5 science experiments for kids to do at home

5 science experiments for kids to do at home

It is quite likely that you've find yourself in this situation; bored at home, with nothing to do... Or perhaps you are a parent, looking for something new and exciting for your energetic kids to do. Well, You're in luck, because that is exactly what this article will be focusing on! 

 1. Homemade lava lamp

Remember lava lamps? Those cool decorations that used to be all the rage in the 70's? Well, would making one refresh your memory perhaps?

What we will be making won't be a perfect lava lamp, but it will be nothing short of majestic itself.

Materials:

1. Some sort of transparent container such as a bottle, a glass or a jar. 

2. Tap water

3. Oil

4. Any food colouring of your choice

5. Αn effervescent tablet (a tablet which dissolves in water, producing bubbles)

6. (optional) A light that your container can stand on and shines  upwards, towards the jar.

*(I suggest a jar combined with a light for the best viewing experience)

Procedure:

1. Place all of your ingredients on a surface that can not be permanently stained by the oil

2.Fill a little less than 1/4 of the container with water

3.Pick whatever colour food colouring you prefer and mix it with the water untill it has a vibrant colour (you may add more colouring if need be)

4.Fill 3/4 of the container with oil

5.Break the tablet into 8 pieces and add one (keep the top of the container open during the reaction, also if you are using a light, turn off all other lighting in the room)

6.Once the bubbling has stopped, you may add another tablet to observe the reaction again.

2. Rock candy

"Mom, can we have rock candy?" "No, we have rock candy at home!"

This is an experement for young kids, but don't do it on your own! We'll be handling hot water, so go grab a parent and get ready!

This experiment also requires a great deal of patience, so be warned!

Materials:

1. A container filled with water (Make sure to look at all of the steps and materials before starting. This is important)

2. An amount of sugar around three times the amount of water used in the previous step

3. Skewers. Toothpicks could work with a small container, for little candies. Have as many skewers as containers

4. Multiple clothes pins (normally used to hang clothes for drying)

5. (Optional, but needed for best results) Food colouring, candy flavouring

Procedure:

1. In a saucepan, above medium heat, mix equal parts sugar and water until the sugar has completely dissolved

2. Slowly add more sugar and mix until you reach a sugarwater saturated solution (A solution in which no more sugar can dissolve). You will be able to tell because the water will begin to get cloudy.

3. You may add your candy flavouring now. Then continue to heat the water until it comes to a simmer.

4. Remove your saucepan from the stove and allow it to cool. You may add your food colouring and mix it now. Only add the food colouring now if you wish to make one colour of candy. Otherwise, add the food colouring at the end of step 6.

5. Cut your skewers to the perfect size. Make sure they will not touch the bottom of your container.

6. Dip them in water and roll them in sugar. Leave them until they are completely dry. You want sugar to have stuck to them as well.
While this is happening, pour the solution into your container(s).

7. After the skewers have dried, use the clothes pins to make them hang over the jar, dipped in the water, but not touching the bottom

8. Wait. Quite a bit. I'd suggest to wait for about a week for your candy to be fully grown, but honestly, you can wait as little or as long as you want.

3. Purifying water

This is not as exciting an experiment, but it is an interesting lesson. How does the cycle of water work? This experiment might help visualise the awnser.

Materials:

1. Plastic wrap

2. A bowl

3. A smaller bowl that fits inside the first one without being larger on any side

4. A marble or another similar object

5. Table salt

Procedure:

1. Place the smaller bowl inside of the larger one, in the middle.

2. Fill the large bowl with tap water (potable) and add some table salt.

3. Place plastic wrap on top of the larger bowl.

4. place the marble and watch as it sinks into the middle, causing the plastic wrap to bend downwards slightly

5. Place preferably in a warm and sunny place. The experiment is still possible in the winter, but progress will be slower.

6. Water should now slowly evaporate and travel upwards, then become liquid again as it hits the surface of the plastic wrap and travel downwards to the middle, where it falls inside of the smaller bowl. This process will be slow but you will be able to notice the results as the days go by.

7. As long as the mediums you used were clean, the water in the small bowl should be potable

4.The difference in water density between hot and cold water

This experiment allows one to physically see the difference in density between hot and cold water, as less dense water flows to the top. 

Materials:

1. An even number of small containers that are all the same

2. Ice

3. A playing card (one that you don't need)

4. Colouring

...and of course...

5. Hot water

6. Cold water

Procedure:

1.Fill the small containers with cold and hot water respectively.

2. Place the ice inside of the cold water

3. Place the playing card above the hot water container so when you flip it upside down, no water spills out.

4. Place the hot water container perfectly above the cold water one, so that when you pull the playing card, no water will spill out. Be quick so the hot water doesn't cool down!

5. When you are ready, pull the playing card

6. Watch as the ice floats to the top, but the colours don't mix, only slightly in the middle.

5. Phone speaker

This might not be the most useful of creations, however it is fun to make and see your results. Go grab an adult kids, because you will need to handle scissors.

Materials:

1. Toliet paper roll (empty).

2. 2 plastic or paper cups.

3. Scissors (A cutter would help, but it is not required).

4. A pencil.

5. Anything you may wish to decorate your speaker with, or using.

Procedure:

1. Place the bottom of your phone (where the speakers are) on the tolet paper roll and make an outline of the bottom with your pencil.

2. Cut the outline out. If you have one, you may begin with your cutter and then proceed with your scissors.

3. Take the two cups and place them on the sides of the toliet paper. Repeat the same process, cutting out parts of the cups' sides, so that the sides of the toilet paper can fit inside.

4. Place the toilet roll in the two cups, with the cups laying down in the direction you want the sound to head.

5. Decorate the speaker as you wish.

5. Place your phone in the hole you created in the beginning, speakers down, and play a song.

Sources:

https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/make-your-own-lava-lamp/

https://www.steamsational.com/hot-and-cold-water-density-experiment/

 https://www.weareteachers.com/easy-science-experiments/

https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2015/02/rock-candy-experiment.html