3 Easy Science Activities To Do With Your Kids

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Science activities offer a unique opportunity for children to use this natural curiosity and their desire to explore while engaging in hands-on learning opportunities. In general, doing science activities at home with your child provides opportunities for them to: 

•  Practice following directions
• Learn to make predictions and discuss observations
• Learn about cause and effect
• Explore changes

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Science-based activities are a great way for children to explore and discover how the world works. Below are three easy science activities to try with your kids to encourage scientific thinking!

1. Sink or Float

Sink or float is an easy science activity to try at home! Help your child find toys that can go in water or head outside and collect nature items. Some ideas include acorns, sticks, pinecones, leaves, or a fallen apple. Items will sink or float depending on their density compared to water. Items less dense than water will float, while items more dense than water will sink.

How to get started:

1. Fill a deep bin with water.

2. Choose an item and have your child predict if it will sink or float.

3. Place the item in the water to determine if the result matches your prediction.

4. Repeat with more objects.

5. Discuss your observations.

Extend the experiment:

1. Create a list of your items. You can write the list on paper or a chalkboard. Next to the list of items, create columns with the headings “sink” and “float.” After you test each item, place an “x” in the corresponding column to mark whether the item sank or floated. 

2. Colorful Fizzy Reactions with Baking Soda and Vinegar

When you mix baking soda and vinegar, reactions occur that produce carbon dioxide gas. This gas results in the fizz that you see when doing this classic at-home science activity. The fizzy reaction always fascinates children, and they love adding vinegar to baking soda to watch the bubbles. For colorful fizzy reactions, you can add food coloring to the vinegar. 

How to get started:

1. Place a layer of baking soda at the bottom of a bin.

2. Fill squeeze bottles* with white vinegar (or white vinegar diluted with water 1:1). 

3. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the vinegar and mix. 

4. Let the child explore the fizzy reactions by squirting the colorful vinegar onto the baking soda.

*Alternatively, you can place the white vinegar in a muffin tin and have the child use droppers to add the vinegar to the baking soda!

Extend the experiment:

1. Try mixing two primary colors. What happens if you add blue vinegar to the baking soda and then add yellow vinegar? What color is created?

2. Try adding liquid dish soap to the vinegar. What happens when you mix the vinegar with the baking soda? Do you notice any differences in the fizzy reaction? (With added dish soap, you should notice that the reaction is fizzy and foamy!)

Anytime a child is using baking soda or vinegar, I recommend having them wear safety goggles or sunglasses. 

3. Oobleck

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid with properties of both liquids and solids. If you slowly run your fingers through oobleck, it acts like a liquid. But if you push on it with more force, it acts like a solid!

How to get started:

1. To create oobleck, mix 2 parts cornstarch and 1 part water.

2. Optional: add food coloring to the water before mixing. 

3. Place oobleck into a bin and allow the child to explore it with their hands.

Extend the experiment:

1. Try adding toys into the oobleck. We love adding Little Pavers or Little Bricks to oobleck. Children can try building towers or our structures using the toys and oobleck.

2. Experiment with adding force to oobleck. What happens if you quickly press your hand into the oobleck? What happens if you slowly move your hand through the oobleck? Try picking up a handful of oobleck and rolling it into a ball using both hands. What happens to the ball you form if you hold your hand still?

Doing science activities at home is a great way for your child to practice essential skills, including fine motor skills, language skills, critical thinking skills, and social skills. Science activities offer many hands-on learning opportunities for children and most importantly, they are fun for kids!