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Looking for something fun and educational to do with the kids, without having to leave the house?
We’ve got some fun free science activities that you can do at home, or in your backyard! And the best bit is that all of these science projects only use everyday household items – stuff you already have at home – so you can get started on the science fun straight away, without needing to duck out to the shops first!
(Which is great if you happen to be self-isolating at the moment…)
Science experiments for kids using common household items
- Can you dissolve the eggshell of a raw egg?
- ‘Magic’ Drawing with Refraction of Light: an art meets science activity for kids
- Fireworks in Oil & Water | Density science project for kids
- Easy Upcycled Catapult {STEM goes green}
- Swirling Milk Experiment
- Exploring Magnetism: easy magnet science experiment for kids
- DIY Balance Scales for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- How to make Curds and Whey
- Make a ‘snowy’ salt crystal tree
- DIY Pulley for the loungeroom stairs
- What lives in dirt?
- Static Science: Help Daddy Balloon grow a beard
- DIY Magnetic Marble Run for the Fridge Door
- Static Hair! Exploring Static Electricity with Toddlers
- Mushroom Spore Prints: nature science for kids
- Castle in the Clouds: science & imaginative play
- Salt Crystal Paper Snowflakes!
- Salt Crystal Ghosts
- Salt Crystal Hearts
- Exploring Measurement at a Cafe
- Zooming Hearts
Looking for more easy science and STEM activities you can do, using only things from around the house?
Here’s some great ideas I’ve found from my blogging buddies around the web. Some of these activities we’ve tried, and some we’re keen to!
Kitchen Science Ideas
- Using a slice of ‘magic carrot’ as an indicator, Our Family Code show a clever way to change the density of water and test it out. Cool!
- And while you have a carrot handy, did you know you can sprout new growth from old carrot tops? Easy nature study experiment from Rainy Day Mum.
- Kids Minds show how you can do a cool centre of gravity trick with an apple or a potato.
- Can you make grapes or raisins dance? The Joy Of Boys can show you how!
- Did you know you can make (and eat) your own popcorn, and call it science? Our Family Code talk about all the scientific factors at play, like heat transfer, conduction, convection, radiation, volume and physical change. Yum!
- Have you got a few pennies lying around? See which kitchen condiment cleans them best!From Team Cartwright and The Wise Owl Factory.
- The kids will love making an orange volcano! From The Art Kit.
- I love learning from Mama Smiles that you can use iodine to identify starch in foods – who knew? Such a great visual science activity for kids!
- Can you suck a boiled egg into a bottle? Can you push it back out again? Love these easy air pressure experiments from 123 Homeschool 4 Me.
- Make your own rock candy! From Happiness is Homemade.
Engineering: fun things kids can build at home!
- JDaniel4’s Mom has some cool ideas for building bridges using everyday stationery items – check out this idea, and this one!
- Or you could make a cardboard bridge! Can you make it stronger by folding the cardboard first? Test it out! Love this easy engineering idea from Pink Stripey Socks.
- Pump up the volume by making a DIY iPhone speaker! From The Craft Train.
- Do you have a stack of old newspapers at home? Make a rolled up newspaper fort! From Science Sparks. Or how about a 5ft model of the Eiffel Tower! Wow, very cool. From KC Edventures.
- Make a DIY furnicular train and learn about pulleys and simple machines through play. From Team Cartwright.
- JDaniel4’s Mom shows how to make another simple machine; a double pulley, and how you can use it to play a cute game.
- Have you ever thought about designing your own solar power oven? Share It Science can explain convection, conduction, thermal radiation, insulation and reflection which might come in handy.
- And if you’re up for the ultimate challenge, you could make your own Rube Goldberg machine. Share It Science has some great Rube Goldberg machine suggestions!
Physics – use the force activities!
- Make a coat hanger catapult! Perfect for shooting pom poms at your annoying sibling from across the room. From The Craft Train.
- Here’s a fun way to learn about air pressure using a balloon, a match and a jar! From Darcy and Brian.
- Taming Little Monsters has some fun physics experiment ideas using Duplo cars and homemade ramps.
- Did you know you can bend water with a comb? Kindergarten Worksheets and Games can show you how.
- Make a cool ‘birthday cake candle seesaw’! From Kids Minds.
- Red Ted Art can show you how to make paper helicopters that really fly! So cool…
- Make your own straw rockets! Artsy Fartsy Mama has some cool space rockets you can print and colour in.
- Can you inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar? From Kiddy Charts.
- Here’s an alternative to the traditional paper planes – these planes are made from circles of paper and a straw! Which one can glide furthest? From Red Ted Art
Ice, Ice, Baby – Fun Frozen science activities for when it’s hot outside…
- Make your own snow that actually feels cold! How? An endothermic reaction gives it that cold feeling. And you can ‘melt’ it with vinegar afterwards. Sensory play meets science fun. From Journey to Parenthood.
- What makes ice melt faster? This easy science experiment uses everyday kitchen ingredients. From The Chaos and the Clutter.
- Can you pick up an icecube with a piece of string? Teach Me Mommy can show you how!
- With food colour (or liquid watercolours), you can use the reaction between salt and ice to create pretty process art! From Typically Simple.
Anatomy & Human Body Activities
- Have you got access to a printer at home? Then print out these cool life-sized body organs and learn about human body anatomy, from Adventure in a Box.
- Team Cartright have a bunch of fun human body experiments that need nothing other than you, your child, and your lounge-room floor!
Love the Earth & Weather Science
- Draw a human sundial on your driveway, and learn about shadows and the earth’s rotation. From Rhythms of Play.
- With shaving cream and food colouring, Laughing Kids Learn shows Messy Little Monster shows how to make a rain cloud in a jar. Here’s a similar experiment from Messy Little Monster.
- Make an erupting papier mache Hawaiian volcano. From Red Ted Art.
- Make a model of the water cycle in a bottle! From Fun With Mama.
- Make a tornado in a bottle! From KC Edventures.
Rainbow Science
- Make a sugar water rainbow in a jar and explore density in a fun hands-on way! From Primary Playground.
- If you have some paper towel and food colouring, you can make a walking water rainbow! From Fun Learning For Kids, href=”https://www.123homeschool4me.com/capillary-action-science-experiment_15/”>123 Homeschool 4 Me and Blue Bear Wood.
- Here’s another walking water rainbow by From Engineer to SAHM, where you actually end up with a pretty rainbow at the end.
Biology & Nature
- If you have waxy crayons at home, you can make this cute penguin craft that doubles as a science lesson on how penguins stay dry. From ABCs of Literacy.
Materials Science
- Learn about polymers with this leak proof bag experiment, from Fun Learning For Kids.
STEAM Activities that incorporate Art with STEM
- Make your own moving cartoons with a DIY zoetrope! Fun STEAM activity from Share It Science.
- Do you happen to have spare coffee filters in your cupboard? Make some chromatography spring flowers! From 123 Homeschool 4 Me.
- Red Ted Art shows how to make cool paper spinners that combine and create new colours before your eyes!
Fun chemistry ideas to do at home
- Laughing Kids Learn shows how you can set up a fun fizzy chemical reaction station.
