Do you remember how exciting it was to do science experiments and projects at home or in school? It was about more than just mixing different chemicals, fluids, and solids watching smoke and bubbles erupt—it also made those science classes seem way cooler and more fascinating than they already were.
We encourage our students’ parents to perform at-home science experiments with their kids as a way to foster curiosity, interest, and fascination, helping them apply the same concepts they cover in tutoring. Learning by doing is definitely a lot better than just through virtual lessons or textbooks, so here are some easy and fun experiments that are going to be so worth it:
1. Start a tornado in a bottle
Tornadoes are scary, and it’s definitely not something you’d ever want to see up close—but there is a simple way to create your very own tornado without risking your health or safety.
For this, you’re going to need two empty bottles connected by a tube and a bit of water. You can mix paint or some food coloring into the water for more fun and exciting experiment too!
Shake the water in the bottle that’s on top and watch it swirl down into the vortex created, moving into the bottle below. It’s pretty fascinating watching this experiment pan out and will definitely get your kids super excited.
2. Have fun with a rainbow in a glass
Create your very own happiness with a rainbow in a bottle. This is another popular experiment that we personally love!
Grab some sugar, food coloring, and water, or any other clear solution that you can layer. Pick 3-4 colors and make sugar solutions, being sure to vary the sugar in each color. This will allow you to alter the density of each solution and layer it carefully and effectively, creating a rainbow. It’s literal happiness in a cup, and we can’t get enough of it!
It may be tempting to drink it afterward, especially if the fluid you use is drinkable, but we don’t recommend anyone have that much amount of sugar in their system. You may be able to repurpose it as sugar syrup, though!
3. Blow everyone’s mind with instant ice
Hate having to wait for the ice to freeze? Make instant ice!
There are different ways of carrying out this experiment, with some using very cold, borderline freezing water and inserting a fractal of ice inside to freeze it instantly, while others use purified water, bring it close to freezing, and then pouring it over an ice-cube.
Both versions are pretty cool, and one results in a bottle full of ice, while the other leads to multiple ice-cubes forming in an instant. It’s a great experiment to try with your kids and will even impress any adult who sees it. You’ve got to give it a shot!
4. Try the classic papier-mâché volcano
This is definitely something many of us have done back in the day and had a darn good time doing so too! These volcanoes are some of the most exciting experiments that you can try out with your kids, making the entire structure using an old half-cut bottle, some old newspapers, and a glue-and-water mixture. When the structure forms, let it dry and harden before painting over it and adding your magic ingredients.
Now, when it’s dried, painted, and detailed, it’s time to finish the experiment. Add some warm water into the volcano, put in some detergent or liquid soap, mix in the baking soda and mix it all together to form a paste. Then comes the fun part; add red or orange food coloring to some white vinegar, and then pour this mixture into the volcano for an explosion of lava!
5. Do the pepper and soap experiment
This became popular when trying to teach kids the importance of washing hands and has continued to remain a valuable tool post-covid. All you need is some dish soap, a little pepper, and a toothpick. Dip the toothpick in the soap and chase away the pepper, which can symbolize germs.
It’s fast, easy, and requires just a few elements that you’ll already have lying at home, so you won’t need to get anything extra. It’s perfect for young kids to understand the importance of handwashing and general hygiene.
6. Force an egg into a bottle creating suction
One of the coolest experiments you can do is forcing an egg into a bottle. This is something that’s going to seem impossible at first, but trust us when we say it’s an awesome experiment for kids—and adults—of any age!
After all, who’d believe that you can fit an entire egg into a bottle? But a little suction goes a long way in helping that egg move through a narrow-mouthed milk bottle. Boil and peel the egg, light some matches, place them into the bottle, place the peeled egg on top of the bottle and watch the heat this creates work its magic. You can also do this with birthday candles! Here’s a complete guide.
Science experiments are a great way to make lessons and school work easier and more accessible for your kids. You can try out these fantastic ideas to help them grip concepts more easily and readily.
It helps when kids have engaging learning tools and methods in addition to regular school and tutoring. You can also count on our online tutors for science, who are some of the most dedicated instructors and educationists. We’re offering science tutoring services at affordable rates, flexible timings and schedules, and other subjects for middle and elementary school.