Science Activities
10 Everyday Ways to Explore Science While Having Fun
Simple science lessons are all around us during the summer. Prevent summer brain drain in your kids with these mini science experiments and activities for children of all ages. Expand their knowledge of meteorology, zoology, botany, chemistry, and more without any special equipment or instructions. read more
11 Awesome STEM Toys to Get Kids into Science & Math
It's smart to nurture your child's love of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)! Exploring science and math for fun could help give your child an edge in these subjects in school and beyond. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, many STEM fields are growing, and STEM jobs pay nearly double the average salary of other U.S. jobs. See which toys can get your child psyched about science and math, from preschool through middle school! read more
5 Fun and Educational Family Activities to Try This Weekend
As a parent, you want your kids to learn as much as they can outside of the classroom while also having fun. Instead of the typical go-to weekend activities of television and video games, try these easy and affordable ways to make weekends fun and educational for children of all ages. read more
Air, Air, Everywhere
Children create moving air, or wind, using plastic bottles. read more
Amazing Inflating Balloons
Amazing Inflating BalloonsBoth chemistry and cooking are about combining ingredients to create something completely different. In cooking, certain ingredients, such as yeast and sugar, are vital to the finished product because of the chemical reaction they produce when they're combined. This activity demonstrates how yeast works. Materials read more
Balloon Fun
Balloon FunTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Package of balloons Directions This activity helps your child to explore force and motion. Inflate the balloons and tie them off with the string.Suspend them from the ceiling just low enough to be reached, and hit them gently with the palm of the hand. Extensions read more
Bird-Watching
Bird-WatchingMaterials Binoculars Bird book for your area Directions Anywhere you go there will be birds. Get a book from the library to find out what kind of birds you can expect to see in your area. Birds owe their success as a species to their ability to fly. Flight enables birds to feed where other animals cannot, escape enemies, and move with the seasons. Birds in flight are a beautiful sight. Take your binoculars and look for birds flying and resting. A few things to look for when bird-watching: read more
Blown Pictures
Blown Pictures Activity for an individual child Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 10 minutes Materials: Tempera paint Plastic spoons Light-colored construction or bond paper Plastic straws This is a fun way for your child to learn about the power of an invisible force such as the wind. read more
Build an Aquarium Terrarium
Build an Aquarium TerrariumYou'll need these materials:A small to medium size aquariumCharcoal (finely ground)Small pebblesPerliteSoil mixAssorted small plants, such as ivy, mini-african violets, small herb plants, or cactiGlass or plastic for top What to do: read more
Chase the Pepper
Chase the PepperMaterials Pie plate or small sink Pepper Bar of soap Sugar Directions Your child will love to show off this neat trick. Fill a pie plate or small sink with water. Shake pepper on the water and dip a piece of wet soap into it. The pepper will run away from the soap. Now shake some sugar into the clear area and the pepper will run back. read more
Cloud Pictures
Cloud Pictures Activity for an individual child Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: Nonmenthol shaving cream White craft glue Thick paintbrushes Your child will learn a bit about clouds and explore a unique texture with this project. Older toddlers can first color a landscape picture to use as a backdrop. read more
Combo Inventions
Combo Inventions Required: Magazines, junk mail, and other disposable picture sources When engineers set out to design something, they typically have a purpose (or function) in mind. What would happen if the process went backwards and the purpose of an invention followed its form? read more
Cookie Paleontologist
Cookie PaleontologistTime 30 minutes Materials A few chocolate chip cookiesPlastic knife, toothpicksShellfish or nut pickSmall paintbrush Directions This is a great project to show kids how much patience it takes to be a paleontologist or archeologist. Take a chocolate chip cookie and scrape out as many whole chips as possible.Concentration is required to extract the chips, which are then eaten as a reward. Extensions read more
Copper Nail
Copper NailHere's another activity that demonstrates how chemicals change when they're combined. Materials 1/4 cup vinegar 10-20 copper pennies Glass jar Iron nail Pinch of salt Scouring powder Directions read more
Cork Boats
Cork BoatsMaterials Assorted corks Straws Toothpicks Lightweight paper Directions read more
Crystal Rock Garden
Crystal Rock GardenAge: 4 and upTime: 30 minutesType of Activity: Science Kids love magic: watching things appear out of thin air. When your child makes crystals form on ordinary rocks and pebbles, she'll feel just like a magician! Materials needed: 1/2 cup water 2 oz alum (sold in the canning or spice sections of supermarkets) Clear glass bowl Clean rocks and pebbles Mixing spoon What to do: read more
Do-It-Yourself "Ologies"
Do-It-Yourself "Ologies" Required: Your time only Quick! What are the three most important laws of pizzology (the study of pizzas)? Don't worry if you don't know—in fact, it's your job to make them up. That's the whole idea behind this activity: each person invents and describes his or her very own field of science. read more
Egg Drop
Egg DropMaterials Raw egg (and a few extra) Packing materials String or tape Directions The object of this activity is to wrap up an egg so that it won't break when dropped from a height. The recommended height is 12-15 feet. Design a container which will protect the egg from breaking. It should be lightweight and sturdy. Most of all, it should withstand sudden impact with the ground. read more
Electric Lemon
Electric LemonThis activity demonstrates how batteries generate electricity. Materials Metal paper clip Lemon Length of copper wire Directions read more
Energy from the Sun
Energy from the SunMaterials 3 used cans with the labels removed White water-based paint Black water-based paint Brushes Thermometer Directions read more
Eureka! 5 Easy Ways to Grow Kids' STEM Skills at Home
Eureka! 5 Easy Ways to Grow Kids' STEM Skills at Home STEM — yikes! Science, technology, engineering, and math (the "STEM" subjects) are important areas of learning for any student — but they sure can be intimidating for parents who are trying to reinforce their kids' education at home. read more
Evaporation Experiment
Evaporation ExperimentMaterials 2 clear plastic cups Felt marker Clear plastic wrap Water Directions read more
Flashlight Fun
Flashlight FunMaterials Scissors Uninflated balloons (one red, one yellow, and one blue) Flashlight Rubber bandsDirections read more
