick a thumbtack through the bottom of an aluminum tray, then stick the pencil eraser to the pushpin. You'll then rub the piece of wool over the aluminum tray, and then set the tray on the Styrofoam, where it'll create a small spark/tiny bolt of lightning!

• Pencil with eraser
• Aluminum tray or pie tin
• Styrofoam tray

#36: Tie-Dyed Milk

• Teaches Kids About: Surface tension

For this magic milk experiment , partly fill a shallow dish with milk, then add a one drop of each food coloring color to different parts of the milk. The food coloring will mostly stay where you placed it. Next, carefully add one drop of dish soap to the middle of the milk. It'll cause the food coloring to stream through the milk and away from the dish soap. This is because the dish soap breaks up the surface tension of the milk by dissolving the milk's fat molecules.

• Shallow dish
• Milk (high-fat works best)

#37: How Do Stalactites Form?

Have you ever gone into a cave and seen huge stalactites hanging from the top of the cave? Stalactites are formed by dripping water. The water is filled with particles which slowly accumulate and harden over the years, forming stalactites. You can recreate that process with this stalactite experiment . By mixing a baking soda solution, dipping a piece of wool yarn in the jar and running it to another jar, you'll be able to observe baking soda particles forming and hardening along the yarn, similar to how stalactites grow.

• Safety pins
• 2 glass jars

Summary: Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Any one of these simple science experiments for kids can get children learning and excited about science. You can choose a science experiment based on your child's specific interest or what they're currently learning about, or you can do an experiment on an entirely new topic to expand their learning and teach them about a new area of science. From easy science experiments for kids to the more challenging ones, these will all help kids have fun and learn more about science.

What's Next?

Are you also interested in pipe cleaner crafts for kids? We have a guide to some of the best pipe cleaner crafts to try!

Looking for multiple different slime recipes? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Want to learn more about clouds? Learn how to identify every cloud in the sky with our guide to the 10 types of clouds .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa) .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

10 Science Experiments You Want To Do This Year

Science experiments are one of the most exciting things you can do in your homeschool or classroom! We’ve put together some thrilling – yet easy – science experiments for you and your kids to do this year.

Please remember to keep  safety  first and protect yourself with the proper equipment, as needed, when doing any of these science experiments!

Pantry Science Experiments

There are several fun science experiments that you can do with household items you likely have stocked in your kitchen pantry!

Science with  Oobleck  

“Oobleck” is a fascinating non-Newtonian fluid  (it is a fluid that does not follow Newton’s law of viscosity)  that has the ability to act like a solid OR a liquid — depending on the conditions it’s under. Making oobleck and playing with it can be relaxing for both kids, teens, and adults! It’s fascinating stuff that you have to make at least once in your lifetime.

It’s super easy to make, using the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1.5 to 2 cups of cornstarch
• A few drops of food coloring (optional) 

Use a mixing bowl for this one. Add the water first, then start adding the cornstarch to the water little by little. Try stirring it at first and it’ll be fairly easy—but soon you’ll need to switch to using your hands! When you’ve added about 1.5 cups of cornstarch, add in the other half cup slowly and in less quantity at a time. You’re looking for consistency now: solid when you push on it or squeeze it and liquid like slime when left alone.

You can always add more water to it if you add too much cornstarch or you can add more cornstarch if you have too much water. Oobleck is a great addition to your fun science experiments list for younger kids (and older ones, too).

Pepper and Water 

Have you heard of this one before? It’s another quick one to add to your fun science experiments list, since you probably have all the ingredients at home already.

This is a great way to learn about the surface tension of water. Here is what you’ll need:

• A shallow bowl or pie plate
• Black pepper (ground)

Cover the bottom of the shallow dish with water. Sprinkle some black pepper on the surface of the water.  Notice how the surface tension of the water causes the pepper flakes to float. 

Now, for the experiment. Stick your finger in the center of the dish. Not much happened, right?

Okay, here’s the fun twist! Imagine those bits of pepper are germs! Ewwwww!  Dip the tip of your finger into some dish soap. You don’t need much. Then, stick that finger into the center of the dish. What happened?

The dish soap is formulated to break the surface tension of water — that’s why it’s so great at cleaning our greasy and dirty dishes!

Make An Egg Float

Have you ever done this? It’s like there are two equal camps on this: those who did it as kids and those who didn’t. Here’s how you can incorporate this simple but fun science experiment with your kids! 

You’ll need the following:

• Glass cup or jar
• Water (tap)

Fill the glass container about ⅔ of the way. Carefully drop the egg in. It sank, right? Now take the egg out. Add in about 5 tablespoons of salt and stir it. Add the egg back in. It should float! If it doesn’t, take it out and add more salt until the egg floats when you add it to the water.

The science takeaway: in water, objects sink when they are denser than the water. By adding salt, you’re making the water denser — so at this point, the water has become denser than the egg and the egg now floats in it. Try some other objects to see what happens!

Experiments with Fire

These are SO much fun! Please take precautions and be sure to have safety measures in place, along with a responsible adult.

Make Some Sparks With Steel Wool

This is a total WOW factor science experiment with just two simple items! You’ve probably burned wood in your fireplace, fire pit, or while camping. Did you know that metals can burn, too? (If you can get them hot enough, of course.) And did you know that fireworks are made from burning metals? 

When something burns it’s because a chemical reaction is taking place. That reaction is called a combustion reaction. It happens when a chemical reacts with oxygen and releases energy in the form of light and heat. 

Here’s how you can burn iron (in the form of steel wool). You’ll need the following:

• Steel wool (fine grade)
• 9-volt battery

We recommend you grab the following too for safety:

• Safety Goggle s
• A cup of water
• A baking pan or metal pan
• A responsible adult

Spread apart the fibers for the steel wool (it usually comes bundled up). Place on a baking pan, metal pan, or surface you feel comfortable placing it on for the next step. Then, grab the battery and just brush the two battery contacts against the steel wool. Then watch what happens! It will fizzle out on its own, but feel free to toss some water on it if you feel safer or want to put it out.

Remember: science experiments like this are super fun, but be sure to take safety precautions!

Fireproof Balloon 

I mean, just those two words together make you go — waaaaaa?! This is super neat!

You’ll need:

For your safety:

• Goggles ( Goggles for kids and for adults )

While deflated, fill the balloon with water. Then blow it up with air. Tie it off. Hold the balloon in one hand and slowly lower it over the flame source (lighter or candle). What happens? Nothing! It doesn’t pop! How wild, right? If you’re brave, you can even make the flame touch the balloon — and it still will not pop! 

The reason a balloon pops under normal circumstances (just air in it) is that the rubber gets super weak when heat is applied to it. But, when you fill the balloon with water — the water is absorbing the majority of the heat! So the rubber doesn’t get quite as hot and therefore doesn’t pop!

Flammable Hand Sanitizer 

Post-2020 we know you all have some extra hand sanitizer lying around — so use it to have fun doing this amazing science experiment!

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Add some sanitizer on a surface (a plate works fine).  Ignite the sanitizer on the plate. Notice how beautiful the blue flame looks? It’s almost hard to see if you have the lights on so try shutting the lights off to see it better! If you swipe a finger through the sanitizer on the plate (while it’s flaming) you’ll have some flames on your fingertips. You can put it out quickly by shaking your hand or dipping it in water. 

The reason it won’t burn your hands is that the water in the sanitizer has a high specific capacity — and it takes a high temperature to boil water. The water protects your hands as it absorbs the heat.

Simple, fun, and super WEIRD! Please have adult supervision for this one.

What you’ll need:

• Baking Soda 1 tablespoon
• Sugar, 4 tablespoons

Use more or less, but you want a 4 to 1 ratio of sugar to baking soda so adjust accordingly.

• Long-stick match or long-neck lighter
• Lighter fluid
• Water (in case you need it or want it to put out the flames)

For safety it is recommended you also have:

• Extra water
• Goggles  ( Goggles for kids and for adults )

Add sand to a bowl or large container. Soak the sand with lighter fluid. Separately, mix the sugar and baking soda, then pour it in a pile onto the soaked-in-lighter-fluid sand. Then, light it with a long stick match or a long-neck lighter. Stand back and watch the snake grow! 

When this burns, the baking soda gets super hot and decomposes. When it does this, it releases carbon dioxide gas. The lack of oxygen in the sugar from the combustion creates carbonate and water vapor. The CO2 causes pressure and that pushes the carbonate out and forms the snake. If you leave it, it should grow for about 20 min!

Remember: science activities like this are super fun, but be sure to take safety precautions!

Other Science Experiments You’ll Love

Magnetic Fluid

This will remind you a bit of oobleck. One minute the substance is solid and the next it’s liquid. You could say it has a bit of a split personality! 

First let’s talk a bit about ferrofluid. Ferrofluid is a liquid with super-tiny magnetic particles floating around inside of it. The particles are attracted to each other so they need to be coated with a special substance that stops them from sticking together (this is how the ferrofluid stays liquid). But when an external magnetic field is present, the particles become magnetized and the ferrofluid becomes a solid! 

Want to make your own and play with it? Here is what you’ll need:

• Vegetable oil
• A shallow dish
• Iron fillings (you can get those here or here and you may be able to find them at your local hardware store, too)

Pour some vegetable oil into that shallow dish you have, just enough to make a thin coat on the bottom of the dish. Then, pour the iron filings into the oil and mix until it becomes thick. Kind of like sludge. You’ve officially made ferrofluid! Next, use a napkin to absorb any excess oil — this will also help the ferrofluid become thicker. Tip: attach a magnet to the outside of the dish. It’ll solidify the fluid and let you dab away at the extra oil!

When you attach a magnet to the outside of the dish, the fluid will take its shape. Remove the magnet and it becomes liquid again! 

IMPORTANT: don’t pour this down your drain! It’ll probably clog your pipes.

Fun geeky fact: Ferrofluids are used by the military to coat aircraft. It helps them evade radars. Ferrofluids are made by NASA scientists — the same folks who brought you Tang and freeze-dried ice cream! They needed to come up with an idea to confine liquids in space — and that’s how they came up with ferrofluids.

Swab & Grow: Bacteria Growth Science Experiments

Have some icky fun seeing bacteria grow! You can get bacteria from just about anything: doorknobs, the toilet, the sink, your phone, a chair, the door, and more.

• Petri dishes
• Pour it into a petri dish, swab any surface, and watch bacteria begin to grow
• You can also get this complete bacteria kit that comes with what you need.

Prepare the agar according to the directions on the bottle. Prepare the petri dishes by pouring some agar into them, then let the liquid spread around the surface of the petri dish. Use your q-tips or swabs to get some samples from around your house, then gently spread it onto the agar in a zig-zag pattern. Add the lid to the petri dish and label it with what you swabbed. 

Place the petri dishes out of the way in a dark, room-temp area. In about 3-7 days you’ll see some (usually colorful) growth! So start checking on day three and then keep checking till you have a full colony growing. What surface resulted in the most? Here’s  a great video  showing and explaining the steps to preparing your petri dish.

Balloon Rocket

A super simple, fun, and educational science experiment to do with your kids!

You’ll need: 

• Balloons 

Tie the yarn to the back of a chair. Thread the yarn through a straw than to the back of another chair a few feet away. You don’t want the yarn sagging, but you don’t want it super tight either. Tape a fully-blown-up balloon to the straw with two strips of tape. Pull the balloon to one chair and let it go! You’ll see it ZOOOOOM across the yarn! 

The way this balloon trick works is the same way a rocket does! Air is providing the power needed to push in the opposite direction, providing thrust.

Other Items to Have on Hand

Science experiments are a dime a dozen on the internet and in homeschool curriculum. In order to be prepared, start a plastic bin as a science box. Keep it stocked with popular experiment items from above and the ones listed below and it will serve you well for spur-of-the-moment activities.

• Invisible Ink
• Lemon Juice
• ​Plastic Bags
• A water bottle or plastic bottle
• Rubber Bands
• Marshmallows
• Shaving Cream

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive, but it will get you a good start! In addition to the above, a lava lamp would be good to have on hand too. Keep your eyes open and pick one up at a yard sale!

If you prefer to purchase kits for science experiments, you can find  all sorts of kits here . We provide you with the best quality “ingredients” for your experiments and science fair projects alike!

STEM activities are such good learning opportunities for your family! When you combine these with the curriculum you have for science, you’ll find that science becomes an endless amount of fun that everyone will look forward to.

Teaching Homeschool

Welcome! After you finish this article, we invite you to read other articles to assist you in teaching science at home on the Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

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Scitech / Explore / At Home

At Home Experiments

With at-home science experiments for kids you can explore possibilities, ask questions, and learn together.

• Early Childhood
• Chemical Science
• Forensic science
• Physical Science

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Home » Blog » 10 Easy Science Experiments For Young Scientists

10 Easy Science Experiments For Young Scientists

Is your kid a budding scientist? If yes, you’ll undoubtedly want to think of ways to encourage their enthusiasm for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. Fortunately, children of all ages can learn from even the most basic science experiments carried out at home. Check out these 10 easy science experiments for young scientists.

• 1. Lava Lamp 

2. Surface Tension (Using Black Pepper!)

3. homemade slime, 4. dancing raisins , 5. float or sink , 6. cleaning dirty pennies, 7. rainbow celery (capillary action), 8. water fireworks, 9. mixing impossible liquids, 10. tie-dye, wrapping up.

Children aged 4 to 12 (and beyond!) really like this easy experiment, and it will send the adults back in time as well. Kids may learn about density via these simple and easy science experiments.

You’ll need:

a) A clean bottle of plastic (or several plastic bottles)

c) Plant-based oil

d) Fizzing tablets (like an alka-seltzer tablet)

e) Coloring agents

Water should be added to the bottle until it is about 1/4 full. Fill the rest of the bottle to the top with vegetable oil. If you have a funnel, use it.

Then, include a few drops of food colouring in your chosen colour. Keep an eye on the colour as it passes through oil. Then add the fizzing tablet.

The tablet will sink through oil and combine with water. Carbon dioxide gas is produced as the tablet dissolves. This creates a beautiful, colourful lamp, because of the emission of gas!

Even young children must learn about surface tension, which is a fundamental science concept.

a) Black pepper

d) Liquid soap

First, pour a thin coating of water on a plate—less than an inch should do.

Next, sprinkle pepper over the water, trying to cover as much of the surface as you can. More pepper equals more fun.

Last but not the least, dab your finger in the liquid soap. Touch the pepper to witness the soap releasing the water’s surface tension!

The water’s surface tension is broken by the soap. Because water molecules tend to cling together, there is surface tension in water.

Young children love playing with slime. The fact that kids will love this scientific experiment makes it one of our favourites.

b) School glue in white

c) Food colouring

e) Two bowls

In a bowl, first combine 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup white school glue. (If you would like extra, double the amount.)

Next, add a few drops of food colouring to the mixture to make your slime.

After that, whisk together 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 tablespoon of borax until the borax dissolves.

You and your kid just invented slime at home! You can also try some fun educational activity at home.

A few basic supplies that you probably already have in your home are required for this extremely simple scientific experiment that is ideal for young children.

You’ll require:

a) Clear Soda

b) A clear glass of water

c) Several raisins

Start by pouring ordinary water or similar liquid without gas bubbles in one glass and clear soda in the other. After that, add raisins to each glass and observe how they behave with the clear soda.

The soda’s gas bubbles lift the raisins into the air. The raisins dip again as they explode.

When the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the soda’s surface, they pop, releasing the gas into the air. As a result, the raisin loses buoyancy and falls back to the glass’s bottom. Because of this, the raisin behaves differently in various liquids.

This simple scientific experiment will appeal to children of all ages, but especially young ones, since it lays the groundwork for understanding density.

a) Two glasses of water

b) Small items from around the house

c) A piece of paper and a pen

Start by adding water to two large, transparent containers. Then, instruct your children to collect little objects from around the home to see if they would sink or float.

Ask your children to make a list of the things on paper and predict whether or not they will float or sink before you test them.

Test each item now, then compare the results to their predictions! This is a fantastic technique to teach the scientific concept of density to children.

You undoubtedly have some dirty coins laying around your home, so utilize them for an easy science experiments that even small children will find entertaining. Pennies are made of copper and have a long shelf life, so they frequently have a tarnished appearance. You’ll find out in this experiment if soap, vinegar, or other liquids work better at cleaning the dirty copper pennies.

The pennies were seen to have a shinier appearance with vinegar in comparison to soap.

Do you have any celery in the fridge? Then, using a quick and eye-catching experiment with colour-changing celery, you may start learning about capillary action. Your kids will cherish this craft for years to come since it’s so cool!

What you require:

b) Glasses of water

Choose a sunny location and half-fill the cups with water.

After that, add various shades of food colouring to each glass.

Slice celery stalks and add them to the water glasses. You might also do this experiment using a flower that is light in colour.

Give the celery some time to sit. The leaves will start to change colour after a few hours.

With the help of this simple experiment, you can show your child how the celery stalks’ tiny vessels may transport water to the leaves, simulating the flow of blood in the human body.

This completely safe fireworks experiment will be popular during Diwali!

a) Tall glass of water

b) Small glass of water

d) Food colouring

Start by almost completely filling your glass with water. Add two teaspoons of oil to the small glass. Until it is broken up into smaller specks, add 2 drops of food colouring and stir the mixture with a fork.

Watch as the firework expands after adding the oil mixture to the water.

In this really simple experiment, oil and water are combined in equal quantities with a drop of food colouring to observe what happens. The process of the food colouring passing through the oil will fascinate children. The colour passes straight through oil without mixing. However, it will mix with water.

The children would love to know about different densities of liquids and you’ll like how simple it is to set up and take down!

Who would have guessed that everyone’s favourite t-shirt pattern is also a fantastic scientific lesson? All you need are some rubber bands, buckets, dye, and an old white t-shirt or pillowcase.

Next, roll up your t-shirt and carefully knot each rubber band at the ends to make a pattern.

Start by dipping the t-shirt into each colour of dye.

Your youngster will be able to watch the water solubility and absorption in action as they colour the shirt. Because the dyes are fibre-reactive, a chemical reaction occurs between the dye molecules and the fabric molecules, fusing them together. The dye fuses with the cloth and essentially turns into a component of it.

There is science everywhere! Allow children to lead the way as you explore and learn together. Your scientific journey will become considerably more worthwhile and meaningful as a result. Your children will cherish these special connections for the rest of their lives!

So go forth and create some science with these fun experiments to do with your kids.

Also Read, twitter accounts for young scientists .

Read our latest education blogs here. We are pioneers in proffering personalised, affordable and high-quality lessons using an advanced learning platform.

What are some 5th grade science experiments?

Some of the most popular 5th grade science experiments include creating a volcano, making slime, growing crystals, designing an egg drop experiment and building a simple circuit. Children are naturally curious, so these experiments can foster their interest and enthusiasm for science. 

What are the best science experiments for kids?

The best science experiments for kids are those that are engaging, hands-on, and relevant to their everyday lives. They should be simple enough for children to understand and perform on their own or with minimal adult supervision. Here are some examples:

• Exploring the properties of magnets and magnetic attraction
• Creating chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice
• Building a simple machine like a lever or pulley
• Observing the behavior of light and color using prisms and lenses
• Investigating the effects of heat and cold on different materials
• Testing the buoyancy of different objects in water.

What is the most famous science experiment for children?

One of the most famous science experiments for children is the classic “volcano” experiment, where baking soda and vinegar are mixed together to create a chemical reaction that produces a foaming eruption. Another well-known experiment is the “egg drop” experiment, where students design and build a container that can protect an egg from cracking when dropped from a certain height.

How do you create a simple science experiment for young kids?

To create a simple science experiment for young kids, start with a question that is easy to understand and relates to their everyday experiences. Then, design an experiment that allows them to observe and explore the answer to that question through hands-on activities. Keep the experiment simple and safe, using materials that are easy to find at home or school. Finally, encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, and record their observations in a notebook or journal.

What are good science experiment ideas?

Lava Lamp, Surface Tension (Using Black Pepper!), Homemade Slime, Dancing raisins, Rainbow Celery (Capillary Action) and Water Fireworks are some of best science experiment ideas.

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Easy Science Experiments To Do At Home

Science experiments at home are a fun way to engage the kiddos in easy-to-understand science concepts. They’ll want to do them over, over, and over again! One of the fascinating things about science activities for kids has to be the ease with which you can set up so many fun science experiments, even at home! The one thing that all of these experiments have in common is that they use everyday household supplies. How easy is that?

What Science Experiments Can I Do At Home?

Can you do terrific science experiments at home? You bet! Is it hard? Nope!

What do you need to get started?

Simply get up, walk into the kitchen, and start rummaging through cupboards. You will surely find some or all the supplies you need for all the easy home science experiments below.

These experiments at home work well with multiple age groups from preschool to elementary and beyond. Our activities have also been readily used with special needs groups in high school and young adult programs! More or less adult supervision depends on your kids’ abilities!

Read on to find out our favorite science experiments you can do at home that are do-able and make sense!

Using The Scientific Method With Kids

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.

Sounds heavy… What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

Learn more here:

• Using The Scientific Method with Young Kids
• Variables In Science
• Observation In Science

Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.

Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids
• Join us in the Club

Click here to get your free Home Science Guide

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The following kids’ science activities can work for preschoolers through middle schoolers allowing multiple ages to work together while still learning great science concepts. Older kiddos can easily apply the scientific method, fill out science journal pages, and use science vocabulary to extend their learning.

Blow Up A Balloon 

Of course, you know you can blow up balloons with your breath! What do you exhale? Carbon dioxide! But did you know you can also blow up a balloon with two common household ingredients, vinegar and baking soda?

Set up your experiment and test the difference between a balloon blown up with your breath and one blown up with the chemical reaction. Notice any differences?

LOOK : Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Catapult Physics

Explore potential and kinetic energy with a simple to make catapult. Our Popsicle stick catapult tutorial is perfect for testing physics in the living room.

Explore the weights of different objects and how far they fly. Play with the lever arm and fulcrum to test force. Run through Newton’s laws! Why not invent your own catapult? Craft sticks and rubber bands are the base for this project. A bottle cap to hold items helps too!

LOOK: Popsicle Stick Catapult

Erupting Volcano

This is a classic science project the kids will have a blast creating at home. Although it’s a multi-step project which involves homemade salt dough, and decorating a volcano to get started, the eruptions are awesome!

You’ll need a batch of salt dough (or old playdough), paint (optional), baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, and dish soap

LOOK: Volcano Experiment

Goopy Oobleck

Prepare to get a little messy with this science experiment! You might even want to take this one outside. All you need is cornstarch and water and food coloring (optional).

Have you ever heard of a Non-Newtonian fluid? Part solid and part liquid, oobleck is more than just water and cornstarch mixed together! It also demonstrates the properties of Non-Newtonian fluids. Pick it up like a solid and let it ooze back as a liquid. 

LOOK : Oobleck Recipe

Grow Crystals

Growing crystals is a great way to explore saturated solutions and crystal formation with kids of all ages. If you don’t want to get into using borax powder to grow crystals (although very cool results), salt is another great option and really gets the kids involved.

Plan for the experiment to take a few days as the water has to evaporate. All you need is table salt, water. and paper!

• Grow Salt  Crystals
• Grow Crystals With Borax
• Grow Sugar Crystals

DIY milk fireworks! A fun way to explore chemistry and reactions with kitchen ingredients. What happens when the fat in the milk meets the dish soap?

No low-fat, fat-free options here. Full fat milk is the best choice for this home science experiment. You’ll also need food coloring, dish soap. cotton swabs, and a shallow dish.

LOOK: Magic Milk Science Experiment

Melting Ice

This science activity features three different challenges that will keep the kiddos busy for hours and use items from around the house. Explore how ice melts, try to prevent ice from melting, and more. Simple science information included!

LOOK: What makes ice melt faster?

Can you really make an egg bounce or a rubber egg? What happens to egg shell when you have an egg in vinegar? So many fun ideas to test out with a few simple supplies. All you need is some uncooked eggs and vinegar.

LOOK: Rubber Egg Experiment

Slime Science

We love making and playing with all types of cool slime. From super fluffy slime, galaxy slime, butter slime, glow-in-the-dark slime, and more. But did you know that slime can also be a fun science experiment? 

Explore what happens when you vary the key ingredients in one of our most popular slime recipes. You only need PVA glue, slime activators , and baking soda for tons of slimy fun.

• The Best Slime Recipes
• Super Fluffy Slime Recipe 

Walking Water

Explore capillary action , the process that moves water up through the stem of a plant in order for photosynthesis to work!

You can demonstrate this in several ways, including a walking water rainbow, color-changing flowers, and even with celery and lettuce leaves. All you need is food coloring, water, and something to move the water!

• Coloring Changing Flowers
• How Water Travels Through Leaves
• Walking Water Experiment

Balloon Rocket

How far can your balloon rocket fly? There’s an equal and opposite reaction for every action—exciting physics with straws, a balloon, and two anchor points.

LOOK: Balloon Rocket Experiment

More Fun Science Experiments To Try

Are you looking for more cool science experiments to do at home? Here’s even more to try- kid approved! Little scientists, through big scientists, will love the selection of mixtures, models, and mess!

Colorful Candy Experiments

Fantastic candy science experiments that you can actually do with all of your favorite candy! Of course, you might have to allow for taste testing too!

Chemical Reactions

Who doesn’t love fizzing, erupting and even exploding chemical reaction experiments ? Even better you can do these science experiments at home safely with everyday ingredients.

Grow Your Science

Experiment with plants with one or more of these hands-on activities for kids. Set up a seed germination jar, mini-greenhouse, learn how plants breath, make food and more.

Science You Can Eat

Can you eat science? You bet! Kids love tasty food science experiments  and adults love inexpensive and easy to set up science experiments at home!

Science In A Jar

Simple science jar experiments you can actually do in a single Mason jar! Totally doable and fun for kids to work on science at-home!

What’s The Weather Like

Dive into fun and easy weather science with simple weather STEM activities, demonstrations, engineering projects, and free weather worksheets.

Water Experiments

Water has to the easiest thing you can use to do science at home! You wouldn’t believe how many different water experiments you can do with the kids.

Science Experiments By Age Group

We’ve put together a few separate resources for different age groups, but remember that many experiments will cross over and can be re-tried at several different age levels. Younger kiddos can enjoy the simplicity and hands-on fun. At the same time, you can talk back and forth about what is happening.

As kiddos get older, they can bring more complexity to the experiments, including using the scientific method , developing hypotheses, exploring variables , creating different tests, and writing conclusions from analyzing data.

• Science for Toddlers
• Science for Preschoolers
• Science for Kindergarten
• Science for Early Elementary Grades
• Science for 3rd Grade
• Science for Middle School

More Fun Things To Do At Home

• 25 Things To Do Outside
• 100 Indoor Activities For Kids
• 75 Fun Activities For Preschoolers
• Virtual Field Trip Ideas To Go On An Adventure
• Fantastic Math Worksheets For Kids
• Fun Printable Activities For Kids

Printable Science Projects For Kids

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

65 Science Experiments for Kids: Have a Blast at Home

Is your kid bored at the weekends or while on school vacation? Are they couch potato-ing in front of the TV again? I know a brilliant way to keep your child entertained and engage their brain: science experiments.

Whether your child is intrigued by the thought of Imploding Cans or a Lemon Volcano, I’ve put together a list of 65 dazzling science experiments for kids! No need for a fancy science lab — you can do these all from the comfort of your home.

I’ll let you know exactly how to carry out each experiment. Gone are the days when there was nothing to do. Now you have 65 theories to test out!

Easy Science Experiments Kids Will Enjoy

Safety tips, faqs about science experiments for kids.

From making a cloud in a bottle to homemade bouncy balls, here are 65 easy science projects for kids to try. Plus, most use household items, making this a cheap way to pass the time.

1. Cloud in a Bottle

Tightly secure the lid on an empty plastic water bottle. Twist the bottom of the water bottle as tightly as possible. This will compress the air and push all the molecules inside together.

When you open the water bottle, the molecules expand, releasing the pressure and creating an instant cloud.

2. Floating Fish

Learn about solubility and density with this fun experiment. On the bottom of a glass plate, draw the outline of a fish with a dry-erase marker.

After a couple of minutes, slowly pour tap water into the corner of the dish until it covers the plate. The water will move towards the fish drawing, surrounding it. Tilt the plate from side to side and watch as the fish drawing starts to float!

3. Lava Lamp

Learn about density and make a lava lamp at home. Add two inches of baking soda to the bottom of a jar, then fill the rest with vegetable oil until full. These two ingredients won’t mix.

Combine ¼ cup of vinegar with a bit of food coloring in a separate cup. Mix together before pouring the solution into the jar with oil and baking soda.

Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight on your lava lamp!

4. Foamy Fountain (Elephant’s Toothpaste)

In this experiment, kids will make foam with a few household ingredients. In scientific terms, this is called an Exothermic Reaction.

Pour ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide into a bottle. Add 10 drops of food coloring and one tablespoon of dish soap. Swirl it around to mix.

Combine three tablespoons of warm water and one tablespoon of dry yeast in a separate cup. Mix for 30 seconds.

Use a funnel to pour the yeast-water combination into the bottle and watch it fantastically foam!

Don’t touch the foam. We know it’s tempting, but it contains peroxide, which can irritate your skin and eyes.

5. Magic Milk

Pour whole milk into a shallow pie dish with a flat surface. Add a few drops of food coloring to different parts of the dish. You can use tons of different colors!

In a separate bowl, pour some dish soap. Dip a cotton swab into the dish soap and gently touch the surface of the milk with the swab.

The soap will lower the surface tension of the milk, and the colors will burst and swim around.

6. Egg in a Bottle

Did you know you can fit an egg in a bottle without breaking it? Firstly, boil and peel your egg. Then grab a glass bottle (no plastic!) and ensure that the opening is smaller than the diameter of the egg.

With an adult’s help, light three matches and drop them into the bottle. Place the egg at the bottle’s opening with the wide end pointing up. The egg will slowly squeeze into the bottle as the fire goes out!

7. Floating Ping Pong Ball

Levitate a ping pong ball with Bernoulli’s Principle! Make a paper funnel using thick card. With a grown-up’s help, cut a small hole in the bottom of the funnel.

Insert a straw into the bottom of the funnel and secure it in place with putty or tape.

Add a ping pong ball (or DIY foil ball) into the funnel and put the long end of the straw in your mouth. Blow into the straw and watch the ball levitate because of the high speed and low-pressure air.

8. Imploding Cans

Fill up a few empty soda cans with a bit of water. Then, fill up a large bowl with ice cubes and water.

Heat a flat frying pan on the stove and carefully stand your cans on the frying pan until they are hot. Using tongs, transfer the hot cans one at a time into the ice water.

When the cans drastically change temperature, they implode on themselves and crush inwards.

This is one for parents to do and kids to watch. It’s not safe for kids to do on their own.

9. Eggs and Toothpaste

Learn about the power of toothpaste in this shocking science project for kids. Fill up four glasses, two with soda and two with lemon juice. Then cover two eggs in toothpaste and pop one into a soda glass and another into the lemon juice glass.

Next, place two more eggs into the remaining glasses. This time, they’re not covered in toothpaste. Leave all the eggs in the glasses for 12 hours.

Once the time is up, remove the eggs, rinse under cool water, and pat dry. You’ll notice that the eggs covered in toothpaste feel and look different than those without. This emphasizes the significance and protective abilities of toothpaste.

10. Black Pepper Trick

Teach kids about surface tension and the power of soap in this fun and easy experiment. Pour a thin layer of water onto a plate. Pour a bit of ground pepper all over the water’s surface.

Then pour a tiny amount of dish soap onto your finger. Dip your finger into the water, and you’ll notice the pepper quickly zoom away from your finger.

Need something for your science fair project? People will love watching this one in action!

11. Ice Cream in a Bag

Have fun and try something yum! Pour four ounces of milk and cream, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla, two tablespoons of sugar, two teaspoons of vanilla, and food coloring (optional) into a zip-bag and ensure it’s securely closed.

Place the bag into a larger zip-bag and fill it with ice and a small handful of salt to surround the smaller bag. Zip it shut and hold either side while shaking back and forward for about five to eight minutes.

Yes, your arms will be tired. But in the end, you’ll have ice cream! Open the large bag and remove the smaller bag. Rinse off salt from the bag and open it up. It’s ice cream time!

12. Magic Melting Skittles

Grab a plate and line up Skittles around the edge of the bowl. Pour a little bit of boiling water into the plate to surround the bottom. Watch as the colors from the Skittles slowly melt off and swirl together on the plate.

This experiment has endless possibilities. Try it with different colors and shapes on the plate!

13. Bouncy Egg

Turn a raw egg into a bouncy egg! Simply place the raw egg (uncracked) into a glass. Cover it completely with distilled white vinegar and leave for 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can gently scrape off the eggshell, and you’re left with a squishy, bouncy egg.

14. Grow an Avocado Tree

Wash an avocado pit and insert four toothpicks halfway up the side, on all sides. Suspend the pit over a jar and fill the container with enough water to submerge the lower third of the seed. Make sure the broad side of the pit is facing down.

Keep the jar in a warm place out of direct sunlight and change the water every few days. After a few weeks, roots and sprouts should start appearing.

When the sprouts are about six inches, cut it back three inches. This will encourage more growth. When the stem has grown back again, plant the avocado pit in a 10-inch pot with soil, and voila! Your avocado tree will grow.

15. Make Slime

This exciting experiment will provide days of fun! Mix together ¼ of water and ¼ cup of white school glue in a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring.

In a separate bowl, combine ½ tablespoon of Borax and another ½ cup of water. Stir to combine. Add the solution to the glue mixture, and enjoy playing with the slime!

16. DIY Rock Candy

On the stove, combine a 1:3 ratio of water and sugar. Bring it to the boil.

Let it cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a large glass or jar. If you want colorful rock candy, add food coloring to the solution and stir.

Pour half a cup of sugar onto a plate. Dampen a wooden skewer in water and roll it around in the sugar. Then place the skewer into the glass jar and secure it in place with a clothespin so it stays in the middle of the jar.

After five days, your rock candy will have formed. Use a skewer to break the piece of rock candy out of the water. Place it inside an empty jar to dry, and yum! You have your own rock candy.

Ask for an adult’s help for this one since you’ll be using high heat.

17. Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon

Baking soda and vinegar can blow up a balloon without any help from your lungs. Using a funnel, pour about ¼ cup of vinegar into a bottle (with an opening small enough to stretch the mouth of a balloon over).

Put the mouth of the balloon over the funnel and add one tablespoon of baking soda to the balloon. Stretch the balloon over the bottle’s mouth and empty the baking soda into the bottle.

Watch as the balloon fills up with air. More technically, it’s carbon dioxide because that’s what happens when you combine baking soda and vinegar.

18. Frozen Bubbles

Blowing bubbles can be even more fun when the temperatures are below freezing. The bubble solution can freeze on the spot! You can do this with a bubble solution and a bubble wand — wave it around to produce bubbles.

The bubbles will either freeze mid-air, once they fall to the ground, or even while they are still attached to the wand.

Another option is to pour the bubble solution onto a plate or shallow bowl. Use a straw to blow a bubble into the solution. The bubble will slowly freeze, forming ice crystals.

You can pop the bubble and notice how it shatters and crumples rather than disappears like a normal bubble.

19. DIY Phone Speaker

When you don’t have your own Bluetooth speaker, you can easily make one with paper cups and toilet roll tubes. On the toilet roll tube, cut out an opening on one side that will fit the bottom of your phone.

On the paper cups, cut out a small opening to fit the end of the toilet roll tube through. Connect the pieces together, choose your favorite song, and insert your phone speaker into the toilet roll tube.

The system will naturally amplify the sound from the phone! Dancy party time.

20. Invisible Ink

Reveal hidden messages with this science project for kids. Pour ⅓ cup of baking soda and ⅓ cup of water into a bowl. Mix together before adding a cotton swab into the solution and writing a secret message onto a card.

Pour 100 percent grape juice into a cup. Dip in a paintbrush and paint over the secret message to reveal it. This is a great way to teach about acids and bases.

21. Milk Bottle Xylophone

Make music with items you already have in the house. Line up six glass bottles and pour a different amount of water into each jar.

Make music by tapping a metal spoon on each jar. Notice how the amount of liquid in each jar changes the sound waves and vibrations, resulting in a higher and lower pitch.

22. Dancing Raisins

Fill a clear glass with clear soda and fill another glass with water. Place a few raisins in each glass and notice how the raisins dance in the soda liquid but not in water. This is because the gas bubbles carry the raisins up, and when the bubbles pop, the raisins sink again.

23. Exploding Lunch Bag

This chemistry test is a great way to add excitement to a dull Saturday morning!

Fill a zippable lunch bag with ¼ cup of warm water. Add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar. Zip the bag shut.

Place a piece of tissue or paper towel down and pour three teaspoons of baking soda onto the middle. Fold the tissue over itself.

It’s time to be speedy! Open the zippable bag enough to add the baking soda tissue.

Once you’ve added it, quickly shut the bag, put it on the ground and step back. The bag will begin to expand and eventually… BOOM!

Do this experiment outside. You don’t want a mess on your living room floor!

24. Lemon Volcano

Let’s make citrus volcanos! This is a great one for science fair projects.

Cut the top and bottom off a lemon and carve out the insides. Add food coloring to the inside and fill the lemon with baking soda. Mix with a knife and watch as the baking soda starts to fizz out.

You can also try this with different citrus fruits, like an orange or grapefruit. Make it with different colors to have a rainbow volcano collection.

25. Walking Water Rainbow

Place seven identical jars or glasses in a row or a circle. Fill every second jar ¾ full with water, so jars #1, #3, #5, and #7 have water.

Then add a big squirt of red food coloring to jars #1 and #7, yellow to jar #3, and blue to jar #5. Jar #2, #4, and #6 will remain empty.

Fold six paper towels in half (hot-dog style), then in half again, making long, thin pieces of paper towels. Fold each paper towel in half (hamburger-style), so they make a tent shape.

Then place one end of the paper towel in the first cup and the other half in the second cup. Repeat with each paper towel.

Each cup should have two paper towel ends inside unless your cups are in a row. In that case, the first and last cups will only have one paper towel end inside.

After a couple of hours, the paper towels will have soaked up the food coloring using a capillary action. The colors mix together to create the shades of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple.

26. Rising Water

Fill a shallow bowl with enough water to cover the bottom. You can add food coloring for more fun!

Place a tealight candle in the middle of the water and light it. Quickly place an empty glass over the candle.

The candle will gently burn out while water rises into the glass. This is a great way to teach Charles’s Law, which conveys how when temperature decreases, the volume does, too, allowing water to rise and fill the empty space.

Get an adult to help with the Rising Water experiment, since it involves fire.

27. Bend Water

Run your kitchen or bathroom tap with a very thin stream of water. Blow up a balloon and create static by rubbing it against a towel or your hair. Hold the balloon close to the water and watch as the water bends towards the balloon.

28. Citrus Pops Balloons

Limonene, a component in citrus, has the ability to dissolve rubber, which is a component of balloons (1) . Therefore, when you squirt citrus onto a balloon, it pops!

Blow up a few balloons. Peel an orange, ensuring you have large pieces of the peel to hold.

Hold the peel a few inches from the balloon, with the rind side facing the rubber. Quickly squeeze the peel so the liquid squirts onto the balloon, and it should pop!

Something To Note

Not all balloons will pop through this experiment. If the balloons are made from natural rubber, they will most likely pop easily. But if the rubber is vulcanized, it’s more durable and harder to dissolve.

29. DIY Compass

Never get lost again! To make a compass, stroke a strong magnet down one length of a sewing needle 50 times. Then flip the magnet and the needle, and repeat on the other side.

Cut a cork so it’s about 1.5 centimeters thick. Push the needle through the cork — you may need to use pliers, so ask a parent for help.

Next, fill a bowl with a few inches of water. Place the cork into the water, and it should point North.

30. Sink or Float

Take note of which ones sink and which ones float. Can you determine why?

31. Optical Illusions

Optical illusions are an incredible way to confuse your brain using your eyes. Why not get a book of optical illusions for your kids to flick through all summer? This will keep them entertained — and amazed.

32. Pumpkin Volcano

Cut a hole in the top of a pumpkin and clean out the insides. Pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the pumpkin with a squirt of dish soap and watch the pumpkin start to foam from the top!

33. Create a Marshmallow Catapult

Stack up six popsicle sticks and tie them together with a rubber band on either end. Then tie a wooden spoon and another popsicle stick together at the bottom end of the spoon. Push the large stack of popsicle sticks between the spoon and the second stick until it’s halfway down.

Secure it together by making an “X” with a rubber band where the two sticks meet. Then put a mini marshmallow on the spoon and pull it back slightly.

The marshmallow should fly through the air! If not, adjust your mechanism until it can catapult the marshmallows.

34. Make Ginormous Bubbles

Make the biggest bubbles your eyes have ever seen! Mix together six cups of distilled or purified water with ½ cup of cornstarch.

Add one tablespoon of baking powder, one tablespoon of glycerine, and ½ cup of dish soap. I recommend Blue Dawn dish soap .

Use it with a giant bubble wand. If you need to make your own giant bubble wand, do this beforehand so you can use the bubbles immediately.

35. Magnet Experiment

Fill a glass with water and add a few tablespoons of magnetic fine iron filings . Run magnets up and down the side of the glass and watch the iron fillings move around.

36. Paper Bridge

All you need for this are pieces of paper, two plastic cups, and a bunch of pennies. Create different types of bridges by trying out different designs with the paper. Add one penny at a time to the bridges to discover the strongest bridge design.

37. Shine Up Pennies

Discover how to clean copper pennies using household items. Fill different cups with different liquids, including white vinegar, soapy water, ketchup, and soda. You can fill up the other cups with any liquid you please!

Put a penny in each cup and wait 10 minutes. Then rinse the pennies with water and rub with a paper towel. Which liquid cleans the pennies best?

38. Egg Drop Challenge

The aim here is to drop the egg into the glass of water. So fill a glass full of water (make sure it’s big enough for the egg) and place a piece of cardboard or a small tray on top of the glass. Then place a toilet paper tube on top of the tray before balancing the egg horizontally on the tube.

When you’re ready, strike the tray or cardboard away with your hand, making sure to send it flying away without knocking over the water. The egg will hang in the air for a split second before dropping into the water.

39. Green Pennies

Above, I taught you how to polish pennies. Did you know you can turn pennies green using a very similar method?

Fill up two bowls with ¼ cup of vinegar and one teaspoon of salt. Mix well. Add a few pennies to each bowl.

After 10 minutes, remove the pennies from one bowl, rinse them, and lay them flat to dry on a paper towel.

Take the other pennies from the second bowl and place them onto the paper towel. Don’t rinse! Wait and see what happens.

The pennies that you rinsed will be polished. But the pennies you didn’t rinse will be green. This is called a patina — a layer caused by the weathering chemical process you just carried out.

40. Homemade Butter

Pour heavy cream into a jar and put the lid on tight. And start shaking! This is a great one for siblings so they can take turns because it can take up to half an hour for the cream to turn to butter!

As the cream solidifies, it separates from the buttermilk. When you remove the lid, pour the buttermilk away; underneath, you’ll have butter. Spread it on your toast, and enjoy!

41. Neon Flowers

Fill up a few glasses with water and five drops of food coloring. Mix well before adding white daisies or carnations to each glass. The next day, your flowers should be bright and colorful!

42. Expanding Soap

Watch what ivory soap does when you microwave it. Submerge a bar of ivory soap into water before cutting it into quarters and placing it on a plate. Pop it in the microwave for two minutes and watch as it expands into a pile of fluff!

43. Sticky Ice

Fill a container with water and ice cubes. Lay a piece of string across the container, ensuring the string is in contact with one or some ice cubes. Sprinkle salt over the string.

One minute later, gently submerge the ice cube slightly under the water to wash the salt off. Pick up the string, and you’ll notice that the ice cube comes with it!

This is because the salt melts the ice a little, and when you wash the salt away, the ice cube refreezes, attaching the string to it.

44. Density Jar

This is what I did my 5th grade science experiment on. Learn all about density with this cool and easy experiment.

Pour some honey into a jar, followed by corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and alcohol. The layers of liquid will sit on top of one another rather than mixing together!

45. Soap Boat

Cut out a mini boat about one-inch long using card or paper. Fill up a large tray or container with water. Dip a cotton swab into dish soap and place a tiny amount on the back of the paper boat.

Watch as it starts zooming around the water! This works because the soap breaks the surface tension of the water and creates a force strong enough to push the paper through the liquid.

46. Dancing Sprinkles

Place plastic wrap tightly over a bowl and secure it with a rubber band. Make sure there aren’t any wrinkles.

Pour a few sprinkles over the plastic wrap. Lean closely and hum songs near the bowl. The louder or higher you sing, the different sound waves you’ll create.

You can also try placing a speaker into the bowl before you place the plastic wrap over it. Once you’ve poured on your sprinkles, play a song and watch the sprinkles boogy!

47. Eggs and Salt Water

Fill a glass full of water. Fill a second glass all the way with water and add a bunch of salt. And finally, fill a third halfway with water.

Place an egg in the plain, full glass of water and watch as it sinks. In the salty glass of water, the egg floats. Finally, add salt to the third glass of water, allowing it to dissolve slightly before placing the egg inside.

What does the egg do? It floats. But if you pour water on top of it so the glass is full, the egg stays in the middle. This is a great science lesson to teach density to kids.

48. Leakproof Bag

Fill a plastic zippable bag half full with water and seal it shut. Stab a sharp pencil through the bag until it comes out the other side. Repeat with a few more pencils. Notice how the bag doesn’t leak water when you stab the pencils through!

50. Frozen Baking Soda

Fill a freezable tray with one cup of baking soda. Add three cups of water and food coloring. Mix well.

Add some figurine toys to the mixture and freeze the mixture overnight. Start pouring vinegar into the mixture as you try and rescue the figurine toys. The vinegar will slowly break down the baking soda with a fizzing reaction until you can break free the figurines.

51. Leaf Breathing

Fill three bowls with warm water. Place one freshly picked leaf in each bowl and hold the leaf down with a small rock. After a few hours, check back, and you’ll notice little oxygen bubbles all over the leaves.

These bubbles convey the oxygen coming out of the leaves. This highlights that plants breathe! They take in carbon dioxide and transform it into oxygen, which goes back into the air we breathe.

52. Exploding Colors

Fill a tray with baking soda. Fill an ice cube tray with distilled white vinegar. Add food coloring to the vinegar. Use an eyedropper to transfer the colored vinegar to the baking soda, and watch the colors explode!

53. Floating Paperclip

When you drop a paperclip into water, it will sink because it has a bigger density than water. But with this experiment, you can make it float!

Bend a paperclip to create an “L” shape. Balance another paperclip on the bottom end of the “L” shaped paperclip.

Gently lower the paperclips into the water, sliding out the “L” shaped one from beneath the second paperclip. The second paperclip will now float!

54. Viscosity Experiment

Fill three glasses with different liquids like water, olive oil, and honey. Place a ruler over the top of the glasses with a marble balancing above each glass.

At the same time, tip the marbles into the cups and watch which one reaches the bottom first. This is a great science lesson on viscosity.

55. Plastic Milk

Create your own plastic using milk. Pour one cup of fat-free milk into a saucepan with four teaspoons of white vinegar. Stir gently to combine.

Set the heat to a high temperature. Don’t stir. After a couple of minutes, the milk will start separating.

Gently stir the solution, and the milk will form a big curd called a casing. Voila! You’ve made plastic out of milk. You can mold and cut it into anything you want.

Adults should help set the heat to a high temperature and stir the milk. Don’t leave your child unattended with this experiment.

56. Oxidation With Apples

Learn about oxidation with this fun and fruity experiment.

Get 10 plastic cups and pour ½ cup of water in all but one cup. Then add ½ teaspoon of ingredients to each water-filled cup, including vinegar, honey, salt, sugar, baking soda, and anything else you’d like to try.

With the help of an adult, cut up 10 apple slices. Place one apple slice in each solution for 10 minutes.

Remove them from the solution and wait another 10 minutes. Notice how the oxidation process varies depending on what solution the apple slice was exposed to.

57. Sunscreen Science

Using bright construction paper, fold each sheet in half and open it back up. Squeeze sunscreen onto a paper plate and use a paintbrush to draw a picture on one half of the construction paper.

On the other half of the paper, apply a spray-on sunscreen. Leave the paper outside in the sun for a few hours, ideally all day.

Notice how the sunscreen bleaches the part of the paper that doesn’t have sunscreen on it. But the sunscreen portion is protected! This is a great way to enforce the importance of sunscreen.

58. Static Electricity Hair

Teach your kids about electrons and negative vs. positive charge with this silly balloon experiment! Rub the surface of a balloon with a cloth for around one minute. Hold it slightly above your head and watch your hair move upwards towards the balloon.

59. Chicken in a Cup

Punch a hole in the bottom of a plastic cup. Attach a paperclip to the end of the ribbon and weave the other side through the hole so the paperclip is inside the cup. Dampen the dangling part of the ribbon slightly.

Hold the cup tightly in one hand and use your other hand to squeeze the ribbon and pull it down in sharp, short movements. All going well, it should make chicken noises!

60. Gummy Bear Osmosis

Pour water, coke, salt water, and white vinegar into four separate cups. Add one gummy bear into each cup and wait 24 hours. Remove the gummy bears and notice how they expand or stay the same depending on the liquid they rested in.

Weigh and measure the gummy bears before and after the experiment to track exactly how much they changed.

61. Make a Sundial

Make your own sundial to help you tell time! Start by poking a stick in the ground. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, tilt the stick at a bit of an angle to the North. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, angle it slightly to the South.

Every hour, take note of where the stick’s shadow is pointing on the ground. So, at 7 a.m., head outside and mark the shadow with a rock. Repeat at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., and so forth. As long as the sun is in the sky, you can use your sundial to tell the time.

62. Homemade Bouncy Balls

Combine ½ teaspoon of Borax with two tablespoons of warm water. Add a few drops of food coloring (optional). Then add one tablespoon of school glue to a separate bowl. Add glitter if you’d like.

Now add ½ teaspoon of the Borax solution into your glue, followed by one tablespoon of cornstarch. Stir well.

Once the solution has hardened, pick it up and mold it into a ball. Leave it to dry for 10 minutes. Watch it bounce!

63. Instant Ice

Fill a plastic bottle with water and place it in the freezer for two hours. Carefully remove it from the freezer.

Place a bowl or cup upside down and set an ice cube on top of it. Then, slowly pour the cold water onto the ice cube and watch instant ice form!

As an extra step, you can pour the cold water into a glass. Then hold an ice cube slightly into the water’s surface and watch as the water slowly freezes beneath it.

64. Mystery Smell

Get an adult or friend to fill up various opaque containers with different objects, such as chocolate, milk, vanilla, and other fragranced items. The children should put a blindfold on and sniff the different containers, trying to guess what is inside.

65. What Dissolves in Water?

This experiment is fantastic for learning what dissolves in water and what doesn’t. Drop some ingredients into various cups — oil, sugar, pepper, flour, and more. Then add warm water and stir.

Make it more fun by guessing beforehand which ingredients will dissolve and which won’t. Were your theories correct?

It’s essential to stay safe during your science fair projects and experiments. Here are five tips for ensuring your child is safe while they meddle with science.

• Stay nearby: Don’t leave your child unattended while they perform science experiments. Stay nearby without distractions to keep an eye on what your child tries out.
• Wear protective clothing: It’s a good idea to wear a lab coat, glasses, and goggles while conducting experiments. Many ingredients, even natural ones, can irritate the skin and eyes.
• Provide clear instructions: Before your child attempts a science experiment, ensure you have given them clear instructions, and they have a good understanding of what to do.
• Only do approved experiments: The experiments on this list have been tried and tested many times. I urge you to stick with approved experiments. Don’t make up your own experiments, as many mixtures and chemical combinations can make toxic gasses.
• Work in a well-ventilated spot: Some ingredients might cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches. So always work in a well-ventilated spot near an air purifier or open window.

What Are the Most Popular Science Experiments?

The most well-known science project experiment is definitely the baking soda and vinegar volcano. It has a beloved place in school fairs, movies, and TV shows.

Other popular projects include invisible ink, growing crystals, making a vegetable battery, making a baking soda rocket, and elephant’s toothpaste.

What Are Some Simple Science Experiments?

Your science experiment doesn’t need to be super complicated.

Keep it nice and simple with these easy experiments:

• Magic Milk.
• Black Pepper Trick.
• Dancing Raisins.
• Sink or Float.
• Eggs and Salt Water.

About the Author

Beth McCallum

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Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

50 Amazingly Simple Science Experiments for Kids at Home

Science Kindergartners Preschoolers Experiment Resources 30 Comments

Kids love experimenting , and these 50 simple science experiments for kids at home from Brigitte are perfect for all ages! Plus, you probably already have the basic supplies at home.

My daughters and I have had a lot of fun doing science experiments. Each year when we create our spring and summer list , we make sure to include “science days” which are days filled with science experiments.

Sometimes our science experiments don’t work according to plan, but I have been told that all scientists have failures with experiments from time to time.

It’s okay if they aren’t all successes.

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50 Simple Science Experiments with Supplies You Already Have

I love these 50 simple science experiments for you to try with your little scientists. They all use basic household supplies that you probably already have at home!

Most of these are experiments my daughters and I have done together. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Get little ones involved with these easy toddler-friendly science experiment ideas!

Simple Science Experiments with Water

Not only can water  be a blast to play in, but water plus a few basic supplies equals a lot of science fun!

• Make an orange sink and float with an orange buoyancy experiment from Playdough to Plato.
• Compare the amount of salt in different types of water with this salty egg experiment  as seen on Uplifting Mayhem.
• Do a little more sinking or floating with a fun sink or float experiment  even toddlers can do from Hands On As We Grow.
• Use the free printable to record what sinks or floats in an outdoor experiment from Buggy and Buddy.
• Create some beautiful pieces of paper with this rainbow paper experiment from Science Kiddo.
• Talk about solutions as you try the “what dissolves in water” experiment  as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Learn about water absorption with this simple experiment from Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Mix some fun colors with this oil and water experiment  from Fun Learning for Kids.
• Make your own lava lamp , just like on  Hands On As We Grow.
• Can you keep all the water in the bag? Try it with a  leak-proof bag experiment  as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Learn about surface tension with this  magic finger pepper experiment  found on Hands On As We Grow.
• Make your own  water cycle in a bottle  as seen on A Dab of Glue Will Do.

Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda + vinegar = a great chemical reaction! This fizzy reaction can fuel a variety of simple science experiments at home.

First of all, we have tested and found out the absolute best combination of baking soda and vinegar to get the best reaction possible. It makes a difference if you add vinegar to baking soda or vice versa! And how much you use!

• Inflate a balloon without blowing into it with a baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment  as seen on Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Practice colors as you do a baking soda and vinegar with color experiment as seen on Hands On As We Grow.
• Have fun outside with an outdoor volcano eruption  as seen on Preschool Inspirations.
• Have more volcano fun by making apple volcanoes as seen on The Resourceful Mama.
• Learn about acids and bases and the chemical reaction that occurs when you make apple seeds dance with a   jumping apple seeds experiment  as seen on JDaniel4s Mom.
• Watch some rice dance with a   dancing rice experiment as seen on Green Kid Crafts.
• Continue your dance party by making raisins dance with a dancing raisin experiment  as seen on 123 Homeschool 4 Me. What other items can you get to dance?
• Learn more about acids and bases by dissolving a sea shell as seen on Teach Beside Me.
• Make an egg shell disappear with this disappearing egg activity  as seen on Premeditated Leftovers.
• See how far you can launch a soda bottle with this baking soda powered boat as seen on Science Sparks.
• Make your own rocks (or eggs) with this fizzy treasure rocks experiment as seen on Living Life and Learning.
• Have some fun this summer with this frozen vinegar experiment as seen on Inspiration Laboratories.

Plant Themed Simple Science Experiments

Enjoy learning about seeds, plant parts, and how plants grow with these simple science experiments.

• Learn about how plants soak up water through their stems with a flower experiment for kids  from Growing A Jeweled Rose.
• Watch seeds sprout as you grow seeds in a jar  as seen on Teaching Mama.
• Learn about the parts of the seed with a seed coat experiment as seen on Gift of Curiosity.
• Build a house out of sponges and then watch it sprout with this sprout house as seen on The Stem Laboratory.
• Learn what liquids allow seeds to grow the best with this seed experiment  as seen on Gift of Curiosity.
• Explore how plants grow towards the light with this shoe-box maze experiment from Plants for Kids.

Animal Themed Simple Science Experiments

Learning about animals can be even more fun with some simple hands-on simple science experiments.

• Find out more about giraffes and create some giraffe spots  as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.
• Learn about how animals in the Arctic keep warm by making an arctic glove  as seen on Steve Spangler Science.
• Discover how penguins stay dry with a penguin feather experiment as seen on Raising Little Superheroes.
• Learn about different bird beaks with a bird beak experiment as seen on Blessed Beyond a Doubt.
• Explore how fish (and hermit crabs) breathe with this gill experiment  as seen on Preschool Powol Packets.
• Learn about sharks with a   shark buoyancy experiment as seen on Little Bins for Little Hands.

Even More Simple Science Experiment for Kids at Home!

If you are still looking for more science fun, you may enjoy the following simple science experiments.

• Find out how sugary drinks hurt teeth with an  eggs-periment  as seen on Feels Like Home Blog.
• Discover geodes (the state rock of Iowa) with this eggshell geode crystal experiment  as seen on Science Bob.
• Learn about air pressure with an egg and bottle experiment  as seen on Science Sparks.
• Find out what causes an apple to brown with this apple science experiment  as seen on Teach Beside Me.
• Make an  edible bubble apple with an experiment as seen on Preschool Powol Packet.
• Learn more about surface tension with a penny and water experiment  as seen on Artful Parent.
• Mix colors like magic with this color changing milk experiment  from Hands On As We Grow.
• Blow up a balloon with this soda and balloon experiment from Learn Play Imagine.
• Practice letters by making beautiful crystal letters as seen on Books and Giggles.
• Make your own indoor hovercraft  as seen on Living Life and Learning.
• Learn about colors with this beautiful butterfly chromatography craft  as seen on Buggy and Buddy.
• Make soap souffle  as seen on Steve Spangler Science.
• After talking about liquids and solids (and finding them in your own home), create oobleck  as seen on Babble Dabble Do. Is it a liquid, or is it a solid?
• Learn about frost by making some indoor frost as seen on Little Bin for Little Hands.
• Make your own homemade butter in a jar as seen on Happy Hooligans.

What scientific experiment will you try first?

About Brigitte Brulz

Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom of two daughters, wife of her high school sweetheart, and author of Jobs of a Preschooler and Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles. She offers free coloring pages and activity ideas on her website at BrigitteBrulz.com .

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30 comments.

college brawl says

March 13, 2024 at 1:05 am

Wow, these experiments look like so much fun! I can’t wait to try them out with my kids. We’re always looking for new and creative ways to learn about science at home, and these experiments look like they’ll be perfect for us. Thanks for sharing! 😊

threadsBay says

August 31, 2023 at 3:13 am

I love science experiments! This one is really simple and easy to do.

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Top 12 Explosive Science Experiments: Ignite Your Curiosity

There’s something thrilling about science experiments that pop, sizzle, and explode. While they must always be conducted with utmost safety, these explosive experiments offer an exhilarating way to explore fundamental principles of chemistry and physics.

Welcome to our list of the top 12, hand-picked exploding science experiments, curated especially for students like you. Brace yourself for mind-blowing chemical reactions, thrilling explosions, and awe-inspiring demonstrations.

These experiments offer an exhilarating blend of entertainment and education, providing an unique opportunity to witness the powerful forces of chemistry in action.

Gear up, embrace the excitement, and let these exploding experiments ignite a lifelong passion for scientific discovery!

Remember, safety is of utmost importance during any scientific experiment.

1. Watermelon Explosion

Beyond the sheer excitement and thrill, this experiment provides a hands-on lesson in pressure, energy transfer, and the scientific principle of potential energy.

So, grab a watermelon, strap on those rubber bands, and get ready for a blast of scientific discovery!

2. Exploding Baggie Burst

With the simple combination of vinegar and baking soda inside a sealed baggie, students can witness the exhilarating moment when the baggie bursts with a loud pop and releases a cloud of gas.

3. Exploding Sidewalk Chalk

Make colorful explosions with the Exploding Sidewalk Chalk experiment! By combining common household materials like sidewalk chalk and vinegar, they can create a fascinating chemical reaction that results in vibrant bursts of color.

4. Water Bottle Popper

Get ready for a popping sensation with the Water Bottle Popper experiment! By combining the forces of air pressure and a quick release mechanism, they can create an exciting burst of energy that launches the cap off a water bottle with a satisfying pop.

Learn more: Water Bottle Popper

5. Colorful Bubble Bombs

Get ready for a burst of colorful and bubbly fun with the Colorful Bubble Bombs experiment! Students should definitely try this engaging and visually delightful activity.

Learn more: Colorful Bubble Bombs

6. Big Toothpaste Eruption

Get ready for a massive eruption of fun with the Big Toothpaste Eruption experiment! Students should absolutely try this engaging and visually stunning experiment.

It’s a fantastic way to foster a love for science, spark curiosity, and learn about the wonders of chemical reactions in a playful and memorable way.

7. Multi-Colored Volcano

Get ready to unleash a vibrant explosion of colors with the Multi-Colored Volcano experiment! By combining baking soda, vinegar, and a variety of colorful substances like food coloring or powdered paint, they can create an extraordinary eruption that paints the volcano in a mesmerizing array of hues.

Learn more: Multi-Colored Volcano

8. Water Bottle Rockets

Prepare for a thrilling blast-off with the Water Bottle Rockets experiment! Students should absolutely try this exhilarating and hands-on activity. By constructing their own rockets using simple materials like plastic bottles, fins, and a pressurized air source, they can witness their creations soar into the sky.

9. Milk Color Explosion Science

Get ready for a mesmerizing explosion of colors with the Milk Color Explosion experiment! Students should definitely try this captivating and visually stunning activity.

By combining milk, food coloring, and dish soap, they can witness an extraordinary display of swirling, vibrant colors bursting to life right before their eyes.

10. Microwave Ivory Soap

Get ready for a foamy explosion with the Microwave Ivory Soap experiment! Students should definitely try this exciting and hands-on activity.

By placing a bar of Ivory soap in the microwave, they can witness an astonishing transformation as the soap rapidly expands into a fluffy cloud of foam.

11. Exploding Lava Science Bottle

Get ready for an explosive and mesmerizing adventure with the Exploding Lava Science Bottle experiment! Students should absolutely try this captivating and hands-on activity.

Learn more: Exploding Lava Science Bottle

12. Exploding Rainbow Easter Egg

Students can experiment with different colors and proportions to create their own unique bubble bombs. It’s a hands-on and interactive way to learn about the wonders of chemistry while enjoying a playful and colorful experience.

Learn more: Exploding Rainbow Easter Egg

12. Exploding Pumpkin

Get ready for an explosion of colors with the Exploding Rainbow Easter Egg experiment! Students should definitely try this exciting and visually captivating activity.

Learn more: Exploding Pumpkin

Similar Posts:

• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
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• 37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy

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TOP 30 Easy DIY Science Experiments for Kids

Why diy science experiments, toddlers science fun, preschool scientists, general safety guidelines for diy science experiments at home, easy level: introduction to basic concepts.

• Intermediate Level: Building on Basics 

How to engage kids throughout the experiment process:

Resources on experiments for kids.

Science education lays the foundation for developing children’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills from a young age. Through DIY science experiments, Little Scholars Daycare offers an exciting avenue for children to explore and learn fundamental scientific principles. These activities not only make learning more engaging but also accessible, allowing children to continue their exploration of science both at daycare and at home. This hands-on approach encourages curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning, fostering a positive attitude towards science that lasts a lifetime.

Discover 30 easy DIY science experiments designed for toddlers and preschoolers to learn and have fun. Dive in now and see how science can be a delightful adventure for your little one!

Why DIY Science Experiments are a must-try? DIY science experiments are a gateway to unlocking your child’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. They transform abstract concepts into tangible, memorable experiences, making the wonders of science accessible and relatable. Through these interactive activities, children not only grasp scientific principles but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a playful, engaging manner. Embracing these experiments at home encourages a collaborative learning environment, where children and parents explore, discover, and learn together, fostering a lifelong love for science and inquiry.

DIY Science Experiments for Different Age Groups

Here are 10 simple DIY science experiments suitable for toddlers, designed to spark curiosity and encourage exploration:

1. Color Mixing

Teach toddlers about primary colours (red, yellow, blue) by mixing them in different combinations to create secondary colours (green, orange, purple). This can be done with watercolours, food colouring, or transparent-coloured plastic sheets.

2. Sink or Float

Gather various household objects and a bowl of water. Have toddlers predict whether each item will sink or float before testing their hypotheses, introducing basic principles of density and buoyancy.

3. Magnetic Attraction

Use a variety of objects, including some that are magnetic, to explore magnetic attraction. Show how magnets can attract or repel each other and attract magnetic objects, introducing the concept of magnetic fields.

4. Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano

Mix baking soda and vinegar in a container to create a simple, erupting volcano. This experiment demonstrates chemical reactions and gas production in an exciting, visual way.

5. Bubble Science

Create a homemade bubble solution with water, dish soap, and glycerin. Experiment with making bubbles using different tools, exploring concepts of surface tension and elasticity.

6. Plant Growth

Plant seeds in a transparent cup filled with soil to observe germination and root development. This introduces toddlers to plant biology and the conditions necessary for growth, such as water, light, and soil.

7. Ice Melting

Place ice cubes in different environments (inside, outside, in water) and observe how they melt at different rates. This experiment helps toddlers understand states of matter (solid, liquid) and the effects of temperature.

8. Shadow Play

Use a flashlight and toys to create shadows on a wall. This activity teaches toddlers about light sources, opaque objects, and how shadows are formed and change size.

9. Balloon Rocket

Attach a balloon to a piece of string and let it go to see it zoom across the room. This demonstrates the principles of propulsion and air pressure in a fun and tangible way.

10. Water Cycle Bag

Draw the water cycle on a sealable plastic bag and add a bit of water. Hang it in a sunny window to observe evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, visually explaining the water cycle.

Each experiment is designed to be safe and engaging, using simple materials to introduce scientific concepts to toddlers in a fun and interactive way.

For preschoolers ready to take on slightly more complex experiments, here are some engaging ideas that introduce new scientific concepts while still being fun and manageable:

1. Lemon Volcanoes

A fascinating way for kids to see chemical reactions up close. By adding baking soda to the lemon, children can watch as the mixture fizzes and bubbles, simulating a volcanic eruption. This experiment introduces basic concepts of acid-base reactions in a visually engaging manner.

2. Homemade Lava Lamps

This experiment is a fun way to explore the principles of density and chemical reactions. By combining oil, water, food colouring, and Alka-Seltzer, children can observe how the coloured bubbles move through the oil, creating a lava lamp effect.

3. Crystal Growing

Children can grow their own sparkling crystals using borax, water, and pipe cleaners. This experiment teaches the principles of solutions and crystallization, allowing kids to observe how crystals form over time.

4. Static Electricity Butterflies

Using simple materials like tissue paper and a balloon, this experiment demonstrates how static electricity works. Kids can see firsthand how rubbing the balloon creates static that can make the butterfly wings move.

5. DIY Rain Gauge

An excellent way for children to learn about weather and measurements. By creating their own rain gauge, they can track rainfall over time and understand how weather is measured.

6. Water Xylophone

This musical experiment teaches kids about sound waves and vibration. By filling glasses with varying amounts of water and tapping them, children can explore how the pitch changes with the water level.

7. Walking Water

A visually striking experiment that demonstrates capillary action and color mixing. Children can watch as coloured water “walks” across paper towels, blending colours and showing how water can move through materials.

8. Simple Circuit

Introduces basic electrical concepts by creating a circuit with a battery, wire, and light bulb. This hands-on activity helps children understand how electricity flows and lights up a bulb.

9. Solar Oven

Using everyday materials, children can build a simple solar oven. This experiment teaches about solar energy and the greenhouse effect, showing how the sun’s energy can be harnessed to heat and cook.

10. Glow-in-the-Dark Slime

By adding glow-in-the-dark paint to slime, children can explore the properties of materials and light. This experiment is not only fun but also illuminates the science behind phosphorescence and chemical reactions.

These experiments provide a fantastic opportunity for preschoolers to delve deeper into science with projects that are a bit more challenging but still loads of fun and highly educational.

Safety First

Ensuring safety is paramount when engaging in DIY science experiments, especially with young learners. Adult supervision is crucial to oversee all activities, ensuring that experiments are conducted safely and appropriately. It’s essential to follow general safety guidelines. 

• Wear Protective Gear: Use safety goggles, gloves, and aprons as needed to protect from spills or splashes.
• Read Instructions First: Always understand the experiment’s steps and safety warnings before starting.
• Keep a Clean Workspace: Ensure the area is tidy and free from unnecessary items to prevent accidents.
• Use Materials Properly: Follow guidelines for each substance used; do not mix chemicals unless instructed.
• Supervise Children: Adults should always be present to oversee the experiment and assist when needed.
• Dispose of Materials Safely: Follow proper disposal methods for any chemicals or experiment leftovers.
• First Aid Kit : Keep a first aid kit nearby in case of minor injuries or spills.
• Know Emergency Procedures: Be familiar with how to handle emergencies, such as chemical spills or burns.

These practices help create a safe learning environment, allowing children to explore and discover without risk, fostering a positive and educational experience in science exploration at home.

DIY Experiment List

Here’s a curated list of DIY science experiments, categorized by difficulty level and the science concepts they demonstrate. Each experiment is tailored for children up to 5 years old, with a brief description, materials needed, and the educational takeaway.

1. Cloud in a Jar

• Objective: To demonstrate how clouds form through condensation.
• Materials: Glass jar, hot water, ice, hairspray.
• Pour hot water into the jar, filling it about one-third of the way.
• Quickly spray a small amount of hairspray into the jar.
• Place the lid upside down on top of the jar and immediately put several ice cubes on the lid.
• Watch as a cloud begins to form inside the jar. After a few minutes, lift the lid slightly to let the cloud escape.
• Educational Takeaway: Kids learn about condensation and the role temperature and particles play in cloud formation.

2. Dancing Raisins

• Objective: To observe buoyancy and gas bubble formation.
• Materials: Clear glass, carbonated water, raisins.
• Fill the glass with carbonated water.
• Drop a few raisins into the water.
• Observe as the raisins begin to move up and down in the glass.
• Educational Takeaway: Demonstrates how gas bubbles can attach to objects, making them buoyant enough to move in a fluid.

3. Static Magic

• Objective: To explore static electricity and its effects.
• Materials: Balloons, small paper pieces or pepper.
• Inflate the balloon and tie it off.
• Rub the balloon against your hair or a woolen fabric for a few seconds.
• Hold the balloon close to the small paper pieces or pepper without touching them.
• Watch as the static charge built up on the balloon attracts the paper or pepper.
• Educational Takeaway: Introduces the concept of static electricity and how it can attract objects.

4. Colorful Milk Art

• Objective: To illustrate chemical reactions and fluid dynamics.
• Materials: Whole milk (for better results), food coloring, dish soap, cotton swabs.
• Pour milk into a shallow dish to just cover the bottom.
• Add a few drops of different colored food coloring to the milk.
• Dip a cotton swab into dish soap and then lightly touch the center of the milk dish with the soapy swab.
• Observe the burst of color as the soap disperses through the milk.
• Educational Takeaway: Kids see how soap molecules interact with fat in the milk, causing movement and color mixing.

5. Air Pressure Bag

• Objective: To demonstrate the principles of air pressure.
• Materials: Ziplock bag, straws, tape.
• Make small holes along one side of the ziplock bag and insert straws into each hole, sealing them with tape to ensure air can’t escape around the straws.
• Close the ziplock bag, leaving one straw sticking out to blow into.
• Blow into the straw to inflate the bag and demonstrate how air pressure can fill a space.
• Educational Takeaway: Children learn about air pressure and its capacity to inflate objects, illustrating the concept in a tangible way.

Intermediate Level: Building on Basics 

1. diy sundial.

• Objective: To understand how the position of the sun affects shadows and to introduce the concept of solar time.
• Materials: Plate, playdough, straw, marker.
• Place a lump of playdough in the center of the plate.
• Stick a straw vertically into the playdough—this acts as the gnomon of the sundial.
• On a sunny day, place the plate outside where it will receive unobstructed sunlight.
• Use the marker to mark the shadow’s position at the start of the hour, and label it with the time.
• Check back every hour to mark and label the shadow’s position. Observe how the shadow moves around the plate.
• Educational Takeaway: This experiment teaches children about the Earth’s rotation, how it affects the position of shadows, and the concept of telling time using the sun.

2. Ice Fishing

• Objective: To demonstrate how salt affects the freezing point of water.
• Materials: Ice cubes, string, salt, water.
• Place an ice cube in a glass of water.
• Lay the string across the ice cube and sprinkle salt on the ice cube where the string lies.
• Wait about a minute for the ice to partially melt and then refreeze around the string.
• Gently pull the string to lift the ice cube out of the water.
• Educational Takeaway: Kids learn about freezing point depression, demonstrating how adding salt changes the physical properties of ice and water.

3. Sound Sandwich

• Objective: To explore how vibration creates sound.
• Materials: Two craft sticks, two rubber bands, a small piece of straw, and a strip of paper.
• Wrap a rubber band lengthwise around one craft stick.
• Place the strip of paper over the craft stick, covering the rubber band.
• Put the small piece of straw under the rubber band at one end of the stick.
• Place the second craft stick on top and secure both ends with the second rubber band, creating a “sandwich”.
• Blow into the space where the straw creates an opening and listen to the sound produced.
• Educational Takeaway: This experiment shows how sound is produced through vibrations and how altering the dimensions of the vibrating body changes the sound.

4. Magic Milk Explosion

• Objective: To demonstrate the reaction of dish soap with fat molecules in milk.
• Materials: Whole milk, food coloring, dish soap, cotton swabs.
• Pour milk into a shallow dish to cover the bottom.
• Add several drops of different colored food coloring to the milk but do not mix.
• Dip a cotton swab in dish soap, then gently touch the surface of the milk with the soapy swab.
• Watch as the colors explosively spread out across the milk’s surface.
• Educational Takeaway: Kids learn about the chemical properties of soap and fat and how they interact to create movement and color patterns in the milk.

5. Egg Drop Parachute

• Objective: To understand the principles of gravity and air resistance by safely landing an egg.
• Materials: Eggs, plastic bags, strings, tape.
• Cut the plastic bag into a large square to act as the parachute canopy.
• Attach strings at each corner of the square and tie them together at the other ends.
• Secure the egg by making a small tape harness or using a small bag tied to the center of the string.
• Find a safe height to drop the parachute and observe how the plastic bag slows down the fall, allowing the egg to land safely.
• Educational Takeaway: Demonstrates how air resistance (drag) works against gravity to slow down the fall of an object, introducing basic principles of physics in a tangible way.

Making science fun is about sparking curiosity and encouraging exploration. Engage kids by turning experiments into storytelling adventures, where each step is part of a grand exploration. Incorporate the scientific method by asking children to predict outcomes (hypothesis), observe what happens (observation), and discuss why it happened (conclusion). Use real-world connections to make concepts relatable and celebrate every discovery, fostering a love for learning and inquiry.

For kids who are eager to dive deeper into the world of science, the internet and bookstores are treasure troves of knowledge. Websites like the National Geographic Kids , Science Kids , and the NASA Kids’ Club offer a wealth of interactive games, experiments, and educational articles. 

Books such as “The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book” by Tom Robinson and “National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why” by Amy Shields provide engaging explanations and activities. These resources can significantly enrich a child’s understanding and enjoyment of science.

As we conclude our journey through the TOP 30 Easy DIY Science Experiments for Kids, it’s important to recognise the power of integrating science into everyday activities at home. Parents and educators alike have a fantastic opportunity to nurture a child’s curiosity and critical thinking skills through these fun, educational experiments. Each experiment, carefully selected and designed for young learners, provides a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of science in an engaging and hands-on manner. 

Let’s make science a regular part of children’s lives, celebrating each discovery and encouraging a lifelong passion for learning. Explore Little Scholars Daycare Programs to inspire further and cultivate your little one’s love for science, paving the way for a future where they continue to question, explore, and discover.

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15 Fun Science Experiments for Kids to Try at Home

Science experiments for kids offer an exciting and engaging way to introduce young minds to the wonders of the natural world. These experiments go beyond the pages of textbooks, encouraging children to explore, question, and discover through hands-on activities. 

They provide a platform for children to develop critical thinking skills, cultivate a sense of curiosity, and foster a love for science from an early age. In this modern age of technology and rapid advancements, it is essential to nurture scientific literacy and encourage children to become active participants in the scientific process. 

By involving children in science experiments, we not only stimulate their intellectual growth but also empower them to become future problem solvers and innovators. In this article, we will explore the significance of science experiments for kids and delve into the many benefits they offer in shaping young minds.

Table of contents

List of 15 easy and fun experiments, materials needed:, step-by-step instructions:, safety precautions:, materials needed:, step-by-step instructions:, safety precautions:, frequently asked questions.

As parents, it’s always a joy to spend quality time with our children, engaging them in activities that are not only entertaining but also educational. One fantastic way to accomplish this is by conducting simple science experiments right in the comfort of your own home. 

These experiments not only nurture your child’s curiosity and critical thinking skills but also allow them to have a blast while learning. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 15 easy and fun experiments that parents can do with their kids. Ignite curiosity with captivating activities for kids , delving into the realm of science through hands-on and fun experiments, fostering a love for discovery and learning from an early age. So, let’s dive in and explore the wonders of science together!

1. Volcano Eruption: 

Create a miniature volcano using baking soda and vinegar. Watch in amazement as the chemical reaction causes a fizzy eruption. This experiment introduces children to the basics of chemical reactions.

2. Invisible Ink: 

Teach your kids how to write secret messages using invisible ink made from lemon juice. Once they’ve written their message, they can reveal it by holding it close to a heat source, such as a light bulb.

3. Dancing Raisins: 

Place raisins in a glass of sparkling water and observe how they dance and float up and down. This experiment showcases the effect of carbon dioxide bubbles on objects.

4. Rainbow in a Glass: 

Create colorful layers of sugar water or different liquids with varying densities to form a visually stunning rainbow in a glass. This experiment explores density and liquid properties.

5. Balloon Rockets: 

Build a simple rocket using a balloon, a string, and a straw. Inflate the balloon, release it, and watch it zoom across the room. This activity demonstrates the 

principles of thrust and propulsion.

6. Homemade Slime: 

Mix glue, water, and borax to create a gooey and fascinating slime. Kids will love the process of making slime and exploring its unique properties.

7. Egg in a Bottle: 

Challenge your child to put a hard-boiled egg into a glass bottle without touching it. By creating a pressure difference, you can achieve this seemingly impossible feat.

8. Magic Milk: 

Add drops of food coloring to a plate of milk and then introduce a drop of dish soap. Watch as the colors magically swirl and mix together. This experiment demonstrates the concept of surface tension.

9. Baking Soda and Balloons: 

Combine baking soda and vinegar in a bottle, then attach a balloon to the top. As the chemical reaction occurs, the gas produced will inflate the balloon.

10. Homemade Lava Lamp: 

Using a clear container, oil, water, food coloring, and an Alka-Seltzer tablet, you can create a mesmerizing lava lamp effect. This experiment explores the concepts of density and immiscibility.

11. Static Electricity: 

Rub a balloon against a piece of fabric and observe how it attracts small objects, such as pieces of paper or hair. This experiment helps kids understand the concept of static electricity.

12. Mentos and Soda Geyser: 

Drop a few Mentos candies into a bottle of soda and witness a spectacular eruption of fizz. This experiment delves into the chemical reaction between the candies and the carbonated beverage.

13. DIY Rain Cloud: 

Fill a glass jar with hot water, place a plate on top, and add ice cubes to the plate. Watch as a cloud forms inside the jar and rain begins to fall. This experiment introduces the water cycle.

14. Lemon Battery: 

Make a simple battery using lemons, nails, and pennies. Connect multiple lemon batteries in series to power a small LED or a clock. This activity teaches kids about electricity and conductivity.

15. Invisible Glass: 

Create a glass that appears to disappear by carefully arranging water, gelatin, and glass inside a container. This experiment explores the concept of refraction.

Check out coding games for kids .

Experiment 1: Volcano Eruption

In the realm of science experiments, few capture the imagination quite like a volcano eruption. Experiment 1 aims to provide a hands-on demonstration of volcanic activity, showcasing the fascinating power and processes that occur beneath Earth’s surface. 

By creating a miniature volcano, participants will gain a deeper understanding of volcanic eruptions and the various materials involved.

1. An empty plastic bottle (such as a soda bottle)

2. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

3. Vinegar (acetic acid)

4. Dish soap (optional)

5. Red food coloring (optional)

6. Small container or bowl

7. Funnel (optional)

8. Measuring spoons

9. Tissue or paper towels (for clean-up)

10. Protective eyewear (safety goggles)

11. A tray or basin (to catch any spills)

1. Set up your experiment in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors or on a protected surface like a tray or basin. This will make clean-up easier and reduce the risk of any accidental spills.

2. Begin by preparing the volcano structure. Take an empty plastic bottle and remove the cap. If desired, you can also cut off the bottom of the bottle to create a wider opening.

3. Position the bottle in the center of your tray or basin, ensuring stability. If needed, you can secure it by using clay or playdough around the base.

4. Now it’s time to create the lava mixture. In a small container or bowl, mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of red food coloring. This will give the lava a more realistic appearance.

5. Place the funnel into the top opening of the plastic bottle. If you don’t have a funnel, you can carefully pour the mixture without it, but the funnel helps to control the flow and prevent spillage.

6. Slowly pour the baking soda mixture into the plastic bottle using the funnel. Make sure not to pour it all at once to avoid a premature reaction. Take your time and let it settle.

7. In a separate container, measure around 1/4 cup of vinegar. If you wish to create a foaming effect, you can add a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar and mix gently.

8. Pour the vinegar (and dish soap if using) into the plastic bottle containing the baking soda mixture. As the vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), a chemical reaction occurs, releasing carbon dioxide gas, which causes the eruption effect.

9. Watch in awe as the mixture starts to fizz and bubble, simulating the eruption of a volcano. The released carbon dioxide gas creates the effect of flowing lava.

1. Wear protective eyewear, such as safety goggles, to protect your eyes from any potential splashes or spills.

2. Conduct the experiment in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling the carbon dioxide gas produced during the reaction.

3. Adult supervision is strongly recommended, especially when working with young children or if handling potentially hazardous materials.

4. Be cautious while handling vinegar, as it is an acid and can cause irritation. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. If any accidental contact occurs, rinse the affected area immediately with water.

5. Clean up any spills promptly, especially on surfaces that may be sensitive to acid, such as marble or certain types of flooring.

Experiment 2: Invisible Ink

In this experiment, we will explore the fascinating world of invisible ink. The aim is to demonstrate how certain substances can be used to create invisible messages that become visible under specific conditions. This experiment is not only fun but also provides insights into the chemistry of invisible ink.

1. Lemon juice or milk

2. Small paintbrush or cotton swabs

3. White paper

4. Candle or heat source (adult supervision required)

5. Toothpick or fountain pen

6. Lamp or light bulb

1. Prepare the invisible ink

• Option 1: Lemon juice

a. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a small container.

b. Dilute the lemon juice with a small amount of water (1:1 ratio).

• Option 2: Milk

a. Pour a small amount of milk into a container.

2. Choose your writing instrument

Dip a small paintbrush or cotton swab into the prepared invisible ink. Alternatively, you can use a toothpick or a fountain pen to write with the invisible ink.

3. Write your message

Use the writing instrument to write a message or draw a picture on a piece of white paper. Ensure that the message is written clearly but lightly, as invisible ink tends to appear faint.

4. Let the ink dry

Allow the paper to dry completely. The invisible ink may require a few minutes to dry, depending on the substance used.

5. Reveal the message using heat

a. Light a candle or ask an adult to help you with a heat source like a lamp or light bulb.

b. Gently heat the paper by holding it near the flame or under the heat source. Be careful not to burn the paper.

c. As the heat is applied, the invisible ink will start to darken and become visible. Move the paper around to ensure the entire message is revealed.

d. Take note of the color change and the appearance of your hidden message.

1. Conduct this experiment under adult supervision, especially when using a heat source like a candle.

2. Be cautious while handling the flame or heat source to avoid burns or accidental fires.

3. Keep flammable materials away from the experiment area.

4. If using a candle, ensure it is placed on a stable surface and away from any flammable objects.

5. Use the flame or heat source responsibly and follow proper safety protocols.

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In conclusion, we highly encourage all readers to embark on the wonderful journey of trying out experiments with their kids. These hands-on activities have the power to ignite curiosity, spark creativity, and foster a deeper understanding of the world around us. 

By engaging in these experiments together, parents and children can create lasting memories while simultaneously enhancing their cognitive and problem-solving skills.

Not only do these experiments provide valuable educational opportunities, but they also offer a chance for parents and children to bond and connect on a deeper level. Through shared experiences, families can strengthen their relationships and create a supportive and engaging environment for learning. Engage young minds with captivating science experiments for kids, sparking curiosity and fostering a love for learning.

Furthermore, by sharing your experiences in the comments section, you contribute to a vibrant community of parents and educators who are passionate about fostering a love for science, exploration, and discovery in children. Your insights, tips, and anecdotes can inspire others to try the experiments and provide them with guidance and encouragement.

Remember, science is not confined to laboratories and textbooks. It can be found in the everyday activities we undertake, and by engaging in these experiments with your children, you open up a world of wonder and possibility. 

So go ahead, gather your materials, put on your lab coats (or aprons!), and embark on this exciting adventure with your kids. The experiences you create will be cherished by your family for years to come, and the knowledge and joy gained will last a lifetime.

Empower your child’s journey with BrightChamps – a leading EdTech company revolutionizing education for young minds.

Step into the world of knowledge and exploration on the BrightChamps blog page . Here, we invite you to embark on a journey of discovery, where each article is carefully crafted to ignite young minds with curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Our team of passionate educators and experts are dedicated to providing you with a diverse range of insightful content, from educational trends and innovative teaching methods to interactive experiments and engaging activities that are designed to captivate and inspire children of all ages. Join us in this adventure of growth and enlightenment as we share valuable resources and ideas to support the holistic development of your child.

A1: You can try the following easy science experiments with your kids at home: 1. Making a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. 2. Creating a homemade lava lamp using oil, water, and food coloring. 3. Conducting a simple density experiment with different liquids. 4. Exploring static electricity by rubbing a balloon on your hair. 5. Building a simple circuit using batteries and wires.

A2: Science experiments can benefit your child’s learning and development in several ways. They promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Science experiments also foster a sense of curiosity and discovery, encourage hands-on learning, and improve their understanding of scientific concepts

A3: Yes, science experiments can be messy at times. To prepare for that, consider the following steps: 1. Choose an appropriate area for conducting the experiment, like a table covered with newspaper or a designated workspace. 2. Gather all the necessary materials and equipment beforehand. 3. Have a set of old clothes or lab aprons to protect clothing. 4. Keep cleaning supplies handy, such as towels, wipes, and a sink with running water.

A4: Yes, it’s essential to take safety precautions before starting a science experiment with your kids. Some key precautions include: 1. Read and follow all instructions carefully. 2. Wear appropriate safety gear like goggles, gloves, and aprons if necessary. 3. Use child-friendly materials and non-toxic substances. 4. Keep experiments away from flames, heat sources, or electrical outlets. 5. Supervise your kids closely during the experiment.

A5: You can modify science experiments to suit different age groups or learning levels by adjusting the complexity or adding variations. For younger children, focus on simple and sensory-based experiments. For older children, you can introduce more complex concepts, encourage them to ask questions and conduct further research to deepen their understanding.

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22 Easy Summer Science Experiments for Kids

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Summertime has a lot going for it — warm weather, no jackets needed, and the opportunity to have fun outdoors. You don’t need to be a teacher to put together simple and easy science experiments for kids. One of the great things about summer is that kids just like to be outside spending time with you and blowing stuff up!

A lot of these science experiments use items like tape, construction paper, Ziploc bags, and cornstarch. Here are some household coupons if you need items like dish soap, sponges, and toilet paper too. Ready for simple summer science activities for kids?

Here are 22 easy science experiments for kids, from simple science experiments for kids to at home science experiments for kids, to fun science experiments.

22 Easy Science Experiments For Kids

1. create a geyser using mentos candy, diet soda, tape, and construction paper..

When you think of fun science experiments for kids, explosions (controlled, of course) are at the top of the list. For this experiment, adult supervision is needed for young kids. Essentially, you and your kids are going to quickly drop Mentos into a bottle of soda.

Roll about 7 Mentos candy pieces in a piece of paper, then drop all 7 at the same time into a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke (since Diet Coke doesn’t have sugar, it’s easier to clean up), and watch the soda shoot up and out of the bottle.

A chemical reaction will occur, which causes the soda to shoot up with incredible force!

RELATED: Would You Rather Questions

2. tell the temperature by counting cricket chirps in a 14-second period, then adding 40 to that number..

Did you know that you can tell the temperature by counting cricket chirps in a 14-second period, then adding 40 to that number?

It’s true! Since crickets are cold-blooded insects, their reaction time increases when it’s warm out and slows down when it’s cold — thus the difference in chirps. This is an easy, accurate, and fun educational activity for kids to teach them how to figure out the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Since crickets come out in warm seasons, summer is the ideal time to perform this test.

3. Create art by filling a Ziploc bag with vinegar and crushed chalk to make an exploding paint bag.

When you think of effortless science activities for kids, there’s usually a Ziploc bag involved. For this experiment, head outside and place a poster board under a bag filled with about 1/3 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of crushed chalk or powdered tempera paint . Quickly seal the bag, set it down, and watch it expand right before your eyes until it pops!

TIP: If the bag is not inflating, try adding baking soda to the crushed chalk.

4. Make magnetic slime by mixing glue, borax, and iron filings.

via Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

Kids ages 5 to 12 will love this experiment ! If you don’t want to make your own slime, magnetic space putty works, too.

Here’s what you’ll need for this super fun science experiment for kids:

• Liquid starch
• Iron oxide powder
• 1 neodymium magnet bar

For step-by-step directions, visit Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls .

5. Make a bottle “disappear” by putting it inside a clear glass container and filling both with glycerin.

In terms of easy science experiments for kids, not everything has to explode or morph into something else. This activity teaches basic science education. Follow these steps to show kids the physics of light traveling through glass and glycerin.

Here are the materials needed:

• 1 clear drinking glass
• 1 clear, empty glass bottle
• 2-3 6 oz. bottles of glycerin

They’ll be amazed when they can’t see the bottle’s boundaries within the glass container!

6. Bake snacks in a solar oven by gluing a piece of foil to construction paper and turning it into a cone.

Personally, any food-related science activity for kids is my jam! In this project, foil and black construction paper are the ovens that “cook” the food. This step-by-step guide suggests putting simple foods like cut-up apples into a pot and covering it with the cone.

Place it in the sun and wait a few hours for the food to cook. By absorbing the heat from the sun, the black construction paper reflects it around the food, therefore “cooking” it. Kids learn how the sun heats and cooks food and how to cook without electricity.

7. Have young kids practice “cooking” by making goop and flower cupcakes.

via The Imagination Tree

Ready to make flower cupcakes for a fun science experiment for kids? Of course, you can’t eat them, but they sure are fun to make and they encourage kids’ sensory skills and imagination.

Have your child gather fistfuls of grass and dandelion flowers and mix all the ingredients listed here together. They’ll see that their “cake” mix is an interesting concoction of solid and liquid. This activity is good for outside, sensory, and messy play.

Directions and additional information are available on The Imagination Tree .

8. Make sand waterproof with Scotchgard.

via The Geek Pub

Spend time outdoors making this project by g athering sand and laying it thinly on a foil-wrapped baking sheet. Then, liberally spray Scotchgard Protector onto the sand until it’s completely covered. Pour the sand into a clear container of water and impress the whole family with the formations you make.

9. Construct a rocket by placing an Alka-Seltzer tablet inside a film canister. Add some water and give it a shake.

via Science Sparks

For you old-school folks who still have 35mm film canisters , this experiment is a breeze. But, have no fear if you don’t have any. Empty Play-Doh containers or prescription bottles with non-childproof lids will do the trick.

To build the rocket, you’ll need a couple of plastic canisters and an Alka-Seltzer tablet .

The carbon dioxide buildup from the Alka-Seltzer tablet inside the canister increases the air pressure so much that when the canister can’t take any more, its lid will pop off and shoot up into the air.

This activity is for kids of all ages, but adult supervision is recommended for young children. Visuals for this easy science experiment for kids are found on the YouTube video on this page .

10. Create a rainbow in a jar by stacking common household liquids.

When I’m planning home science experiments for kids, I like to choose ones with items around the house, because it’s convenient. This project teaches kids two years and up about density. You’ll need a clear glass container, honey, light corn syrup, dish soap, olive oil, rubbing alcohol, water, and food coloring. Find out the steps and measurements on Playdough to Plato .

11. Use a pencil and clay to build a sundial for an easy science experiment for kids.

via Otherwise Educating

Think you don’t have time for a science activity for kids? Think again. Build a sundial by placing a pencil in a ball of clay . Every hour, mark the time with a stone. Doing this will teach young kids about the rotation of the sun and how to tell time.

12. Discover molecules by sealing a Ziploc bag full of water and pushing sharp pencils through both sides.

via Time Pass Just For Fun

My 7-year-old son actually tried this experiment after finding it on TikTok. I was amazed that it worked!

Zip top bags are made of polymer, the chain of molecules that’s flexible. When you poke a sharp object — like a pencil — through the bag, those molecules prevent water from coming out. Try using many pencils!

Find Ziploc coupons here if you need more for other educational activities for kids.

13. Combine cornstarch and water as an easy science activity for kids to make quicksand.

via Growing A Jeweled Rose

You don’t need to be near a riverbank to fall into this science experiment. Make quicksand in the backyard. Mix a cup of cornstarch and a half a cup of water. This medley of ingredients teaches kids how some materials act like a solid, while other times, they can be liquid. It can get messy, so we recommend taking it outside.

RELATED: Free Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer

14. Create a colorful educational activity for kids with water, salt, and food coloring.

via Artful Parent

Have food coloring handy to drop over the ice so you can highlight the ravines, crevasses, and tunnels that form as the salt melts the ice away. This is an easy and simple science experiment for kids of all ages.

• Liquid watercolors
• Eye droppers

Additional photos and instructions are available at The Artful Parent .

15. Cause an egg’s hard shell to disappear by placing it in a cup of white vinegar for a few days.

This simple science experiment for kids (as young as 4) teaches them about osmosis and the science of molecules passing through a seemingly solid membrane. If you’re holding the egg’s rubbery membrane afterwards, just be careful — you don’t want it to burst into a runny mess!

16. Form giant bubbles with glycerin for a cool science experiment for kids.

No summer science experiment is complete without bubbles.

Here’s what you need for this concoction :

• 1/2 C. Dawn
• 1/2 C. cornstarch
• 1 T. baking powder
• 1 T. glycerin

Mix the ingredients together to form a solution, then use a homemade bubble wand made from yard and wooden dowels to impress kiddos with giant bubbles. Blowing bubbles is fun for everyone and teaches kids about concepts like elasticity, chemistry, light, and even geometry.

17. Make rain clouds with water, shaving cream, and a few drops of food coloring.

This project shows young kids how rain clouds and precipitation work.

Here’s what you need:

• Clear container (like a mason jar)
• Shaving cream
• Blue food coloring
• Fill your container ¾ of the way with water.
• Carefully add shaving cream so it looks like a cloud. Let it set for a few minutes.
• Mix ¼ cup water and a few drops of food coloring.
• Use an eye dropper to create the “rain” by squeezing the food coloring over the shaving cream until it resembles a cloud.

Not only is this simple and creative, but it’s not too messy. Just the kind of educational activity for kids that adults like.

18. Inflate a balloon by filling it with Pop Rocks and attaching it to a bottle of soda.

This fun and simple science experiment for kids educates them on chemical reactions and gasses. Just gather a few plastic bottles of carbonated drinks, balloons, and Pop Rocks candy (or a generic popping candy from Dollar Tree). Adult supervision is required.

19. Build a DIY science experiment for kids with worms, dirt, and sand.

If you didn’t appreciate worms before, you’ll appreciate them after this experiment. Learn the value of worms, which help create the dark brown soil packed full of the nutrients needed for plant growth. See how this mom built her kids a worm observation hotel .

20. Construct an outdoor, erupting volcano by burying a water bottle filled with baking soda and adding vinegar.

This is a classic science activity for kids that explains how baking soda and vinegar together create carbon dioxide. To get started on this outdoor volcano experiment, gather a water bottle, white vinegar, baking soda, red food coloring, and dirt (or sand).

• Fill an empty water bottle ½ full with baking soda (use a funnel) and a few drops of red food coloring.
• In another cup, add ½ cup of vinegar. Set it aside.
• Place the cap on the water bottle, then “bury” it in dirt or sand with some clearance at the top of the bottle (for the explosion).
• Open the bottle cap and slowly pour the vinegar in. Be sure to stand back!

TIP: You may have to add more vinegar to create an eruption.

21. Discover osmosis by placing white flowers in colored water overnight to see the stems and leaves change color.

Transpiration is the process of water movement in a plant. Even though this cool science experiment for kids is designed for preschool and elementary-aged kiddos, you’ll be amazed to see transpiration in the works as an adult!

You’ll need white flowers, glasses, and food coloring. Determine how many colors you’d like to experiment with, and fill each glass with water and food coloring. Cut the stem of each flower at an angle to allow your flowers to “drink up” as much water as possible. Set one flower in each glass and wait!

22. Create an easy science experiment for kids — a tornado in a jar.

via Coffee Cups and Crayons

Form a tornado by adding water, dish soap, and glitter to a jar and giving it a little shake. Have a tight lid ready to go, and wow the kids using these instructions .

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Two lonely 25-year-olds met on Bumble BFF. Seven weeks later they're living together as 'platonic soulmates' who share a bed.

• Imogen Clarke and Estella Kyriacou were both looking for friends after moving to London.
• They matched on Bumble BFF, and within two months were living together and sleeping in the same bed.
• They are glad to have met amid a loneliness epidemic.

Imogen Clarke and Estella Kyriacou share a bed, cook together every night, and can't spend five minutes apart, even after an argument.

You'd be forgiven for thinking they've been in a relationship for years, but really, they're best friends who met five months ago.

The 25-year-olds matched on Bumble BFF , a version of the dating app designed for people who want to find mates instead of dates. They both made profiles after moving to London — Kyriacou from Toronto to study law, and Clarke from elsewhere in the UK to work as a mortgage broker.

Although they both had a few friends in the city and strong friendship groups at home, they felt lonely. Until she met Kyriacou, Clarke said she had accepted that maybe she'd always feel a bit lonely in London.

They were both looking to meet new people on the app and find "someone to share the everyday with," Kyriacou said.

Kyriacou and Clarke weren't alone in feeling isolated. Last year, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared an " epidemic of loneliness " in the US. Young people seem to be hardest hit, with a survey by healthcare and insurance company Cigna finding 79% of adults aged 18 to 24 reported feeling lonely in 2021, compared to 41% of people aged 66 and older.

In finding each other, Clarke and Kyriacou managed to avoid this trend. They describe each other as " platonic soulmates ," and can't believe their luck.

Bonding over being single and wanting to move out

Clarke and Kyriacou were attracted to each other's Bumble BFF profiles by their shared interests — " hot girl walks ," travel, fashion, eating out — and the fact they were both single.

Each wanted to find someone who was in the same stage of life and would want to embrace being single, talk about men, and double date.

On a Sunday in March, they started exchanging messages on the app, and met up to barhop the following Thursday.

Related stories

"We didn't waste any time. We spent a good couple of hours together," Clarke said.

"I knew after I left that I could see myself being good friends with Estella," she added. "I sort of had a feeling that we'd get along really well."

When they met, neither was in an ideal living situation. Clarke was living in a quiet flatshare and wanted more social interactions at home, while Kyriacou was in student accommodation and was looking to build connections outside university.

Living together "just seemed like it would be fun," Clarke said.

They moved in together quickly. "We met on March 14th, we signed our lease on April 11th, and we moved in on May 1st," Kyriacou said.

Sharing a bed — platonically

Before they moved in together, Clarke and Kyriacou had joked about having sleepovers in each other's rooms, but it took less than two weeks for the jokes to become a reality.

After spotting a spider one night, Kyriacou fled her bedroom and stayed in Clarke's bed. Failing to find it the next day, she joined Clarke again, and then again, and again.

"I kept making jokes, saying 'I'm going to kick you out.' But then I'd be like, 'oh no wait, I don't mean it, you can stay,'" Clarke said. "It sounds weird, but it's just like when you go on holiday with your friends, and you share a room and you just laugh and debrief the day before you go to bed."

People often think their relationship is more than just a friendship, but they're sure it's not.

"At first we were like, wait, do you think we love each other? And we sat and we analyzed," Kyriacou said, adding "because we do act like we've been married for 10 years."

"But then we're like, wait, no, we love men. Men are one thing we get so excited about," Clarke said.

Making friends as an adult can be tough

Clarke and Kyriacou are glad to have formed such a close bond so quickly at the age of 25. Like many young adults , Clarke had struggled to make close friends after finishing school.

"It's so hard after university or school and being in the workforce, it's hard to click with people," Kyriacou said.

People can also be at very different stages of their lives, adding another obstacle to connection. Kyriacou felt like others were getting to "that stage of adulthood that's so serious and grownup," which just wasn't for her.

They advised people wanting a friendship like theirs to be open to meeting people — whether that's on apps like Bumble, or public places like the gym or on social media. And, when they do, Clarke said, "the key is to actually be yourself from the get-go."

Feeling ashamed of how they met at first, they lied to their families and told them they met at the gym. But now they're "really proud" and have told their families the truth, Clarke said. Kyriacou has even met Clarke's grandfather and Clarke has video-called Kyriacou's family.

Kyriacou said that although their fast and strong friendship is perhaps an "odd case," they agreed that they were very lucky to have found each other.

"I literally didn't know you could make a friend this great," Clarke said.

• Main content

A stimulus-computable rational model of habituation in infants and adults

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How do we decide what to look at and when to stop looking? Even very young infants engage in active visual selection, looking less and less as stimuli are repeated (habituation) and regaining interest when novel stimuli are subsequently introduced (dishabituation). The mechanisms underlying these looking time changes remain uncertain, however, due to limits on both the scope of existing formal models and the empirical precision of measurements of infant behavior. To address this, we developed the Rational Action, Noisy Choice for Habituation (RANCH) model, which operates over raw images and makes quantitative predictions of participants' looking behaviors. In a series of pre-registered experiments, we exposed infants and adults to stimuli for varying durations and measured looking time to familiar and novel stimuli. We found that these data were well captured by RANCH. Using RANCH's stimulus-computability, we also tested its out-of-sample predictions about the magnitude of dishabituation in a new experiment in which we manipulated the similarity between the familiar and novel stimulus. By framing looking behaviors as rational decision-making, this work identified how the dynamics of learning and exploration guide our visual attention from infancy through adulthood.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

We made slight edits to the abstract to clarify the contribution and cleaned up some terminology throughout the paper (using "exposure" consistently instead of alternating between "exposure" and "familiarization"). There were also two section titles that were incorrectly capitalized. Finally, we replaced square brackets with curly brackets in some places to avoid confusion with the numbered references.

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