Fun STEM activities have never been more important for getting kids into science, and there are plenty of ways you encourage that senses of wonder at home. Here are some fun science experiments you can do at home with children of all ages. They are all easy to do, easy to prepare, and will help to stimulate kids interest in the wonderful world of science. Try one of the fun, easy to prepare home science experiments below and watch your child's love of science grow.
Home-made Volcano
You will need:
750ml or 1 litre plastic bottle, washed
1 tbsp washing up liquid
3 drops red food colouring
250ml white vinegar
375ml warm water
2 tbsp baking soda
How to make it:
1. Carefully cut the top off the plastic bottle, ensuring it is large enough for the other ingredients to fit inside.
2. Place the bottle on top of a flower pot and surround it with soil so that it does not wobble.
3. Add the washing up liquid and food coloring to the bottle, then add the vinegar.
4. Pour in the water to fill the bottle almost to the top.
5. Place the baking soda in a small cup and add a little of the water to it to moisten.
6. Pour the baking soda into the bottle and step back. The contents will start to flow like lava out of a volcano.
Coke Bottle Geyser
You will need:
2 litre bottle of diet cola
tube of mint Mentos
How to make it:
1. Go outside into an open space. (Keep children and pets well away.)
2. Drop 7 Mentos into the bottle, preferable at the same time, and run away.
3. Watch the soda shoot straight up out of the bottle like a geyser.
Home-made Slime
This fun, stretchy substance can occupy kids for hours.
You will need:
75ml water
75ml white craft glue
75ml liquid starch (the kind used for clothes)
Food colouring
Glitter, if desired
How to make it:
1. Pour the glue into a mixing bowl then add the water. Stir well.
2. Add about 6 drops of food coloring then stir in the starch.
3. The mixture will soon bulge and you can start to stretch it and shape it.
Tip: Store the slime in a plastic bag when you are not playing with it so it does not dry out.
Invisible Ink
You will need:
half a fresh lemon
some water
a cotton bud
paper
a lamp
How to make it:
1. Juice the lemon into the bowl and add a few drops of water.
2. Dip the cotton bud into the lemon juice and write a message on the paper.
3. Wait for the juice to dry, so it becomes completely invisible.
4. Amaze people with the secret message by holding the paper close to the lamp. The light will make the writing appear.
Home-made Rain Clouds
This will teach children how clouds hold water and how when they become too heavy, it starts to rain. Lead into a discussion about the water cycle, then visit your local wetlands to find out more.
You will need:
Water, colored with some food colouring
A clear jar/glass/vase with water in it
Shaving foam
An eyedropper
How to make it:
1. Squirt some shaving cream on top of the water in the vase so it becomes a cloud.
2. Carefully pour the coloured water into the vase.
3. It will start to rain under the 'cloud' as the cream gets to the point where it can’t hold any more water. The coloured water should make pretty patterns the kids will enjoy as well.
4. Experiment with using different colours to add interest.
Two more fun science experiments you can do at home:
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Home-made Volcano
You will need:
750ml or 1 litre plastic bottle, washed
1 tbsp washing up liquid
3 drops red food colouring
250ml white vinegar
375ml warm water
2 tbsp baking soda
How to make it:
1. Carefully cut the top off the plastic bottle, ensuring it is large enough for the other ingredients to fit inside.
2. Place the bottle on top of a flower pot and surround it with soil so that it does not wobble.
3. Add the washing up liquid and food coloring to the bottle, then add the vinegar.
4. Pour in the water to fill the bottle almost to the top.
5. Place the baking soda in a small cup and add a little of the water to it to moisten.
6. Pour the baking soda into the bottle and step back. The contents will start to flow like lava out of a volcano.
Coke Bottle Geyser
You will need:
2 litre bottle of diet cola
tube of mint Mentos
How to make it:
1. Go outside into an open space. (Keep children and pets well away.)
2. Drop 7 Mentos into the bottle, preferable at the same time, and run away.
3. Watch the soda shoot straight up out of the bottle like a geyser.
Home-made Slime
This fun, stretchy substance can occupy kids for hours.
You will need:
75ml water
75ml white craft glue
75ml liquid starch (the kind used for clothes)
Food colouring
Glitter, if desired
How to make it:
1. Pour the glue into a mixing bowl then add the water. Stir well.
2. Add about 6 drops of food coloring then stir in the starch.
3. The mixture will soon bulge and you can start to stretch it and shape it.
Tip: Store the slime in a plastic bag when you are not playing with it so it does not dry out.
Invisible Ink
You will need:
half a fresh lemon
some water
a cotton bud
paper
a lamp
How to make it:
1. Juice the lemon into the bowl and add a few drops of water.
2. Dip the cotton bud into the lemon juice and write a message on the paper.
3. Wait for the juice to dry, so it becomes completely invisible.
4. Amaze people with the secret message by holding the paper close to the lamp. The light will make the writing appear.
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| Image c/o Kate at Laughing Kids Learn |
Home-made Rain Clouds
This will teach children how clouds hold water and how when they become too heavy, it starts to rain. Lead into a discussion about the water cycle, then visit your local wetlands to find out more.
You will need:
Water, colored with some food colouring
A clear jar/glass/vase with water in it
Shaving foam
An eyedropper
How to make it:
1. Squirt some shaving cream on top of the water in the vase so it becomes a cloud.
2. Carefully pour the coloured water into the vase.
3. It will start to rain under the 'cloud' as the cream gets to the point where it can’t hold any more water. The coloured water should make pretty patterns the kids will enjoy as well.
4. Experiment with using different colours to add interest.
Two more fun science experiments you can do at home:
Pin it:
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