10 Awesome DIY Science Projects to do with Your Kids

by Rachel Burns | Parenting Blogs, Teaching Blogs

Description: With the right DIY science projects, you will be able to introduce your children to the world of science. These projects will help them develop quick and rational thinking. Learn more in our comprehensive article. Start now!

Are you on a lookout for DIY science fair projects ideas for your kids at home? Then we have got your backs! We have compiled a complete list of the best 10 DIY science projects that you can do with your kids that cover a wide range of science topics ranging from chemical reactions to outer space.

With the help of these simple science experiments, your children will understand how the world works. These fun projects and experiments for kids will spark their scientific curiosity and great for budding makers, innovators, and scientists. Similar to how you choose the best water table, you need to look for the right science experiments.

1. Insect Hotels

Insect hotels are perhaps one of those easy DIY science projects that you can pick for your kid and participate along with him/her. The objective here is to create a hotel for insects and checking which insects have made this compartment their home. Once you create this box, all you need to do is place it outside (near the garden is the best option). This will teach your kids about zoology.

Materials needed

• Items such as bits of wool/yarn, dried leaves, small rocks, bark, sticks, etc.
• A hot glue gun with glue
• A box with multiple compartments

2. DIY Lava Lamp

This is a DIY experiment is fun and easy science projects for kids. Your toddler will mix antacid tablets, food coloring, oil, and water to create their own lava lamp (temporary, of course). This happens because water and oil do not mix, and the antacid creates globules from the oil. The food color adds coloring.

This experiment is perfect to start on your kids about chemical reactions.

Materials needed

• Antacid tablets
• Food coloring
• Vegetable oil
• Water

3. Magnetic Slime

A scientific take on the silly putty and Play-Doh game, magnetic slime is a game that is quite fun to play. Additionally, it will also teach your kids about the basics of magnetism. While the ingredients might not be used in your household, you can easily find them online or at general stores.

Once all the ingredients are well-mixed, you can make use of a neodymium magnet to move the magnetic slime around without having to touch it; a neodymium magnet is used since regular magnets won’t be strong enough.

Materials needed

• Neodymium magnet
•  Iron oxide powder
• Adhesive glue
• Liquid starch

4. Baking Soda Volcanoes

Baking soda volcanoes are one of those projects that are quite popular as class science projects for kids. It is tough to beat the excitement of seeing a volcano erupt within the confines of your own home. This experiment can be as simple or in-depth as you wish.

For the eruption, all you need are vinegar and baking soda. If you wish to add more power to the eruption, you can add dishwashing detergents. If your kid is creative, he/she can make the volcano as lifelike as they like. And might win prizes.

Materials needed

• Food coloring (Optional)
•  Items to place around the volcano (Optional)
• Aluminum foil or play-dough to create the volcano
• Soda bottle or a large mason jar
• Water
• Dishwasher detergent
• Vinegar
• Baking soda

5. Tornado In A Jar Science Projects

This is one of the most straightforward science experiments that you can teach your kids. It will not take more than five minutes of your time, and you do not need a lot of materials as well.

However, once the experiment works out in the right way, your children will be amazed by their own miniature tornado. They will be able to see the vortex clearly, and the strength of the wind will depend on how quickly you swirl the jar around.

Materials needed

• Glitter (Optional)
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Water
• Mason jar

6. Colored Celery Experiment

Yet another classic science experiment done by school kids, this celery science experiment will quite easy to demonstrate and will also provide your children with a great visual understanding of how plants transpire and get their nutrients and water.

All you need to do is plant the celery stalks in cups filled with colored water. After a day, you will observe that the leaves of the celery plants take on the color or the water. This happens because the celery stalks contain small capillaries that transport the nutrients and water throughout the plant.

Materials needed

• Food coloring
• Water
• Glass jars
• Celery stalks

7. Edible Rock Candy

This is one of those funny DIY science projects that will take at least a week to work; however, once they do, you and your kids will be able to eat the results. Once you create a sugar solution, you can fill them in jars. Once done, you can dangle strings in them that will soon be covered with crystals. Since the experiment involves pouring and heating, it should be done under adult supervision.

Materials needed

• Candy flavoring (Optional)
• Food coloring (Optional)
• Small skewers or strings
• Clothespin
• Large saucepan
• Sugar
• Water
• Glass jar

8. Water Xylophone

With the use of some necessary materials, you will be able to create a musical instrument from scratch. Additionally, it will also teach your child about sound waves. All you need to do is fill some glass jars with varying water levels.

After you line them up, ask your kid to hit each jar with a wooden stick. Make them understand how the pitch differs in each jar. This is because sound travels differently in water and depends on how full the jars are.

Materials needed

• Skewers/Wooden sticks
• Water
• Glass jar

9. DIY Solar Oven

This is one of those DIY science projects that you can do with your kids. Once it is ready, you can make use of solar energy to melt cheese on a pizza. While the food gets cooked, you can take that time to explain how the sun rays are used to heat the food.

Materials needed

• Tape
• Black construction paper
• Plastic cling wrap
• Glue
• Ruler
• Permanent marker
• Box cutter or knife
• Aluminum foil
• Pizza box

10. Sidewalk Constellation

If you can create this experiment successfully, you will see the Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper in broad daylight. Ask your children to draw the lines of constellations on the sidewalk; they can make use of constellation diagrams for guidance. Next, place stones on the stars’ location. Then, you can see where the constellation they drew will be in the sky once you take a look at the astronomy chart.

Materials needed

• Diagrams of constellations
• Small stones
• Sidewalk chalk

Science Projects—Conclusion

The above are some of the many different science experiments that you can do with your children. They are quite fun and will provide them with valuable insight into how the world works once they understand how to make a science projects.

What do you think? 

Author’s bio: 

Rachel Burns is a young mother, photographer and freelance writer with an interest in education. She blogs as a hobby and plans to write a book about parenting next year.