3 Easy Science Experiments to Do with Your Kids

By Amber Bennett

Strong STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills set kids up to succeed both in school and later in life. Encouraging them to be interested in these subjects is easier than you might think, especially if you start when they're young. 

Activities that encourage children to be curious and creative will spark a love of learning. Plus, science experiments and other hands-on STEM projects are a fun way to bond with your kids.

Here are three easy science experiments that preschoolers and early elementary students will enjoy.

1. Leakproof Plastic Bag

A (age 5) doing the leakproof plastic bag experiment.

Our preschooler loves to do any experiment that involves water. I can give her a couple of beakers, and she'll happily pour water back and forth between them, especially if I put a few drops of food coloring in each beaker so she can mix the colors. 

Another great activity that involves water is the leakproof plastic bag. 

All you need are:

• Large plastic zip-top bag
• Water
• Sharpened pencils
• Large towel to cover your work surface (or do it outside or in the tub)

Instructions:

1. Fill the plastic bag with water and then seal it.
2. Demonstrate how to push a pencil through the bag (make sure the pencil goes through far enough to plug the hole to avoid leakage).
3. While your child is pushing the pencils into the bag, ask them to think about why the bag isn't leaking even though they're poking holes into it.
4. After all of the pencils are in the bag, remove them one at a time and watch the water flow out of the holes (if you're working at a table, move the bag to the sink or tub first).

 2. Kitchen Volcano

A (age 5) doing the kitchen volcano experiment.

A favored science experiment for both of our children is the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano. I don't think A would tire of it even if we did it every day! If you're doing this one inside, cover your work surface for easy cleanup. 

All you need are:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Water
• Beakers, flasks, or cups

Instructions:

1. Scoop 1 tablespoon of baking soda into the first container.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of water and stir until dissolved.
3. Measure a half-cup of vinegar into the second container.
4. Gradually pour the vinegar into the first container and watch the reaction (you might do a little bit at a time and pour more once the reaction starts to slow).
5. Explain that when baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid) mix, they create carbon dioxide gas, which causes the fizzing. 

Easy and fun — what's not to love? However, you can spice this experiment up in many ways. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Add food coloring to the vinegar, the baking soda/water mixture, or both.
• Add a squirt of liquid dish soap to the baking soda/water mixture.
• Add some yummy-smelling spices to the baking soda before adding the water, such as cinnamon or cloves.
• Make a clay volcano to house the reaction.
• Take the fun outside and build a volcano in the sandbox. 

Want more volcano fun? Check out this video of an attempt to break the world record for the largest baking soda-vinegar volcano.

3. Static Electricity Explorations with a Balloon

G (age 8) doing the paper person version of the static electricity experiment.

This experiment was a fun way for our third grader to learn about static electricity, and our preschooler enjoyed it, too. Although it involves more materials than the previous two experiments in this post, you could easily simplify it by only doing one variation.

All you need are:

• Balloon
• Plate
• Salt
• Sugar
• Origami or tissue paper

Version 1: Sugar

1. Blow up the balloon.
2. Pour a couple of tablespoons of sugar onto the plate.
3. Rub the balloon against your clothing or hair until you hear the static electricity crackling.
4. Hold the balloon close to the plate (but don't touch it).
5. Watch the sugar fly up and attach to the balloon.

A (age 4) does the sugar variation of the static electricity experiment.

Version 2: Salt

Complete the same steps as in version 2, using salt instead of sugar (finely ground salt works the best).

Version 3: Paper

1. Cut small people out of the origami or tissue paper and place them on the table.
2. Continue as in versions 1 and 2.

Looking for More Inspiration?

If you want some more ideas for experiments to do with your younger children, check out SciShow Kids and Nye Labs on YouTube. If you're looking for science information for older students (or even yourself), please check out our YouTube channel.