Easy Science Experiments To Do At Home

We have rounded up some simple, fun and easy science experiments to do at home after school. Hands-on experiments are a great way for children to satisfy their curiosity and answer their own questions about the world. We hope this list gives you some great ideas for fun hands-on experiments at home. If you are looking for ready to use, affordable, and kid-approved science kits, that includes everything, check out Smore Science Kits

1. Why do we have to wear sunscreen when we go outside?

Find out with this experiment about the sun and potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. 

Use UV-sensitive beads that change color when exposed to sunlight to understand how the Sun produces different wavelengths of light and what materials can protect us from those potentially harmful rays. You can also use black light as a source of UV light.

Project Extension: you can use different SPF sunscreens to cover the beads and see if that helps protect them from the harmful UV rays. You can really tell why your parents say it is important to put on sunscreen when you go outside on a sunny day or at the beach!

2. Do things float better in the ocean or in a river?

This experiment helps you understand the concept of water density. You can find out if the ocean (or saltwater) helps things like boats and animals float better and if so then why. You can test different salt levels to prove whether having more or less salt makes the water more or less buoyant. Be sure to keep track of your measurements!

3. Why do we have to brush our teeth?

Want to know why it’s important to visit your dentist so often? Here’s a very cool experiment using eggshells to simulate teeth enamel, the stuff that covers your teeth. You can soak the eggs in different substances with different amounts of sugar and see how they affect the eggshells. As a bonus, you can test to see how brushing with toothpaste and toothbrush actually helps after you’ve got them nice and dirty. You’ll never look at sugary drinks the same way.

4. Do hand sanitizers really work or is washing your hands better?

Here’s a neat experiment to understand why it is important to wash your hands and how to see microbiology in action. You use actual Petri dishes and establish the scientific need for having a control (untouched) sample. Its both super gross and very cool at the same time! Try to think of other variables you can test as well!

5. Why do pennies get nasty and dark and what will make them shiny again?

In this experiment, you gather lots and lots of dirty pennies and test out different household acids in order to clean them. Why do they get like that and what ingredient cleans them the best? This is a great chemical reaction experiment that leaves you feeling shiny and bright!

6. Squirmy Wormy: Which type of soil do earthworms like best?

If you LOVE getting your hands dirty, here’s a cool zoology project that’ll show you why earthworms are important and what happens to dead plants in the soil. After your project is done, you can place these guys in your garden and let them help add nutrients to your garden soil!

7. Paper Airplane Science. What type of airplane flies best?

Who doesn’t love engineering a paper airplane? Yes, it is considered engineering when you design a machine (or paper) to fly. Pick a few different fun designs of paper airplanes and then measure how far each design will go. Check out the experiment here. Try to predict which one will fly the furthest or which one will fly in a loop. What things about each airplane do you think affects its flight? Research about aerodynamics and remember to double-check your measurements!

8. Which ramp surface will a marble roll the farthest on?

This one lets you experiment with different textures and see what factors affect how far a marble can roll. What exactly is friction and how does it affect distance traveled by an object? Check this cool experiment out and see for yourself!

9. Can an egg lose its shell without breaking?

Kids love helping in the kitchen. So, why not rummage a few of your kitchen supplies and let kids learn about chemistry and chemical reaction with this fascinating naked egg experiment?

10. Can you cook without fire?

The sun’s heat can really get on your nerves during the summer season. Create your own solar oven and harness the power of the sun to make yummy treats like smores with this experiment.

11. How can you make a ping-pong ball float in the air?

Search around the house for some bendy straws and a couple of ping-pong balls to do this out-of-this-world experiment.  Kids will think science is magic, but it’s really just Bernoulli’s principle at work.

As an alternative, instead of using a bendy and your kid’s blowing power, you can also use a hair blower.

12. How are tornadoes formed?

Centripetal force and vortex are science concepts that may be a little complicated to explain. With this experiment, kids can see for themselves how tornadoes are formed right in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

13. Mummified hotdogs

Don’t wait for Halloween to talk about mummies and zombies with your kids. With this experiment, kids can learn about the mummification. What’s more, they’ll be working with a beloved food item, a hotdog.

14. Invisible ink

If your kids have ever dreamed of becoming spies, they will be amazed with this invisible ink experiment. Get everyone in the family involved and write secret messages to one another. To decode the messages, all you need is a heat source.

15. Flying tea bags

A very handy reminder, especially in the case of a house fire: Hot air rises, and cold air sinks! To drive home the point and make the lesson stick to your kid’s mind, do this flying tea bags experiment. Since it involves fire, make sure safety precaution are in place. It is best to do this activity outdoor.

16. Dancing raisins

Cool things happen when you mix baking soda and vinegar together. Watch the raisins dance in the bubbly and fizzy mixture produced in this experiment.

17. Human sundial

Sundials were one of the first instruments used to tell time. A sundial can tell the time through its shadow that changes depending on the position of the sun in the sky. Turn your kids into human sundials and help them learn about light and shadows, as well.

18. Sparking steel wool

This cool experiment involves fire and heat. Ensure that safety precautions are in place and supervise kids when they do this activity.

19. What can I do to make my gummy bears grow bigger?

Kids love gummy bears! Seize the chance to teach them about chemistry and osmosis through this experiment.

20. How does a plant grow?

Do you have a couple of old CD cases waiting to be thrown out? Make use of them in this experiment that will give your kids a chance to have an up-close look at how plant grow.

21. Can you make a magnifying glass out of ice?

Another cool experiment to try during the hot summer months. Turn ice into a magnifying glass with this one and keep the kids cool while learning science.

22. Which soda works best with Mentos?

You’ve probably seen this before. A soda bottle explodes after you put Mentos into it. Now, it’s time to try this experiment for yourself.

23. What is the science behind the walking rainbow experiment?

This experiment will teach young kids about colors and capillary action. It’s a vibrant and fun activity that not only kids, but even adults can enjoy.

24. Can I make music using glasses with water?

Get kids banging and hitting on water-filled glasses to make music and learn more about sounds with this musical experiment.

25. How do we make chalk with egg shells?

What do eggshells and chalk have in common? Calcium! Make some DIY chalk using eggshells with this experiment.

26. How do you turn a grape into raisin?

All you need for this experiment is a bunch of grapes and a bowl. It’s that easy, but the skills of keeping notes and recording observations will be incredibly value-adding to your child’s life.

27. How can you make ice cream in a bag?

It’s a delicious treat and a learning activity rolled into one. In this experiment, kids will make ice cream with just three ingredients and the wonder of science.

28. How do you do a chain reaction with popsicle sticks?

Invite the whole family because this experiment takes a while to set up, but the fun and learning to be had by everyone makes it worth the fuss.

29. How can you turn pennies green?

Pennies are made of copper and are typically orange red or brown in color. But do you know that you can turn them green by doing this simple experiment? Fun fact: what happens to the pennies also happened to the Statue of Liberty, that’s why it’s green!

30. Can we crush cans without using our hands?

If you think you need superpowers to crush cans without using your hands, you’re wrong. You only need to do this experiment.

31. What type of paper bridge is the strongest?

Be an engineer for a day and build different types of paper bridges in this experiment. Find out what design is strongest and gain more knowledge about structural engineering.

32. Which set of marbles will spin longest?

Learn about inertia with this fun experiment. Create spinning tops using marbles and see which one will spin fastest and longest.

33. Can we make a paper frog leap?

With just scissors and some construction paper, this experiment can teach you about kinetic energy and improve your creativity at the same time!

34. Can we lift an ice cube without touching it?

Add some salt to an ice cube in this experiment and find out whether it would be possible to pick it up without touching it.

35. How do penguins stay dry?

Have you ever wondered how penguins stay warm and dry in their cold icy habitats? Do this experiment to find out.

36. Can you make a kazoo?

Do you know what a kazoo is? It’s a simple musical instrument that’s easy to make on your own, but it can teach you a lot about how sound works.

37. What’s the best way to catch flies?

Flies can be pesky and bothersome. A good way to get rid of them is to make traps. This experiment will help you discover the best way to attract and trap them.

38. Can you build a simple machine?

Simple machines make our lives so much easier. Challenge yourself and make a simple machine in this experiment using common materials that can be easily found around the house.

39. Does air take up space?

Sometimes, it’s hard for kids to understand that air is matter, just like solids and liquids. This experiment can teach them that like other types of matter, air takes up space.

40. Is it possible to make hot ice?

Ice is cold. It can make you shiver. In extreme circumstances, it can even make you freeze. In this experiment, you’ll make ice that’s actually warm to the touch.

41. How do animals in polar regions survive the extreme cold?

Seals and polar bears are some animals that live in the coldest regions of Earth. How do they survive the extreme temperature? Do this experiment to find out how these animals stay warm in the arctics.

42. What’s the best way to drop an egg without breaking it?

An egg breaks when you drop it. That’s a fact. Can you find a way to drop an egg without ruining it? Try this experiment and think of different ways to keep an egg from breaking.

43. Can old newspapers be like new paper again?

Got some old newspapers and other paper scraps lying around? Why not turn them to new paper by doing this experiment?

44. What’s the best way to make a building survive an earthquake?

We feel nature’s power through natural phenomena like storms, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Try your hand at building structures that can withstand an earthquake in this experiment.

45. What type of roof is the best in preventing leaks?

In this experiment, you will test different materials to see which one is the most effective in keeping a Lego house dry.

46. Who can make the longest shadows?

Challenge your family and friends to make the longest shadow by experimenting with some Legos and a flashlight.

47. Will milk stick like glue?

Do you know that you can turn milk into glue? This experiment will teach you how to turn this nutritious drink to an adhesive.

48. Is it possible to bake ice cream without melting it?

Try making a baked Alaska to find out. This yummy experiment will teach you about insulation and give you a snack at the same time.

And if you have any questions, feel free to contact us – your friendly science experts. 

STAY SAFE & SCIENCE ON