At-Home Science Activities for Kids

A child’s development hinges on exploring and interacting with the world around them from the moment they’re born. The older they get, the more complex their thirst for knowledge becomes. Parents have to get creative to foster their kids’ curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and they can’t always head to a science museum at the drop of a hat. Luckily, you can do plenty of budget-friendly, at-home science activities with your child. In this blog, we covered why doing at-home science activities is so beneficial and wrote a list of three interactive & engaging experiments the whole family can do!

At-home science activities for kids nurture brain development by stimulating the frontal and occipital lobes. These activities teach fundamental science, math, and engineering concepts while enhancing observation, problem-solving, and social skills. For instance, creating slime demonstrates principles of non-Newtonian fluids. At the same time, experiments like volcano eruptions illustrate chemical reactions and DIY density testers teach about mass and density through hands-on exploration.

So if you’re looking for a fun way to keep your kids entertained and educated, keep reading!

What Are the Benefits of Doing At-Home Science Activities?

Science kits and activities stimulate a child’s brain in many ways, allowing them to grow and develop their frontal and occipital lobe. The frontal lobe controls speech, smell, concentration, planning, and problem-solving. The occipital lobe processes and translates visual information. Scientific activities teach children fundamental concepts in science, math, and engineering, with observation skills, problem-solving strategies, and cause-and-effect principles. For example, a science activity that focuses on mixing different substances helps to teach children about measurements and chemical reactions. Group science experiments also encourage social bonding and connection, as they are an excellent way for children to have fun while interacting with their peers or family.

Activity 1: Slime

Materials Needed

• White or Clear Liquid Glue (4 ounces (or 1/2 cup)
• Water (1 ½ cups)
• Borax Powder (1 tsp)
• 2 Medium-Sized Bowls
• Rubber Spatula
• Measuring Cup
• Optional: Food Coloring
• Optional: Glitter
• Optional: Shaving Cream

Instructions

1. Create a borax solution by mixing 1 tsp of borax powder with 1 cup of warm water in a bowl.
2. Stir until the borax is completely dissolved, then set aside.
3. Add ½ cup of glue and ½ cup of water to a different bowl.
4. Stir until they are thoroughly combined.

• If you’re using food coloring, glitter, or shaving cream, add it now.

1. Slowly add your borax solution to the glue & water bowl, stirring frequently.
2. Keep adding more borax solution until you reach your desired consistency.

• You may not need to use all of the borax solution.

1. Once the slime forms, remove it from the bowl and place it onto a clean countertop.
2. Knead the slime until it’s no longer sticky.

• Add more borax solution if it’s still too sticky after a minute or two of kneading.

1. Now you’re ready to play!
2. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning its viscosity (resistance to flow) changes based on the stress applied to it. The glue is responsible for the slime’s texture & stretchiness, the water is a solvent, and the borax binds the slime and water together.

Activity 2: Volcano Eruption

Materials Needed

• Baking Soda (2-3 tbsp)
• White Vinegar (½ cup)
• Water (2/3 cup)
• Cardboard or an Aluminum Tray
• Modeling Clay or Paper Mache
• A 16.9oz plastic water bottle
• Optional: Funnel (for easy pouring)
• Optional: Dish soap (for more foam)
• Optional: Red food coloring (For a more lava-y effect)

Instructions

1. Using the modeling clay or paper mache, create the shape of a volcano around the plastic bottle.

• You can build it up to be as large or small as you like, but make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold its shape and contain the eruption.

1. Place the volcano structure on a sturdy tray or piece of cardboard.

• This will contain any spills or overflow during the eruption.

1. Fill the plastic bottle about halfway with warm water.

• Optional: Add a few drops of dish soap to the water. This helps to create foam in the eruption.
• Optional: Add a few drops of red food coloring to the water to mimic the appearance of lava.

1. Carefully add 2-3 tbsp of baking soda to the water bottle.
2. When you’re ready to trigger the eruption, quickly pour the ½ cup of vinegar into the water bottle.
3. Stand back and watch the chemical reaction!

• The baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) create carbon dioxide gas, which causes the eruption. The more vinegar you add, the more gas will be produced. Experiment with the amounts!

1. You can repeat the process multiple times by refilling the bottle with baking soda, water, and vinegar.

Activity 3: DIY Density Tester

Materials Needed

• Tall Jar or Pitcher (Clear)
• Vegetable Oil (⅔ cup)
• Water (⅔ cup)
• Corn Syrup (⅔ cup)
• Cork
• Coin
• Grape, Cherry, or Strawberry
• Ice Cube
• Pebble/Small Rock

Instructions

1. Gather all of the materials before starting the experiment!
2. Pour the vegetable oil into your clear, tall jar or pitcher.
3. Pour the water in.
4. Pour the corn syrup in.
5. Allow the liquids to settle before dropping in your items.

• You should clearly see where each liquid has settled (oil on top, water in the middle, corn syrup on the bottom).

1. In any order you’d like, drop the cork, coin, grape/cherry/strawberry, ice cube, and pebble into the pitcher.
2. Watch as the materials settle into different sections of the pitcher.

• Each of the items has a different mass. So, when they’re dropped into the pitcher containing three different densities, the objects settle in a liquid with a similar density. If an object has a greater density than the liquid it’s dropped into, it will sink. If it has a lower density, it will float.

In Conclusion

Science activities are a great way to keep your child engaged and entertained at home. From making DIY slime to setting off your own volcanic eruptions, these activities will provide hours of fun while introducing children to different scientific principles. They are an engaging way to support your child’s cognitive and social development and provide plenty of opportunities to explore and learn together.