A growing child is always curious. Which is why they are constantly asking us questions. Thanks to quarantine, questions are mostly limited to things we see at home. So now with movements being limited, it's time to bring the curious mind home. What better way to do it than with fun science experiments? If your kids think science isn't fun, these projects are going to change their minds. So grab your kids and toddlers and choose which experiment you want to do (or you could do them all, what's stopping you?).
These 6 fun science activities for your kids can bring back that curiosity and keep them busy during quarantine. It's an added bonus that they are pretty easy activities as well!
1. Magic Milk
This is a guaranteed fun experiment for the kids at home, and for adults as well. It's a great way to teach your kids about chemical reactions. The best part is you will have most of the supplies at home. This experiment by Happy Hooligans outlines all the items you will need for this project, along with a detailed step-by-step process of how to go about it. So gather the following: a small plate or a saucer, milk, liquid food coloring, dish soap (any brand), and q-tips.
Let your kid pour milk into the saucer to cover the bottom, then gently add one drop of each of the colors from your liquid food coloring onto the surface of the milk. Make sure they are close together and near the center of the saucer. Grab a q-tip and dab one end with a drop of the dish soap. Press the soapy end into the food coloring on the saucer, and hold steady. Be patient and within about 15 to 20 seconds, you'll see the colors streaming out. Just like a colorful magic trick!
2. Pepper & Soap
This experiment has gone wild during the time of COVID-19, as a lot of parents and teachers are using this method to teach their kids about the importance of washing our hands with soap. So let's jump on the same wagon and show our kids the importance too. This guide by Fun Learning For Kids is easy to follow and uses items you already have in your household.
You will need a plate, water, dish soap, and black pepper. Add water to the plate and dish soap to a small bowl your kids can dip their finger into. To the plate of water, add a lot of pepper so that it's easily visible. Next, ask your kid to dip their finger into the dish bowl, then into the plate of water and pepper. The pepper will immediately move to the edge of the plates, showing the importance of soap in getting rid of germs. It's a simple way to explain these important actions to your kids.
3. Making Rain
We know the ideal summer does not have rain, but this is a fun and colorful experiment your kids will love. This guide by @mrs_abc123 on Instagram is not only fun, but also educational. You will need a jar, water, shaving cream, food coloring, and a dropper (or a straw). Mix the water and food coloring in cups (different colors in different cups).
Fill your jar with 3/4 of water and add shaving cream to top it off. The shaving cream is your cloud. Use the dropper to add food coloring to the top of your cloud. As it gets heavier, it begins to rain under the cloud. It's a beautiful sight to see which your kids will enjoy!
4. Lava Lamp
This is a cool way to show off some science tricks with the kids. You can make this at home easily with this step-by-step procedure from Science Fun. You will need a clean plastic bottle, water, vegetable oil (or baby oil), fizzing tablets, and food coloring. Fill half the bottle with oil, then pour water over it. Add a few drops of food coloring and drop in the fizzing tablet. Watch the magic happen as it becomes a bright lava lamp. Your kid will be fascinated by this for a while. Simple, yet cool!
5. Walking Water
Walking water is a great experiment to do when explaining the way plants pull water through their stems through a process known as capillary action. This experiment by Little Bins Little Hands is easy, fun, and colorful. You will need water, clear plastic cups or mason jars, food coloring, paper towels, stirrer, and a pair of scissors.
Use the mason jars to add three different colors of water by mixing water and food coloring. Cut thin strips of the paper towel to fit into the mason jars, with one end in one mason jar and the other in another, like a rainbow. Watch the water transfer through the strips and use the opportunity to explain capillary action to your kid. A fun experience and one to learn from too!
6. Invisible Ink
Communicate with your kids in code with this fun experiment by Mommy Poppins. You will need a piece of paper, a cotton swab, a heat source, and a lemon. Squeeze the lemon into a glass and mix with a little bit of water. Dip your cotton swab into the the lemon juice and write your message.
Let it dry completely before you use a heat source to hold the sheet of paper over. You can use a lamp or a stove, but ensure your kid isn't doing so alone. The heat oxidizes the lemon juice allowing it to turn brown and reveal your message. It's a fun way to send some secret messages between you and your kids!