Science Experiments: DO Try This at Home!

Here are some fun Science experiments to try at home or in the classroom. Most of them even use common items found around the house. So, grab your lab coat and goggles and enjoy!

Eggs-Periments: The Bottled Egg:

This lesson introduces the principles of air pressure in relation to temperature. Using a bowl of hot water, cold water, a bottle, and a hard boiled egg, students will see how temperature affects the direction of air, made visible by the use of an egg. Watch what happens to the egg when the hot air expands before the cold air quickly contracts!

Magnet Painting

This experiment is probably one of my favorites! What could be better than magnets or paint? The combination of both! In this lesson, students will learn about the principles of magnetic force and the materials that react to a magnet. At the completion of this activity, not only do they gain more knowledge of magnetism, but have a really neat art project to show off as well! So fun!

The Elephant's Toothpaste Experiment 

This experiment will have your kids' eye popping! What happens when you combine hydrogen peroxide, dry yeast, dish soap, and water? This is a great lesson to talk about different reactions between substances. Learn about exothermic (or heat generating) reactions when creating this fun foamy fountain!

The Magic Ketchup Experiment 

Wanna impress your friends? Learn how to make a common ketchup packet sink and float at your command with this fun experiment. Explore the principles of density and buoyancy as you discover what causes an object to be more or less dense than the substance around it, using a ketchup packet and a plastic bottle. This activity can be expanded to compare and contrast other food packets or even alter water temperatures.

Static Levitating Orb Experiment

In this lesson, students will discover the principles of positive and negative charges by creating a levitating orb. Yep! I did just say levitate, as in floating in the air! Using a PVC pipe (a balloon will also produce the same results) and tinsel, students will create a static charge that will make the orb of tinsel levitate in the air. This lesson can be expanded to investigate the charges of other common materials as well.

Color Changing Carnations

Here's another one of my personal favorites! In this lesson, you will need some white carnations. However, Queen Anne's Lace will also work for the purpose of this experiment. Students will discover how flowers drink and what happens when we change the color of the water. Discover the principles of transpiration, cohesion, and capillary action as the water travels through the flower. Then, split the stem into two glasses of differing colored water and see what happens!

Berry pH Paper Experiment

Discover the science behind acids and bases in this neat experiment. Test different household liquids with completely homemade litmus paper... made out of blueberries! Discuss with students why different substances turn the paper blue while others turn it red. And why do blueberries help us to see the difference? To find out, click on the link above!

Tornado in a Bottle 

Create your own tornado using two 2-liter bottles. Learn about the principles of air pressure and how a vortex is formed. Add oil and food coloring to discover how differences in density affect the flow of water from one bottle to another. The science behind tornadoes and hurricanes are also explained in greater detail at the conclusion of the experiment. Enjoy!

Air Pressure Can Crusher

WARNING: While this experiment is super cool, it does require the use of a hot plate or stove. Adult supervision is necessary when conducting this experiment!

With that being said, this is a really neat experiment that explores the principles of air pressure. See what happens when a soda can is heated, then placed face down in a bowl of ice water! Discover how the temperature affects the air pressure as the can was transitioned.

Build a Light Bulb

This list would not be complete without this last classic. In this experiment, students will create their own electricity to light up the room... without using a light bulb! Discover how to create complete circuits and turn common household items into "super batteries"!

 

What's There to Read in the Science Corner?

   Who’s Been Here? Series by Lindsay Barrett George

Now here’s a neat series of five different books. Children will use their knowledge of the world around them to discover the creatures that live right in their own backyard to people all around the world! The clues throughout the text will reveal what animal has been there and left its trail behind. Join William and Cammy as they discover various creatures in their natural habitats. Here are all the books in the series:

·         Around the Pond: Who’s Been Here?

·         Around the World: Who’s Been Here?

·         In the Garden: Who’s Been Here?

·         In the Snow: Who’s Been Here?

·         In the Woods: Who’s Been Here?

     Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons

This author is one of my personal favorites. Her texts are often easy to read and include new vocabulary words that are bolded and then explained. Hand drawn illustrations and diagrams are often labeled and presented in a way that is easy for children to comprehend.  This specific text introduces students to the art of spelunking! How are caves discovered? What are caves made of? Are there different types of caves? All of these questions are addressed in addition to basic information, such as where to go, what to bring, and how to be safe when you embark on your own cave explorations!

    Super Nature by DK Publishing

This text serves as an excellent classroom or home resource. Basically, this is the Guinness Book of World Records… except for animals! It contains hundreds of informational pages about the anatomy, athletic ability, lifecycles, senses, and habitats of 100 different species of animals. Vivid pictures and skeletal diagrams make this book come to life and will have your child returning to its pages again and again!

    My Season With Penguins: An Antarctic Journal by Sophie Webb

What would it be like to live with penguins for two months? Students will relive Sophie Webb’s journey as they read her firsthand account in this journal-style text. Detailed watercolor paintings bring the story to life. Students will experience how scientists conduct observations, initial experiments, use technology, and collect data through detailed notes. This also serves as an excellent mentor text for students’ writing as they document their own science experiences.

    Coral Reefs by Jason Chin

When a little girl visits the library to learn about coral reefs, she chooses an extraordinary book that turns the library into her own ocean! Vivid illustrations detail different kinds of coral and creatures that live in ocean habitats. The history of reef formation and the life cycle of individual ocean creatures are also introduced.  Separate sections of terms and definitions, labeled diagrams, the preservation of coral reefs, and bonus facts are also included throughout the book.

 Can We Save the Tiger? By Martin Jenkins

If you’re looking for a text to introduce the concept of endangered species, this would be an excellent read. With the help of detailed illustrations, children will explore various questions such as: What are endangered species? How did they become endangered? What are people doing to stop their extinction? How can I help? This book also provides examples of some of the beautiful and exotic plants and animals that exist on our planet today that are in danger of becoming extinct.

     Me and My Amazing Body by Joan Sweeney

The human body is explored in this text through the eyes of a little girl. A young girl poses questions and then explains how her body works, what parts it’s made of, and how different body systems work together. Kid-friendly and easily understood language is used, such as “my heart is like my own little engine”. Illustrations are also simple, yet scientifically correct. Join this young narrator on the tour of the human body and discover just how amazing it really is!

  The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole

Who doesn’t love the Magic School Bus series?! Here’s a classic story of another one of Ms. Frizzle’s wild adventures. This journey takes the class into the center of the Earth to learn about the rocks and minerals that make up our planet. Students will explore how volcanoes are created, the rocks that result from heating and cooling, and how layers of rock that compose our Earth.

   Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World by Allan Drummond

This children’s text introduces the concepts of renewable and nonrenewable energy. Combining a narrative tale and scientific information, this is the story of the Danish town called Samsø who figured out a way to reduce their use of nonrenewable resources. The idea of energy conservation is explored as the community joins together to find new ways to create energy and save their planet!

   How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan

From an acorn to a full-grown tree, this text walks through the entire life cycle of a plant. What are the different stages of growth called? What do different kinds of seeds look like? Are flower seeds different than tree seeds? What do seeds do in different seasons? All of these questions will be answered in an easy-to-read format with colorful pictures. Enjoy!