Children are naturally curious; it is one of the most amazing things to witness when a young mind craves knowledge. This is what sets the human race apart from everything else, the constant desire to know more. It is true what they say – the smarter the child, the more questions they will ask. The same applies to adults. If your child shows a keen interest in the world around them and is a budding scientist in the making, then here are the top ten science experiments you can try with them at home. These experiments are perfect for the holidays, or even just on a weekend. Most of the items and ingredients needed are already in your kitchen and if not, they are readily available to purchase from your local drug store.
1. Crystalized Candy
Crystalized rock candy is one of the most entertaining forms of food science. All you need is water, granulated sugar, flavoring, and food coloring. Grab a few lollipop sticks or skewers and dip them in water. Then roll the wet stick in some granulated sugar and leave it on a plate to dry for 30 minutes. Boil the sugar, water, coloring, and flavoring together and leave it to cool. Fill jars with your sugary syrup and add your stick inside – make sure to leave a one-inch gap at the bottom of the jar. After a few days, you will have grown your rock candy which is now a tasty treat.
2. Homemade Ferris Wheel
Your little scientist can make a miniature Ferris wheel at home just by using Popsicle sticks or drinking straws. There are several different tutorials available online so all you need to do is find your favorite. This is a fun way to bring the carnival to your home and it will keep the kids entertained for hours.
3. Leak-Proof Plastic Bag
This experiment always amazes the kids. All you need is a gallon-size storage bag, water, and pencils. Fill the bag halfway with water and then zip-seal it closed. Your kids can now begin poking pencils straight through the bag from one side through to the other. The plastic bag is made from long, flexible chains of molecules, when the bag is poked these molecules spread apart and then seal themselves around each pencil. Simple science turns into such a fun experiment.
4. Egg Drop Challenge
This experiment is a fun one for older children. Challenge your little scientists to construct a protective casing for an egg; the trick is that it needs to keep the egg safely intact after dropping it from a height. Let your kids use objects they can find around the house, like bubble wrap, straws, cardboard, etc. This experiment can get a little messy until they figure things out, but it is a fun way for them to engage their little scientist brains.
5. DIY Solar Oven
Another tasty experiment to try with your kids is making s’mores in a DIY solar oven by using a pizza box, plastic wrap, and some foil. Gather your ingredients together and take this little party outside into a sunny spot. Cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box and then cover it in foil. Next, line the base of the box with black construction paper because black absorbs heat. Add your s’mores into the base section of the box and then cover them with plastic wrap. If it is a hot day, these will be ready after about 45 minutes.
6. Hydrogen Bubbles
To make hydrogen bubbles, your scientists will need the following; test tubes, iron nails, sandpaper, vinegar, rulers, and test tube racks. Start by adding two inches of vinegar into the test tube, and then placing it into the rack. Put the nail, pointed side down, into the test tube and let it sit for ten minutes. You will soon notice bubbles starting to form near the nail – these are the hydrogen bubbles.
7. Basin Marker Fish Race
Give each of your kids a dry-erase marker in different colors. Go to your bathroom basin and let each of them draw a fish on their chosen spot. Wait a few minutes after drawing them, and then start filling the basin with water. As soon as the water covers the fish drawings, they will seemingly come to life. This is because the marker contains ingredients that make the ink erasable. This is a great experiment for introverted kids.
8. Eggshell Chalk
Eggshells are comprised of the same ingredient that is in sidewalk chalk – calcium carbonate or CaCO3. Crush 5 clean and dry eggshells in a mortar and pestle as finely as you can. Mix a teaspoon of flour with a teaspoon of hot water until it becomes a paste. Add one tablespoon of eggshell powder into your paste, along with a few drops of food coloring. Mix until everything is combined and then shape the mixture into a log shape. Wrap your eggshell chalk in a paper towel and then leave it to dry for five days and then let your artists do their thing.
9. Coin Cleaning Experiment
Let your kids experiment with different ways to clean a coin. Fill plastic cups with a specific ingredient and then place a dirty coin inside. The trick is to let them guess which cleaning agent will work the best. Use soda, water, laundry detergent, ketchup, and vinegar. The coins will react to each set of chemicals differently so this will be a fun teachable moment.
10. Homemade Rain Gauge
Once the rainy season starts, grab a small plastic soda bottle and turn it upside down. Let your scientists use a ruler to mark off size increments on the bottle with a permanent marker. Then cut off the end of the bottle carefully with a box knife, making sure not to leave any jagged edges. Once that is done, you can screw the lid on tightly and hang it outside in a place where it will collect the most amount of rain. Compare your readings to your local weather department and see how accurate yours are.