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Fun Science for 5-6 Year Olds

Science Activities for 5-6 year olds

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Fun Science Activities for 5 & 6 Year Olds

Egg in Skittles and Vinegar Experiment: What Happens When You Put Egg in Skittles?

Egg in Skittles and Vinegar Experiment: What Happens When You Put Egg in Skittles?

How to Use Iron Filings to See Magnetic Field

How to Use Iron Filings to See Magnetic Field

How to Make Crystal Egg Shells

How to Make Crystal Egg Shells

How to do an Air Pressure on Water Experiment for Kids

How to do an Air Pressure on Water Experiment for Kids

Dancing Ghosts : Halloween Balloon Static Electricity Activity

Dancing Ghosts : Halloween Balloon Static Electricity Activity

How to Make Violet Crumble / Honey Comb (Edible Science for Kids)

How to Make Violet Crumble / Honey Comb (Edible Science for Kids)

Balloon and Pin Experiment (Air Pressure Experiment for Kids)

Balloon and Pin Experiment (Air Pressure Experiment for Kids)

How to Make DIY Magnetic Compass

How to Make DIY Magnetic Compass

Root Beer Floats – Explore States of Matter

Root Beer Floats – Explore States of Matter

How To Make a Balloon Hovercraft

How To Make a Balloon Hovercraft

Invisible Ink Experiment (With Lemon Juice & Salt Solution)

Invisible Ink Experiment (With Lemon Juice & Salt Solution)

Why does Water Bend with Static Electricity (Worksheets Included)

Why does Water Bend with Static Electricity (Worksheets Included)

How do you put a Needle Through a Balloon Without Popping

How do you put a Needle Through a Balloon Without Popping

Amazing Paper Cup Rocket Craft : Jumping Bird DIY

Amazing Paper Cup Rocket Craft : Jumping Bird DIY

How to Make Glowing Water : Science Experiment

How to Make Glowing Water : Science Experiment

How to Make Oobleck (A Perfect Non Newtonian Fluid)

How to Make Oobleck (A Perfect Non Newtonian Fluid)

Floating Egg Science Experiment ( Using Salt, Sugar & Saline Water)

Floating Egg Science Experiment ( Using Salt, Sugar & Saline Water)

Cool Watermelon Science Experiments for Kids

Cool Watermelon Science Experiments for Kids

Tornado in a Bottle : Best Weather Science Activity

Tornado in a Bottle : Best Weather Science Activity

Skittles Rainbow : Dissolving Dye Science Project

Skittles Rainbow : Dissolving Dye Science Project

How to Make a Candle Seesaw? Balancing Act Experiment

How to Make a Candle Seesaw? Balancing Act Experiment

Exploring Veins Patterns in Leaves – Kids Painting Activity

Exploring Veins Patterns in Leaves – Kids Painting Activity

Burning Candle Rising Water Experiment

Burning Candle Rising Water Experiment

Balloon in a Bottle : Air Pressure Experiment

Balloon in a Bottle : Air Pressure Experiment

Life Cycle of Silkworm : 3D Model for Science Fair Project

Life Cycle of Silkworm : 3D Model for Science Fair Project

Egg and Toothpaste Experiment (Learn Importance of Brushing Your Teeth)

Egg and Toothpaste Experiment (Learn Importance of Brushing Your Teeth)

How to Make a Square Bubble

How to Make a Square Bubble

How to Build a Balloon Rocket (Balloon Rocket Race)

How to Build a Balloon Rocket (Balloon Rocket Race)

How to Make 3D Ladybug Model (Lifecycle Included)

How to Make 3D Ladybug Model (Lifecycle Included)

How to Draw on Water Using Dry Erase Markers (Dancing Drawings)

How to Draw on Water Using Dry Erase Markers (Dancing Drawings)

Santa’s Christmas Timer : Fun Board Game to Teach Time

Santa’s Christmas Timer : Fun Board Game to Teach Time

Walking Water Experiment – Teach Capillary Action to Kids

Walking Water Experiment – Teach Capillary Action to Kids

Walking on Eggs : Measure the Strength of Egg Shell

Walking on Eggs : Measure the Strength of Egg Shell

How Strong is an Egg Shell? Strength of Eggshell Bridge

How Strong is an Egg Shell? Strength of Eggshell Bridge

Rainbow Rubber Egg Science Experiment

Easy Experiments to Introduce Magnetism to Kids

DIY Pully – Physics Fun Experiment for Kids

DIY Pully – Physics Fun Experiment for Kids

DIY Crystal Snowman : Christmas Tree Ornament

DIY Crystal Snowman : Christmas Tree Ornament

Respiration in Plants – Live Proof

Respiration in Plants – Live Proof

DIY Robotic Articulated Hand

DIY Robotic Articulated Hand

Candle Under Glass Experiment

DIY Borax Bouncy Ball -Experiment

DIY Borax Bouncy Ball -Experiment

DIY Borax Crystal Flowers

DIY Borax Crystal Flowers

Can You Make a Crystal Candy Cane? (Christmas Science Project)

Can You Make a Crystal Candy Cane? (Christmas Science Project)

Glowing Water Beads Experiment for Kids

Glowing Water Beads Experiment for Kids

Easy Volcano Eruption Experiment for Kids (3 Methods & Beautiful Results)

Easy Volcano Eruption Experiment for Kids (3 Methods & Beautiful Results)

Interlocking Crystal Hearts : Grow Your Own Crystals

Interlocking Crystal Hearts : Grow Your Own Crystals

Sugar Glass : Edible Science for Kids

Sugar Glass : Edible Science for Kids

Questacon (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre) – Place to Visit With Kids

Questacon (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre) – Place to Visit With Kids

DIY Amazing Crystal Snowflakes ( Science Project for Kids)

Science Behind Making Butter

Science Behind Making Butter

How to Start Fire with a Magnifying Glass?

How to Start Fire with a Magnifying Glass?

Glow in the Dark Ice Cubes – Sensory, Edible Science Activity

Glow in the Dark Ice Cubes – Sensory, Edible Science Activity

Refraction of Light : Play & Learn Activity for Kids

Refraction of Light : Play & Learn Activity for Kids

Density Science for Kids : Create Fireworks in Water & Oil

Density Science for Kids : Create Fireworks in Water & Oil

How to Make a Lava Lamp at Home

How to Make a Lava Lamp at Home

STEM Toys for Girls : 2019 Topmost Toys for Curious Girls

Engineering Toys for Girls : 2019 Ultimate List for Little Geniuses

Geomag Panels – Review

Geomag Panels – Review

Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids

Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids

Book Review : Ivy and Beak Break the Fossil Record

Book Review : Ivy and Beak Break the Fossil Record

Build Your Own 3D Structure : STEM Challenge for Kids

Build Your Own 3D Structure : STEM Challenge for Kids

Spiny Leaf Phasmids : Secret Life of Pets (DIY Enclosure Steps!)

Spiny Leaf Phasmids : Secret Life of Pets (DIY Enclosure Steps!)

Review: Magic Science for Wizards Only Science Kit

Review: Magic Science for Wizards Only Science Kit

DIY Christmas Tree Magnet Maze (Fun Science Game)

DIY Christmas Tree Magnet Maze (Fun Science Game)

Book Review of Ada Twist, Scientist

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas : Nature Learning for Kids

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas : Nature Learning for Kids

Swirling Milk Experiment (Magic Milk Activity)

Swirling Milk Experiment (Magic Milk Activity)

DIY Christmas Tree Bubble Wand {Learn bubble physics}

Catapult STEM Project – DIY Catapult for Kids

Coloring Activity – Girl as a Scientist

Make Mushroom Monkeys : Spore Science Craft

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium – Perfect Excursion for Kids

Upcycled Catapult – STEM go green DIY Challenge

Spore Printing with Mushroom – Botany Lesson with Fungi

How to make Curds and Whey

Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment

Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment

How to Make Heart Shaped Bubble Wand

Easter Egg Bubble Wands

Magnet Maze Game Designing Activity – Learn Science and Art

Magnet Maze Game Designing Activity – Learn Science and Art

Book Review of Sticker Dolly Dressing Dream Jobs (Usborne Activities book}

DIY Fridge Door Marble Run Using Magnets

Comparing Different Seeds – An Activity About Nature Science

11 Experiments That Failed Book Review

Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet

Want even more science fun?

At this moment if you are looking for more activities, then read below. I have collected some for your 5 – 6-year-old kids. Try this on weekends or holidays. They are easy at the same time knowledgeable.

  • Friction and inertia the coin way – It’s the beginning to teach the fundamentals of science and you can quickly help students understand friction and inertia. All you need is coins, dinner knife, and a table. See how and when coin topples and learn Newton’s first law. For more details Steve Spangler Science .
  • The connection between color and taste – Have you ever thought about this? Does food colors have a taste? Then why does juice made from the same fruit but added different food color taste different? Lets us find this out with fruit juice, and three different food colors using the experiment described in the link given below. For more details Science Buddies .
  • Ice as a magnifying glass – It is now possible to make a magnifying glass just out of ice cubes. All you need is to freeze water and make it ice. Teach refraction and magnification through this experiment. Get ready with things to be witnessed as magnified with your new magnifying glass. For more details Schooling a monkey .
  • Color changing slimes . Yes, in a thermochromic way and you can imagine how much excitement it will add to your kid. Every kid loves to play with slime and in fact, they are crazy about it. Source: Left Brain Craft Brain.
  • Earthquake experiment – Two cloth strips and earth’s crust will allow you to teach children about the earthquake. Let kids know about the critical earthquakes with a simple experiment.For more details The owl teacher
  • Life Over Cs has given the best way to let your kid explore density . Allow her to look for the items in the pantry to try this experiment. Layered potions they are.
  • Water Clock – In the digital world, kids might not have heard about the water clock. But it is a clock similar to sundial which helped ancient people to know the time. This can be made at home with just 2 water bottles. Drill, timer, glue gun, straw, and a sharpie marker. Let them enjoy finding the time on their own looking at the flow of water from one bottle to another. For more details Teach beside me .
  • Buggy and Buddy has presented this great craft idea in science allowing your 5 – 6-year-old to make chromatography butterflies getting separated with markers.
  • Even more, is available on chromatography. You can check Kids Minds that have just not bought five exciting ways to work around with chromatography . The best part is the sprinkles one!
  • Surface tension with a paper clip – Surface tension concept is very important in science and few kids find it confusing. So let us do this experiment. Use some paper clips and place them in a bowl of water and it will sink. Now, take them out and bend it to make them in shapes to show them floating in the water. Do you want to teach kids in the right way? Continue reading from the link below. For more details Raising lifelong learners .
  • There’s Just One Mommy has changed the color of grape juice with simple chemistry . Now you can also try. Making parachutes with egg is now possible. So do not worry about remaining Easter eggs. This great experiment is posted by JDaniel4’s Mom.
  • Slime and magnet – what is the connection – Teaching magnetism is a really difficult task for teachers. But you can show the magnet and practically explain to make kids understand better. Does liquid get attracted to a magnet? No, I am not joking this magnetic slime, does it? Glue and iron oxide powder are the two main ingredients for making this magic. For more details Frugal Fun4 boys
  • Concept of light, symmetry, and reflection – Easy way to teach the main science concept light and reflection is with the help of kaleidoscope. It is fun to make one with kids and with inexpensive things each kid can have one. Just collect tissue roll empty, thick sheets, white cardstock, bending straw, scissors, and cutter. Let’s explore the way to make kaleidoscope in this section. For more details Buggy and Buddy .
  • The Chaos and the Clutter had really made a great and simple fold mountain . This is really amazing and the foolproof way to demonstrate earth science for kids.
  • JDaniel4’s Mom is back again with a great experiment to show how to control water flow ?
  • Laughing Kids Learn has shown the easiest way of using science and now it is easy to blow balloons .
  • For the art loving kids, Rhythms of Play have given an excellent opportunity. Yes, the experiment that explains about mediums and their resistance to watercolors . Also, the various effects are discussed.
  • Solvent, solute – Solubility –  Children must understand about solute and solvent to learn about solubility. Instead of orally explaining take these things to the class and make children witness solubility. The solvent is the liquid and solute is the material either a solid, liquid or a gas that will dissolve in a solvent. With markers, water, alcohol, and vinegar you can help children understand solubility. For more details Around the kampfire .
  • Weight with paper chain – This experiment will teach kids about measuring liquids, weight management and how to make a strong paper chain. All you need is a bucket, measuring jar, and newspaper. Kids can experiment themselves. But you need to help them hold the bucket as it will become weight when water is added to it. For more details More than a worksheet .
  • Now teach weather, storm with this simple experiment presented in the following sites. Preschool Powol Packets , Frogs and Fairies , Life Over Cs . Each one has their way of explaining and you must individually check them out.
  • Look We Are Learning has demonstrated an easy experiment about heat conducting materials . Feel glad that you don’t need to spend a penny on these experiments as they are available at your home.
  • It is now very easy to make clouds . Yes inside a glass or a jar. Wondering how? Follow the simple steps explained by There’s Just One Mommy and your done.
  • Temperature and Thermometer – How does thermometer work? What is cold and hot? How to measure them? These questions can be answered easily with this experiment. Ask kids to place their hand into a bucket containing cold water. Not bare hand but with a ziplock. Likewise, let them try with gloves, etc and explain the changes they feel. For more details Third Grade Thinkers .
  • Jelly experiments are fun always they are generally called as Jello in Canada and America. The Chaos and the Clutter have made this exciting idea and you can follow too.
  • Light and refraction experiment at home with kids is a great way to teach them science. Don’t look for things outside your bag. Look, We’re Learning! Has taught this trick.
  • How to bulb plants grow . Watch this Buggy and Buddy experiment. Enjoy witnessing the roots and the entire plant growth.
  • Force and motion – Push and pull is all about motion and force. Let kids have fun with this marshmallow shooter and learn about force. Need a paper cup, balloon, and that’s all the experiment can start in a few minutes. For making marshmallow shooters click the link given below. For more details The teky teacher .
  • Designing a floating Lego boat within no time has been made possible by JDaniel4’s Mom. Then you can also do it and also understand the duration it can float, its weight holding capacity, etc.
  • This is a monster experiment and it inflates on its own. Sounds interesting? Check this Artsy Momma’s idea and rock this years Halloween party.
  • The hot chocolate idea for this winter. Creative Family Fun has presented this food science and you can test variables as well as record results.
  • Stop motion movie – You can now make your kid’s movie makers. Yes, believe it is possible with this stop motion movie making concept. This little is doing the same from scratch. You can follow that and educate your kids to try. It is not a one day work off course making a movie is not possible in just one day. So you can start today and train them as project work. For more details, Happiness is here .
  • Find the density of all vegetables and fruits by following KC Edventures healthy experiment.
  • NutureStore encourages kids to make rain gauge at home. It challenges that you can cross check the reading with the weather report.
  • Using marshmallows now Artsy Momma and her toddler team has made constellation lesson easy by making some crafts.
  • Balloon Rocket – This experiment will teach about how shape and size influence speed. Simply a thread, drinking straw, balloons of different shape and size must be used to construct this experiment. This can be made in no time and experimented indoor or outdoor. Let kids have all fun but learn about speed in lightning speed. For more details Kiwico .
  • Mess for Less has posted an experiment where you need not mess with ice but pick them with string . Astonishing? Find out how and do them without fail.
  • Every color disappears with Mess for Less bleach experiment. Beware go with old clothing to do this magical experiment.
  • Balloon explaining the concept of pressure, CO 2 – In this video, you can educate kids about pressure using a balloon. Next is to fill the balloon with baking soda and vinegar. The third experiment is to fill with water and check if it will pop when the flame is placed under it. Interesting concepts can be taught in an easy way. For more details Youtube 3 balloon experiments .
  • Now making a tornado at home is simple. Can you imagine how gigantic a tornado will be? Try Planet Smarty way and Artsy Momma way.
  • Again NutureStore has presented a creative experiment to make with ice. Yes, colorful ice art with salt .
  • Making stethoscope at home is the first step to make your little one a doctor. Check the idea posted in Fantastic Fun and Learning.
  • Rock lesson – With salt and water, it is now possible to make rocks. This lesson will teach about rock and its types. Fill a jar with water and add salt to it. Mix them and tie toothpick to string both ends and keep it on the jar. Salt crystals will form over time. For more details Science kids .
  • Rhythms of Play make sundial drawing easy. Also, creating art with the shadow is easy now. This will help little ones to understand shadow and earth rotation.
  • Drop Egg from any height it won’t break and it is an open challenge for kids. But that is also feasible with Buggy and Buddy  egg drop experiment .
  • A solar system with pony bead and they are melted by Schooling A Monkey. This will give an idea about planets and their sizes.
  • How do tooth decays – Kids by this time will witness tooth fall and hence you can teach them about decay. The milk tooth falls down and permanent tooth grows. These need to be protected to prevent tooth decay. Do these experiments to educate kids about tooth decay. We know getting a real tooth is difficult. But you can ask kids to preserve fallen tooth to use for this experiment. Even animal bone can be used instead. For more details Science project .
  • Ideas from Kids Minds about water and resistance . Try this with play dough and foil aluminum).
  • Forensic at age 5? Yes, you can teach kids to find the fingerprints with this KC Edventures easy experiment.
  • Tornado – The natural calamity – Just with a plastic bottle with lid, water, and dishwashing liquid you can now explain the occurring of tornado. Make use of glitters to make them look shiny and that will make kids feel excited.For more details Sciencing .
  • Math Geek Mama has made seeing stars easy with the homemade telescope .

Want even EVEN more?

Check on our page where we have posted activities for 3-4 yrs kids which will suit for 5 to 6 years kids as well. Add some science to it and make it challenging for 5-6 yr elder kids. Allow them to think and make some strategy to work on these experiments. As they are older they can write some plan and document the reactions as well.

Again there is a page for 7 – 9 yrs kids and check them for more challenge and those intellectual kids can try them even if they are not 7 yrs old. But be with them and help them.

You can also check my pins in the Pinterest board under the name science activities for girls and get inspired with more ideas.

Feel free to let us know your suggestions for us. We will be happy to try out an experiment.

Each activity published on this page requires support from adults. Elders please make sure and decide which experiment is suitable for your kids based on their age and maturity. Click  here  for more information.

Science Fun

Science Fun

Science Experiments for Kids:

Science experiments you can do at home!  Explore an ever growing list of hundreds of fun and easy science experiments. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for science fair project ideas. Explore experiments by category, newest experiments, most popular experiments, easy at home experiments, or simply scroll down this page for tons of awesome experiment ideas!

Lava Lamp - April 2018

Making A Volcano:

Acids and Bases Can Erupt in Your Faces

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Orange Fizz:

Dry Erase - March 2018

Awesome Experiments:

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

New Experiments:

Check Out Our Newest Experiments

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Top Experiments:

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Easy Experiments:

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Storm In A Glass:

Home Made Play Dough - July 2014

Home Made Play Dough:

Snow Fluff - December 2017

Snow Fluff:

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Snow Globe:

Squishy Turkeys - November 2017

Squishy Turkeys:

Rainbow in a Glass! - May 2017

Rainbow in a Glass:

Sizzlin' Snowballs - December 2016

Sizzlin’ Snowballs:

Jello Lenses - August 2018

Jello Lenses:

Ice Fishing - July 2018

Ice Fishing:

Super Cool Soda - Sept. 2017

Super Cool Soda:

Jack-O-Cano - October 2016

Jack-O-Cano:

Dancing Hearts - February 2015

Dancing Hearts:

Marbled Gift Wrap - December 2018

Marbled Gift Wrap:

Massive Expanding Soap - July 2017

Massive Expanding Soap:

Surface Tension Art - February 2017

Surface Tension Art:

Fizzy Fruit

Fizzy Fruit:

Rotting Pumpkin

Rotting Pumpkin:

Explode A Bag

Explode A Bag:

Rotting Pumpkin

Invisible Extinguisher:

Paper Hovercrafts

Paper Hovercrafts:

Fun Fossil Stamps - April 2017

Fun Fossil Stamps:

Ping Pong - October 2018

Cool Crystals:

Balloon Pop! Not! - January 2017

Balloon Pop! Not!

Solar Eclipse Kit - Aug. 2017

Solar Eclipse Kit:

Moldy Apples - September 2016

Moldy Apples:

Cool Off Volcanoes

Cool Off Volcanoes:

Vinegar Pops - June 2016

Vinegar Pops:

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Make It Rain:

Black Light Blue Beverage - October 2015

Black Light Blue Beverage:

Changing of the Leaves - September 2015

Changing of the Leaves:

Snowflakes - December 2015

Snowflakes:

Egg Drop - November 2015

Water Fireworks:

The Mind of a Student - August 2015

Mind of a Student:

Balloon Speakers - May 2016

Balloon Speakers:

Polar Bear Blubber - January 2016

Polar Bear Blubber:

Gorgeous Gooey Gobstoppers - February 2016

Gorgeous Gooey Gobstoppers:

Olympic Medals - August 2016

Olympic Medals:

Dyed Flowers - May 2015

Dyed Flowers:

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away Gauge - April 2015

Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away Gauge:

Blossoming Beans - March 2015

Blossoming Beans:

Sun Dial - January 2015

Butter Fingers:

Polishing Pennies - September 2014

Polishing Pennies:

Dancing Liquid - October 2014

Dancing Liquid:

Floating Egg - April 2014

Floating Egg:

Bendy Bones

Bendy Bones:

Pot of Gold - March 2016

Pot Of Gold:

Layers of Liquids - May 2014

Layers of Liquids:

Crystal Candy - March 2014

Crystal Candy:

STEM Geek logo

32 Cool Science Experiments for Kids (that are Fun AND Easy!)

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Do you ever want to do science experiments at home with your kids, but you’re not quite sure what to do? Not just any old kitchen science experiment will do – you want something cooler than vinegar + bicarb soda! But, you also want something simple and easy to do – because no-one wants a huge mess from their kids doing crazy science experiments at home!

We understand, and that’s why the writing team here at STEM Geek has put our heads together to come up with the most awesome at-home science experiments for kids! As science enthusiasts and educators, we also wanted to make sure that these are genuine science learning opportunities. So not only are they captivating for the kids, but we also emphasize what questions can be asked as kids explore and apply the scientific method! Plus, we’ve arranged them according to how much time they take: up to 1 hour, 1 to several hours, and long-term.

Related Post: Ultimate Boredom Buster: 101 Things To Do When Kids Are Bored

Science Experiments at Home that take Less than 1 Hour

1. tie-dye milk.

Sounds delicious, right? You’re not actually drinking it, but instead watching science magic happens when you combine dish soap with milk and food coloring. This is a very pretty experiment that draws the focus and mind into what’s happening on the plate, and all because of a little chemistry with everyday items. Well, food dye may not be an everyday item, but it might be after your kids get a hold of this!

So, what’s going on here, scientifically-speaking? Milk is made up of two major ingredients: water and fat. When you add a little dish soap, it bonds with the fat in the milk so strongly that it literally pushes the food coloring and water away from the cotton ball. On a microscopic level, the dish soap is wandering around the milk, which causes the colors to swirl and swirl.

Questions to ask beforehand:

  • Before knowing what will happen to the food coloring, ask the kids what they think will happen when dish soap mixes with milk.
  • Since the major catalyst is fat in the milk, what would happen if you used other types of milk: Skim milk, soy milk, coconut milk?

You’ll need:

  • Round cake pan or plate with high edges
  • Cotton ball (some tutorials show cotton swabs)
  • Dish detergent
  • Different colors of food dye (three or four should do)

Procedure/Instructions:

  • Fill the pan halfway with milk.
  • Drip one color of food dye in one section of the plate away from the center. Four to five drops works and later you can play around with more or less. Do the same for the rest of the colors around the plate.
  • Soak the cotton ball in dish detergent, and when you’re ready for action, place the cotton ball into the center of the pan.
  • Watch the colors racing around, creating a psychedelic tie-dye effect!
  • You can add more cotton balls throughout the dish to see more action.
  • If some food coloring hugs the wall of the plate, take a cotton swab dipped in dish detergent and place it into the food coloring. It will move away!

2. Saturn’s Glowing Rings

using a flashlight for a Saturn’s Glowing Rings experiment

I don’t know about you, but I love everything about space. This experiment shows you how Saturn’s rings are made of rocks and ice chunks even though they look so smooth in pictures. You’ll also see why there are big gaps in the rings. Younger kids take delight in using a flashlight and sprinkling powder, while older kids can get more specific with questions about Saturn and how the rocks and ice stay in orbit.

  • Do Saturn’s rings give off their own light?
  • Why are some rocks and ice chunks more lit up than others?
  • Compare the results of light sprinkles to thicker sprinkles.
  • Strong flashlight
  • Powder (flour, baby powder, etc) in a shaker
  • Very dark room
  • Darken a room and set the flashlight on the edge of a table or counter, pointing it at a blank wall. Lay the newspaper on the floor between the flashlight and the wall.
  • Turn on the flashlight and notice where the light comes from the flashlight and where it hits the wall. You should only see the light from these two places and not from the space between them. This shows you that the light travels through the air without being seen until it hits the wall. The light represents the sun’s light.
  • Now to see how Saturn’s rings glow: Hold the powder shaker and sprinkle some powder over the beam of light where you know the light is traveling. You’ll notice the powder lights up and sparkles in the beam of light. The powder shows in glowing clumps, just like in Saturn’s rings.

3. Breaking Down Colors

We all know that the fun, vibrant colors we see in our lives are created by mixing the basic red, yellow, and blue. In this experiment, you and your child will learn which colors make up those fun shades they have in their art supplies. This also teaches some basic chemistry and uses materials you already have at home. It can be done very simply and expanded to create a large-scale investigation if you love it.

  • Which colors separate out first?
  • Is the same order for each test?
  • Which colors make up the original shade?
  • Do the different types of color (pen, pencil, paint) separate in the same way or differently?
  • Are some separated in a shorter space are the colors the same mixture?
  • Coffee filters
  • Color sources (markers, colored pencils, paint, etc.)
  • A plain pencil
  • To complete this experiment, cut the coffee filters into strips, mark one end with a line the same distance from the bottom on each strip.
  • Color in each strip (between the bottom and line) with your colors, and write at the top what the color and source are (e.g., purple marker).
  • Place each strip in a glass and help it to stand up by folding the top over a pencil (a chopstick, table knife, or any long narrow object will also work) so that it stands up in the glass.
  • Fill the glass up to the top of your colored block, and wait. The water will move up the filter, and the colors will separate out as it goes.
  • Remove the strip once the water gets near the top of the strip to stop the experiment. 

To make this a true experiment, we recommend testing multiple colors and using markers, colored pencils, and paint (as some starting examples). You could test the same colors from each type of art supply to investigate whether they all use the same mix of basic colors to create the same end product.

This post has a nice full description of the methods if you need more detail.

4. Water Xylophone

Water Xylophone - let kids experiment with sound and liquids

This simple experiment will teach your child about sound and pitch using glasses, water, and something to act as a mallet. Don’t let the simplicity deceive you, there are a lot of ways to experiment and learn through this process, and it also brings in an element of music that makes it interesting and engaging.

  • Do you think more water makes the sound higher or lower in pitch?
  • How do you think the shape or size of the glass will affect the sound?
  • How should we arrange the glasses to play a simple song?
  • Do you think this will work with a plastic cup, why or why not?
  • Some glasses
  • Something wood to act as a mallet (we recommend wood so you don’t break the glasses!)
  • A great way to start is with glasses that are the same size, shape, and material, and filling them with different amounts of water.
  • Have your child use the mallet to test how the amount of water affects the sound.
  • From there, it’s a really simple extension to use different sized and shaped glasses (or any glass vessel like jars and bowls) to experiment with how the shape, size, and amount of water in the glass affect the tone. 

To take this one further and really bring in the musical component, you and your child could work out a simple song and create the right tones to play it. If you or your child are musical, you could get very elaborate and creative (try googling harry potter or star wars theme songs on glasses, there are so many options that I couldn’t even choose one)!

5. Ultimate Bottle Flipping

Ah, bottle flipping. The fad that kids can’t get enough of, but parents are well and truly over. The constant thud of semi-filled water bottles being tossed (and hopefully landing upright) is guaranteed to send parents around the twist!

If you can stand it for a bit longer though, there’s a lot of STEM knowledge to be gained in this bottle flipping experiment. As we know, the aim of bottle flipping is to flip a partially filled water bottle underhand and get it to land upright.

In this experiment, kids will learn the importance of observing a result multiple times before changing a variable (the amount of water in the bottle).

  • How much water should you put in the bottle?
  • What is the ideal amount of liquid to get the perfect flip?
  • What should be the ideal amount of water?
  • Was their prediction correct?
  • Why do they think the amount of water affects the chances of landing the bottle?
  • A plastic water bottle
  • Measuring jug
  • Paper to record results
  • Get the kids to start by flipping their bottle with no water in it at all. Kidspot recommends flipping it 50 times for each step, but you could do less if you need to.
  • Try it again with 50ml of water.
  • Keep adding more water until the bottle is full.

If they’re keen, you could try other types or sizes of bottles, or even try different liquids to see if that affects the results!

6. Rainbow in a Jar

Rainbow in a Jar - a kitchen chemistry experiment for kids

This simple science experiment is not only very visually appealing, but it’s also a great way to learn about the density of liquids. Warning though, this one could get messy so make sure kids are in some old clothes and you might want to take it outside! I like this experiment because you’ll probably have most of the materials in your kitchen already!

  • Which liquids they think will be heaviest?
  • Which ones will be lightest?
  • Why do they think that?
  • A glass jar
  • Food coloring
  • Various liquids like honey, corn syrup, dishwashing liquid, olive oil, rubbing alcohol and water.
  • Use the food coloring to make all your liquids a different color. A dropper comes in handy here, but if you don’t have one you can manage without.
  • Slowly add each liquid to the jar (pouring into the middle of the jar is best).
  • Soon, you’ll have different layers of colored liquid forming your very own rainbow in a jar.

You might even get them to draw a diagram of what they think the jar will look like at the end. They can compare this with the experiment results to see if their prediction was correct.

It might also help to talk to your kids first about what density is and how materials are all made of different amounts of molecules. The more molecules a liquid has, the heavier it will be. Playdough to Plato demonstrates a great way of introducing this concept using marbles. 

7. Write Your Own Secret Messages! 

We love science experiments that are made up primarily of supplies that you likely already have in your home.

  • Why do you think this will work?
  • Which liquid do you think will make the best secret message?
  • Why do people write secret messages?
  • Juice (eg. Lemon)
  • Lamp (or anything else that can be used as a heat source)
  • In order to complete this experiment, you’ll need to gather all of your supplies along with a piece of paper, some q-tips, and a lamp or other item that you can use as a heat source.
  • Next, you’ll mix your lemon juice with a slight amount of water. 
  • Using your q-tip, use the mixture you’ve created to begin writing your message. 
  • Allow it to dry. 
  • Once dry, apply heat to it in order to get your message to appear.

Extend this project by attempting to write with a juice and water mixture, a milk and water mixture, or any other variation of the liquids we listed as necessary supplies!

8. Create Your Own Butterfly

Create Your Own Butterfly and learn about capillary action

Your little ones will love practicing their color mixing by creating their very own coffee filter butterflies. Hang them in the windows of your home to spread some cheer and to watch the sun flow through their beautiful wings! 

  • What colors can mix together to make other colors?
  • How do butterflies fly?
  • What do you think will happen when we add water to the markers?
  • Water spray bottle
  • Allow your child to draw on the coffee filter to their heart’s content.
  • Spray it with water and allow the colors to mix together.
  • Allow it to dry thoroughly.
  • Once dry, fold it like a fan and then clip it in the middle.

Ta-da, you’ve created a beautiful butterfly! 

9. Make A Duck Call

Give your family an excuse to head outdoors by allowing your children to craft their own duck calls. Test them out at a local pond and see if you can get the ducks to come closer to you for a healthy veggie snack! 

  • Do you think ducks will be able to hear us with this?
  • What other materials do you think could make this noise?
  • How is what we have created similar to a duck’s beak?
  • Plastic straw
  • Push down on the straw to flatten one end and then cut the flattened end into a point.
  • Flatten out your straw and then blow into it.
  • Feel free to experiment with different amounts of flattening and different point shapes to see how you can adjust the sound.
  • When finished, take your duck call into the wild to test it out.

10. Make Ivory Soap Boats

Make Ivory Soap Boats - a home science experiment that is fun

Did you ever carve items out of soap at camp when you were a child? Give your child the same opportunity. Soap can be carved using safe items, like plastic knives. 

  • Why are we able to carve soap so easily?
  • Do you think our boats float?
  • Why do you think they float or sink?
  • Carving tools (for kids)
  • Allow your child to express their creative side by carving their boat out of soap. 
  • Once they have finished carving it, allow them to test them out in the bathtub. . Extend their learning by discussing density with them–the soap floats because it is less dense than the water.

11. Make Your Own Quicksand 

As John Mullaney famously said, “I thought quicksand would be a much bigger problem in my adult life than it would have turned out.” For some reason, quicksand permeates children’s adventure stories – and their imaginations! 

  • Where can we find quicksand in real life?
  • How do you think quicksand works?
  • What do you think we will need to make our own quicksand?
  • Cornflower (one cup)
  • Water (half cup)
  • A container
  • To make your quicksand, you’ll need to mix the cornflour and water. 
  • Be sure to stir slowly in order to demonstrate – if you stir too quickly, it will become hard and you won’t be able to see it function the way it should!

12. Make Your Own Lava Lamp

Make Your Own Lava Lamp - a cool science experiment

We’ve tried this one in our classrooms, and trust us, our kids go wild year after year. Kids love making something that they can use as home decoration, and they love how easy it is to show new people – this is the experiment that lives on and on! 

  • How do you think density is involved in this experiment?
  • Why don’t the water and oil mix?
  • Why can’t we shake our lava lamps?
  • Clear Plastic Bottle
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Food Coloring
  • Alka-Seltzer
  • Pour water into the plastic bottle until it is approximately one quarter full. 
  • Then pour vegetable oil in until the bottle is almost completely filled. 
  • Allow some time for the oil and water to separate. 
  • It is important that your children do not shake the bottle in this step. It will extend the experiment for no other reason than you waiting for the bubbles to dissipate. 
  • Add as much food coloring as your child deems fit and then drop a piece of Alka-seltzer tablet into the bottle for the lava lamp fun to begin.

13. Guess the Smell

This one will take a little more prep work, but it’s a great touchstone for your children to begin discussing one of their five senses: the sense of smell! 

  • What are examples of times we use our sense of smell?
  • What other senses do we have?
  • If you could only use one sense for the rest of your life, which one?
  • Plastic Cups
  • Smells (eg. coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon juice)
  • Place a variety of common smells in small plastic cups. We like to use coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. 
  • Pour these in and place tin foil securely over the top of the cup. 
  • Poke small holes in the top of the foil. 
  • Secure the foil with tape (on the sides, not over the holes). 
  • Allow your children to guess the smells and record their findings on paper.

Home Science Experiments that take 1 to Several Hours

14. mangrove bioshield  .

Ecologists and conservationists are pushing for more regulations in building and saving mangrove forests around coastal areas. The reason is represented in this STEM activity. The trees act as a mangrove BioShield (bio = life, shield = protection), showing how natural obstacles can prevent critical damage from marine natural disasters such as tsunamis.

The mangrove BioShield can be for older elementary kids through to high school. Obviously, the younger they are, the more parent involvement. This experiment is done twice to show the effects of having and not having a BioShield. The first part uses little to no trees, and the second uses a forest of trees and rocks.

  • What will happen in a tsunami if the village is without a BioShield? And the village with a BioShield?
  • Would a BioShield help with hurricanes?
  • Would you want to encourage people to save manatee forests if they are beneficial?
  • Medium to large clear, plastic container
  • Newspaper – wad into balls, then cover half of the bottom container – this help to keep the ground sturdy
  • Mud – cover the newspaper and press it in to form a slope down to the empty side of the container. The top side should be flattened for the cardboard houses, then it slopes down into the empty half of the container.
  • Cardboard houses (use the bottoms of milk cartons for the house and popsicle sticks for the roofs, place houses on the mud towards the top of the high slope
  • Model trees or leafy stems from plants – Different amounts for activity 1 and activity 2
  • Several small rocks
  • Cardboard – long enough to fit across the container and tall enough to hold it from out of the water
  • Water – enough to go halfway up the slope

A tsunami without the mangrove forest – insert only one or two trees down the slope. Place the cardboard piece into the water end of the container and move back and forth to create waves. Notice how easy it is for the water to destroy the village you’ve created.

Repeat the process of constructing the village, but this time insert a lot of trees down the slope to where the water meets the mud. They need to be deeply rooted like mangroves, and I’ve found that aquarium plants work well for this reason. Place the rocks within the mangrove forest and in front of the trees. Add a little bit more water. Insert the cardboard again and move it back and forth to create waves.  

15. A Greater Crater

When you look at the night sky and see the moon, one of the first things you notice is its craters. The moon is completely covered in them, and some are so large we can see them from Earth. Meteorites often make the craters that we see when they hit the surface, but it makes us wonder why some craters are so much bigger than others.

This experiment will help you to investigate one of the main reasons why craters come in different sizes.

  • What causes craters?
  • How big do the meteorites have to be to make a crater?
  • What is it about the meteorite that causes the size of the crater?
  • Paper to record your results
  • Flat floor surface for the experiment, large enough for the newspaper to cover
  • Shallow metal pan at least 2 inches deep
  • Flour to fill 2 inches of the pan
  • ¼ cup hot chocolate powder
  • Mesh strainer or flour sifter
  • Large marble (and others of varying sizes if comparing results)
  • Metric ruler
  • Tongs or long tweezers
  • Pour the flour into the pan until it reaches 2 inches. Place the pan on top of the newspaper on a level surface.
  • Sift a layer of hot chocolate powder over the flour (this is so you can better see the rays and other features of the craters).
  • You will be dropping your marble from three different heights, then comparing the sizes of the craters. Measure the diameter (side to side) of the marble and record this on your paper as Marble 1. Hypothesize how large the crater will be and write that next to the diameter of Marble 1.
  • Stand next to your pan and hold the marble at knee height above the flour. Drop the marble (do not throw it, just let it fall from your fingers) into the flour and study the shape of the crater. Look for a rim around the crater or any rays coming from the edges.
  • Measure across the widest part of your crater, from rim to rim and record on your data sheet as Marble 1 – Knee Height – Width or something similar. You can also draw a picture of your results.
  • Very gently use the tongs or long tweezers to remove the marble without destroying the crater.
  • Repeat this procedure from waist height, shoulder height, top of head height. Make sure you aim in different parts of the flour so you don’t land on top of another crater. Record all of your results as the different heights you’re using.
  • Compare your results.
  • You can try again with a different sized marble as “Marble 2” to compare those results with each height as done with Marble 1.

Perhaps now, you’ll look at the moon a little differently!

16. Rube Goldberg Chain Reaction Machine

We’ve all seen them, some pretty far-out there chain reaction machines to complete simple tasks, usually in movies. But they are real , and are becoming even more popular now that we’re all stuck at home for a while. This is a fun way to explore physics with stuff you have at home.

Ask your child to decide what the end goal is (e.g. get the ball into the cup), and ask them to think about creative ways to make it get there. Working together, you can start with small pieces of a circuit to find out how your ball reacts to the set-up, and grow it from there. You can even refer to this video for more ideas:

  • What will happen when the ball bounces off of this wall?
  • How will these dominoes change the speed of the ball?
  • What can we use to make sure that the ball goes in the direction we want it to at this point?
  • What should we put here to get the best bounce? 
  • Paper towel
  • Toilet paper tubes
  • Fixed objects like walls or furniture
  • Any other toys and materials that can be used to build your circuit

To make this a true experiment, it needs to include more than a one-off demonstration, and there are a lot of ways to accomplish this.

  • Set up parallel courses and use different sized or weighted balls to go through the circuit.
  • Set up one elaborate circuit and use different objects one at a time.
  • Set up circuits in different ways to see how different set-ups affect your end goal.

Another experimental component is the process used to create a circuit that reaches your end goal ( like this video about getting the ball into the cup, but you could come up with lots of other endpoints!). Along the way, you and your child get a lot of time to learn about momentum, velocity, friction, energy transfer, and interference (e.g., the cat). 

17. Melting

Melting ice - a very easy kitchen science experiment for kids

This is a simple and fun experiment that can be set up in a short time and then fill-up your day with observations and new experiments. Using only things you already have at home, you can set-up an engaging experiment with your kids!

Ice melts at different rates depending on a variety of factors including temperature, pressure, and if there are impurities (think salt, sugar, dirt) in the ice or touching the ice. There is a lot of opportunities to get creative and do the experiment in multiple ways, keeping your kids engaged and developing their investigative, experimental, and critical thinking skills.

  • Which ice melts the fastest, slowest, and if they have any guesses about why?
  • What other ice-melting experiments they think would be fun: Using different temperature liquids? Using different amounts of ice? Different sized cups?
  • Lots of ice
  • Several matching cups (i.e., they are the same size, shape, and color)
  • Measuring cups
  • A variety of liquids for the test
  • Paper for writing down observations
  • Measure the same amount of ice and place it in each cup.
  • M easure equal amounts of each liquid and place them in the cups: try to complete this part quickly so that the ice in each cup is in liquid for as close the same amount of time as possible.
  • Set up your cups in a place that is easy for your child to watch and observe.
  • Ask them to check in at regular intervals (every 15 minutes, every hour) and record or talk to you about their observations.

Other potential experimental examples:

  • Using different liquids to test if they affect melting time;
  • Using the same liquid and placing ice in different locations to test what conditions throughout your home affect melting;
  • Test if different amounts of ice melt at different rates;
  • Test if different kinds of cups change melting time.

There are endless possibilities for you to come up with new ways to complete these simple experiments. You get the idea. Explore more!

18. Breathing Leaves

Science experiments don’t get much more simple than this one!  It’s effective though and kids will enjoy watching their leaf ‘breathe’. Learning about plant science is often tricky because it can seem a bit abstract. This experiment allows kids to see the process of plants making oxygen right before their eyes!

A question to ask beforehand:

  • What do you think will happen if we leave it for a few hours?
  • A fresh leaf from a tree
  • A bowl of water
  • Pluck a fresh leaf from a tree and place it in a bowl of water.
  • Use a rock to weigh it down and leave the experiment out in the sun.
  • Have your kids predict what they think they will see when they come back in a few hours (they can write their prediction down or draw a diagram if that’s more their style).
  • After a few hours, your kids will see lots of tiny little bubbles on the edge of the leaf and in the glass bowl of water (use a magnifying glass to get a closer look if you have one).

So, what’s happening here? Leaves take in carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen during photosynthesis. The bubbles you can see are the leaf releasing the oxygen it’s created. You could explain to your kids how trees and plants make the oxygen we need to breathe. Kids Fun Science explains this experiment in more detail and suggests taking it further by leaving the plant for a longer period of time (do you see more or fewer bubbles?) or placing a leaf in a dark area to see what difference that makes!

19. How Does Sunscreen Work?

Scientific Method - How Does Sunscreen Work?

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that kids hate wearing sunscreen! Trying to get it on them is like wrestling a crocodile. Maybe if they knew how sunscreen worked they’d understand how important it is to wear it when they’re out in the sun (and be slightly more cooperative when we’re lathering it over their little faces). This is a simple experiment that shows kids the difference wearing sunscreen will make to their skin.

  • What do they observe when they come back?
  • Why do they think one side faded and the other not?
  • A piece of colored cardboard (a dark color would be best)
  • Your usual bottle of sunscreen
  • Have your kids smear the sunscreen over one part of the cardboard and leave the other part clear.
  • Kids can then predict what they think will happen when they return to the experiment after a few hours.
  • Talk to them about how the sun’s UV radiation is absorbed by the sunscreen so it can’t get through to damage the cardboard.

You could even take it further by trying different kinds of sunscreen or leaving your cardboard out during different times of the day.

20. Make A Rubber Egg

Imagine a world in which eggs can be used like bouncy balls. Well, with a couple of home supplies and a little bit of science, you can live in that world. Your child will be dazzled as they remove eggshells from eggs while leaving the insides intact. 

  • Is vinegar an acid or a base?
  • Is there another substance that could do this?
  • Simply leave the egg in the vinegar for a few hours and wait to see what happens. Because of the transformative nature of this experiment, it lends itself to science journaling. 
  • Consider having your kiddos draw before and after pictures of the eggs in order to track their journeys. 

21. Flying Tea Bags

Flying Tea Bags is an easy kitchen science experiment

Nothing will get your kids’ attention faster than telling them that you are going to spend some time creating something that will fly. However, because this experiment will involve fire, please ensure that you select a time in which you will be able to provide ample adult supervision. 

  • How do we stay safe with fire?
  • How do we make sure we don’t damage the surface we are working on?
  • Why do you think the tea bag will fly?
  • Single Serving Tea Bags
  • A Small Bowl
  • A Non-Flammable Work Surface
  • First, open the tea bags and unfold them. 
  • Empty the leaves from the bag. 
  • Stand the tea bags up on your surface and light the top of each bag on fire. 

As they begin to burn, they will float into the sky! 

22. Make Wax Paper Lanterns

Your children will love the chance to display their fantastic art skills by creating these paper lanterns. If you want to add a culture lesson, have your children research German’s St. Martin’s Day and learn about why children parade through the streets with lanterns. We promise there’s a good moral story involved here! 

  • When could we use lanterns?
  • What safety considerations do we need to use in this project?
  • Why can we see the light through the wax paper?
  • Popsicle Sticks
  • To begin, tear a ten-inch piece of wax paper off of the roll and cut it in half. 
  • After that, fold each piece in half. 
  • Allow your child to color their image on top of the wax paper. (This is a great place for an impromptu lesson in color mixing). 
  • Fold the wax paper and iron it (consider something in between the crayon mess and the iron you use on your clothes). 
  • Finally, glue the craft sticks into squares, add the wax paper, and turn it into a cube.

Voila, you’ve created your own lantern!

23. Create an Insect Habitat

Alright, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. Draw up your courage and send your child into the backyard to collect all of the creepy crawlies they’d like to.

Create an Insect Habitat at Home

Now you have a home for them. Better yet, you can keep your child entertained for hours as they track the growth of their bug friends.

  • What do bugs need to survive?
  • What do bugs eat?
  • What is the difference between a need and a want?
  • Imagination
  • Find something that you’re willing to sacrifice to the bugs in order to create a habitat for them – we recommend a shadowbox so that your child can see inside, but a cardboard box will do just fine as well. 
  • Ensure that there is breathing room for the bugs. 
  • Create a habitat with sticks, bark, small rocks, dried leaves, and whatever else you can find.
  • If you’re willing to hang onto the habitat long enough, use it as an opportunity to talk about decomposition as the bugs begin to break down the twigs.

Long-Term Science Experiments at Home

24. crystal kingdom.

This is the oldest trick in the book, but it’s popular because it’s so effective, fun, and has great results. The only drawback to most crystal-growing recipes is that they take ages to grow, and to be quite honest this one is no exception. In fact, these crystals will take several days to grow but the end result is worth it. The reason is that this experiment involves growing a whole landscape of beautifully colored salt and bluing crystals. Here’s a video for visual reference: 

A few things to keep in mind: Allow for plenty of air circulation, preferably inside rather than outside. Ammonia is not necessary but does help in the process.

  • What will happen when you add ammonia?
  • Why does more salt and less liquid create faster crystallization?
  • What part does the bluing solution have in crystal growing?

(Answers can be found here )

  • Two bottles of bluing solution
  • Large tray/cookie sheets with sides
  • Measuring cup
  • Liquid watercolors
  • Eye droppers
  • Cut sponges into large pieces. Spread them out on the tray.
  • Measure out 1 cup of each of salt, water, and bluing and then gently mix together.
  • Evenly coat or sprinkle the mix over the sponges.
  • Add 1 cup of ammonia to the sponges.
  • Coat an extra 1 cup of salt on to the sponges.
  • By now you’ll see some crystals growing . Sprinkle the magic mix again: 1 cup each of salt, water, and bluing. You can pour the ingredients onto the tray instead of on top of the crystals to keep them from breaking. Don’t worry, more will grow!
  • Take an eyedropper, and drop a tablespoon of each liquid watercolor (undiluted) in different patterns over the sponges and crystals.
  • Take note of your garden and what the crystal formations look like. You can make a sketch in your notebook as a before and after. Ask questions and observe!
  • Observe how the crystals are bigger than before, and notice the colors aren’t as vibrant. Compare the differences in shapes, sizes, and colors.
  • If you want more crystals to grow, add a little more water, bluing, and salt.

25. Blow up a Balloon with Yeast

We are surrounded by science in action, but sometimes it is really difficult to see what is happening, especially when it is on a small-scale. When we make bread, yeast ‘eats’ the sugars in the food and creates CO2, giving bread its airy texture. This experiment lets you both visualize what happens when yeast consumes sugar and is a great set-up for an experiment that can be observed throughout the day.

Depending on your supplies and time, you could start with a demonstration and use that to think of other tests, or you could set up several parallel tests at the same time.

  • How quickly does the balloon filled with air?
  • When does it stop filling (at some point the yeast will run out of food and will stop making gas)?
  • Does the starting temperature affect the experiment?
  • Does the balloon fill faster in different places in your home (try especially for different air-temperatures, you could include an outside location)?
  • Some balloons
  • Blow up the balloon a few times before starting so that it’s loosened up a bit.
  • Fill the bottle with about 1 inch of warm water (heat is required to activate the yeast, but you could experiment with different temperatures), add the yeast and swirl to dissolve.
  • Add the sugar and swirl more.
  • Place the balloon over the opening to the bottle and wait. You should expect to see the balloon begin to inflate after around 20 minutes.
  • Continue checking and observing how much the balloon inflates throughout the day.

More example experimental setups include:

  • Do different temperatures – either with the water you start with or the air the yeast lives in – affect how quickly the balloon blows-up?
  • Does using 2x the yeast result in a balloon that is 2x bigger, or blows-up 2x faster?
  • Do different types of sugar (e.g., white sugar, honey, syrup, flour) affect how quickly the balloon blows up or how big it gets?

A sk your child to think of new experiments (you could prompt with some of the examples above, or ideas from this post ). 

26. Seed Germination

A really simple but fun multi-day experiment is germinating seeds under different conditions. This means finding some quick-sprouting seeds such as beans and putting them in different conditions to see how that affects germination (sprouting leaves and roots) and growth.

Seed Germination is an easy science experiment for kids

I love using seed experiments because they are inexpensive, simple, and leave a ton of room for creating your own unique experiment.

  • Which seed will sprout fastest?
  • Seeds (Beans, radishes, squashes, and many flowers sprout quickly from large seeds, making them good choices.)
  • Small pots or paper cups
  • Potting soil
  • Cloth or paper towel
  • Somewhere with good light
  • To get started, you’ll need some seeds – feel free to choose something you already have, if you’re a gardener you might have some seeds ready for the coming season and could spare a few – or find something online or at your local nursery.
  • Use small pots or paper cups and fill each with your growth material (we recommend a minimum of 3 for a useful comparison).
  • Fill one with potting soil, one with sand, and one with a cloth or paper towel.
  • Place them somewhere with good light, and add water.
  • Ask your child to predict which seed will sprout fastest, and make observations every day. If possible, make them around the same time each day.
  • Once you see growth, you can ask your child what they think caused any differences, and you can use that as a jumping-off point for more experiments

Additionally, you could:

  • Use one type of seed and different types of growth media: soil, paper towel, gravel, sand, water, etc.
  • You could use different seeds (beans, flowers, grass, herbs) and grow them under the same conditions (soil, water, sun exposure) to see how different plants grow differently.
  • You could see how different light conditions (by a window, in the basement, in a bright room away from a window, etc.) affect germination.

You could also extend each experiment by simply continuing to grow each seed to learn whether the different germination time affects long-term growth (you may want to re-pot everything in the soil for this to be effective, depending on the specifics of your initial experiment).

27. Colored Celery

Colored Celery is a simple science experiment for kids

It’s hard to imagine plants having little capillaries inside them that transport water and nutrients, but this experiment shows that in action. It’s easy to set up, but you’ll have to wait at least a day to see some results. Your kids will be able to see how transpiration takes place and plants absorb water from the soil all the way up into their leaves.

  • A few stalks of celery (celery works best for this because it’s a bit more visible, but you could also use flower stems)
  • Different food coloring
  • Place each stalk in a cup of colored water and make your predictions about what will happen.
  • After a day or so you’ll see the celery leaves becoming the color of the water they’re standing in.
  • Have your kids describe their observations (they can write down what they see or draw it if they prefer).
  • If you look at the base of the stem you’ll also see tiny little holes that the colored water is traveling through.

When you’re done with the experiment, make sure you snap the celery and look inside – you should be able to see the capillaries in action. For more ideas, Little Bins for Little Hands has got some great hints and tips for this experiment.

28. Moldy Bread

This experiment is an oldie, but a goodie! Kids love looking at disgusting things and this one will certainly come up with the goods. Not only will kids learn about how mold grows, but they might also take on some lessons about the importance of washing their hands!

You might want to check out the results of this experiment at Science Alert before you start to see if your stomach is up to it.

  • A few slices of bread
  • Some ziplock bags
  • Sticky little hands. 
  • Get a few slices of bread and lay them out on your kitchen bench.
  • Have your kids touch one piece of bread with dirty, unwashed hands.
  • They can wash their hands with soap and water and touch another slice, then do the same using hand sanitizer.
  • Leave one piece of bread untouched.
  • Place them all in clear, labeled ziplock bags and predict which one will grow the most mold.
  • Leave your bread slices for at least a week (it may take a bit longer, depending on the conditions where you live) and get the kids to record their observations.

You can also try wiping your bread slices on other surfaces to see what moldy results you get (their laptop or tablet is a great place to start)!

29. Sprouting Beans

Sprouting Beans experiment

Give your household a real survivalist feel by beginning an indoor garden. We recommend planting your beans in a clear cup so that your children can be privy to all of the processes during the plant’s journey.

  • How does a plant grow?
  • What does germination mean?
  • What is in season to grow in our area now?
  • Unprocessed Beans
  • If you’d like your child to see every step of the process, consider placing the beans inside of a damp paper towel inside of a ziplock. 
  • You can wait, see the germinated seed together, and then plant it inside of a small cup.
  • Once inside the cup, watch it grow.

Extend your work by planting various beans and altering the growth conditions in order see what makes your beans grow best! 

30. Begin Composting

Begin your “go green” resolutions by teaching your child the value of composting! Best of all, once the science experiment is done, your family will have a recycling process that will last your entire lifetimes. 

  • Why is composting important?
  • How else can our household go green?
  • Why do we need a foundation layer for compost?
  • Compost Bin
  • Organic Material
  • First, create a compost bin. You can purchase one or build one out of wood. 
  • To begin your composting, you’ll need even amounts of brown materials (think shredded paper, dryer lint, etc.) and green materials (think fruit and vegetable waste, lawn clippings, etc.). 
  • If you’re really feeling fancy, throw some earthworms in there.

For days to come, your family will be able to discuss what can and cannot be broken down by the decomposers inside of the compost bin. Never-ending science! 

31. Turn Grapes Into Raisins

Turn Grapes Into Raisins for an at-home science experiment

Your kids may or may not eat raising – but we can guarantee you, they’ve likely never considered the option of creating their own! 

  • What other snacks can we make with science?
  • Should we ever eat our experiments?
  • How does this work?
  • For this experiment, you’ll need grapes. (Really, that’s it!) 

Leave your grapes somewhere where they will not be disturbed and use this as an opportunity for your children to journal the changes in the grapes from day to day. Believe it or not, this type of sequential journaling is a valuable literacy skill! 

32. DIY Science Experiment

The best science experiment your child can engage in is the one they create themselves! Begin brainstorming a list of questions and let the world be their oyster as they plan and carry out their own experiments. Some of our favorite brainstorming questions, from Scholastic’s Science-Fair Project Guide, are listed below:

  • What is the effect of toothpaste brand on teeth-cleaning power?
  • What brand of trash bag can withstand the most weight before ripping?
  • How does the type of material affect how long a shirt takes to dry?

Written by Miranda Altice, Kaitlin Anselmo, Mark Coster, Allison Ebbets, and Jodie Magrath.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Mark is the driving force behind STEM Geek. With 20 years of experience in chemistry education and research, and 3 willing children as guinea pigs, Mark has a passion for inspiring kids and adults to combine fun and learning with STEM Toys!

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

MKE with Kids

100 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to do at Home (2024)

Welcome, young scientists!

If you’ve arrived here today, you’re probably looking for easy science experiments for kids that you can do at home. 

The only problem? So many experiments require obscure ingredients that are hard to find or require planning.

Good news! There are literally hundreds of simple science experiments & STEM activities you can do at home, with materials you already have on hand.

We scoured the internet and practiced these experiments with our own young kids to test them out and make sure they were good ones. They’re super educational and so much fun for kids of all ages!

Each of these easy STEM challenges and science experiments will take about 30 minutes to complete from start to finish, and they’re a great way to teach simple science concepts that your kids will use in school.

The best part? They each use simple ingredients from around the house like food coloring, dish soap, paper towels, ice cubes, rubber bands, white vinegar, vegetable oil, and baking soda.

So, let’s dive in to our giant list of 100 fun science experiments for kids!

1. Traveling Rainbows

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This colorful experiment is an easy way of demonstrating capillary action, water travel, and color mixing. Kids of all ages will love watching the color move through the paper towel on its own, and they’ll have a better idea of how plants get their nutrients.

What You need:

  • 6 glasses or jars
  • Paper towels
  • Food coloring (red, yellow, & blue)

2. Homemade Lava Lamp

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This simple lava lamp experiment is especially a hit with kids ages 4-12 (and beyond!), and it will take their favorite adults back a few decades, too! It’s a fun way to learn about density.

What You Need:

  • A clean plastic bottle or glass jar
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Baking Soda
  • Food Coloring

3. Jumping Pepper!

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Have you ever seen pepper jump ? You’re about to! This simple experience using water, soap, and black pepper will get kids of all ages exploring the concept of surface tension.

  • black pepper
  • a plate or bowl
  • liquid soap

4. Invisible Ink

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

In this fun experiment, your kids can write a secret message with invisible ink that they will learn how to reveal scientifically. Like all of these at-home science experiments, you need only basic materials, and it’s sure to be a big hit.

  • Cotton swab
  • lamp or light bulb
  • plain white paper
  • bowl or cup
  • lemon juice

5. Mini Volcanos

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This super easy baking soda and vinegar volcano eruption is a real crowd-pleaser for kids of all ages, and your kids will be begging to do it over and over again!

All you need is a few very basic household ingredients, and your colorful volcano will be erupting in no time. It only takes about three minutes to prep.

Ingredients

  • Plastic cup
  • 3-4 Tbs of baking soda at least
  • 1 tsp of dish soap
  • Food coloring (or washable paint if you want to avoid staining)
  • 1 cup (8 oz) of Vinegar

6. Elephant Toothpaste

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

H ave you heard of the elephant toothpaste experiment yet? It’s a blast! You will need an adult for this experiment. Kids of all ages will love learning about catalysts and exothermic reactions in this simple fun science activity.

  • 16-oz plastic soda bottle
  • 1/2 cup 20-volume of 6% solution hydrogen peroxide liquid
  • 1 Tablespoon dry yeast
  • 3 Tablespoons of warm water
  • Liquid dish soap

Food coloring

  • Safety goggles

7. Dry Erase Marker Magic

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Bring your drawings to life with nothing more than a glass plate, a dry erase marker, and a little water! Dive into this magical and straightforward dry erase marker experiment that will not only wow the kids but also ignite their curiosity about chemistry and physics. 

8. Light Refraction Magic

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This super simple science experiment is really more of a magic trick, and it will teach your kids all about light refraction.

  • Piece of Paper

9. Skittle Heart Experiment

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This visually stunning experiment is not only a treat to watch but also a great way to explore concepts of water solubility and color mixing. Let’s dive into the simple Skittle Heart Experiment that will capture your kids’ hearts.

10. Dancing Raisins

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Home science experiments don’t have to be complicated. In this very easy science experiment that’s perfect for young kids, you’ll need a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your household: clear soda, a glass of water, and a handful of raisins. With these simple ingredients, you’ll produce chemical reactions that your kids can watch in real time!

What You’ll Need:

  • A clear glass of water
  • Handful of raisins

11. Rainbow Celery

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Got some celery in the fridge? Then you can begin to l earn about capillary action with a simple and colorful color-changing celery experiment . It’s a really cool project that your kids are sure to remember for years to come!

What you need:

  • Glasses of water

12. Homemade Slime

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

What kid doesn’t love slime? This is one of our favorite science experiments because it’s a sure kid-pleaser! In this basic recipe , you can make some of your own right in your kitchen, and have fun squeezing it with your bare hands all day long.

Slime has quickly become one of those classic science experiments that every family should try at least once!

  • White school glue
  • food coloring

13 . Shiny Pennies

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

You definitely have some dirty pennies lying around your house, so let’s put them to good use in a classic science experiment that even young kids can enjoy. Pennies are copper, and they are often in circulation for years (yuck!), so they often appear very tarnished. In this experience, you’re going to see if soap or vinegar (or other liquids) do a better job at cleaning the exterior of the dirty copper penny.

What You’ll Need

  • dirty pennies
  • 2 paper cups
  • Paper towel
  • Different liquids from around the house (ketchup, soda, Diet Coke, etc.)

14. Orange Fizz

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Discover orange fizz bubbles popping inside of your mouth! This sensory experiment is really fun for learning about acids and bases. And hardly any materials are needed.

  • Orange or clementine
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

15. Exploding Soap

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

The Exploding Soap experiment is a surefire hit with all ages, and all you need is soap and microwave! (And a little help from your parents.)

16. Sink or Float?

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Kids of all ages – but especially young children – will love this easy science experiment that builds a foundation to understanding density. This is one of our favorite science activities for the little ones!

  • Two glasses of water
  • Small items from around the house
  • A piece of paper and a pen

17. Mixing Impossible

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This super easy experiment involves mixing equal parts oil and water and adding a drop of food coloring to see what happens. Kids will love watching the food coloring make it through the oil. You will love how easy it is to set up and clean up!

  • Several drinking glasses
  • vegetable oil
  • liquid food coloring
  • a toothpick (if you have it)

18. Exploring Colors With Baking Soda / Vinegar

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

I n this science activity for kids of all ages, your little scientists will create a chemical reaction, explore color mixing, AND create colorful artwork. Triple win!

  • Tray (A baking sheet will do)
  • Baking soda
  • White vinegar
  • Ice Cube Trays or other containers to hold the colored vinegar
  • Pipettes or eye droppers
  • Liquid watercolors or food coloring

19. Water Cycle In A Bag

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This is one of the best science experiments to teach your kids about the water cycle, and it’s so easy to do! They’ll watch the water cycle in a bag play out right before their eyes.

  • Zip lock bag
  • permanent marker
  • blue food coloring

20. Tie-Dye

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Who would have thought that everyone’s favorite t-shirt pattern is actually a great science lesson, too? As your child dyes the shirt, they’ll be observing water solubility and absorption in real time. The dyes are fiber-reactive, which means that a chemical reaction takes places between the dye molecules and fabric molecules so that they actually become one. The dye bonds with the fabric and actually becomes a part of it.  

  • White T-shirt or pillowcase
  • Buckets or bins filled with water
  • Rubberbands
  • Plastic gloves

Here are 10 Easy Tie-Dye Patterns For Kids . To learn how to wash and care for your tie-dye shirt, click here . 

21. Static Electricity Hair

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Want to provide your kids with (literally) hair-raising good time? It’s super simple to teach your kids about static electricity with this easy, no-mess science activity.

  • an inflated balloon
  • a piece of cloth

Rub the surface of the balloon with the cloth for at least40 seconds. Then, hold the balloon a short distance above your head and watch your hair stick to it!

What’s Happening:

T he balloon gains electrons from the cloth and becomes negatively-charged when you rub it together. Then, when the balloon touches you hair, it attracts your hair, which is positively charged.

22. What’s That Mystery Object?

The process of using your sense of touch is very important to the scientific method. In this experiment, you’ll use your sense of touch to see how many different textures you can recognize.

  • A grown-up or friend to help
  • A blindfold
  • A “feely” bag that you can’t see through

Small objects from around the house that have different textures, such as: a plastic bag, a water bottle, a banana, a piece of paper, a cell phone, a rubber ball, a cotton ball, a tooth brush, a washcloth, etc. Try to find objects of different materials like velvet, wool, cotton, leather, metal objects, wooden spoons or toys, pieces of aluminum foil, and other interesting objects and textures.

First, put on your blindfold. The next step is to have a grown up or friend put a mystery object in the bag for you to fell. Can you guess what each object is?

23. Sugar Water Rainbows

This science experiment is especially meant for older kids, but it can me modified for kids of all ages. Your kids will love this colorful experience about density and buoyancy, and all you need are some common household ingredients.

  • food colorings (preferably in rainbow colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
  • a clear straw
  • salt or sugar

First, fill each of the cups with the same amount of water.

Next, add the food coloring, one color in each cup, preferably in rainbow order.

Line the cups up next to each other.

In the first cup, do not add any sugar at all.

In the second cup, add one tablespoon of sugar.

In the third cup, add two tablespoon of sugar.

In the fourth cup, add three tablepoons of sugar, and so on.

Stir each mixture until all the sugar is dissolved in each glass.

The next step is to make a sugar rainbow by placing the end of the straw in the first cup (the cup with no sugar), only about a half of an inch.

Cover the top of the straw with your thumb before lifting it out of the water so that the water does not fall out of the straw.

Now dip the straw into the second cup (1 tablespoon sugar). This time, insert it deeper so that the end is one inch below the water level. In one quick move, release the thumb and recap again. Now you should have two layers of color.

Keep dipping the straw into each solution from the one with the least sugar to the one with five tablespoons of sugar. Each time, the straw is inserted half an inch deeper.

What’s happening?

Density is the amount of substance (mass) within the volume occupied by the object. If two cups have the same amount of water (i.e. same volume), the one with more sugar is denser than the one with less sugar.

Buoyancy is determined by relative density. The solution with less density floats above the solution with higher density. That is why the color don’t mix.

Sugary water has higher density than plain water. The solution with more sugar has higher density than the one with less sugar. If you have inserted the straw in the solutions from the least sugar to the most sugar, then the color don’t mix and you have a sugar water rainbow.

24. Painted Nature

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

In this activity, kids will be closely observing natural phenomena, looking for signs of life and growth, and using their senses to experience natural materials. These skills are extremely important scientific foundations.

First, have your child search for natural objects in nature. Fill a bag with interesting sticks, leaves, rocks, twigs, pebbles, and anything else you can find.

Next, bring them into the “classroom” or home to closely observe and paint them.

As you paint, you can discuss the natural colors and features of these objects: What is their texture? What do they notice about each object?

My kids love “melty crayons”. They can’t get enough of them. Gather several rocks and heat them up in the oven. Then, carefully draw on them with crayons. The heat of the rock will melt the crayon wax and the it will go on like paint.

25. Magnet Dump

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This activity is a great introductory magnet activity, and for younger kids, they’ll be practicing skills of classifying and sorting.

First, dump out a selection of metal objects onto the table.

Next, ask your kids to help you “clean up” by using the magnets to pick up different objects and sort them into containers.

Discuss which objects are attracted to a magnet and which are not. What patterns do they notice? What other objects would they like to try?

26. Magnet Magic

  • Clear plastic box (look in your recycling bin)
  • Pipe cleaners

This super-easy experiment is a really fun way to teach your child about magnets in a colorful, magical way, and it only requires simple materials from around the house. 

First, cut up several pipe cleaners and place them in a clear plastic box. The box does not need to be fancy, just see-through.

For your first time through this demonstration, have your child take a magnet and touch it against the surface of the plastic box. They’ll find that the pipe cleaners are lifted up and move with the magnet!

What’s Happening?

Magnets attract certain types of metal. The pipe cleaners have a thin strip of metal, so the magnet is able to attract those pieces and pull it around the box.

Extension:  Next time, think of what other objects could you place in the box? What objects do you predict the magnet could move around?

27. LEGO Boats

This experiements present a great opportunity to get kids thinking about engineering and design.

First, challenge your kids to build their own boat out of LEGO bricks. For an added challenge, only give them a certain number of pieces.

Once everyone has finished building, put the boats to the test in a tub of water.

Add pennies a few at a time to see how many each boat can hold.

Talk to your kids about how weight and design matter. Reflect on good designs and help them understand why they worked well.

28. DIY Parachute

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

You can learn about gravity by making a DIY parachute for a light-weight toy. The parachute is easily made from materials around your house, and you can experiment with different strategies and objects.

  • Plastic Bag (i.e. grocery bag)
  • Yard/String

First, use the scissors to remove the handles from the plastic bag. Next, poke four holes around the plastic bag so that they are the same distance apart and on opposite sides of the bags.

Then, cut four holes into the rim of the paper cut.

You’ll also need to cut four pieces of yarn, 10-12 inches long. Thread one piece of yarn through the hole in the plastic cup and tie the yarn to the cup with a knot. Repeat with all four strands of yarn in the remaining holes.

Next, thread the other end of the pieces of yarn through the hole in the plastic bag and tie a knot. 

Finally, personalize and decorate your cup with stickers, paint, crayons or markers.

Now it’s time to find a toy that is going to take a ride in your parachute. Launch your parachute into the air and see what happens!

Experiment with putting different objects into the paper cup and see how it affects the parachute’s effectiveness. Does the parachute flight time increase or decrease?

You can also try creating the parachute with different materials to replace the paper bag, such as a paper towel or napkin, and see how that affects the performance.

29. Magic Milk Experiment

  • Full Fat Milk
  • Dawn Dish Soap
  • Cotton Swabs

First, pour the milk in a small baking dish until the bottom is covered. Next, fill the milk with drops of food coloring. Glitter is optional!

Then, pour some dishwashing soap into a bowl, and dip your cotton swap tip into the dish soap to coat it. Then, gently touch your cotton swab to the milk and watch what happens!

Milk is composed of minerals, proteins, and fats, which are easy to change. When you add the dish soap to the milk, the soap molecules try to attach to the fat molecules in the milk.

When everything stops moving, you can see where all the fat molecules are.

30. Steel Wool & Vinegar Reaction

This experiment will make abstract concepts like “chemical reaction” and “rusting” become more clear and concrete.

  • two beakers
  • something to cover the beaker (paper or a lid)
  • Thermometer

First, place the steel wool in a beaker. Then, pour vinegar onto the steel wool and let it soak for about a minute.

After a minute or so, take the steel wool out and shake off any excess vinegar.

Next, wrap the steel wool around the base of the thermometer and then place them both in the other beaker.

Then, cover the beaker with paper or a lid. It’s important that you keep the heat in.

You’ll want to make sure that you can still read the temperature on the thermometer. It’s a great idea to poke a hole if possible through the covering so that the thermometer can fit through it, and you can easily read the temperature.

Make a note of the initial temperature, and observe it for about five minutes.

You will see that the temperature on the thermometer gradually rises, and the beaker will likely get foggy. When you soaked the steel wool in vinegar, it removed the protective coating on the steel wool, allowing the iron in the steel to rust.

Rusting is actually a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen (or oxidation). This is the chemical reaction that creates heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the beaker and on the thermometer. This is an examples of an exothermic reaction (a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat).

31. Corn Syrup Viscosity Experiment

This experiment could not be simpler, and it’s the perfect tool for teaching kids of any age about viscosity.

-Corn Syrup

-2 glass containers (one should be smaller than the other)

-cupcake pan or 3 small bowls

-Food coloring

First, fill the larger glass container 1/2 to 3/4 full with corn syrup. Then, add the small glass container to the center. Careful! The corn syrup will rise a bit when you do this.

Next, Use a cupcake pan or 3 small bowls and put in a small amount of corn syrup. Mix each one with a food coloring of your choice. You should have three separate colors of corn syrup.

Then, put some colored corn syrup in the dropper, insert the dropper into the clear corn syrup and add the coloring in different places. Do that for each color as many times as you wish.

Now, you can turn the smaller glass jar while holding the outer glass still. The colored syrup will start to spread a bit. Now, switch direction and turn the small glass jar back to its original place. The colored dots return right back to their original form.

Corn syrup has a viscosity that is 5,000 times that of water, so they don’t mix in the same way.

32. Homemade Play Dough

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This is a classic DIY project, and kids of all ages will love it.

  • 3 cups of flour
  • 1.5 cups of salt
  • 6 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 3 tablespoons of oil
  • 3 cups of water

33. Melting Snowballs

This is another acid and base experiment, and it’s fun on a couple different levels!

First, form snowballs by adding water to the baking soda. You’ll need about a 1/3 cup per snowball.

Then, place them in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Finally, pour drop of vinegar on the snowballs and watch them sizzle and melt.

Variations:

You can also make a snowman and do the same thing!

34. Paper Airplanes

Overview: There’s no better way for kids to learn about aerodynamics than by making a paper airplane. Wow Fold, a paper airplane website, offers dozens of paper airplane designs and easy to follow instructions.

35. Flying Ping Pong

Your kids will love this flying ping pong trick, and there are only two things you need.

First, make sure your hair dryer is on a cool setting. Then, hold the ping pong above the nozzle and turn on the air. When you let the ping pong go, it should float! Next, try it on different settings. Try to see how far you can tilt your hair dryer before the ball drops.

36. Magical Balloon

Your kids won’t believe their eyes when you push a needle through a balloon and it doesn’t pop!

  • Scotch tape

First, blow up your balloon. Next, take two pieces of scotch tape and make an X on your balloon. Then, with parental supervision, push a needle through the middle of your X.

Leave the needle in and see how long it take for your balloon to finally pop!

The tape slows down the process of the hole in the balloon widening, so it takes longer for the balloon to pop.

37. What’s That Mystery Smell?

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Kids of all ages can recognize a lot of different smells, and the process of using your senses is very important to the scientific method.

In this experiment, you’ll use your senses to see how many different smells you can recognize.

  • Small, lidded containers that you can’t see through
  • Smelly things from around the house such as bananas, an orange peel, lemons, a cotton ball soaked in perfume, chopped onion, coffee (or a used coffee filter!), rose or flower petals, pencil shavings, vanilla, vinegar, ginger, etc.

First, have a grown up put the smelly items in the containers.

Then, write a number on the side of each container.

The next step is to put your blindfold on and have them help you smell each object.

Write down what you think is inside of each container.

Finally, check your guesses! How many did you guess correctly?

38. Wacky Spoon

This is more of a science trick than an experiment, but it’s super easy to do at home!

Kitchen Spoon

Look at your reflection in a large spoon. It will be upside down!

A regular mirror is flat and sends your reflection straight back into your eyes. The rounded spoon bounces your reflection back at different angles and turns your reflection upside down. 

39. Floating Eggs

This experiment will show your child how things float differently in fresh water and salt water.

  • 2 tall drinking glasses

First, fill one glass with water. Then, fill another glass with water and add 8 tablespoons of salt. Mix it up.

Next, place an egg in both glasses. One will float and the other will sink.

Adding salt to the water increases the water’s density which causes the egg to float.

40. Jumping Pepper

This simple experiment will demonstrate static electricity right before your eyes.

Place a tablespoon of pepper on a plate. Then, run a hair comb through your hair. While still holding on the comb, hold the comb over the plate and watch the pepper jump!

The plastic comb builds up a negative charge as it moves through you hair. The pepper has a positive charge, so it jumps!

Try it with other spices and powders.

41. Walking on Eggs

Your kids will be astonished to see that they can actually walk on eggs without breaking them!

  • 6 dozen eggs in their cartons-Drop cloth / newspaper

Lay down your drop cloth in case the experiment doesn’t work as expected!

Place the open egg cartons next to each other. Take off your sock and shoes and gently step onto the eggs keeping your feet flat. Then bring up your other foot and carefully walk across the eggs.

Your foot is big enough that your weight spreads evenly out across the eggs, keeping them from breaking.

You can also demonstrate this concept with a heavy book. 

42. Disappearing Reflection

Make your reflection vanish! All you need is aluminum foil.

-Aluminum Foil

-Scissors (optional)

Rip off a large piece of aluminum foil (ten inches should do) and take a look at your reflection. Then, crumple up the aluminum foil. Next, Carefully flatten it back out. Finally, look for your reflection. It’s nowhere to be found!

When the aluminum foil is smooth, light reflect off of in in straight lines, which enables you to see your reflection. But once you crumple the foil, it has a wrinkled surface that sends your reflection in all different direction, causing it to disappear.  

43. Defy Gravity!

When you turn over a cup of water, you expect the water to spill and fall. But not always!

Clear plastic cup

Playing card or notecard

First, fill your clear glass about 3/4 of the way with water.

Next press your playing card or notecard gently on the top of your glass to completely cover the top. Gently rotate the cup upside down. After a few moments, remove the card. The water will stay in place!

Try it again, adding something that will float in the water. Repeat the steps, and see what happens!

45. Water Fireworks

This totally safe fireworks experiment will be a hit around the Fourth of July or any time!

Tall water glass

Small water glass

First, fill up your all water glass almost all the way with water. In the small glass, pour two tablespoons of oil. Add 2 drops of food coloring to it and mix it around with a fork until the food coloring is broken up into smaller specks.

Then, pour the oil mixture into the water and see the firework expand!

What’s happening:

Food coloring dissolves in water but not oil, causing it to go different directions.

Try two colors! Try a different size glass!

46. Bird Feeder Fun

In this simple science project, you’ll learn where birds like to have their meals.

-Pipe Cleaner

Place cheerios on a pipe clean and make a simple circle. Place it out for the birds to eat.

To experiment, place different bird feeders in different places and see if it makes a difference for how much gets eaten.

You could also make your bird feeder into different shapes to see how the birds prefer it.

47. Rain Gauge

It’s super simple to make a rain gauge from a soda bottle and track your area’s rain water!

Soda Bottle

X-acto knife (with parental supervision)

Cut the top off of a soda bottle and invert the top so that the rain water funnels into the bottle. You may want to secure it with duct tape. Next, place it outside in a spot where it can collect rain water.You’ll want to secure it so it doesn’t fall over. Then, begin measuring the rain water each day!

48. Magic Leak Proof Bag

-Ziplock Back

-Very Sharp Pencils

Fill your bag up halfway with water. Carefully poke the pencil through the bag and out the other side. (Don’t push the pencil all the way through so that it comes out the other side!)

The plastic bag’s molecules form easily around the smooth sides of the pencil forming a seal.

49. Paper Cup Tower

Similar to the “walking on Egg” experiment listed above, this activity will wow your children as they discover they won’t crush the paper cups by standing on them!

8 paper cups

First, set the paper cups on the grounds, spaced evenly. Next, place the cardboard on top of them. Then, try to stand on it and see what happens. Can you make another level?

50. Rubber Band Guitar

Tap into your musical side and explore sound with this simple rubber band guitar.

Paper or plastic cup

Rubber bands

First, wrap your rubber bands of different sizes around the cup so that the rubber bands act as strings over the hole of the cup. Then, pinch the sides of them together as best you can and tap them around the sides of the cup. See what sounds they make, and experiments with rubber bands of various sizes to see what sounds they make!

+50 More Science Experiments We Love:

Kids of all ages will love these cool science experiments that you can do together on the weekend or after school.

These science activities all use simple household items and take about 30 minutes to complete.

51. Rock Candy Experiment – Grow colorful rock candy in a glass!

51. Giant Dish Soap Bubbles – Make a giant bubble with household ingredients.

52. Solar Oven S’mores – Cook up a tasty snack in a solar oven.

53. Layering Liquids – See how liquids can stack on top of each other according to density.

54. Human Sundial – Become a human sundial to learn about solar patterns.

55. Windowsill Trash – Demonstrate how the heat of the sun helps trash decompose.

56. Naked Egg Experiment – Dissolve an eggshell with vinegar and see the membrane below!

57. Balloon Magic – Blow up a balloon without blowing, using vinegar and baking soda.

58. Tornado in a Bottle – Create a cyclone in a bottle in this classic, simple experiment.

59. Egg Teeth – Explore how sugar affects teeth in this easy experiment.

60. Step Through an Index Card – Amaze your kids by stepping through an index card that’s been strategically cut.

61. Frozen Bubbles – Find out what happens when you blow bubbles in freezing temperatures.

66. Make Butter – Shake cream and turn it into butter!

67. Ice Cream in a Bag – Turn simple ingredients into delicious ice cream.

68. Moldy Bread Experiment – See how important it is to wash your hands in the viral science experiment.

69. Map Your Taste Buds – Learn about your taste buds in this easy mapping activity.

70. Make a Rainbow – See how you can easily create your own rainbow.

71. Soap Boats – Explore density with this easy DIY boat-making activity.

72. Egg Drop Project – See if you can build a contraction to protect an egg from breaking.

73. Growing Gummy Bears – Watch gummy bears grow before your eyes.

74. Fingerprinting – Dive into the infinite world of fingerprints with a no. 2 pencil and paper.

75. Homemade Bouncy Balls – Make your own bouncy ball toys with household ingredients.

76. Dancing Corn Experiment – Explore and investigate carbon dioxide by making corn dance. 

77. Big Stick Balance – This surprising experiment will teach kids about balance.

78. Upside Down Reflection – All you need is a kitchen spoon to learn about the principles of reflection.

79. Make a Sundial – Learn how to tell time with the sun by making a simple sundial.

80. Exploding baggie – Use a simple chemical reaction to explode a plastic zip close baggie. 

81. Flame-Proof Balloon – Use cold water to make a balloon resistant to a fire’s flame!

82. Rotten Banana Balloon – Use that rotten banana in your kitchen to blow up a balloon. You can also try it with a lemon. (Here’s the Lemon Balloon Trick .)

83. Mouth-Foaming Fun – Experience a chemical reaction first hand while brushing your teeth.

84. Foot Fat Experiment – Compare the levels of fat in different foods with this simple experiment.

85. Smashing Seashells – Discover how to easily smash seashells with vinegar.

86. Super Bubble Solution – Find out how you can make giant bubbles with an easy homemade solution.

87. Shaving Cream Rain Clouds – learn about the water cycle with shaving cream. The shaving cream represents the rain cloud and the water is the atmosphere.

88. Water Bending Trick – Learn how to bend water with one simple thing you have lying around your house.

89. Dry Paper Experiment – See how you can magically dunk paper in water and not make it wet.

90. Bending Straw Illusion – Learn about light refraction in this quick and simple experiment.

93. Magic Napkin – Learn about inertia with a napkin and a plastic cup filled with water.

94. Water Fireworks – Create fireworks in a glass of water using this simple experiement with household ingredient.

95. Liquid Sandwich – Learn about density with water, oil, and honey.

97. Talking String – Learn about sound waves and make a string “sing” by using one simple button.

98. Noisy Paper – Create a loud vibration noise with just two pieces of computer paper.

99. Sunscreen and Skin – Learn about the human body and how sunscreen works with this simple experiment using sunscreen and construction paper.

100. Taste Bud 101 – Learn about the taste buds with this fun and interactive experiment.

Looking for more at-home fun ideas? Check out our list of 100 Fun Things To Do At Home >>

So, there you have it!

100 kids science experiments that are super easy to do at home.

These simple science projects are meant to spark the curiosity of your child (and the whole family.)

We hope you loved this list of our very favorite science experiments.

Email us at [email protected] to add your idea.

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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.

Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.

Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.

Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page  and Editorial Policy Page .

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 37 cool science experiments for kids to do at home.

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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.

insect hotel

#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

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#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

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#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

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#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.)

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#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)

body_erosion

#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

body_dinosaurbones

#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)

body_stalactite

#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.

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45 Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Hello, STEM! These simple DIY activities can be done at home or in school.

at home water cycle science experiment for kids

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Imagine blowing the biggest bubbles imaginable — or even making bubbles within bubbles. Or sending vessels — rockets, tea bags, airplanes — soaring through the sky for impossible distances. Now imagine making things explode, or change colors, or reveal hidden messages with just a few simple mixtures.

First off, it's good to start them off with the scientific method. Give them a journal to record their observations, questions, hypotheses, experiments, results and conclusions. As always, safety counts: wear goggles and coats or aprons if need be (sometimes kids get a kick out of how scientific the protective gear makes them look), and always make sure that the kids are supervised when doing them. (Warning: Some of these are messy!)

These experiments are mostly designed for preschoolers through elementary schoolers — with a couple that are either demonstrations or better for older kids — but if you have a younger one, you can check out these 1-year-old learning activities , toddler learning activities and preschool/kindergarten learning activities , some of which also cover STEM subjects.

Floating Fish

dryerase fish float in a shallow dish of water as part of an athome science experiment for kids

Here's another one that deals with solubility and density.

  • Draw the outline of a fish on the bottom of a glass plate or tray in dry-erase marker. Retrace your drawing to make sure all the lines are connected. Let dry for a minute or two.
  • Fill the measuring cup with tap water. Place the pour spout just inside the corner of the dish and add water very slowly until it just covers the bottom. Be careful not to pour water directly onto your drawing or make splashes near it. The water will move toward your drawing, eventually surrounding it. Observe what happens. If the water splashes or it doesn’t work on your first try, empty the dish, erase the drawing with a paper towel, dry off the dish, and try again.
  • Tilt the dish slightly from side to side. What happens? Jot it down.

The ink in dry erase markers is engineered to be slippery. It’s made with a chemical that causes it to easily release from surfaces. (Permanent markers are made with a chemical that makes the ink stick to surfaces, so be sure not to use these in your experiment!)

The easy-release ink lets go from a surface, but why does it float? There are two reasons. First, dry erase ink isn’t soluble, which means it won’t dissolve in water. Second, dry erase ink is less dense than the water, so it becomes buoyant, meaning it can float. When you tilt the dish, the fish moves around on the water’s surface.

From Good Housekeeping Amazing Science: 83 Hands-on S.T.E.A.M Experiments for Curious Kids! See more in the book »

Brush, Brush!

eggs, toothbrushes and different kinds of liquids form the materials for this at home science experiment for kids

This one will really get them into brushing their teeth once they scientifically prove all the good things that toothpaste can do.

  • Write on sticky notes: Soda 1, Soda 2, Juice 1, and Juice 2. Place them in a row on a counter.
  • Fill two glasses halfway with brown soda and place behind the Soda 1 and Soda 2 sticky notes. Fill two glasses halfway with lemon juice and place behind the Juice 1 and Juice 2 sticky notes.
  • Carefully place one egg in the bowl. Squeeze a big dollop — about one tablespoon — of toothpaste on top of the egg and gently rub the toothpaste all around with your hands until the egg is completely covered in a thick layer of toothpaste. Repeat with a second egg.
  • Gently submerge the toothpaste-covered eggs into the liquids: one egg in the glass labeled Soda 1 and the other egg in the glass labeled Juice 1. Wash and dry your hands.
  • Gently submerge the remaining eggs, without toothpaste on them, in the remaining glasses: one in the glass labeled Soda 2 and the other in the glass of juice labeled Juice 2. Wash and dry your hands. Leave the eggs in the glasses for 12 hours.
  • After 12 hours, remove the eggs from the glasses of soda one at a time. Rinse them in cool water and pat them dry with the towel. Place each egg by the sticky note of the glass it was in. Are the eggs the same or different colors?
  • Remove the eggs from the glasses of juice one at a time. Rinse them under the faucet and pat them dry. Place each egg by the sticky note of the glass it was in. Feel the eggs gently. Does one feel stronger or weaker than the other?
  • Write down your observations in your science notebook.

The eggshells in this experiment represent the enamel (outer coating) on your teeth. Toothpaste cleans your teeth and prevents stains: it removes food and drink particles that are stuck on your teeth. Teeth can be stained easily by dark-colored liquids like cola, coffee or tea. The egg without toothpaste will be brown and discolored. The egg covered in toothpaste was protected from turning brown.

Toothpaste also protects your pearly whites from decay (breaking down). The egg without toothpaste left in the lemon juice was worn down and soft to the touch, while the egg that was protected with toothpaste is stronger. The lemon juice is acidic, and those acids broke down the shell just as acidic drinks can wear away your tooth enamel. When a tooth is worn down, a cavity can form more easily. But the fluoride in toothpaste mixes with your saliva to create a protective coating around your tooth enamel. It helps keep your teeth strong and cavity-free.

Grow an Avocado Tree

an avocado tree grows from a pit as part of this at home science experiment for kids

For an easy lesson in Earth Science, your family can grow an avocado tree from a pit. You can buy an AvoSeedo kit , or just peel the seed and suspend it over water with toothpicks.

Get the tutorial »

Milk Bottle Xylophone

milk bottle xylophone consisting of seven bottles of varying amounts of coloured water and a metal spoon, in a row, as part of an at home science experiment

No for an experiment in sound!

  • Arrange six glass jars or bottles, all the same size with no lids, in a line. What will each jar sound like when you tap it with a spoon? Make a prediction, then tap each jar. Record your observations.
  • Next, put water in each of the jars. Pour 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) of water into the first jar. Add 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of water to the second jar. Continue in 1⁄4-cup increments, adding 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) of water to the third jar, 1 cup (240 ml) of water to the fourth jar, 11⁄4 cups (300 ml) of water to the fifth jar, and 11⁄2 cups (360 ml) to the sixth jar. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to each jar.
  • What will each jar sound like? Will they sound the same or different than when the container was empty? Will they sound the same or different from one another? Record your predictions.
  • Tap each jar with a metal spoon. Write down your observations about each jar’s pitch (how high or low a sound is) in your notebook.

Sound waves are created by vibrations, which are back-and-forth movements that are repeated again and again. Pitch depends on the frequency of the waves — how many are created each second. A high pitch is created by high-frequency sound waves, and can sound squeaky. A low pitch is created by low-frequency sound waves, and sounds deep and booming.

When you tapped the jar, it vibrated. The vibrations traveled from the jar to the water to the air and eventually to your ears. The jars with more water had a low pitch. The sound waves vibrated more slowly because they had more water to travel through. The jars with less water had higher pitches. The sound waves vibrated faster because they had less water to travel through. A jar with no water in it makes the highest pitch because it has the least substance to travel through.

"Elephant Toothpaste"

foamy striped elephant toothpaste overflows from a bottle in this science experiment for kids

Okay, elephants don't really brush with this stuff, which is made from a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide, yeast, dish soap and a few other simple ingredients. But this experiment has a big "wow" factor since, when the substances are mixed, the "toothpaste" foams out of the bottle. You can use it to teach kids about catalysts and exothermic reactions.

Get the tutorial at Babble Dabble Do »

DIY Compass

a diy compass, made as a science experiment for kids, floats in a bowl next to a digital compass pointing in the same direction

Explore the way magnetism works, and how it affects everyday objects, by magnetizing a needle and making a DIY compass. You can even spin the compass in the water, and it'll end up pointing the right way again.

Get the tutorial at STEAM Powered Family »

Craft Stick Chain Reaction

colored craft sticks with pom poms on top are lined up on grass as part of a science experiments for kids about chain reactions and potential and kinetic energy

Kids can learn about the differences between potential and kinetic energy with this chain reaction. It makes a big impact: Once the tension is released, the pom poms go flying through the air!

Get the the tutorial at Science Sparks »

Color-Changing Invisible Ink

different messages and pictures are written in different substances to test out different color changing invisible inks as part of a science experiment for kids

Kids will feel like super-spies when they use this heatless method to reveal pictures or colors written with "invisible ink." You can try different acid/base combinations to see which one makes the most dramatic result.

Get the tutorial at Research Parent »

Paper Bridge

pennies sit on a construction paper bridge that spans two red solo cups in this science experiment for kids

Get the engineering back into STEM with this activity, which challenges kids to create a paper bridge that's strong enough to hold as many pennies as possible. How can they manipulate the paper to make it sturdier? (Hint: Fold it!)

See the paper bridge tutorial at KidsActivities.com »

an ice cube is suspended on a string above a bowl of ice in this science experiment for kids

Challenge your little scientist to lift up an ice cube with just a piece of string. It's possible ... with a little salt to help. Salt melts the ice and lowers the freezing point of the ice cube, which absorbs the heat from the water around it, making the water cold enough to re-freeze around the string.

Get the tutorial at Playdough to Plato »

Marshmallow Catapult

a marshmallow catapult made from craft sticks and a wooden spoon is a great science experiment for kids

Another lesson in potential and kinetic energy, kids will love sending mini marshmallows flying in the name of science. Change some of the variables and see how that affects the marshmallow's trajectory.

Get the tutorial at Hello, Wonderful »

Leaf Breathing

bubbles form on a leaf under water as part of a leaf breathing science experiment for kids

It's hard for kids to picture how plants and trees "breathe" through their leaves — until they see the bubbles appear on a leaf that's submerged in water. You can also teach them about photosynthesis by putting different leaves in different spots with varying levels of sunlight.

Get the tutorial at KC EDventures »

Hoop-and-Straw Airplane

a hoop and straw airplane, created as part of a science experiment for kids, sits on a black background

We all remember how to fold those classic, triangular paper airplanes, but these hoop-and-straw airplanes fly way better (and straighter). Experiment by changing the length of the straw and the size of the hoops and see how it affects the flight.

Get the tutorial at Mombrite »

Film Canister Rocket

a diy rocket takes off from a table, where another rocket waits, in this science experiment for kids

Blast off! You don't need jet fuel to make these rockets go, just Alka-Seltzer tablets and baking soda, but they'll be amazed when they achieve lift-off! (Note: If you can't find old film canisters, tubes of Airborne work, too.)

Get the tutorial at Raising Lifelong Learners »

Coin Inertia

a stack of coins sits on a piece of cardboard on top of a glass of water as part of a science experiment for kids about inertia

Stack up about five or so coins on a piece of cardboard and place it over a glass of water. Then, flick the cardboard out from on top of the glass. Do the coins drop into the water, or ride with the cardboard? Due to inertia, they drop into the water — a very visual (and fun!) demonstration of Newton's First Law of Motion.

Get the tutorial at Engineering Emily »

Apple Oxidation

science experiments for kids   apple oxidation

What works best for keeping an apple from turning brown? Test to find out! Slice up an apple, and let each slice soak in a different liquid. Then take them out, lay them on a tray, and check the brownness after three minutes, six minutes and so on. Not only does this test the properties of different liquids, it also helps students practice the scientific method if they create hypotheses about which liquids would be most effective.

Get the tutorial at Jennifer Findley »

RELATED: 50 Fun Activities for Kids Will Keep Them Entertained for Hours

Coffee Ground Fossils

a salt dough circle "fossil" with dinosaur footprints, made as part of an athome science experiment for kids

By making a salt dough with coffee grounds and pressing various shapes into it (toy dinosaur feet, seashells), kids can get a better understanding of how fossils are made. If you poke a hole in the top before it dries, the kids can hang their "fossils" up in their rooms.

Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda »

Chromatography Flowers

a coffee filter flower with an led in the center is decorated with swirls of color as part of this at home science experiment for kids

Chromatography is the process of separating a solution into different parts — like the pigments in the ink used in markers. If you draw stripes around a coffee filter, then fold it up and dip the tip in water, the water will travel up the filter and separate the marker ink into its different pigments (in cool patterns that you can display as a craft project). This family made the end-result even brighter by adding an LED circuit to the center.

Get the tutorial at Steam Powered Family »

Water Walking

five cups with different colored liquid in them are connected by paper towel bridges as part of this at home science experiment for kids

You'll need six containers of water for this one: three with clear water, one with red food coloring, one with blue coloring, and one with yellow coloring. Arrange them in a circle, alternating colored and clear containers, and make bridges between the containers with folded paper towels. Your kids will be amazed to see the colored water "walk" over the bridges and into the clear containers, mixing colors, and giving them a first-hand look at the magic of capillarity.

Get the tutorial at Fun Learning for Kids »

Sunscreen Test

colorful construction paper painted with different sunscreens, as part of an athome science experiment for kids

This experiment puts the A (art) in STEAM: Paint different designs on construction paper with different sunscreens, leave the papers out in the sun and compare the results. Then, hang your "conclusions" on your fridge.

Get the tutorial at Tonya Staab »

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10 simple science experiments for 3-5 year olds.

10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-5 Year Olds

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Easy Science Experiments Activities For Kindergartners

10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-5 Year Olds

Looking for age-appropriate science activities for preschoolers? Here are a bunch of fun science ideas suitable for 3-5 year olds.

Test your kids hypothesis on what would happen if they stepped on raw eggs .  They will love this one!  From Housing A Forest.

Explore how plants “drink” with this experiment showing water moving through a leaf .  From Buggy and Buddy.

You can blow up a balloon with a combination of soda and candy.  So cool!  From Learn Play Imagine.

Oil and water don’t mix , but what happens when you add this special ingredient?  From Play Trains.

Explaining the concept of air pressure to preschoolers can be tricky but this easy experiment shows it perfectly!  From Kids Activities Blog.

How do the ice trucks melt snow after a storm?  This is a great demonstration.  From The Artul Parent.

This exploding baggie experiment is a twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar reaction and is super simple.  From Coffee Cups and Crayons.

Explain to your kids how sound waves work with this classic experiment.  From We Made That.

Exploding milk is one of the most fun and simple kid science experiments and you only need three kitchen ingredients.  From Laughing Kids Learn.

Did you know you can make ice grow ?  Here’s how!  From Teach Preschool.

Hope you like these

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10 of the BEST Science Experiments for Kids

May 28, 2021 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

Here at Science Sparks, we’ve tried a lot of science experiments over the years; some have been brilliant on the first go, some have taken a LOT of tweaking, and some have been a complete disaster! Most have been great fun, whatever the outcome. To save you and your budding scientist the disasters, I’ve put together a list of the BEST science experiments for kids !

The BEST Science Experiments for Kids

1. mini baking soda rocket.

Up first is my mini baking soda powered rocket . A fun way to do this activity is to split it into two parts.

Design the Rocket

It needs to stand up with a gap between where the cork fits and the floor. Remember not to add too many decorations or it will be too heavy.

Launch the Rocket

Experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to find the best rocket fuel !

The rocket must be placed on a hard surface to launch.

upside down plastic bottle with three straws attached and a cork in the bit you drink from. Baking soda and vinegar are added to make the rocket fly.

2. Skittles Experiment

If you haven’t tried the good old skittles experiment, where HAVE you been?

Pour water over Skittles on a plate and watch as the colours dissolve from the candy into the water.

Investigate using different temperatures of water and even different types of sweets. If you have any Skittles left over at the end, another idea is to try some candy chromatography .

Skittles Experiment - skittles in water, showing the colours spreading out into the water

3. Elephants Toothpaste

Babble Dabble Do has the most amazing version of this explosive science activity. Elephant toothpaste is always fun!

toothpaste coloured elephant toothpaste explosion

4. Colour Changing Potions

Everyone loves a fizzy potion, but it’s even better if you can get it to change colour!

If you use red cabbage indicator juice as the base liquid for a traditional baking soda and vinegar potion , it will change colour as it reacts.

colour changing potions

5. Chromatography

Chromatography is a visual way to separate the different dyes in inks. All you need is some non-washable felt tip pens, filter paper and water. It’s a brilliant colourful science investigation for kids .

A fun twist on this activity is to use candy instead of felt-tip pens. Watch as the candy colours separate as they travel up the filter paper.

Candy chromatography experiment

6. Create a Chain Reaction or Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg machine uses the principle of a chain reaction to achieve an end goal. Examples are popping a balloon or delivering an item to someone.

Chain Reaction set up with dominoes and a half pipe

7. Lolly Stick Explosion

A craft or lolly stick explosion is a fantastic group activity or science demonstration.

They take some time to set up but are worth the effort.

craft stick chain reaction - cool science for kids

Oobleck is made from cornflour and water . It’s called a Non-Newtonian liquid as it feels solid when you squish it between your fingers but turns back into a liquid when the pressure is released.

cornflour oobleck in a tray with a sieve and superhero toys

9. Absorbing with Sugar Cubes

This activity uses sugar cubes to learn about absorption and properties of materials , especially whether they are waterproof or not.

The idea is to build a tower of sugar cubes and test different materials to see which can save the higher cubes. It’s a lovely visual, hands-on experiment.

sugar cubes experiment - waterproof materials

10. Bouncy Egg

Do you know how to make an egg bounce ?

First, you need to remove the shell by soaking the egg in vinegar. This leaves just the membrane behind. Once you’ve washed off the shell, you can bounce the egg.

Take care with this one, as eventually, the egg will break!

bouncy egg with no shell coloured

What do you think? Have I missed any? What would you add to the list? Perhaps a mento geyser ?

Coke and Mento reaction

More of the best science experiments for kids

Make dry erase pictures float with The Best Ideas for Kids.

Create a lens with jello and Science Fun.

Make a bouncy ball with The 36th Avenue , and then find out why balls bounce !

Set up a colourful fizzy rainbow with Messy Little Monster.

Make water travel down a string with Rookie Parenting.

collage of science experiments including oobleck and a lollystick chain reaction

Last Updated on April 9, 2024 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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November 09, 2022 at 4:15 pm

Love the experiments! I really want to try one!

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Taming Little Monsters

45 of the Best STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Categories STEM

Introducing young kids to STEM is incredibly fun. When I first started looking into STEM for Toddlers and Preschoolers , I was thrilled to see so many easy ways to do it.

If you’re a mom at home or early childhood educators, there are so many benefits to teaching your kids STEM. Use their natural curiosity to develop problem solving skills, and have a great time doing it.

34 of the best STEM activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Introduce the fun and excitement of science activities to your kids.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.

Table of Contents

What is stem.

  • STEM Activities
  • FAQ’s

You May Also Like

Not sure what STEM stands for? It’s an abbreviation of S cience T echnology E ngineering and M ath. Or you may have heard of STEAM, where the A stands for arts. All toddlers (2-3 year olds) and preschoolers (3-5 year olds), can get involved with these amazing ideas.

STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

1. magic milk.

Bowl of milk with food coloring.

All you need for this science activity is some food coloring, milk, and dish soap. With those three ingredients you can watch the colors dance around the milk all by themselves.  Learn how to turn regular milk into magic milk here.

2. Coke and Mentos

Looking for science activities for kids? Try the coke and mentos experiment. A fun and easy STEM activity for toddlers and preschoolers.

This was one of the best science experiments I’ve ever done with my kids. The look on their faces is absolutely priceless and has become one of my favorite memories. The only thing I struggled with initially was getting all of the mentos into the bottle fast enough. Fortunately, I came up with an easy hack, which allows toddlers and older kids to drop all of the mentos into the bottle at once. Check out the coke and mentos reaction and learn the super easy hack to make it toddler friendly.

3. Fizzy Painting

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This is another science activity that works because of chemical reactions. But in this play idea, you’ll be using it to make a painting that bubbles and fizzes.  Learn how to use chemistry to make fizzy art .

4. Straw Rockets

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

These straw rockets are a free printable that you can download and use for STEM learning. Children of all ages love propelling the rockets through the air using the power of their lungs.  Get your free printable rockets and start having fun.

5. Rain in a Jar

Rain in a jar is a fun science activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Start your day with some weather science for kids.

All you need for this weather science activity is a cup of water, shaving cream and blue food coloring. Watch as the blue food coloring falls through the clouds and looks like rain when it travels through the water.  Learn how to make the rain in a jar STEM activity with your toddlers and preschoolers.

6. Fireworks in a Jar

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

This is similar to the rain in a jar experiment, but has enough of a twist to make it new and exciting. Along with other easy STEM activities, you already have everything you need for this idea in your kitchen cupboard.  If your kids are too scared of real fireworks, then learn how to make them in a jar and still enjoy some colorful bursts.

7. Color Changing Flowers

Use this color changing flower experiment to turn a rose blue. Learn how capillary action works with this simple science activity that is perfect for Spring

This is a fun way to explore capillary action with young kids. They get to see how flowers “drink” water and how it travels from the bottom of the stem, all the way up to their petals. Learn how to make flowers change colors , and see it start working in about 30 minutes.

8. Walking Water

Learn how to make a walking water science experiment - a fun rainbow themed STEM activity for kids. Perfect for preschool or kindergarten.

Did you know that you can make water move and change colors all by itself? This is another fantastic STEM education activity that explores capillary action. Watch the water ‘walk’ and become a rainbow before your eyes. Click the link to see how it’s done.

9. Balloon Magic

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Kids of all ages love watching the balloon in this science activity inflate all by itself , just like magic. With a couple of common household ingredients, your kids can be magicians too.

10. Magnet Exploration

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Playing with magnets is the best way to explain the STEM concepts of magnetism. Learn what is magnetic and what isn’t, using whatever bits and bobs you have lying around the house or classroom.

11. DIY Magnetic Ball Run

Learn how to make a DIY Magnetic Ball Run. A fun and easy STEM activity for kids where they will experiment with gravity, angles and speed.

Learn how to turn regular cardboard tubes into a fun fridge door activity. Younger kids will love doing a bit of engineering while making their own magnetic ball run and learning about gravity.

12. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils

learn how to make DIY salt dough dinosaur fossils. They are a fun and easy STEM activity for kids who love to learn through play.

This is without a doubt one of my favorite preschool STEM activities. Use the DIY dinosaur fossils to create a real dino dig in the sandbox, or just as a dinosaur matching activity. All you need is some salt dough, and small toy dinosaurs. It’s so easy.

13. Planet Match Activity

Grab your copy of this planet match activity. This free printable is perfect for preschool science centers.

Do you have little astronauts running around at home? This matching activity is a simple way to let them explore the solar system. Get the free planet match printable to help teach your kids about outer space.

14. Butterfly Life Cycle

Learn all about the Butterfly Life Cycle with this Free Printable. A fantastic science activity for preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

When the weather warms up, and the butterflies are out, this is the perfect chance to explore some Spring themed STEAM activities. Learn about the life cycle of a butterfly , while creating some beautiful art at the same time.

This activity also comes with a free printable template for you to use for the art. In addition, it also contains a whole lot of interesting butterfly facts to use during circle time.

15. How to Grow Crystal Snowflakes

Grow giant crystal snowflakes with a bit of simple science. This winter STEM activity is a fun and easy project for kids.

These snowflakes can sit on your window and don’t melt. I love this science activity for older children, because it doesn’t snow where we live. But we still get to enjoy a bit of magic with this play idea.

Learn how to make crystal snowflakes for your windows.

16. Invisible Heart Activity for Kids

Need a Valentine's Day STEM idea? Try this Invisible Heart Activity for Kids. Toddlers and preschoolers will love this easy science activity.

The secret behind this science activity is homemade invisible ink. Instead of making secret messages, I made a secret cardiovascular system. You can do individual pictures for kids at home, or large ones that kids in your early years classroom can do as a small group project. Learn how to make an invisible heart science activity , or just write secret messages.

17. Snowstorm in a Jar

Learn how to make a Snowstorm in a Jar, one of the best science activities for kids. Perfect for winter or weather preschool curriculums.

If you’re looking for winter themed STEM ideas, make sure to try this snowstorm in a jar. Kids as young as toddlers can join in on this one. Not to mention it’s so much fun to watch no matter how old you are.

Learn how to turn a regular jar into an indoor snowstorm , using a bit of simple science.

18. Building Shapes

Building shapes STEM for kids is a fun and easy engineering activity for kids. Help toddlers and preschoolers learn their shapes with some play based learning.

This is a fantastic engineering and math activity for children. Toddlers can focus on building 2D shapes, while preschoolers can also explore 3D constructions. I used toothpicks for this activity. However, if you’re going to try this play idea with toddlers, then I suggest you use pipe cleaners or paper straws instead. What 2D and 3D shapes will you build with your kids?

19. Popsicle Stick Shape Mats

Popsicle stick Shape Mats - free printable for kids. Use them to teach toddlers and preschoolers math, fine motor skills, language and more.

Here is another way to build shapes, using craft sticks. These shape mats are a free printable that you can download and use today. Best of all, the craft sticks are the exact size on the mats, so everything fits together seamlessly.

Get your copy of the free craft stick shape mats printable , and do a bit of math with your kids.

20. Farm Animal Shadow Matching Game

free printable - farm animal shadow matching game. A fun and easy puzzle for todders and preschoolers. Get your FREE copy today.

This is one of the first simple STEM activities I did with my toddlers. In fact, it’s the exact one I used to get my kids interested in puzzles (they were hopeless before this). It’s such a simple puzzle, but you do need to recognise irregular shapes.

This game comes as a free printable. All you need to do is to match the farm animals to their shadows , and maybe make a few barnyard noises while you do. 

21. Parachute STEM Experiment

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Can you make one of your toys fly? When we did this activity, we had one very brave cow that got caught in the rose bushes a lot.

This science activity is a simple way to experiment with wind resistance, different materials and parachute designs . Perfect for older kids to make, but still fun for toddlers and preschoolers to play with.

22. Water Cycle STEM for Kids

Learn how to set up an indoor water cycle demonstration. This is a simple science activity for kids that will teach them about evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

Did you know that you can make a working indoor water cycle ? One where your kids can taste the difference because it actually turns saltwater into freshwater?

Believe it or not, you can. This STEM idea is a fun way to talk about the weather in a way where kids can get some hands on learning.

23. Car STEM Experiments for Kids

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Toddlers and preschoolers love playing with cars and ramps. Use their enthusiasm to learn a bit of rudimentary physics in easy ways. Don’t worry, it really is more simple than it sounds.

What happens when you let cars go down ramps? Kids learn about gravity. What happens when you adjust the ramps or the cars a little bit? Well that’s a whole afternoon of fun experimenting with toy cars .

24. DIY Pirate Ship: STEM Challenge

DIY pirate ship that kids can build themselves. This is a fun STEM challenge for children to try this summer.

This engineering challenge is perfect for elementary school children. All you need to do is give them a few basic materials and tell them to build their own boat.

I spent hours as a kid building my own forts in the backyard. Tying the sticks together, and hating when it was not tight enough.

So let your kids build their own ship in the backyard this summer. You’ll have pirates running around all holiday.

25. Sink the Egg STEM Challenge

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Simple STEM projects are always a treasure, and this one is no different. What does it take to make the egg sink ? What do you fill it with? What will your kids come up with?

26. Non Newtonian Fluid Science Activity

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

The non-Newtonian fluid in this play idea is also called Oobleck. Oobleck has the wonderful characteristic of changing form when pressure is applied.

Confused? Basically, when you push down hard on oobleck, it becomes hard and feels solid. But if you let it go and just hold it in your hand, it will flow like a liquid.

Can you imagine what a great time your kids will have playing with this amazing stuff? Learn how to make oobleck here.

27. Snowball Balance

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Do you save your large cardboard tubes? Make sure that you do because it’s amazing what you can do with them. 

Here you are using the tubes to balance crumpled up paper balls . This is a fantastic activity for toddlers because it’ll help with hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills as well.

28. Easy Heart Pump Model

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

How does the heart work? Here you can explore how the heart pumps blood with a working demonstration. How amazing is that?

29. Seed Germination Experiment for Kids

Growing beans is a classic science activity for kids. A fun and easy STEM experiment for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy this Spring.

Growing seeds and beans is a science classic for a reason. The kids will learn about how plants grow, where food comes from and hopefully a little bit of healthy eating habits at the same time.

I’ve done this experiment a few times with my kids and they just love looking at how the plants grow more and more each day.

30. Water Transfer Activity with Sponges

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Why do sponges hold water? Are they the best option when trying to transfer water from one container to another? Why?

Playing with sponges and water is a great summer time activity, especially if you’re trying to cool down.

31. Exploring Vegetable Seeds

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

What do you find when you cut open a capsicum (bell pepper)? A whole lot of tiny seeds that are perfect for exploring.

If you got excited about the idea of growing seeds, then imagine how excited your kids will be when they see where seeds come from .

32. DIY Balance Scales

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Have you ever thought about using a regular clothes hanger to make a set of scales? Exploring simple machines with your kids can be as easy as this play idea. 

This is a fantastic way for kids to explore the concept of weight, and experiment with heavy and light objects . Which side will go down and why?

33. Sink or Float

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Here is a science activity that you can try at bath time. What sinks and what floats ? Even toddler age children can explore this STEM concept while they splash around.

34. Static Hair

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

I definitely saved the best for last. At least I think so because I absolutely LOVED doing this as a child myself. 

Why does static electricity make your hair stand up ? You’re going to have a whole lot of fun and giggles while you’re finding out.

35. Floating City STEM Challenge

Can your kids build a floating city? This is a great engineering based STEM challenge for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Your little engineer will love this toddler STEM activity at bath time. All you need to do is get some foam building blocks and put them in the bath. If your kids is a pro at making towers on dry land, see what happens to their creation once the water moves around. Build a floating city and develop problem solving skills at bath time.

36. Make a Book Invitation to Play

Make a book - STEM invitation to play for kids. A technology activity for preschoolers and kindergarteners who love to learn through play.

Learning about technology isn’t all about screens. Everyday tools like kitchen utensils and office stationary are technology too. In this make a book invitation , younger children can play around with different tools to make their own book. 

​37. Animal Sorting

Animal sorting activity for kids. Sort and classify the animals, this is a great STEM activity for toddlers and preschoolers who love to learn.

Where do the animals belong? This is a super simple science activity that toddlers and even older babies can enjoy. Sort and group (which is a math skills) the different toys by where you can find them. This sorting animals activity is a fun way to explore all of the amazing creatures we find on land, sea or sky.

38. Building Animal Towers

Building animal towers is a fun STEM challenge for kids. This zoo themed engineering activity is perfect for young children who love to play.

If you’ve got your toy animals out for the previous activity, then keep them around for some more fun STEM activities. Little kids will love trying to build the tallest tower out animals or other different items. Their irregular shapes adds an extra challenge that is fun for the whole family.

39. Free Color Match and Clip Cards

Grab your copy of these Color Match and Clip Cards. A free printable for kids to learn colors, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Learning about the different colors is another essential math concept that toddlers can learn. These free printable color match and clip cards will help toddlers with their math and their fine motor skills at the same time.

40. Dinosaur Number Match

Dinosaur Number Match activity for kids. This is a great STEM and fine motor activity for preschool and kindergarten math centers.

This cute dinosaur number match puzzle will get toddlers and preschoolers to practice counting, number recognition, fine motor skills and more. This is a great STEM activity for kids who love anything to do with dinosaurs.

41. Fizzy Heart Bombs

Fizzy heart bombs, STEM activity for kids. Toddlers and preschoolers will love this easy science experiment this Valentine's Day.

You can use household items to make a chemical reaction that is safe for toddlers and preschoolers to play with. These fizzy heart bombs are a simple experiment that you can use to get kids excited about science.

42. Free Measuring Flowers Activity

Measuring flowers math activity for kids. Pasta, ruler, paper clips and buttons.

Grab your copy of this free measuring flowers activity . This activity will invite children to explore both formal and informal measuring, number formation and various other math concepts.

43. Snowman Shape Puzzles (Free Printable)

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Learn about different shapes with these free printable snowman shape puzzles . 2D shapes is a math concept that young children need to learn before they go to school. And these cute little guys are the perfect way to help you.

44. Free Feed the Shark Math Game

Feed the shark is a free printable math game for toddlers and preschoolers. Learn to count and read numerals with this summer themed activity.

Toddlers and preschoolers will have so much fun with this feed the shark math game . This free printable is a simple STEM activity that will get them to practice counting, one-to-one correspondence and even some simple addition.

45. Bauble Balance

Bauble Balance - Christmas STEM activity for kids. The perfect way for toddlers and preschoolers to practice math and fine motor skills.

Even babies can try their engineering skills with this Christmas themed challenge. Build your own Christmas tree out of pool noodles (or paper towel rolls) and see if you can balance the bauble on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can you start stem.

You can start exploring STEM with your child from day one. After all, we understand the world around us through STEM. All of our senses, like sound and vision, are all components of science that we experience very early on. As we get older we learn about nature and how the things around us work.

How do you teach a toddler STEM?

The best way to teach STEM is through hands on experience. Play based learning is the best approach when trying to explain concepts to kids. Keep it simple, age appropriate, and allow kids to explore and problem solve by themselves.

Do kids like STEM?

Absolutely. I have yet to meet a child who didn’t have a natural curiosity about the world around them. The key is to make it fun, without any pressure, because that is how they learn best. It’s also a great way to create toddlers and preschoolers who are intrinsically motivated to learn more.

Are you going to try any of these STEM activities for toddlers and preschoolers? Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

STEM Activities for Kids

Here are 25 water STEM activities for kids to try these summer holidays. Learn some science and cool off with these fun experiments.

Water STEM Activities for kids

12 ways to make science fun for your kids at home

12 ways to make science fun for your kids at home

The vinegar and baking soda volcano is a science fair classic, but making science fun for your kids can mean a lot more than making a mess of your kitchen.

If you're looking for a way to bring more science into your home, there are plenty of fun and even delicious ways to get kids excited about biology, chemistry, and physics — without a single worksheet.

Check out these 11 science projects for kids that are perfect for hands-on learning.

1. Make 'quicksand' with cornstarch

What kids will learn about: non-Newtonian fluids

While this might seem like a big task, you've likely done this before. When you slowly mix about 10 parts cornstarch to one part water, you create a liquid with the consistency of honey, and the properties of quicksand.

This is how it works: When you mix the cornstarch into the water, you create a suspension, which is when one substance is dispersed inside another. This makes the mixture act like a solid when pressure is applied, and a liquid when it's allowed to flow freely.

If you smack, slap, or scoop the mixture, it will feel solid since you'll be pushing the cornstarch particles closer together. Slowly run your fingers through it or pour it out, and it will flow like a liquid.

These mixtures are called non-Newtonian fluids, referring to Isaac Newton's observation that substances typically become more fluid when they're heated and viscous when they're cooled. Those substances, like honey, are Newtonian fluids.

Since the cornstarch goop's consistency is affected by pressure as well, it's considered a non-Newtonian fluid. Quicksand — a suspension of sand in water — works the same way.

2. Bake a paleontology cake

What kids will learn about: dinosaurs

There are plenty of cool ways to use science to create food — and we'll get to one later — but sometimes all you need is a cake to start an appetite for knowledge.

These paleontology-themed pastries don't automatically teach your children anything about dinosaurs, but it can be a delicious way to get them interested in learning more. Use them as a way to keep their attention as you teach them about the lizards that once ruled the Earth.

The above video shows how to make a very cool cake which lets kids brush aside cookie crumbs to reveal a dinosaur fossil. If you're after something a bit simpler with less potential for mess, you can also decorate a cake with a few fossil toys .

3. Create an electromagnet

What kids will learn about: electromagnetism

Making an electromagnet is a middle school science-class staple, and it's an easy project to do with a few small items from a hardware store. Simply wrap copper wire around a nail, connect the ends of the wire to a battery, and watch the magnetic magic unfold.

The magnetic field gets amplified with each additional loop around the wire, and your kids can test out different wire gauges, lengths, and materials to see which will make the strongest magnets.

4. Make pepper swim with dish soap

What kids will learn about: surface tension

Surface tension is a tricky concept to explain to younger children, but an easy and engaging thing to show them.

Here's how to do the pepper soap trick you've probably seen all over the internet:

Sprinkle a bunch of pepper on the surface of a bowl of water,

Then have a kid dip her finger in dish soap

Next, gently touch the surface of the water.

The pepper will jet to the edge of the bowl because the soap broke the surface tension of the water. Tah-dah!

Surface tension is the result of the surface-level molecules of water being pulled downward by attraction to other molecules. This holds them in place and allows particles like pepper to float on them.

Because soap is another highly attractive substance, it will pull the water molecules near it and break the surface tension. This flings the pepper particles out to the edges of the bowl, where the surface tension remains.

You can also do the same experiment with milk and food coloring .

5. Extract DNA from split peas

What kids will learn about: what DNA looks like

This might sound deceptively tricky, but with some household supplies and a little bit of lab equipment, you can help show your kids what DNA looks like. The video above walks you through the whole process, which involves breaking down the subject, using salt and meat tenderizer to release the DNA, and extracting it with alcohol.

An individual DNA molecule would be too small to see with the naked eye, but this experiment makes the long, sticky stands visibly tangle together.

6. Suck an egg into a bottle with fire

What kids will learn about: air pressure and vacuums

This is a surefire way to wow your kids with nothing more than a hard-boiled egg, a glass bottle, a lighter, and some paper. Take strip of paper, light it on fire, put it inside a glass bottle, and let the smoke reach the brim. As soon as it does, place the egg narrow-side down at the mouth of the bottle, and it will slowly get sucked into the bottle.

As the smoke fills the bottle and it heats up, the air inside expands. Once the flame is cut off by the egg's seal of the bottle, the air begins to cool and contract, creating a vacuum that sucks the egg in.

If you can't stand the smell of hard-boiled eggs or can't find the right size bottle, you can use balloons instead.

7. Make a carnation change colors

What kids will learn about: the vascular system of flowers

It's not the quickest science experiment, but it might be one of the coolest. Take a few white carnations, vases and different types of food coloring. Dye the water, then place the flowers in the different vases to watch them change color day by day.

You can even split stems to color one side of the carnation and not the other, or color it two different colors.

8. Make hot maple ice cream

What kids will learn about: molecular gastronomy

At its core, molecular gastronomy is using chemicals and creative cooking methods to create food that flips its usual form and function on its head. More home chefs have been trying out these techniques over the past few years, and you can join them by using a little bit of methyl cellulose to make a hot ice cream that melts as it cools.

Methyl cellulose is a derivative of plant cell walls, and creates gels only when it heats up. The recipe in the video above shows you how to make it yourself, and you can get the key ingredient for as cheap as $7.99 .

9. Build Heron's Fountain

What kids will learn about: air and pneumatic pressure

This modern adaptation of a first-century Alexandrian fountain is a great way to introduce kids to air and pneumatic pressure. Water and air pressure are moved through a series of tubes, which draw water down from the top, through the bottom, and up to the top again.

10. Explain why the sky is blue with milk, water, and a flashlight

What kids will learn about: rayleigh scattering.

Rayleigh scattering is what happens to light when it passes through the atmosphere. As light travels from the sun to Earth, it's absorbed and emitted by tiny particles, which scatter white light into different colors. Blue and violet are scattered the most, and because the sun emits more energy as blue light (which our eyes pick up better), our sky looks blue.

You can replicate this effect with a glass of water, milk, and a flashlight. Shine the light into the glass of water as you slowly add drops of milk. Once there are enough protein and fat particulates from the milk in the glass, the water will look blue.

11. Make your own rock candy

What kids will learn about: crystallization

If the dino cake and hot ice cream weren't enough, you can teach your kids all about crystallization with some rock candy. Simply mix sugar into water until the sugar stops dissolving. Then, tie a clean string to a butter knife laying across the top of a glass and pour in the solution.

Keep the glass covered with a paper towel or plastic wrap to keep out bacteria, and watch the crystals grow each day.

12. Bend chicken bones

What kids will learn about: calcium in bones

Like the carnation experiment, this science experiment takes a bit of time. However it's also incredibly simple — and a great excuse to order some fried chicken.

Simply immerse a clean, dry chicken bone in a jar of vinegar and leave it to soak for a week. Take the bone out, and you should be able to bend it fairly easily. This is due to the vinegar dissolving the calcium, which is what makes bones rigid. It's a great way to demonstrate to kids why they need to drink their milk or eat other calcium-rich foods.

And remember: all these science experiments for kids should be fun. They don't need to know they're learning something amazing and new.

And if you're looking for even more ways to keep your kids entertained at home:

STEM toys for kids

20 DIY projects to help you (or the kids) stay sharp while at home

BONUS: 5 Fun Science Experiments for Kids (w/ Grover!)

This story was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2020. Additional reporting by Amanda Yeo.

Amanda Yeo

Amanda Yeo is Mashable's Australian reporter, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. This includes everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets.

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Easy Physics Experiments For Kids

Physics is fun, and these easy physics experiments are perfectly fun physics science experiments for kids; you can even do them at home or with groups in the classroom. Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our science experiments for all year-round learning and play.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

What Is Physics for Kids?

Physics is, most simply put, the study of matter and energy and the interaction between the two .

Physics is like the rulebook of the universe. It helps us understand how everything around us works, from tiny atoms to the vastness of space. When we study physics, we learn about motion (like why things move), forces (like pushes and pulls), energy (what makes things happen), electricity, magnetism, and more. It’s like solving puzzles about how the world functions.

Kids can learn more about the world around them through fun physics experiments like the ones below and deep thinking!

Try this Physics Project:

Physics Experiments By Topic

If studying a specific physics topic, check out these additional resources below. Each topic includes easy-to-understand information, everyday examples, and additional hands-on activities and experiments for you to use.

  • Static Electricity
  • Potential and Kinetic Energy
  • Simple Machines
  • Capillary Action
  • Surface Tension

Click here to get your FREE Physics Activity Guide!

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

You will love these neat physics project ideas we have to share with you. I handpick my selections based on what I think my son would enjoy, what supplies are needed, and what amount of time needs to be dedicated to each activity.

💡 Click on each link for the full descriptions of each experiment and activity.

AIR PRESSURE CAN EXPERIMENT

Learn about atmospheric pressure with this incredible can crusher experiment. 

AIR RESISTANCE EXPERIMENT

Whoa! A physics experiment in under 10 mins and all you need to do is go raid the computer printer! Make simple air foils and learn about air resistance.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

AIR VORTEX CANNON

Make your own homemade air cannon and blast down dominoes and other similar items. Learn about air pressure and the movement of air particles in the process.

BALANCING APPLE EXPERIMENT

Explore balancing apples and gravity with real apples for our  Ten Apples Up On Top Dr Seuss theme. Also try to balance a paper apple (use our FREE printable template to make your own).

BALLOON CAR

Here are two balloon car design suggestions to get the creative juices flowing! You can make a LEGO balloon car or you can make a cardboard balloon car . Both work off of a similar principle and really go. Find out which makes the fastest balloon car.

BALLOON ROCKET

Explore fun forces with an easy to set up balloon rocket project. Also see our Valentine’s Day version ; we have a Santa balloon rocket too! This simple experiment can be turned into any fun theme. You can even race two balloons or set it up outside!

BENDING WATER

Can you bend water? Yes, you can with static electricity. Grab a balloon and some water to set up this easy physics experiment.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

BROKEN TOOTHPICK

Is it magic, or is it science? Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water, and see capillary action at work.

Pennies and foil are all you need to learn about buoyancy. Oh. and a bowl of water too!

CAPILLARY ACTION

Check out these fun ways to demonstrate capillary action. Plus, all you need is a handful of standard household supplies.

COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS

Learn about the forces of capillary action as you change your flowers from white to green. Or any color you like! Easy to set up and perfect for a group of kiddos to do simultaneously.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

COLOR WHEEL SPINNER

Famous scientist Isaac Newton discovered that light is made up of many colors. Learn more by making your spinning color wheel! Can you make white light from all the different colors?

DANCING SPRINKLES EXPERIMENT

Explore sound and vibrations when you try this fun dancing sprinkles experiment with the kids.

DENSITY TOWER EXPERIMENT

Explore how some liquids are heavier or denser than other liquids with this super easy physics experiment.

DROPS OF WATER ON A PENNY

How many drops of water can you fit on a penny? Explore surface tension of water when you try this fun penny lab with the kids.

EGG DROP PROJECT

Check out our mess-free version of a classic science experiment. This egg drop challenge is a great way to introduce kids to the scientific method as you test out ideas to protect your egg from cracking.

EGG IN A BOTTLE

This egg in a bottle project is a fun way to learn about how changes in air pressure can result in a fascinating and almost magical outcome. Watch a boiled get sucked into a bottle without even touching it!

Let the egg race experiments begin! Which egg will roll to the bottom of the ramp first? Help your kids make predictions as to what will happen with different size eggs and different angles of ramps.

Older kids may also find learning about Newton’s 3 Laws to be interesting, and explore how they can apply those ideas to their egg races.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

ELECTRIC CORNSTARCH

Can you make oobleck jump? Learn about static electricity with this fun cornstarch and oil experiment.

FLOATING ORANGE

Investigate whether an orange floats or sinks in water, and even add in the scientific method. Learn about buoyancy and density with a simple ingredient from the kitchen, an orange.

FLOATING PAPERCLIP EXPERIMENT

How do you make a paperclip float on water? This is an awesome   physics activity for young kids and older ones too! Learn about surface tension of water, with a few simple supplies.

FLOATING RICE

Can you lift a bottle of rice with a pencil? Explore the force of friction with this easy physics experiment.

GLOWING SPINACH

Transform ordinary spinach that you eat into a glowing green mixture under ultraviolet light! Learn about the pigments present in plants, particularly chlorophyll and how certain pigments can absorb light at one wavelength and emit light at another, resulting in the observed glow.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Learn about the gravity and the force that keeps us firmly planted on the ground with hands-on and engaging activities for kids. Check out these fun preschool gravity activities and gravity experiments for elementary and older .

HOMEMADE COMPASS

Learn about magnets and magnetic fields with this fun and easy DIY compass project. Build your own compass that will show you which way is north.

HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT

Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean and buoyancy with this simple physics activity.

Check out more awesome Shark Facts for Kids (Free Printable)

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOWS

Explore light and refraction when you make rainbows using a variety of simple supplies—awesome hands-on science for kids of all ages.

KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS

Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for simple physics.

KITE BUILDING

A good breeze and a few materials are all you need to tackle this Kite making physics project at home, with a group or in the classroom. Learn about forces needed to keep a kite up in the air, as you fly your own kite.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Explore physics with common items found around the house. A homemade lava lamp (or density experiment) is one of our favorite science experiments for kids.

LEGO PARACHUTE

If your mini-figure was about to go skydiving, would they have a LEGO® Parachute? And would their parachute actually work and carry them safely to the ground? Experiment with different materials to see what makes a good parachute.

LEGO ZIP LINE

Can you set up a LEGO zip line and see how well it holds up when in motion? This LEGO® building challenge is also a great way to introduce gravity, friction, slope, energy, and motion while getting creative with your LEGO® design. You could also add a pulley mechanism like we did here for this toy zip line .

LEMON BATTERY

What can you power with a lemon battery? Grab some lemons and a few other supplies, and find out how you can make lemons into lemon electricity!

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

MAGNETIC COMPASS

Use a magnet to make a compass , or combine the science of magnets with paint for a STEAM project!

MAGNIFYING GLASS

Here’s how you can make your own homemade magnifying glass from a plastic bottle and a drop of water. Find out how a magnifying glass works with some simple physics.

MARBLE RUN WALL

Pool noodles are amazing and cheap materials for so many STEM projects. I keep a bunch on hand all year-long to keep my kid busy. I bet you didn’t know how useful a pool noodle could be for physics projects. Learn about gravity, friction, energy and more with hands-on physics fun!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cardboard Tube Marble Run

MARBLE VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Grab some marbles and find out which one will fall to the bottom first with this easy viscosity experiment.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

PADDLE BOAT DIY

Learn about kinetic and potential energy with this simple paddle boat project.

PAPER HELICOPTER

Make a paper helicopter that actually flies! This is an awesome   physics challenge for young kids and older ones too. Learn about what helps helicopters rise into the air, with a few simple supplies.

PAPER ROCKET

Kids will love making this simple paper rocket using our free rocket template and a straw. Explore simple physics with gravity, propulsion, energy, and aerodynamics while having a blast!

Build a simple pipeline from cups and straws, and observe how water moves through it because of gravity.

DIY popsicle stick catapult Inexpensive STEM activity

POPSICLE STICK CATAPULT

Want to learn how to make a catapult with popsicle sticks? This  Popsicle stick catapult design is an easy physics experiment for kids of all ages! Everyone loves to launch stuff into the air.

We have also made a spoon catapult , LEGO catapult , pencil catapult , and a jumbo marshmallow catapult !

LEGO RUBBER BAND CAR

We made a simple LEGO rubber band car to go along with our favorite superhero book. Again these can be made as simple or as detailed as your kids would like to make them, and it’s all STEM!

PENNY SPINNER

Make these fun paper spinner toys out of simple household materials. Kids love things that spin and spinning tops are one of the earliest toys made in the US.

POM POM SHOOTER

Similar to our snowball launcher further on, but this physics activity uses a toilet paper tube and balloon to launch pom poms. How far can you fling them? See Newton’s Laws of Motion in action!

POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT

We tested a variety of fluids all with a unique viscosity for this fun pop rocks science experiment. Grab a few packs of pop rocks and don’t forget to taste them too!

RAINBOW IN A JAR

This water density experiment with sugar uses only a few kitchen ingredients but produces an amazing physics project for kids! Enjoy finding out about the basics of color mixing all the way up to the density of liquids.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

RISING WATER EXPERIMENT

Add a burning candle to a tray of water, cover it with a jar, and watch what happens!

ROLLING CAN

Another fun way to demonstrate static electricity. Check out this easy physics experiment with an aluminum can and a balloon.

ROLLING PUMPKINS

It doesn’t get much easier than pumpkin rolling on homemade ramps. And what makes it even better is that it’s also a great  simple physics experiment for kids. 

RUBBER BAND CAR

Kids love building things that move! Plus, it’s even more fun if you can make a car go without just pushing it or by adding an expensive motor. 

SALT WATER DENSITY EXPERIMENT

This easy to set up salt water density experiment is a cool variation of the classic sink or float experiment. What will happen to the egg in salt water? Will an egg float or sink in salty water? There are so many questions to ask and predictions to make with this easy physics experiment for kids.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

SCREAMING BALLOON EXPERIMENT

This screaming balloon experiment is an awesome   physics activity for kids of all ages! Explore centripetal force or how objects travel a circular path.

SHADOW PUPPETS

Kids love their shadows, love to chase shadows, and love to make shadows do silly things! There’s also some fun things to learn about shadows for physics. Make simple animal shadow puppets and learn about the science of shadows.

SIMPLE PULLEY EXPERIMENT

Kids love pulleys and our homemade pulley system is sure to be a permanent fixture in your backyard this season. Make a pulley simple machine, learn a little physics, and find new ways to play.

We also have this simple pulley system you can make with a paper cup and thread.

SINK OR FLOAT

Use items straight out of the kitchen for our sink or float experiment. Plus I am sure your child will be able to come with other fun things to test! This is a simple physics experiment and totally engaging for young kids.

SNOWBALL LAUNCHER

Explore Newton’s Laws of Motion with this easy-to-make indoor snowball launcher. All you need are a few simple supplies for hands-on fun!

SOUND EXPERIMENT

Kids love to make noises and sounds is all a part of the physical sciences. This homemade xylophone sound experiment is truly a simple physics experiment for kids. So easy to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and play!

SOAP POWERED BOAT EXPERIMENT

Explore surface tension as kids observe firsthand how soap influences the movement of a small boat on the water’s surface.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

SPECTROSCOPE

Create your own DIY spectroscope from a few simple supplies and make a rainbow from visible light for a fun physics project for kids.

STATIC ELECTRICITY

Balloons are a must for this one! These simple experiments explore the concept of static electricity in a hands-on way.

TOY CAR FRICTION EXPERIMENT

Kids love to send cars down ramps! The faster the better! But did you know that this favorite playtime activity is also an awesome science lesson for kids of all ages. Explore friction with just a few simple materials.

VISCOSITY EXPERIMENT

Test the viscosity or “thickness” of different household liquids with this easy physics experiment for kids.

WATER DISPLACEMENT

Learn about water displacement and what it measures with this simple physics experiment for kids.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

WATER REFRACTION

Why does the image appear reversed? Have fun with a hands-on demonstration of what happens when light bends! Plus, grab a free printable!

VALENTINE PHYSICS EXPERIMENTS

5 simple physics experiments with a Valentine’s Day theme, including a balloon rocket, static electricity, buoyancy, and more!

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

WIND POWERED CAR

Build a wind-powered car and explore how wind energy can be transformed into motion.

Add the Scientific Method to Any Physics Project

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Use the Scientific Method

Encourage your kids to make predictions, discuss observations, and re-test their ideas if they don’t get the desired results the first time. Science always includes an element of mystery that kids naturally love to figure out!

Grab a free printable and learn more about variables and using the scientific method with kids here .

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
  • All About Scientists
  • Free Science Worksheets
  • DIY Science Kits
  • Science Tools for Kids
  • Scientific Method for Kids
  • Citizen Science Guide
  • Join us in the Club

Printable Science Projects Pack

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

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Wow, I see so many ideas here I want to try? Gravity art, nuts and bolts sculptures…my daughter is going to love these!

Great list of activities! I know that even as an engineer, physics “sounds” hard. Anything we can do to get kids trying it, playing with it and learning it helps remove that stigma. Thanks for including our slime, too 🙂

Your welcome! Yes Physics does sound intimidating but it doesn’t have to be.

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Fun with Science: 27 Sensory Science Experiments for Kids

27 Science Experiments for Kids | Whether you’re looking for sensory science experiments for kids to do at home, or science project ideas for kids in elementary school to teach kids about the scientific method and chemical reactions, this collection of simple, easy, and fun STEM activities and ideas will inspire you! #sensoryscience #scienceexperimentskids #scienceexperimentsforkids #stemactivities

If you told my 15-year-old self I would one day be sitting at this desk writing a post about sensory science experiments for kids, I wouldn’t have believed you.

And yet, here we are, LOL.

While I did the mandatory biology, chemistry, and geology courses in middle and high school, I found each subject tedious, boring, and difficult, and figured I just wasn’t smart enough to be a scientist.

I avoided anything to do with science from grade 10 onwards, and it wasn’t until my daughter started telling me about all of the amazing science experiments she did in preschool and kindergarten that I started poking around on Pinterest for science experiments for kids we could do together at home, and I was pleasantly surprised with all of the fun ideas I found.

As it turns out, science can actually be fun!

RELATED:  100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work

And with a huge shift towards STEM learning , finding ways to get kids interested in science is becoming more important than ever. Whether you’re looking for sensory science experiments for kids in preschool and kindergarten, or amazing science experiments for kids in elementary school and beyond, we’ve got 27 super cool ideas below!

What is Science?

Simply put, science refers to the act of studying the world around us.

There are all different types of science – biology, chemistry, physics, botany, paleontology, geology, astronomy, etc. – and scientists study these through observation, hypotheses, prediction, and experimentation.

Why Is It Important to Do Science Experiments with Kids?

With more classrooms focusing on STEM education – a multifaceted approach to learning that combines science, technology, engineering, and math to develop a child’s problem solving and critical thinking skills while also encouraging creativity, communication, and teamwork – finding ways to foster a love for science is becoming more important than ever. Engaging children in science experiments at home and in the classroom:

  • Encourages higher level thinking
  • Teaches children not to accept the status quo and make their own predictions
  • Fosters an interest and excitement for research
  • Provides opportunities for failure in a safe environment
  • Encourages innovative and creative thinking
  • Teaches children how to work collaboratively

Unfortunately, kids are often taught that science is boring and difficult, and if parents and teachers don’t intervene, these negative thoughts can persist through high school and beyond, making children less interested in and willing to participate in STEM-based subjects. This can have a huge impact on their academic growth and development, not to mention their career paths.

How to Get Kids Excited About Science

Start young. It’s never too early to get kids excited about science and other important areas of education, and the internet is filled with all kinds of amazing science experiments for kids of all ages. Sensory science experiments tend to work best with younger kids as they are more hands on, and we’ve rounded up some fabulous ideas below to inspire you!

Make it hands on. Instead of getting kids to MEMORIZE scientific facts and equations, get them involved! Not only will this make your lesson plans more engaging and fun, but it will also help your students retain more information.

Appeal to your child’s interests. If you’re finding it difficult to foster a love for science in your child, find ways to apply it to the things he or she loves. Think outside the box and use props, materials, and/or toys that appeal to your child’s interests to capture his or her attention and make learning fun instead of tedious.

Get online. There’s no question that our children love spending time watching TV and on their iPad, so use this to your advantage! Find science-themed TV shows and search YouTube for inspirational videos and tutorials your child might find interesting.

Be a good role model. Instead of telling your child how much you hated science when you were in school (ahem…), model everyday inquisitive behavior to foster a love for learning in your child. You will be amazed at what this simple change in mindset can do!

Make it fun!  From sensory science experiments for preschoolers, to amazing science experiments for kids in elementary school, there are SO MANY WAYS you can make science fun for kids. We’re rounded up 27 ideas for kids aged 3 to 13 below to help get you started!

14 Sensory Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Fizzing Colors Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment | Happy Hooligans Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime | Left Brain Craft Brain Instant Hot Ice with Baking Soda and Vinegar | Frugal Fun with Boys and Girls Fizzy Cloud Dough Experiment | Powerful Mothering Floating M M&M Candy Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands Underwater Magic Sand | Teaching Mama Turn Milk Into Plastic! | How Wee Learn What Dissolves in Water Experiment | Hands On As We Grow Rainbow Soap Foam | The Chaos and the Clutter Melting Snowman Baking Soda Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment | The STEM Laboratory Dancing Oobleck | Housing a Forest Elephant Toothpaste | Preschool Powol Packets Erupting Apple Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands

13 Amazing Science Experiments for Kids in Elementary School

Salt Volcano Liquid Density Science Experiment | What Do We Do All Day? Static Electricity Butterfly Experiment | I Heart Crafty Things Magic Milk Science Experiment | Natural Beach Living How Clouds Make Rain | Mrs. Jones’ Creative Station How to Make a Lava Lamp | 123 Homeschool 4 Me Glowing Tornado in a Jar | Growing a Jeweled Rose Fireworks in a Jar | I Can Teach My Child Crystal Growing Experiment | Creekside Learning The Science of Sound Waves | Edventures with Kids Invisible Ink Science Experiment | Homeschool-101 Snow Volcanoes | Growing a Jeweled Rose Frozen Bubbles Science Experiment for Kids | Growing a Jeweled Rose Homemade Butter Science Experiment | 123 Homeschool for Me

I hope this collection of tips to get kids excited about science, as well as the sensory science experiments for younger kids and the awesome science experiments for older kids we’ve included inspires you in your quest to raise inquisitive learners!

‘We should not teach children the sciences but give them a taste for them.’ -Jean Jacques Rosseau

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If you enjoyed this collection of sensory science experiments for younger kids and awesome science fair projects for older kids, please share this post on Pinterest!

27 Science Experiments for Kids | Whether you’re looking for sensory science experiments for kids to do at home, or science project ideas for kids in elementary school to teach kids about the scientific method and chemical reactions, this collection of simple, easy, and fun STEM activities and ideas will inspire you! #sensoryscience #scienceexperimentskids #scienceexperimentsforkids #stemactivities

And if you’re looking for more ways to have fun with your students and/or children, please follow our Kids board where we share all kinds of fun ideas we find each day!

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7 Beautiful Spring Wedding Ideas to Inspire You

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Left Brain Craft Brain

25+ Easy and Awesome Science Projects for Kids

You can search the internet for some of the best science projects for kids , but we have done the hard work for you! This list is sure to get those creative juices flowing! Use this set of  28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids posts to excite the kids all year long. Learn using STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) concepts while you explore forces of motion, chemistry, sound, and so much more!

You'll find the coolest science projects for kids right here! 25+ easy and awesome projects perfect for home or school. Plus they're made even better with integrated STEM and STEAM.

This post contains affiliate links.

Experimentation is one of the foundations of STEM. Check out these amazing and easy science projects for kids!

Chemistry Science Experiments

Chemistry is the study of matter and its properties and how substances interact. It makes for interesting and exciting activities for kids because they are naturally curious explorers.

  • Color Changing Slime || Left Brain Craft Brain – This slime will blow your kid’s mind with science!
  • Inflate a Balloon || Science Kiddo – Who says you need to blow up a balloon with your lungs?
  • Paint Solubility Art Project for Kids || Left Brain Craft Brain – Solubility science makes art more interesting in this project.
  • Creating the Olympic Flame in a Bottle || JDaniel4’s Mom – Explore properties of materials with this Olympic-inspired activity.

chemistry experiments for kids

  • Oobleck Dough || Left Brain Craft Brain   – Oobleck is a must have on any kids science list.
  • Color Changing Chemistry Clock || Left Brain Craft Brain – This activity is a fun science magic trick.
  • Surprise Eggs Baking Soda Science || Left Brain Craft Brain – Baking soda is a kid-friendly way to introduce chemical reactions.

chemistry experiments for kids

Physics Science Experiments

  • Wood Bending Bracelet Craft – Magic or Science? || Figment Creative Labs – These bracelets use science to make wood bend.
  • Magnet Painting || Left Brain Craft Brain – Add the science of magnets to your art to make it more fun.
  • Homemade Pan Flutes for Kids || Buggy and Buddy – These DIY flutes help kids explore the science of sound.
  • Explore Force & Motion with STEAM Activities for Kids || Kids STEAM Lab – More STEAM fun, this time with physics!

physics experiments for kids

  • Peeps Playdough and Heart Engineering Challenge || The Preschool Toolbox – Use the laws of physics to help you build!
  • Mess-Free Magnetic Learning Center for Preschoolers || Left Brain Craft Brain – Magnets are amazing learning tools for preschoolers.
  • Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle || Left Brain Craft Brain – Explore the magic of magnetic fields.

physics projects for kids

Check out the Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle in action! You’ll want one of these mesmerizing bottles too :)

Nature Science Experiments

Nature is a glorious thing and there’s a lot of incredible science to learn from it. Check out these engaging nature-based kids science projects!

  • Weather in a Jar || Left Brain Craft Brain – Mimic the weather around us with quick and easy science fun.

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  • Easy Anemometer Kids Can Make || Capri + 3 – Explore wind speed with this DIY anemometer.
  • 7 Beach Science Activities || Left Brain Craft Brain – Take learning to beach with these fun experiments!
  • Animal Tracks Measuring Activity || Line Upon Line Learning – Learn about animals with this fun animal tracks project.
  • Indoor Soil Science and Engineering Challenge || One Time Through – Make mud pies educational with this fun soil experiment!

nature science for kids

  • Simple Soil Science || Left Brain Craft Brain – More soil science the kids will love.
  • Fun with Fungus || Left Brain Craft Brain – You’ll want to grow mold with this fun science.

nature science for kids

Quick Print Science Fun

Want to add some science but just have a few minutes? Try this fun Science Scavenger Hunt !

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

FREE AT-HOME SCIENCE SCAVENGER HUNT

Kitchen Science Activities

There’s some amazing science that happens in the kitchen. We love playing and learning in the kitchen that’s why our new book launching soon is STEAM Kids in the Kitchen !

  • Polymer Science: Homemade Fruit Gummies || Left Brain Craft Brain – Polymers can be really delicious!
  • Egg Painting with Vinegar || iGame Mom – Up your egg decorating game with a little bit of science!
  • Biology of Yogurt || Left Brain Craft Brain – It’s science that makes yogurt so good for you!
  • Biology of Bread  ||   Left Brain Craft Brain –  The magic of yeast is what makes bread rise. Learn more from baking a loaf.
  • Color Changing Lemonade || Left Brain Craft Brain  – This lemonade changes color with the all natural science of a special ingredient.

Kitchen science experiments for kids

Even More! Fun Science Projects for Kids

We love that spring is elementary school science fairs season!! Check out this list of The Coolest Science Fair Projects for Kids . There’s even a free printable Science Fair Workbook and guide to the Scientific Method.

The coolest science fair projects for kids.

We believe that every day should be Earth Day, but in case you’re looking for something for April 21st, here’s an amazing list of Earth Day Science Activities for Kids .

Earth Day science activities for kids

Looking for some more STEAM inspiration that you can use right now? Instant gratification style? Check out STEAM Explorers!! The coolest creative experience for kids is here! It's a digital book of the month club filled with tons of fun stuff for the kids to do and learn. All engineer, teacher, and mom-approved. And most definitely KID APPROVED!⁣

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

What’s included?⁣

  • A monthly digital magazine with cool themes that are fun to read
  • Hands-on, exciting projects the kids will love.⁣
  • Science, tech, engineering, art, and math learning YOU’LL love.⁣
  • Delicious recipes the kids can make.⁣
  • Fun printables and games⁣

Join us as we explore the GARDEN in June with STEAM Explorers!!  Kids will love creating art for the garden, exploring the magic of vegetables (really!), and capturing critters in their garden journal!  You'll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!

We’ve split the STEAM Explorers Garden issue into four weekly themes:

  • This issue has four weekly themes to inspire your kiddos:
  • WEEK 1: FANTASTIC FLOWERS
  • WEEK 2: GARDEN CRITTERS
  • WEEK 3: GROWING FOOD
  • WEEK 4: GARDEN MAGIC

fun science experiments for a 5 year old

28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids

Many of these projects are part of an amazing, month-long series of hands on STEM and STEAM projects for kids. Click on over to 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids  for 60+ FREE science, tech, engineering, art, and math projects from 30+ education writers. All ready to get your kids excited to learn.

28 Days of STEM and STEAM Activities for Kids

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

Are you looking for fun and creative science ideas to do with the kids? Well, yay! Because that’s what this blog is all about …

Have a browse through our most recent posts below.

Adding pineapple to jelly experiment

  • Next Page »

:)

Join us, as we attempt, experiment and stumble our way through fun science at home.

  Thanks for stopping by. We love having you here. Go science kids!

10 Comments

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Saved as a favorite, I really like your website!

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Thanks Flora!

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Keep this going please, great job!

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Yeah,I would say the same. Great job!

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My name is Erin Marie. I am a fellow blogger. I LOOOOVE your website and use it all of the time with my daughter. So, I nominated you for the Liebster Award.

You can view the nomination post here: https://luckyinluv.com/liebster-award

Thank You! Erin Marie

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Thank you for your exciting, educational and easy-to-follow experiments and activities. I help run a boys’ club (ages 7 to 11) and we are always looking for activities which will make their brains work harder while their hands have a bit of fun! I am looking forward to receiving your emails with more of these science activities.

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You take experiments from Home Lab App in Google play

I haven’t heard of that app, so no, I haven’t taken any of their experiments. Although, many of them are ‘common’ science experiments that are available in many science textbooks and the like, so there’s likely to be unintentional double up.

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is there a way to print the snowflake activity directions without having to print 20 pages? Thanks!

Ah, yes, I’m working on adding an easy ‘print instructions’ feature. sorry it’s not up and running yet, but watch this space!

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MEL Science - Fun science experiments for kids

The Best Science Kits for 5 Year Olds - Fun Experiments and Learning for Kids

Explore the best science kits for 5 year olds!

MEL Science

MEL Science

Every parent knows the joy of watching their child’s eyes light up as they discover the world around them. With the right tools, you can help your 5-year-old not only have fun, but learn valuable lessons as well. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best science kits for 5-year-olds, which combine fun experiments with learning opportunities, and how these kits can help develop scientific skills, foster curiosity and imagination, and promote STEM learning. Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery with your little one!

Key Takeaways

  • Engage your 5-year-old in the wonders of science with educational kits!
  • Develop STEM skills and fine motor abilities through playtime experiments.
  • Provide a safe learning experience by supervising, customizing kits to interests, and expanding on kit activities.

Top Science Kits for 5-Year-Olds: Engaging and Educational

A science kit with test tubes and other supplies for kids ages 5 and up

Science kits offer a fantastic way to engage young minds while providing valuable learning experiences. With options like MEL Science children can perform science-based magic tricks, discover mechanics and engineering, and even enjoy a fun quiz. The best part? These kits come with all the materials needed for cool experiments and easy-to-follow instructions, so you don’t have to worry about collecting extra household items like test tubes.

These kits offer a wide range of experiments for kids ages 5 and up, catering to different interests and curiosity levels. From the fascinating world of chemistry to the wonders of astronomy, here are some of the best science kits available for your budding scientist.

Chemistry Fun for Little Scientists

Chemistry can be a magical experience for young learners, and the right science kit can help bring this magic to life. Here are some options that can spark curiosity and offer hours of hands-on learning.

  • Magic tricks
  • Lab and experiment kits
  • MEL Science kits
  • Crystal growing kits

These kits enable your child to explore.

  • Color-changing reactions
  • Fizzy foams
  • Glow-in-the-dark liquids
  • Rocket launching

The MEL Science Stunning Science Chemistry. Set, for instance, offers detailed, illustrated instructions that make it easy for children to dive into the world of chemical reactions.

Meanwhile, the crystal growing kit allows kids to create their own stunning crystals, with results visible in just five hours after setup, and reaching their full size in just 7-10 days - a perfect science kit for young kids.

Astronomy Adventures

Astronomy-focused science kits are an excellent way to ignite your child’s interest in the cosmos. From solar system models and telescopes to star maps, these kits provide a wealth of learning opportunities for younger kids ages 5 and up.

Exciting astronomy kits for 5-year-olds include:

  • Stargazing Journal for Kids: Night Sky Observation Notebook
  • 3-D Solar System Glow In the Dark Model
  • Planetarium Projector
  • Qurious Space STEM Flash Card Game
  • Talking Astronomy Solar System Mat

These kits come with all the materials needed for a great learning experience, helping your child explore the night sky, learn about planets, and discover the wonders of the universe.

Developing Scientific Skills Through Play

A child conducting experiments with a science kit

Play is an essential element of learning and development for young children. By incorporating science kits into playtime, you can help your child develop important scientific skills like:

  • Fine motor skills
  • Imagination
  • STEM learning

Science kits, including science experiment kit options, offer hands-on experiments and activities, allowing kids to safely conduct experiments while growing their knowledge of science. Science kits for kids, with straightforward instructions and minimal parental guidance needed, are perfect for young kids who are eager to explore on their own.

Early exposure to science and STEM-based education is invaluable for developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and twenty-first-century competencies. For example, a microscope kit can be a fantastic way to introduce young children to the world of biology. With the right science kit, your 5-year-old can begin to develop a passion for scientific exploration and discovery.

Building Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are essential for everyday tasks such as writing, drawing, and manipulating small objects. Science kits provide hands-on activities and experiments that help children use their hands and fingers to manipulate objects, thereby building fine motor skills. Activities such as building structures with blocks, using tweezers to pick up small objects, and assembling objects with tools can all help strengthen these skills.

For a safe and enjoyable experience, parents should be present when children are using science kits to ensure they handle the tools and materials safely. By providing guidance and supervision, you can foster your child’s development while they explore the world of science through play.

Fostering Curiosity and Imagination

Science kits can play a significant role in fostering curiosity and imagination in children. Engaging hands-on experiments and activities ignite curiosity by giving children the opportunity to discover and experiment with different materials and concepts, prompting them to ask questions and think deeply about the results of their experiments.

Encouraging open-ended questions and independent exploration can further boost curiosity and imagination. Some ways to create a rich learning environment for children include:

  • Providing stimulating materials for them to explore
  • Accepting their questions without judgment
  • Motivating them to think deeply about the outcomes of their experiments

By implementing these strategies, you can help foster curiosity and imagination in children.

As such, science kits serve as an enjoyable and engaging platform for fostering your child’s curiosity and imagination.

Promoting STEM Learning

A group of happy children playing and learning with science kits for 5 year olds in a classroom setting.

STEM learning, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is an exciting approach to education that focuses on teaching these four disciplines in an integrated way. Science kits offer a thrilling and interactive way for kids to explore the fascinating scientific concepts and principles that are part of STEM learning, while also helping to ignite curiosity and creativity and hone fine motor skills.

Parents play a significant role in nurturing STEM learning. Providing supervision and assistance while kids experiment with science kits ensures their safety while they gain valuable knowledge. Additionally, science kits can be tailored to a child’s interests for a unique and exciting experience by combining kits for a multi-subject exploration, incorporating everyday items, and expanding on kit experiments.

Safety Tips and Parental Involvement

A parent helping a child with a science kit

Safety is a top priority when it comes to using science kits with young children. Age-appropriate science kits ensure that the experiments are engaging and safe for your child. Parental supervision and assistance are essential to guarantee that the experiments are conducted safely and that the child grasps the instructions, providing a great learning opportunity.

Guaranteeing safe experimentation is equally important. By choosing age-appropriate science kits and following instructions, parents can help guarantee that the experiments are conducted with caution, and the child is not exposed to any potential risks. Here are some tips for supervision, assistance, and promoting safe experimentation.

Supervision and Assistance

Adult supervision is vital when using science kits for young children to guarantee their safety. Even when giving a child a science kit meant for older kids, adult supervision can ensure a great learning opportunity.

When it comes to crystal growing experiments, adult supervision is also necessary as it requires boiling water. By being present and guiding your child through the experiments, you can ensure their safety while having a fun and educational experience together.

Safe Experimentation

Promoting safe experimentation involves considering factors such as age-appropriateness, safety, and the experiment’s complexity when choosing a science kit for a 5-year-old. These kits are designed for kids ages 5 and up, offering a great opportunity to discover the wonders of science while ensuring safety.

For successful and safe experimentation, it’s vital to carefully read, fully understand, and meticulously follow the instructions. Additionally, make sure to:

  • Clean up any mess
  • Store materials safely for future use after the experiment
  • Encourage your child to wear safety gear such as goggles, gloves, and a lab coat to help protect them while they explore.

Customizing Science Kits for Your Child's Interests

A child exploring the solar system with a science kit

When selecting a science kit, considering your child’s interests is key to providing an engaging and beneficial experience. This can involve looking for science kits that correspond to their particular interests, such as chemistry, biology, or physics, and picking kits with experiments or activities related to their favorite topics, such as space, animals, or plants.

There are several ways to customize science kits to match your child’s interests. Combining kits for a multi-subject exploration, incorporating everyday items, and expanding on kit experiments can all contribute to a unique and exciting learning experience.

Here is a more in-depth look at these customization techniques.

Combining Kits for a Multi-Subject Experience

Choosing kits that delve into various subjects like:

  • engineering

Can create a riveting multi-subject experience for your child. By integrating the experiments and activities from each kit into a cohesive lesson plan that incorporates multiple subjects, you can challenge and motivate your child.

Uncovering common themes or concepts across the kits and crafting cross-disciplinary projects that investigate those themes can also be a thrilling experience. Motivating your child to make connections between the different subjects and apply their knowledge in a holistic way can help them develop a deeper understanding of the material.

Incorporating Everyday Items

Adding everyday items to science kits allows for a more personalized and stimulating experience tailored to your child’s interests. It also allows for more creative exploration and encourages children to think creatively. Some examples of everyday items that can be utilized in science experiments include:

  • Kitchen utensils
  • Plastic bottles
  • Rubber bands
  • Baking soda

By incorporating these items into your science kits, you can create exciting experiments or enhance existing ones, making the learning experience even more engaging and fun for your child.

Using everyday items can also help children develop problem-solving skills, as they have to come up with inventive ways to use the items. It inspires them to be more imaginative and explore different possibilities. By finding innovative ways to incorporate everyday items into science kits, you can enhance your child’s learning experience.

Expanding on Kit Experiments

Enhancing kit experiments involves using the provided experiments in a science kit and adding extra materials, tools, or steps for greater complexity and engagement. Adding additional materials like food coloring or glitter, or adding extra steps like measuring the temperature or recording the results, can make kit experiments more fun and engaging.

Expanding on kit experiments offers thrilling opportunities to increase the complexity of the experiment, unlock creative exploration, and gain a deeper understanding of the scientific concepts being explored. Researching additional materials or steps that can be added to fun experiments, inquiring about the experiment, and documenting the results can all inspire your child to dig deeper and learn more.

In conclusion, the best science kits for 5-year-olds offer engaging and educational experiences that help develop scientific skills, foster curiosity and imagination, and promote STEM learning. By customizing science kits to match your child’s interests and ensuring their safety through adult supervision and assistance, you can create an unforgettable learning experience for your little one. So let their curiosity soar and embark on a journey of discovery and learning together!

Frequently Asked Questions

Gifts for kids who love science.

Introduce your child to the world of science with exciting gifts like Snap Circuits, Microscopes and Slides, Building Sets, Bug Kits, Science Shows, Books and much more!

With so many options available, your kid will have an unforgettable experience exploring the scientific world.

What is science kit?

Science experiment kits provide an innovative way to blend education and fun, arming kids with detailed facts about physical and life sciences.

These kits are designed to engage children in the scientific process, helping them develop critical thinking skills and a better understanding of the world around them.

By providing hands-on activities, kids can explore the world.

What are some examples of the best science kits for 5-year-olds?

Kango Kids, Smithsonian Mega Science Lab, and Einstein Box are some of the best science kits for 5-year-olds to explore and learn from.

How can science kits help develop fine motor skills?

Science kits are an engaging way to help kids develop fine motor skills, as they provide hands-on activities and experiments that strengthen small muscle movements.

Why is adult supervision important when using science kits for young children?

Adult supervision is essential when using science kits for young children to protect them and ensure they understand the instructions properly.

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

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100 Last-Day-of-School Activities Your Students Will Love!

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50 Exciting 2nd Grade Science Projects for the Classroom and Beyond

These simple ideas will help kids fall in love with science.

Collage of 2nd grade science projects, including tie-dye slime and insect pollination model

Kids love science, especially when it involves hands-on experiments. These 2nd grade science projects, experiments, and activities are guaranteed to bring excitement and enthusiastic vibes into your classroom. Your students will learn basic concepts about physics, chemistry, biology, and more while having a blast!

To make it even easier to find the best 2nd grade science projects, we’ve given each a rating based on difficulty and the materials you’ll need.

Difficulty:

  • Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
  • Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
  • Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time and/or effort
  • Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
  • Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
  • Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Nature and Earth Science 2nd Grade Science Projects

Food science activities and projects for 2nd graders, more 2nd grade science experiments and activities.

Explore animals, ecosystems, geology, plate tectonics, and more with these interesting and interactive 2nd grade science activities.

Pollinate like a bee

Pipe cleaner twisted into bee shape on a child's finger, sitting on a paper flower

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

Use pipe cleaner bees to discover how these pollinators pick up and move cheese powder “pollen” from one juice box flower to the next. Simple, fun, and adorable!

Learn more: Cheese Powder Pollination Activity at Around the Kampfire

Simulate a landslide

This NASA video shows you how to create an indoor landslide in a milk carton, showing students the power of weather, erosion, and nature in action.

Grow a sprout house

Model house made of colorful sponges with bean sprouts growing from it

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

This two-part science project first challenges kids to use their engineering skills to construct a miniature house made of sponges . Then, they plant chia, alfalfa, or other quick-sprouting seeds and keep the sponges moist until they start to grow.

Learn more: Sponge Garden at The STEM Laboratory

Re-create the water cycle in a bag

Plastic bag with clouds and sun drawn on it, with a small amount of blue liquid at the bottom

This simple but effective experiment explores the water cycle. Fill a plastic bag partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle Bags at Grade School Giggles

Create an earth model from play dough

Layered model of the Earth built from playdough

Play-Doh has so many uses in the classroom! Use it to teach 2nd grade science students about the layers of the earth by building a fun and colorful model.

Learn more: Layers of the Earth at The Crafty Classroom

Explore erosion with sugar cubes

Plastic cup holding sugar cubes and smaller candies

Simulate the effects of erosion by shaking sugar cubes in a cup with some pebbles to see what happens. Get more ideas for 2nd grade science activities about erosion and weathering at the link.

Learn more: Weathering and Erosion at The First Grade Roundup

Find out which liquid is best for growing seeds

Four cups of soil, each labeled with a different type of liquid including tap water, bottled water, and soda

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

As you learn about the life cycle of plants , explore how water supports their growth. Plant seeds and water them with a variety of liquids to see which sprout first and grow best.

Learn more: Watering Experiment at Lessons for Little Ones

Build a folded mountain

Pile of different colored towels pushed together to create folds like mountains

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some types of mountains are formed. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountain at The Chaos and the Clutter

Explode a balloon seed pod

Children exploding a balloon with seeds flying out

After you learn about pollination, take the next step and explore how plants disperse their seeds far and wide. One way is with exploding seed pods. Use a balloon to see how it works.

Learn more: Seed Dispersal Activity at Around the Kampfire

Watch a leaf “breathe”

Leaf submerged in water with air bubbles

Plants “breathe” through transpiration, and you can see the process in action simply by submerging a leaf in water.

Learn more: Leaf Transpiration at KC Edventures With Kids

Grow a self-sustaining ecosystem

Small plants growing inside a plastic bottle filled with soil

Plant seeds inside a sealed plastic bottle and observe both the water cycle and the plant life cycle in one simple 2nd grade science experiment.

Learn more: Plastic Bottle Planter at Carly and Adam

Compare and contrast animal habitats

Pine branches and woodland animal figurines on a tray labeled woodland

Build a variety of habitats (woodland, arctic, savanna, etc.). Then have kids compare to see how they are similar (all have water) and how they are different (trees, temperatures, etc.).

Learn more: Animal Habitats at KC Edventures With Kids

Discover plate tectonics with graham crackers

Two graham crackers overlapping on a bed of whipped cream

Use graham crackers as the Earth’s crust floating on a bed of whipped topping “mantle” to learn about how tectonic plates interact.

Learn more: Graham Cracker Plate Tectonics at Playdough to Plato

Collect and classify rocks

Child peering at a pile of rocks through a magnifying glass

Take a nature walk to pick up rocks of all kinds. Bring them back and have kids examine them closely and sort them into groups by properties (color, size, shape, texture, and so on). This is a fantastic lead-in to learning about the types of rocks.

Learn more: Classifying Rocks at Rhythms of Play

Make edible dirt cups

Second grade science experiments can demonstrate layers of soil, as seen in this picture of a cup layered with chocolate pudding, Oreo cookie crumbs, and graham crackers.

Help your students remember the four types of soil with this tasty 2nd grade science experiment. Layer pudding, graham crackers, and Oreos for a mouthwatering, memorable lesson.

Learn more: Edible Soil Cups at The Kitchen Is My Playground

Raid the pantry and try these kitchen science experiments with your second graders! They all use common food items to explore all sorts of fascinating science concepts.

Power up a lemon battery

Lemon with a nail and a coil of wire stuck into it

Here’s another classic science experiment every kid should try. They’ll be amazed to learn a citrus fruit can generate an electric current!

Learn more: Lemon Battery at Education.com

Conduct a cookie dunk experiment

The Great Cookie Dunk printable worksheet with a blue pen

Introduce or review the scientific method with a fun and easy experiment to determine which cookies float or sink when dunked in milk. Then you can eat the results! ( Find more great edible science experiments here. )

Learn more: Milk and Cookies Scientific Method Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Use bread to learn about handwashing

Slices of bread in plastic bags showing various amounts of mold

There’s never been a better time for an experiment involving the importance of washing your hands! All you need for this one is bread, plastic bags, and some dirty hands.

Learn more: Moldy Bread Experiment at Parenting Isn’t Easy

Drink root beer floats to learn about states of matter

A root beer float in a clear plastic cup

What’s easy to make, delicious to eat, and demonstrates all three states of matter at once? Root beer floats! This will easily be your students’ favorite science lesson of the year.

Learn more: Root Beer Float Science at Learning Lab Resources

Mix flavors in a lollipop lab

Plastic cups filled with water and different flavors of DumDum lollipops

Candy science experiments are always a hit with kids! In this one, they’ll dissolve sugary lollipops in water, then mix flavors to make something new.

Learn more: Lollipop Lab at Fantastic Fun and Learning

Learn about osmosis with gummy bears

Two regular-sized gummy bears next to two large bears that have been soaked in water (2nd Grade Science)

This is one of those classic experiments your 2nd grade science students will love to see in action. Soak the gummies in water to watch them grow through the power of osmosis.

Learn more: Osmosis Gummy Bears at Nurture Store UK

Freeze and observe liquid expansion

Clear bottles on a freezer shelf labeled milk, juice, salt water, water, and sugar water

As you explore the states of matter, experiment to see if some types of liquid expand more than others when frozen.

Learn more: Freezing Liquids Experiment at Education.com

Use crackers to learn about properties of matter

Child's hand holding magnifying glass over a cracker, with worksheet labeled Cracker Lab in the background

Practice sorting, comparing, and classifying using properties of matter in this tasty experiment. All you need is a variety of snack crackers and inquiring minds! (These magnifying glasses would be fun too.)

Learn more: Properties of Matter Cracker Lab at Around the Kampfire

Demonstrate heat energy with chocolate kisses

Picture of a child holding a Hershey kiss candy in the palm of her hand, as an example of second grade science experiments.

Give each student two chocolate kiss candies to hold onto for five minutes. Students should keep one palm open, while closing their other around the kiss. See what happens simply from our body heat.

Learn more: Chocolate Kiss Experiment at Sandy Fiorini/TPT

Explode a watermelon

Watermelon with 50 rubber bands wrapped around it to demonstrate second grade science experiments for the classroom.

How many rubber bands does it take to make a watermelon explode? Find out while observing the concepts of potential and kinetic energy with your students.

Learn more: Exploding Watermelon Science at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn an egg into a bouncy ball

Photo of a child's hand shown above an egg that has been through a chemical change and is now rubberized and can bounce on top of a dish without breaking.

Simply soak an egg in vinegar for 48 hours for this amazing chemical reaction. This is guaranteed to blow your students’ minds!

Learn more: Bouncy Egg Experiment at Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Build a solar oven to make s’mores

Solar ovens made out of pizza boxes and foil with smores inside are showing a second grade science experiment relating to solar energy.

Observe the power of solar energy while baking a delicious, gooey dessert in the process. Yum!

Learn more: Solar Oven Project at Desert Chica

Conduct an egg drop

Picture of an egg placed in a contraption constructed of straws to protect it in an egg drop experiment.

In this STEM project, your students will create a protective egg holder from simple materials. They will love seeing if their contraption keeps their egg in one piece during the competition.

Learn more: Egg Drop at Buggy and Buddy

Drop a Mento in soda and watch it erupt

Here is another 2nd grade science experiment that will make your students explode with excitement. Drop a Mento candy in different types of soda, and see which one causes the tallest geyser.

Build marshmallow-and-pretzel structures

Photo of a second grade science STEM project of structures built by combining marshmallows and pretzels.

Get creative while practicing engineering skills by building structures with marshmallows and pretzels. Sweeten the deal by eating them afterwards!

Learn more: Pretzel Marshmallow STEM Challenge at The STEM Laboratory

Kids will love these 2nd grade science ideas, from making their own slime to projecting stars on their ceiling, and everything in between!

Brew up tie-dye slime

Student playing with neon colored slime

Slime is more than just an ever-popular toy. It’s also got a lot of great science behind it. Mix up some eye-popping tie-dye slime and take the opportunity to learn about polymers and non-Newtonian fluids.

Learn more: Tie-Dye Slime at I Heart Arts and Crafts

Dissect a seed

Child dissecting a large seed, with parts like plant embryo, seed coat, and leaf labaled

Soak a large seed (beans are ideal) in water, then carefully take it apart to see what’s inside. Draw a diagram to label parts like the seed coat and plant embryo.

Learn more: Seed Dissection at The Applicious Teacher

Use cereal to learn about states of matter

ATOMS Matter worksheet with cereal arranged to represent atoms in solids, liquids, and gases

Learn how atom arrangements affect the states of matter with this easy 2nd grade science activity that doubles as a snack!

Learn more: Cereal States of Matter at The First Grade Roundup

Make a bouquet of chromatography flowers

Colorful tissue paper flowers with pipe cleaner stems

Use chromatography to split secondary paint colors into their original hues. The results are both pretty and fascinating!

Learn more: Chromatography Flowers at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Concoct a foaming rainbow

Small paper cups filled with colorful foam with a box of baking soda

Every kid loves the classic baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction experiment. This version makes a foamy rainbow, thanks to some added food coloring.

Learn more: Foamy Rainbow at Messy Little Monster

Sculpt pipe cleaner constellations

Pipe cleaners and beads bent to form constellations

Help kids find the constellations in the night sky by making these models from pipe cleaners . The little star beads are such a clever touch!

Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Constellations at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Tell time with a sundial

DIY sundial made from a paper plate and a pencil

How did people tell time before clocks and watches? Help 2nd grade science students find out by making their own sundials from paper plates.

Learn more: DIY Sundial at Paging Supermom

Race clothespin cars

Simple cars made from clothespins and drinking straws

Explore simple machines by building race cars from basic supplies like clothespins and drinking straws . It’s a really fun way to learn about wheels and axles.

Learn more: Clothespin Cars at The Primary Brain

Build a body from play dough

Bones made out of playdough sitting on a mat showing the human body

Play-Doh activities are always fun to do! Visit the link below for free printable mats to use as you have your 2nd grade science students sculpt the bones, organs, and muscles of the body.

Learn more: Play-Doh Body at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Turn pom-poms into crystal balls

Child's hand holding crystal-covered pom pom balls (2nd Grade Science)

Every kid loves making crystals! They’ll learn about supersaturated solutions as they make these cute little crystal pom-pom balls.

Learn more: Crystal Pom-Poms at A Dab of Glue Will Do

Test sunscreen for effectiveness

Black construction paper with gingerbread man outlines covered in sunscreen, showing paper has faded except where protected by sunscreen

Kids might wonder why they need to wear sunscreen when they’re at the park or playing soccer. This experiment shows them the power of the sun’s rays and the protection sunscreen provides.

Learn more: Sunscreen Experiment at JDaniel4’s Mom

Design and build an index card tower

Tower built from index cards in stacks and columns

Challenge your 2nd grade science students to a little early engineering. Given only index cards , how tall and/or strong of a structure can they build?

Learn more: Index Card STEM Challenge at Education to the Core

Repel glitter with dish soap

Every teacher knows that glitter is just like germs … it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage, and show students how soap fights glitter and germs.

Bend objects to test flexibility

Child's hands bending a blue plastic ruler

Explore one of the properties of matter with this easy experiment. Kids plan how to test flexibility, then try it out with a variety of basic objects.

Learn more: Flexibility Experiment at Around the Kampfire

Discover density with saltwater solutions

Glasses of liquid labeled baking soda water, sugar water, control plain water, and salt water

This simple experiment covers a lot of 2nd grade science concepts. Learn about solutions, density, and even ocean science as you compare and contrast how objects float in different water mixtures.

Learn more: Water Density at The Science Kiddo

Blast off drinking-straw rockets

Student blowing on a drinking straw to launch a tiny rocket

Engineer rockets from drinking straws and have a blast when you send them flying! Kids can tweak the design to see whose can fly the highest.

Learn more: Straw Rockets at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Create a solar system out of play dough

Second grade science project modeling the planets in the solar system using play dough.

This is a perfect culminating project for your space unit. Your students can display their models at home when the project is complete.

Learn more: Play Dough Solar System at Good to Know

Count how many water drops will fit on a penny

Photo of 5 pennies and a water dropper to demonstrate the second grade science experiment relating to water tension. One penny has 4 water drops on it.

How many water drops fit on a penny? Find out with this fun and easy experiment that focuses on surface tension. Your students will be amazed by the results!

Learn more: Penny Surface Tension at Little Bins for Little Hands

Project stars on the ceiling

DIY star projector for a second grade science experiment, constructed of an upside-down paper cup with seven holes punched on the bottom of it, a blue circle the size of a quarter, and a bigger white circle surrounded by dashes.

Everyone loves visiting a planetarium. Turn your very own 2nd grade science classroom into one with this simple DIY star projector.

Learn more: Star Projector at Mystery Science

Write secret messages with invisible ink

In this second grade science experiment, students write a letter with invisible ink, as shown in the photo. The secret message is visible when a flashlight is shined onto it.

Make your own invisible ink from just baking soda and water, then have your students write messages to one another. Reveal the secret messages with a flashlight once the ink is dry.

Learn more: Invisible Ink at ThoughtCo

Looking for more? Try these 25 Second Grade STEM Challenges To Help Kids Think Creatively .

For more articles like this, be sure to sign up for our newsletters to find out when they’re posted.

Second grade science students will learn so much as they make foaming rainbows, tie-dye slime, crystal pom-poms, and so much more!

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STEM Robotics Kit 6 Set Science Experiments Project Activities for Kids 6-8 8-12 Engineering Building Toy Electronic Motor Robot Craft for Boy 5 6 7 8 9 10 12+ Year Old Girl Gift Summer Outdoor Toy

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STEM Robotics Kit 6 Set Science Experiments Project Activities for Kids 6-8 8-12 Engineering Building Toy Electronic Motor Robot Craft for Boy 5 6 7 8 9 10 12+ Year Old Girl Gift Summer Outdoor Toy

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  • 🤖Super Value 6 Set STEM Kits: These kids science kits age 6-8 8-10 contain 6 separate robot to build: reptile robot, a balance car, a bubble machine, a fiber lamp and Sliding plane. Kids will be proud of building their own robot and experimenting with different designs. Great stem projects kits for kids age 5-7 8-12.
  • 🪛 Science kits for Family Bonding Time: Our kids learning & educational toys is a perfect hand-on steam kits toys for 5-7 year old to encourage your kids to build their own robots and improve creative abilities, children's Science, Technology, Engineering through building. Great stem toys kits for 6 7 8 9 10+ years old boys and girls, stem science kits for kids age 5-7 8-12.
  • 💖Learning Toy for Family Bonding Time : Doing scientific experiments for kids 9-12 together is a good way for parents and children to build a great family relationship. Let your kids learn how to read instruction and learn how to work together. Fun stem activity engineering for kids 6-8 8-12, coolest boys girls toys age 5-7 8-12.
  • 🎁Great Gift For Boys & Kids: Our robotics kits for kids 6-8 8-12 packaged in a beautiful gift box designed are a great birthday gifts & present for 6 7 8 9 10+ 12 year old boys girls in daily life, party, festivel. Great creative learning games science games for kids classroom. Great toys for 6 7 8 9 10 12 year old boys girls gift.
  • 👦Safety & Kids Science Experiment Kits:The kids building engineering toys are non-toxic, 100% safe for playing. screwdriver and detailed step-by-step instruction manuals make it easier and more convenient to assemble the model. Great stem project kits for kids age 8-12, art and crafts for boys ages 6-8 8-12.

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Customers like the entertainment value, quality and educational value of the science fundamentals kit. They mention that it's tons of fun, provides great hands-on learning and is a great activity for Nana visits. However, some customers report issues with the tiny screws, saying that they require a skilled technician. Opinions are mixed on understandability.

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Customers find the science fundamentals kit entertaining and educational. They mention the projects are fun to build and a great activity for Nana visits.

"...things and turning around... sometimes getting himself stuck .... Lots of fun and still more to build!!..." Read more

"...The projects are not only fun but also educational...." Read more

"...He loved it! The little boys work perfectly and were really fun to build ." Read more

"...are tiny, but if there's an adult working with the child, it's tons of fun ...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the science fundamentals kit. They mention it's a great project, an excellent toy, and a cool robotic build kit.

" Very great idea . The projects alone are too difficult for kids to assemble without help...." Read more

" Great weekend STEM project ..." Read more

" Cool robotic build kit ..." Read more

" Very cool but…..." Read more

Customers find the science fundamentals kit educational and fun. They say it provides great hands-on learning with assembly and hand tools. Some customers also mention that the robots are great for small early learning.

"...Provides alot of great hands on learning with assembly, hand tools etc!" Read more

"...The projects are not only fun but also educational ...." Read more

"These robots are great for small early learning and are super fun to watch the final creation scoot along." Read more

"You get what you pay for it’s a great educational experience for kids but it doesn’t stick together very well...." Read more

Customers appreciate the value of the science fundamentals kit. They say it's nice for the price and provides hours of fun for a reasonable price.

"...This set has great value for the price of six . There are six individual models, each is great size for a half an hour weekend project...." Read more

" Nice for the price " Read more

" Hours of fun for a reasonable price ..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the understandability of the science fundamentals kit. Some mention that the instructions are clear and easy to follow, while others say that they're not written very well and are difficult to follow.

"...This set has great value for the price of six. There are six individual models , each is great size for a half an hour weekend project...." Read more

"The instructions weren’t written very well, so they were very hard to follow . Definitely meant for older kids." Read more

"...They were easy to assemble (screws are a bit small to handle) and they did the trick they were supposed to do...." Read more

"...Love how everything you need is included and bagged separate for each project . Some of the instructions are a little unclear but easy to figure out...." Read more

Customers find the screws included in the science fundamentals kit to be tiny. They also say the screws require a skilled technician to work with.

"Not really designed for smaller hands, as some of the screws included are tiny , but if there's an adult working with the child, it's tons of fun...." Read more

"...There does need to be some adult assistance as the screws are very tiny but man…. What a fun kit!!!" Read more

"... Tiny screws require a skilled technician " Read more

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fun science experiments for a 5 year old

IMAGES

  1. 15 Fun Taste Test Science Experiments for Kids

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  2. 20 Fun Science Crafts for Kids

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  3. 15 Fun Science Experiments for Kids at Home • Kids Activities Blog

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  4. 17 Easy Science Experiments Kids can Do at Home

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  5. Science Expieriments For Kids

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

  6. Fun Science Experiments For 5 Year Olds

    fun science experiments for a 5 year old

COMMENTS

  1. 67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff

    Fun Science Experiments Using Household Staples. 11. Marshmallow catapult. Build a marshmallow catapult out of a plastic spoon, rubber bands, and Popsicle sticks. 12. Make a parachute for toys. Use a plastic bag and cup to build a parachute for a light toy. 13. Dye flowers with food coloring.

  2. Fun Science for 5-6 Year Olds

    Fun Science Activities for 5 & 6 Year Olds. Egg in Skittles and Vinegar Experiment: What Happens When You Put Egg in Skittles? ... Buggy and Buddy has presented this great craft idea in science allowing your 5 - 6-year-old to make chromatography butterflies getting separated with markers. Even more, is available on chromatography. ...

  3. Science Experiments for Kids:

    Science experiments you can do at home! Explore an ever growing list of hundreds of fun and easy science experiments. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for science fair project ideas. Explore experiments by category, newest experiments, most popular experiments, easy at home experiments, or simply scroll down this page for tons of awesome experiment ideas!

  4. Fun Science Experiments for Young Kids

    Put that energy to good use and build a rubber band-powered cotton ball launcher in this fun activity! Make a Lemon Volcano. Add Favorite Overflow Menu. Make a colorful erupting volcano in your kitchen with lemons and baking soda! Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult. Add Favorite Overflow Menu. Catapults were mighty handy for pirates in the golden ...

  5. 32 Awesome Science Experiments For Kids (Fun AND Easy!)

    Along the way, you and your child get a lot of time to learn about momentum, velocity, friction, energy transfer, and interference (e.g., the cat). 17. Melting. This is a simple and fun experiment that can be set up in a short time and then fill-up your day with observations and new experiments.

  6. 100 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to do at Home (2024)

    First, fill each of the cups with the same amount of water. Next, add the food coloring, one color in each cup, preferably in rainbow order. Line the cups up next to each other. In the first cup, do not add any sugar at all. In the second cup, add one tablespoon of sugar. In the third cup, add two tablespoon of sugar.

  7. 37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

    Difficulty Level: Easy. Messiness Level: Medium. 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.

  8. 50 Fun Kids Science Experiments

    My son is now 13, and we started with simple science activities around three years of age with simple baking soda science. Here are great tips for making science experiments enjoyable at home or in the classroom. Safety first: Always prioritize safety. Use kid-friendly materials, supervise the experiments, and handle potentially hazardous ...

  9. 45 Easy Science Experiments for Kids

    Gently submerge the remaining eggs, without toothpaste on them, in the remaining glasses: one in the glass labeled Soda 2 and the other in the glass of juice labeled Juice 2. Wash and dry your ...

  10. 45 Simple and Fun Science Activities for Preschoolers

    Mix up some "magic" milk. Laughing Kids Learn. Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic. A drop or two of dish soap will make food coloring dance and swirl across the surface of a shallow bowl of milk. Preschool science experiments often seem like magic, but this one is all about surface tension and chemical reactions.

  11. Science for kids

    I've found my 5 year old to be incredibly curious at the moment, always asking questions and wanting to know how things work. Even something as simple as a rain gauge has been VERY exciting for her. With that in mind I've pulled together a list of great science experiments for kids of all ages! The age ranges mentioned in this post are just a guide, most science is fun for all ages if you ...

  12. 70 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have

    Go Science Kids. 43. "Flip" a drawing with water. Light refraction causes some really cool effects, and there are multiple easy science experiments you can do with it. This one uses refraction to "flip" a drawing; you can also try the famous "disappearing penny" trick.

  13. 10 Simple Science Experiments for 5-Year-Olds

    Below are 10 simple science experiments for you and your 5-year-olds to try and enjoy. We recommend all of our EYFS science experiments to be supervised by an adult. 1. Grow your own rainbow. Grow your very own rainbow in school or at home! This brilliant science experiment for 5-year-olds and above explains concepts such as capillary action ...

  14. Five Minute Science Experiments for Kids

    Quick and easy five minute science experiments for kids of all ages. These are easy to set up, easy to clean up, and tons of fun for kids to do! These STEM activities are ideal for preschool and kindergarten children who have a short attention span, but all kids will benefit from these simple science experiments.

  15. 10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-5 Year Olds

    Here are a bunch of fun science ideas suitable for 3-5 year olds. Test your kids hypothesis on what would happen if they stepped on raw eggs . They will love this one! From Housing A Forest. Explore how plants "drink" with this experiment showing water moving through a leaf . From Buggy and Buddy.

  16. 10 of the BEST Science Experiments for Kids

    Part of a chain reaction. 7. Lolly Stick Explosion. A craft or lolly stick explosion is a fantastic group activity or science demonstration. They take some time to set up but are worth the effort. Lolly stick chain reaction. 8. Oobleck. Oobleck is made from cornflour and water.

  17. 45 of the Best STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

    5. Rain in a Jar. All you need for this weather science activity is a cup of water, shaving cream and blue food coloring. Watch as the blue food coloring falls through the clouds and looks like rain when it travels through the water. Learn how to make the rain in a jar STEM activity with your toddlers and preschoolers.

  18. STEM Activities for Kids (480 results)

    STEM Activities for Kids. (480 results) Anytime can be the right time to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Explore our favorite experiments, engineering challenges and demonstrations with these fun hands-on STEM activities! Materials are easy to find, most activities take an hour or less, and the STEM learning is limitless.

  19. 12 fun science experiments for kids you can do at home

    Take a few white carnations, vases and different types of food coloring. Dye the water, then place the flowers in the different vases to watch them change color day by day. You can even split ...

  20. Easy Physics Experiments For Kids

    Physics is fun, and these easy physics experiments are perfectly fun physics science experiments for kids; you can even do them at home or with groups in the classroom. Whether you are exploring laws of motion, sound waves, or light, physics is everywhere! Make sure to check out all of our science experiments for all year-round learning and play.

  21. Fun with Science: 27 Sensory Science Experiments for Kids

    Make it fun! From sensory science experiments for preschoolers, to amazing science experiments for kids in elementary school, there are SO MANY WAYS you can make science fun for kids. ... hair, and fashion. She lives with her husband and 10-year-old daughter in Toronto, Canada and hopes to move to a warmer climate someday. Preferably tomorrow ...

  22. 25+ Easy and Awesome Science Projects for Kids

    You can search the internet for some of the best science projects for kids, but we have done the hard work for you!This list is sure to get those creative juices flowing! Use this set of 28 Days of STEM Activities and STEAM Activities for Kids posts to excite the kids all year long. Learn using STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) concepts while you explore forces of ...

  23. 5-6 Year Olds

    2795. 0. In Australia (where we live), 5-6 year old kids usually fall into the Prep, Kindergarten or Year One range. This is the age that my daughter Bumble Bee is at right now, and we've been doing lots of fun science experiments at home after school, on weekends or in the holidays. Here are some of the activities we've done so far, that ...

  24. 61 Interactive Outdoor Science Experiments and Activities

    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).

  25. The Best Science Kits for 5 Year Olds

    From solar system models and telescopes to star maps, these kits provide a wealth of learning opportunities for younger kids ages 5 and up. Exciting astronomy kits for 5-year-olds include: Stargazing Journal for Kids: Night Sky Observation Notebook. 3-D Solar System Glow In the Dark Model.

  26. 50 Fun and Easy 2nd Grade Science Experiments & Activities

    Drop a Mento in soda and watch it erupt. Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium. Here is another 2nd grade science experiment that will make your students explode with excitement. Drop a Mento candy in different types of soda, and see which one causes the tallest geyser.

  27. Amazon.com: STEM Robotics Kit 6 Set Science Experiments Project

    Great stem projects kits for kids age 5-7 8-12. 🪛 Science kits for Family Bonding Time: Our kids learning & educational toys is a perfect hand-on steam kits toys for 5-7 year old to encourage your kids to build their own robots and improve creative abilities, children's Science, Technology, Engineering through building.