Breaks from school are the perfect time for some hands-on learning, and Education.com has a whole library of science projects that families can work on together! Take a look at these six activities that are designed to get your child thinking like a scientist and provide plenty of fun to boot.
Make a glowing bouncy egg
This is a simple project that turns an egg into a funky-colored bouncy ball while also teaching kids about acidity. Using the acidic properties of vinegar, you can dissolve the shell of an egg and then dye it with highlighter liquid or crushed Vitamin B-50 tablets. Plus, when you hold the egg up to a blacklight, the ultraviolet light will make it glow!
Design and build a bridge
A classic engineering activity, building a bridge out of toothpicks and marshmallows is an easy way to introduce your kid to the principles of design. Set goals for the bridge length and how much weight it should be able to hold, then help them brainstorm, prototype, and test until they come up with a solid bridge!
Create a planet
This science project is more about expressing creativity than testing hypotheses, encouraging your child to dream up their own planet. That includes not just how it looks, but what it’s like to land on it, what the environment is like, and what kind of animals live there. Lead your child through this activity and spark their imagination!
Make a bottle rocket
A perennial favorite among budding scientists, building a bottle rocket offers many opportunities for fun. From designing and decorating the rocket, to experimenting with different fuel ingredients and launching the rocket outside, it’s an exciting and educational way to spend an afternoon. Once your learner tries the design provided, have them test out different materials to build the ultimate high-flying rocket.
Build a solar oven
Take advantage of a hot sunny day and cook up some tasty treats by building a solar oven out of a pizza box. The solar oven uses aluminum foil and black construction paper to reflect and trap heat, making it a great way to get your learner thinking about how to make tools that take advantage of natural forces. Additionally, at the end of the experiment you can warm up s’mores or a cheesy plate of nachos to celebrate.
Manipulate buoyancy with a Cartesian diver
Has your child ever wondered how submarines or marine animals dive and surface? This experiment demonstrates how, and it only takes a couple of materials to set up! Using a plastic bottle and a condiment packet, you can make a Cartesian diver that demonstrates the principles of buoyancy. The condiment packet will initially float, but by squeezing the bottle to create more pressure you can change its density and cause the packet to sink.
Learn as a family and explore more activities in the Education.com library!
