Fun with Science at Home: Simple Experiments for Kids

As the summer winds down and the new school year approaches, there’s still time for some hands-on fun that doubles as learning! August is National Inventors Month, making it the perfect time to spark creativity and curiosity in your budding scientists. Science teacher Karyn Hutchinson from Windemere Park Charter Academy in Lansing, Michigan shares some simple science experiments that you can do with your kids. These activities are not only fun, but also teach valuable STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) concepts.

Making Slime with Three Simple Ingredients

Who doesn’t love slime? This easy-to-make creation is a favorite for kids of all ages and offers a fun introduction to chemistry.

Materials:

• 8-ounce bottle of Elmer’s white school glue
• 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons of contact saline solution (or slime activator)
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• (Optional) Food coloring

Directions:

1. Mix the Glue: Squeeze the bottle of glue into a bowl. Add food coloring if you’d like, and mix it in. Then, stir in the baking soda.
2. Activate the Slime: Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of saline solution and stir. If it’s too sticky, add more saline solution, a little at a time. The more you add, the thicker it will be. The less you add, the slimier it will be.
3. Knead the Slime: Use your hands to knead the slime until it holds together. It will be wet and gooey at first, but just keep kneading until it all comes together.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment

For some fizzy fun, try this experiment that inflates a balloon using a chemical reaction. It’s a simple way to demonstrate how gases are formed when certain substances mix.

Materials:

• 12-inch balloon
• Empty 2-liter plastic bottle
• Baking soda
• White distilled vinegar
• Funnel
• Teaspoon or small measuring cup

Directions:

1. Prepare the Balloon and Bottle: Use a funnel to fill the balloon halfway with baking soda. Pour vinegar into the bottle, filling it about one-third full.
2. Attach the Balloon: Carefully stretch the balloon over the neck of the bottle without letting the baking soda fall in.
3. Trigger the Reaction: Lift the balloon so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar. The mixture will fizz and bubble, and the balloon will inflate.
4. Observe: Watch the reaction and record your observations. Try using more or less baking soda and vinegar and see how it impacts the balloon’s size.

The Food Coloring Experiment

This colorful experiment demonstrates how temperature affects the speed of molecules, making it a fun introduction to thermal energy.

Materials: 

• Water
• Two glass bowls (or just one if needed)
• Food coloring

Directions:

1. Cold Water: Fill one bowl with cold water and add a few drops of food coloring. Time how long it takes for the color to spread.
2. Hot Water: In a second bowl, add hot water and food coloring at the same time as the cold bowl. Time how long it takes the color to spread.
3. Observe: Notice the difference in how quickly the colors spread. You can also try using a thermometer to measure and compare temperatures.

These simple experiments offer a fun way to wrap up the summer with creativity and learning. Who knows? You might just inspire the next great inventor!