Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Try at Home
Quick answer
Easy science experiments for kids can be done with things already in the kitchen: baking soda and vinegar for a fizzing volcano, a bowl of water for sink or float, and salt for growing crystals. Set up a tray, let an adult lead anything involving heat, and follow the instructions on any kit.
Key takeaways
- Most easy experiments need only baking soda, vinegar, salt, food colouring and jars.
- Salt crystals take several days, so set them up early in the holidays.
- An adult should supervise every experiment and keep materials away from mouths.
School holidays are the perfect time for easy science experiments. You do not need a lab, just a tray, a few jars and ingredients from the pantry. Most of these ideas take ten minutes to set up and give kids something to watch, predict and talk about.
If you would like everything in one box, our science kits cover crystals, growing toys and dig-it-out kits. Browse the wider range of educational toys too. Always have an adult supervise, keep materials away from mouths and follow the instructions on any pack.
What you need for science at home
- A baking tray or large plastic tub to catch spills
- Clear jars and cups so kids can see what is happening
- Baking soda, white vinegar, salt and food colouring
- Paper towels, spoons and a jug of water
- Old clothes and a notebook to record guesses and results
Six experiments using kitchen items
- Fizzing volcano. Put a spoonful of baking soda in a cup, add a drop of food colouring, then pour in a splash of vinegar and watch it foam over.
- Sink or float. Collect small items, guess which will sink, then drop each into a bowl of water and sort them.
- Rainbow walking water. Stand three cups of coloured water and two empty cups in a row, link them with folded paper towels and watch the colours travel.
- Oil and water. Pour water and oil into a jar, add a drop of colour and see which layer it joins.
- Dancing raisins. Drop raisins into a glass of clear fizzy water and watch them rise and fall.
- Salt crystals. See the next section for a simple way to grow your own.
| Experiment | Main items | Set-up time |
|---|---|---|
| Fizzing volcano | Baking soda, vinegar, colouring | 5 minutes |
| Sink or float | Bowl of water, small items | 5 minutes |
| Rainbow walking water | Cups, paper towels, colouring | 10 minutes |
| Salt crystals | Salt, warm water, jar, string | 15 minutes, then wait days |
Make it a habit to clean up together. Wipe the tray, rinse the jars and talk about what you saw. Kids who help pack away tend to remember the experiment better, and it means you can run another one tomorrow without a mountain of mess. If something does not work, treat it as data: why did it fizz less than last time, and what could be different?
How to grow crystals at home
Crystals form when water slowly evaporates and leaves the dissolved salt behind. An adult should handle the warm water. Stir salt into warm water a spoonful at a time until no more will dissolve, then pour the clear liquid into a clean jar. Hang a piece of string from a pencil resting across the top so it dips into the liquid, and leave the jar somewhere still. Tiny crystals usually start showing within a few days and keep growing for longer.
For a ready-made option, the crystal growing kit makes a crystal tree in a 10 x 18 x 2cm box, with four seasonal box styles (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and the style may vary. Check the age and supervision notes on the box and follow the pack for timing.
Think like a scientist
The real learning is in the questions, not the fizz. Before each experiment, ask the child to guess what will happen and write the guess down. Then run the test, look closely and compare. Was the guess right? What was different? What could we change next time?
Try changing one thing at a time. Use less vinegar, a different jar, warmer or cooler water, and see whether the result changes. This is how scientists work, and it turns a ten minute activity into a project that can run all afternoon. Let kids do the pouring and stirring where they can, with an adult close by, and let them clean up too.
Kits and growing toys for rainy days
Some experiments are easier with a kit. The growing pet rabbit egg cracks open and grows when placed in water, and the astronaut growing pet does the same in a space-themed version. The Egypt dig kit comes with a tool for digging a hidden figure out of its block, with three designs that may vary.
Afterwards, turn the results into a drawing or a poster. Our arts and crafts range has plenty of ways to record what you found.
Common questions
What are some easy science experiments for kids?
Easy science experiments for kids include a baking soda and vinegar volcano, sink or float, rainbow walking water and growing salt crystals. All use ordinary kitchen items and take only a few minutes to set up.
How do you grow crystals at home?
You grow crystals at home by dissolving as much salt as you can in warm water, pouring it into a jar and hanging a string in the liquid. As the water evaporates, crystals form on the string, and an adult should handle the warm water.
What do you need for science experiments at home?
For science experiments at home you need a tray, clear jars, baking soda, vinegar, salt, food colouring and paper towels. A notebook for guesses and results makes it feel like a real lab.
How long does it take to grow crystals?
Growing salt crystals usually takes several days before you see results. A crystal growing kit has its own timing, so follow the instructions on the pack.
Products mentioned in this guide
Crystal Growing Kit DIY Crystal Tree Science Set
