5 Fun (& Mess-Free!) Home Science Experiments For Kids

Learning can be fun, and one of the best ways to teach your child this is through home science experiments for kids. Children of all ages can learn all about science and the world around them, and don’t even need to leave your house to do it. In fact, you may not even need to hit the store beforehand, since many experiments can be done with things you have right at home.

Here are some easy science experiments to do at home with your kids the next time you’re looking for a fun yet educational activity.

1. Water Refraction Experiment
What are some simple science experiments you can do at home? Let’s start with water refraction! This cool experiment can help your child to learn about water refraction, and it’s pretty neat to do. All you need is a jar or a glass, some water, and paper with a design on it.

Simply place the jar or glass about six inches in front of the paper, then pour in water and watch what happens! Have your children focus on the design on the paper as you slowly fill the glass or jar with water. Move the paper around to see how distance impacts how it looks and then explain to your kids how water bends and refracts light, causing the changes they see. Also point out the way water acts as a magnifier, causing light to come together at a focal point and even making the image look reversed!

2. Create Fog In a Bottle
What are some fun science experiments? There are a lot – and fog in a bottle is one of the simplest. This easy science experiment requires a jar, some hot water, and a plastic bag filled with ice cubes. It’s easy to clean up, too, which is a must for parents when it comes to these types of activities!

All you’ll need to do is fill a jar with very hot water and let it sit for one minute. Next, pour out about two-thirds of the water and place the plastic bag filled with ice over the top. Fog will begin to form in the bottle – almost like magic!

It’s a great way to teach children about the weather, since fog is something they’ve likely seen before. You can also explain how air condensation works through this experiment if your kids have an interest.

3. Make a Salt Volcano
You might see the word “volcano” and instantly think “mess”, but this experiment is pretty self-contained and more than a little bit fun. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce kids to the idea of liquid density.

All you need is a jar or bottle, one cup of water at room temperature, one-fourth of a cup of vegetable oil, table salt or rock salt, and food coloring if you want to spice things up a bit. You simply pour the water into the jar or bottle, add in food coloring if you’re using it, pour in the oil (making sure not to mix!), then sprinkle the salt into the jar.

Since water and oil famously don’t mix, the salt will sink to the bottom of the vessel with oil clinging to it the whole way down. The salt will start to dissolve and the oil that clung to it will then begin to rise to the top. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about liquid density, since oil isn’t as dense as water – which is why it floats to the top. Salt, however, is denser than water, so it sinks to the bottom.

4. Sink or Float?
For younger learners, a sink-or-float experiment is a great way to introduce the idea of density. You can make a special sink-or-float bottle or simply use a water table or bathtub for this one – whatever’s easiest. All you need is a container of some kind, water, and different objects that will either float or sink!

To make a sink-or-float bottle, simply take a plastic water bottle, a few small items for the experiment, water, and some hot glue (though that last one is optional). Have your kids choose the different small items from around the house and put them in the bottle, then fill it with water. You can glue the top on for extra security if you want, but it’s not necessary. Have your children guess which objects will sink and which will float, then shake the bottle and see what happens!

5. The Walking Water Experiment
This experiment is cool for kids and parents alike. All you need is three clear empty cups, water, food coloring, and paper towels. Line the three cups together in a row, then have your kids pick out their preferred food colorings and add one each to the two outside cups. Next, fill the food-coloring cups with water, then take some paper towels that have been cut in half and folded into quarters lengthwise, and stick one end in the colored water and one end in the empty cup.

The wicking action of the paper towels allows the water to “walk” up them and into the empty jar, filling that middle jar with a mix of colors until the jars all have the same amount of water in them. It’s a pretty cool experiment, but pack your patience, because it’s a bit of a slow one.

Hopefully, you’re no longer asking yourself “What science experiments can I do at home?” now that you have this list to help you get started!

Featured image by Luke Schobert on Unsplash