Top 3 Kids Science Experiments at Home

Here is a collection of fun, safe, and educational science experiments you can do with common household items. I have categorized them by the type of “science magic” they demonstrate.

Safety First 🥽

• Supervision: Adult supervision is recommended for all experiments.

• Protection: Wear old clothes or an apron.

• Clean up: Cover your workspace with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.

1. The “Messy” Chemistry Station

Oobleck (Non-Newtonian Fluid)

This is a classic sensory experiment where the substance acts like a solid when hit, but a liquid when poured.

• Materials: 2 cups Cornstarch, 1 cup Water, Food coloring (optional).

• Instructions:

  1. Pour the cornstarch into a bowl.

  2. Add water slowly while mixing with your hands. Add food coloring if desired.

  3. The Test: Punch it (it feels hard) and then let it drip through your fingers (it feels like liquid).

• The Science: Oobleck is a Non-Newtonian fluid. Its viscosity changes depending on the pressure applied to it.

Also Read : IRCTC Error : Unable To Perform Transaction

Lemon Volcanoes

A fruity twist on the classic vinegar and baking soda volcano.

• Materials: 2 Lemons, Baking Soda, Food Coloring, Dish Soap, Craft stick/Spoon.

• Instructions:

  1. Cut the bottom off the lemon (so it sits flat) and cut out the core of the top.

  2. Mush the inside of the lemon with a spoon to release juices.

  3. Add a few drops of food coloring and a squeeze of dish soap.

  4. Add a spoonful of baking soda and watch it erupt!

• The Science: An acid-base reaction. The citric acid in the lemon reacts with the baking soda (base) to create carbon dioxide gas (bubbles).

2. Visual Wonders (Physics & Density)

Magic Milk

A colorful explosion that happens instantly.

• Materials: A shallow plate, Whole Milk (high fat is best), Liquid Food Coloring, Dish Soap, Q-tip (Cotton Swab).

• Instructions:

  1. Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of the plate.

  2. Add drops of different colored food coloring near the center (do not mix).

  3. Dip the Q-tip in dish soap.

  4. Touch the soapy Q-tip to the center of the milk and watch the colors race away!

• The Science: Soap molecules are attracted to fat molecules in the milk. As the soap chases the fat, it pushes the food coloring around, creating the “magic” effect.

Homemade Lava Lamp

Exploring density without the heat.

• • Materials: A clear jar or glass, Water, Vegetable Oil, Food Coloring, Alka-Seltzer tablets.

  • Instructions:

    1. Fill the jar 1/4 full with water.

    2. Fill the rest with vegetable oil (leave a little space at the top). Notice how they separate.

    3. Add several drops of food coloring (they will fall through the oil).

    4. Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into pieces and drop them in one by one.

  • The Science: Oil is less dense than water, so it floats. The tablet creates gas bubbles that carry the colored water up through the oil. When the bubble pops, the water sinks back down.

3. The “Slow Magic” (Biology & Nature)

Walking Water

A beautiful demonstration of how plants drink.

• • Materials: 3 clear cups, Water, Paper towels, Red, Yellow, and Blue food coloring.

  • Instructions:

    1. Line up the 3 cups. Fill the left and right cups with water. Leave the middle cup empty.

    2. Add Red dye to the left cup and Yellow dye to the right cup.

    3. Fold two paper towels into strips.

    4. Place one end of a towel in the Red cup and the other in the empty middle cup. Do the same with the Yellow cup.

    5. Wait 1-2 hours. The water will “walk” into the middle cup and turn Orange!

  • The Science: Capillary action. The water moves through the gaps in the paper towel fibers, defying gravity, just like water moves up a plant’s stem.

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Regrowing Kitchen Scraps

Turning waste into science.

• Materials: The bottom end of a Romaine lettuce, Celery, or Green Onion; a small bowl of water.

• Instructions:

  1. Instead of throwing away the white base of your veggie, place it in a shallow bowl of water (root side down).

  2. Place it on a sunny windowsill.

  3. Change the water every 1-2 days. Watch new leaves sprout from the center within days!

• The Science: Many plants can regenerate from their base using stored energy and new water absorption.

How to make it a lesson:

Ask the Scientific Method questions before you start:

1. Ask a Question: “What do you think will happen if we mix these?”

2. Make a Hypothesis: “I think it will explode!”

3. Test it: Do the experiment.

4. Conclusion: “Was your guess right?”