10/07/2024

Great science experiments for kids

Do your kids love science? If so, we've got some amazing science experiments kids can do at home. Blow their mind with this selection of fun science activities.

If your child loves science or if you want them to get into science, these ideas are a great way to ignite their passion. 

Walking water 

This is a great visual experiment that will teach kids about capillary action.

You'll need:

• 5 jars/glasses
• 4 paper towels
• yellow, blue and red food colouring

Instructions:

Start out by putting 5 glasses side by side in a line. Fill glasses 1, 3, and 5 most of the way up with water. Add yellow food colouring to the 1st glass, blue colouring to the 3rd glass and red colouring to the 5th glass.

Get the paper towels and fold in half lengthways. Place one half of the towel into the yellow colouring and bend it so the other half sits comfortably into the empty jar in the middle. Then place a folded paper towel in the empty glass and the glass with the blue food colouring. Repeat so all glasses are 'linked' with the paper towels.

Wait for about 30 minutes and you will see the water walking up the paper towel. After about 2 hours the jar in the middle will have filled with green water. 

How it works:

The water moves up the paper towels through a process called capillary action. The paper towel is made from fibres and the water is able to travel through the gaps in the fibres. The gaps in the paper towel act like capillary tubes and pull the water upward.

See the whole experiment here.

Raincloud in a jar

This experiment is perfect for teaching children on how rain works.

You'll need:

• A jar
• Tap water
• Blue food colouring
• Shaving foam

Instructions:

To start, fill the jar three quarters full of tap water. Then grab some shaving foam and use it to create a cloud on top of the water. Drop some blue food colouring onto the ‘cloud’ and watch it rain as the food colouring fills the cloud up. 

How it works:

The more droplets added to the cream cloud, the cloud becomes heavier and heavier. As the clouds fills up with more 'rain' it makes its way through the cream and drops into the water underneath in the jar. 

See the full experiment here.

Dry erase marker snowflakes

You'll need:

• Blue Dry Erase Marker (if it is a washable marker it won't work!)
• A round bowl or dish
• Metal spoon
• Water 
• Straw – to blow them around

Instructions:

Fill a bowl with water. Start by drawing your snowflake on the metal spoon with the dry erase marker. Draw thick lines and make sure all the lines are connected to each other. You want to press down so that a lot of ink comes out (if it’s too light it might not be thick enough to hold together). If you draw one and it falls apart before fully dipping into the water, just remove and try again!

Slowly and carefully move the spoon into the water and let it lift off. Now that you have your snowflakes floating, use a straw to lightly blow air onto them and get them to move around in the bowl!

How it works:

When you make your drawing on the spoon (or a plate) the solvent that dissolves the ink ingredients will evaporate. Then, the colour pigment and polymer is left on the spoon. Since it has an oily silicone polymer this prevents it from sticking to the spoon.

See the full experiment here.

Egg in a bottle

This a fun and easy experiment to demonstrate air pressure.

You'll need:

• A boiled egg
• A clean, dry glass bottle/jar (neck must be smaller than the egg!)
• Matches (adult supervision required)

Instructions:

Place the cooled boiled egg on top of the glass bottle or jar to check there is no way the egg will drop through. Ask an adult to light a match and drop it inside the jar. Quickly place the egg on the top of the jar.

Watch as the egg drops down inside. Be a little patient with this as the egg doesn’t drop down immediately, but should drop slowly once the match goes out.

How it works:

The matches heat up the air inside the glass jar or bottle. The warm air expands and some escapes out of the jar. Once the match goes out, the air starts to cool, and the air pressure drops.

Get the full experiment here.

Here at Barracudas, we love science experiments and we think they are great at teaching children on how the world works. At our day camps we have 2 fun Skill Builder courses science fans will love! Take a look at Discovery Squad (can be added to week long bookings) and Rocketeers (can be added to 3 day bookings at selected camps).

Throughout the course of the week, your child will learn how to erupt volcanoes, make bouncy balls and much, much more! You can add this to your booking online, or call us on 01480 467 567!