When we think of setting up science experiments for kids, we tend to think we need to go out and purchase beakers and pipettes; things of that sort. You really don't need to go anywhere or buy anything to set up some fun and educational science experiments, though.
You probably have most of the items for these 45 science experiments in your home right now. So, let's get into the fun!
1. Making a Magnifying Glass with Ice
Would you be able to convince your child they could start a fire using ice? This is something they'll have to see in order to believe it.
Making a magnifying glass out of ice is one of those science experiments for kids that never gets old.
Learn more: Steamsational
2. Floating Eggs
Eggs don't float...do they? They do if you add some salt to the water.
You can teach your child that liquids can have different densities, and how that affects the buoyancy of an object, with this fun and easy science experiment.
Learn more: Science Kids
3. Frozen Vegetable Oil Prints
Wait a moment...I thought this was a list of science experiments for kids, not art ideas! Why not let your child experience what happens to oil when it freezes, then use the product for an art project?
In this experiment, your child will learn that not every liquid behaves like water when it freezes.
Learn more: Mini Monets and Mommies
4. Making a Better Bubble
Making bubble mix is a great science experiment on its own. There are substances that can be added to the solution that makes the bubbles even stronger, though.
This is a great early physics experiment for kids.
Learn more: Red Tricycle
5. Making Rock Candy
Kids like candy. Kids like doing science experiments. Why not combine the two?
Your child will have a blast watching the rock crystals grow with this rock candy science experiment.
Learn more: Play Learn Grow
6. Capillary Action Experiment
Show your child how our tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, work with items you likely have at home.
This is a colorful and educational science experiment your child will really enjoy.
Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
7. Making a Non-Newtonian Fluid (Oobleck)
There are some substances that become firmer when pressure is exerted upon them. These substances are called non-newtonian fluids.
This is a fun science experiment for kids that even adults find fascinating. There are also many fun Oobleck recipes to experiment with.
Learn more: The Montessori-Minded Mom
8. Making a Leak-Proof Bag
All you need for this fun science experiment are some sharp pencils, some water, and a plastic bag.
Making a leak-proof bag is a great early introduction to polymers.
Learn more: Steve Spangler Science
9. Tornado in a Bottle
Making a tornado in a bottle is a classic science experiment for kids. Creating a water vortex is a great introduction to centripetal force.
Bonus points that it's fun, easy, and you already have everything you need right in your home.
Learn more: Cool Science Experiments
10. What Do Sugary Drinks Do To Your Teeth?
This is a great science experiment for kids that are losing their baby teeth and getting their adult teeth.
Teach your child what sugar does to teeth while showing them the science of corrosive liquids.
Learn more: Feels Like Home Blog
11. Disappearing Egg Shell
This a great activity for kids of every age.
The disappearing eggshell is a fun science experiment that teaches kids about chemical reactions.
Learn more: Paper Scissors Craft
12. Making Gummy Bears Grow
Kids find every science experiment fun. The science experiments involving candy - way more fun.
Turn tiny gummy bears into giant gummy bears while learning physics, chemistry, and biology.
Learn more: Mama Smiles
13. Inertia Demonstration
It's never too early to introduce Newton's first law of motion to your child. This is a fun and easy physics lesson that will introduce the concept of inertia to your child.
Learn more: The After School Life
14. Build a Hydraulic Elevator
If you've got some old large-size medicine droppers and some craft sticks laying around, you have the building blocks of a very cool science experiment for kids.
This science experiment is a maximum effort on the adult's part, but it yields many STEM lessons for kids.
Learn more: Teach Beside Me
15. Walking on Eggs
How can an object that cracks easily on the side of a bowl withstand the weight of being walked on?
This is a very fun science experiment. Your child will learn how an object's shape helps it withstand pressure.
Learn more: Steve Spangler Science
16. Magic Milk Experiment
All you need for this science experiment for kids is milk, dish soap, and some food coloring. This fun and colorful experiment teaches kids about density, molecular behavior, and surface tension.
Learn more: Crafts by Amanda
17. Making Fizzing Lemonade
This a great science experiment for the summer. Teach your child how mixing a base with acid creates an interesting chemical reaction.
This science experiment yields results kids can sip for themselves.
Learn more: Learn with Play at Home
18. Color Mixing on Coffee Filters
This science experiment is fun for even the youngest little learners. They get to watch the coffee filter absorb the liquid as it spreads and mixes to make new colors.
Art and science, all in one.
Learn more: Messy Little Monsters
19. Oil and Water Discovery Bottles
Making oil and water discovery bottles is a fun science experiment that lends itself to endless opportunities for play. The bright colors and undulating flow of the fluids add a satisfying sensory aspect that can't be beaten.
Learn more: Play Trains
20. Fireworks in a Jar
This activity can be done as part of holiday-themed learning or just for the sake of it. If you have water, a jar, oil, and food coloring, you have what you need to teach your child about density.
Learn more: I can Teach My Child
21. Separate Salt and Pepper
If you've got a plastic spoon, salt, and pepper, you have everything you need for a great science experiment that teaches about static electricity.
Learn more: Science Kiddo
22. Standing on a Pile of Paper Cups
When you step on a paper cup, it collapses, right? Not always.
This is a fun and easy STEM challenge that will "wow" your child and teach them that weak items have strength in numbers when they are spaced out properly.
Learn more: Science Sparks
23. Making Ice Grow
This is a fun science experiment to include in a winter-themed learning unit. Follow the instructions in the link below and make some ice towers of your own.
Learn more: Teach Pre-school
24. DIY Cabbage PH Indicator
Using nothing more than a cabbage, you can test the pH of different liquids. This is a great introduction to chemistry activity.
Learn more: Science Kiddo
25. Making a Monster Popcorn From Soap
Heat up a bar of soap in your microwave for a fun and easy way to explain Charles's Law. As the soap heats up, it expands.
Bonus point to this experiment because the soap can be sculpted in different ways after it cool. Adult supervision is needed.
Learn more: Techno Eager
26. Turn a Penny Green
We all have old pennies laying around, so why not use them to teach about chemical reactions?
This science experiment takes a few days, but it's easy to set up and the results are really fun.
Learn more: Mess for Less
27. Make Gummy Worm Dance
Let your child watch gummy worms wiggle around as an acidic liquid mixes with a basic liquid to create a bubbly chemical reaction.
Learn more: Playdough to Plato
28. Growing a CD Garden
We all have at least a few CD cases lying around the house. Why not use them for a fun science experiment?
This experiment lets your kids get an up-close look at how plants grow.
Learn more: Rookie Parenting Science
29. Egg in a Bottle
Matches, a small jar or bottle, and an egg are all that are needed for this experiment. Your child will learn how objects react to changes in air pressure.
Learn more: Science Sparks
30. Sticky Ice Experiment
Setting up a sticky ice experiment is a fun way to teach kids salt's effect on water's freezing point.
All you need is water, salt, and string for this one.
Learn more: Playdough to Plato
31. DIY Solar Oven
What better way to demonstrate how to harness the power of radiant heat than making your very own solar oven.
Learn more: I Can Teach My Child
32. Build Your Own Barometer
Help your child better understand the outside world by building a DIY barometer. This science experiment teaches them about air pressure and its effect on weather.
Learn more: Edventures with Kids
33. DIY Kinetic Sand
Kinetic sand is one of the coolest and most science-y things out there. When a child gets the chance to make their own kinetic sand, the science lesson gets kicked up a notch or two.
Learn more: Artsy Fartsy Mama
34. Float/Sink Experiment
This an easy science experiment that can be done inside, outside, or out and about.
Have your child guess what they think will happen -float or sink. Then test out the hypothesis and find out why.
Learn more: Paper Scissors Crafts
35. No Bursting Balloon
Who would have thought a sharp stick could go through a balloon without the balloon popping? It's completely possible though.
Teach your child about polymers with this fun balloon science experiment.
Learn more: Crazy Science Show for Kids
36. Making Rain
Rain happens when warm, humid air rises and meets the cold air in the upper atmosphere.
Using a jar, a plate, ice cubes, and water, you can teach your child the science behind weather by making your own rain.
Learn more: I Can Teach My Child
37. Egg Shell Geode Crystal
Making geodes out of eggshells is a great science experiment for a Spring-themed learning unit.
This a great science experiment that introduces kids to super-saturated solutions.
Learn more: Those Northern Skies
38. Liquid Layers Density Experiment
Using only items from your pantry, you can create a science experiment that lets kids visualize how liquids can have different densities.
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
39. Making Butter in a Jar
This is a fun, Dr. Suess-inspired science activity. All you need is some heavy whipping cream and a jar to teach your child how the fat molecules in the cream clump together to form solid butter.
Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands
40. A Bill That Burns
You don't have to burn money for any of these science experiments and this one is no exception.
You can use a dollar bill or any other paper item. Under an adult's supervision, you can use this experiment to teach your child about combustion.
Learn more: Techno Eager
41. Skittles Experiment
Let your child investigate how the colorful candy coating skittles reacts when placed on a plate of shallow water with this fun science experiment.
This is a fun way to teach about diffusion.
Learn more: Science Sparks
42. Baking Soda Volcano
No at-home science project list would be complete without a baking soda volcano.
This classic science experiment is a fun way to show children how acids and bases react when they are mixed together.
Learn more: Science Sparks
43. Will it Dissolve?
This is a great introduction to science for kids that teaches about different types of solutions. Through this kitchen science experiment, kids will get practice forming hypotheses and testing them out.
Learn more: The Picky Apple
44. Colored Celery Experiment
This is a classic science experiment for kids that can be done using celery or white flowers and colored water.
With this experiment, kids get to visualize how plants absorb water to sustain themselves and grow.
Learn more: Tinker Lab
45. The Dancing Pepper Experiment
Not every substance behaves the same when placed in water. Some substances even appear to dance.
Give your child an introduction to molecular behavior and surface tension with this simple experiment.
Learn more: Paper Scissors Craft
As you can see, there are tons of science experiments for kids you can do with items you have in your home right now. What fun science activities does your child enjoy?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best science experiments?
The best science experiments are the ones that answer a question your child has. When choosing science experiments for kids, always follow your child's interests.
How do you do a simple science experiment at home?
When setting up a science experiment to do at home, it's a good idea to set aside a time wherein there are no distractions. This will ensure that your child gets the most out of the experiments.
It's also a great idea for parents to read about and practice the experiment ahead of time. This way, you know what's going to happen and are ready to answer any questions.
What are some fun science experiments?
Fun science activities for kids are in no short supply. The list above is a great resource for kids' science activities. Pinterest is a great resource, as well!
25 Edible Science Experiments for Kids