Science Activities for Kids

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments for Kids

April 26, 2021 By Terri Thompson

What comes to mind when you think about chemical reaction science experiments?

I think of science labs, safety equipment, and sometimes dangerous chemical combinations. Not something I’d want to do with my kids.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way! We’re going to dial it back with these fun, safe, kid-friendly chemistry experiments.

Have fun learning with this fun selection of chemical reaction science experiments for kids that are safe, exciting, and fun.

We’ll explore chemical reactions in a fun way using items you probably already have at home.

Are you ready to get started? I am. Let’s start learning!

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Fun Chemical Reaction Science Experiments

Find out how pennies react to different substances with our fun Chemical Reactions with Pennies experiment.

A simple chemical reaction with vinegar will help you identify rocks with this Rock Testing experiment at Rainy Day Mum.

It’s so easy to see the reaction when you make a lava lamp like this idea from Fun Learning for Kids.

Use red cabbage as a pH indicator with this fun Cabbage Science project from Little Bins for Little Hands.

It takes a chemical reaction to make slime and you can try it out with this simple slime science from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Or make a fun batch of Rainbow Fizzy Cloud Dough like this from Powerful Mothering for another sensory experiment.

Grow your own crystals with this fun experiment from NurtureStore.

Create invisible ink with this fun spy science project from Share It! Science News.

This Fizzing Seashell science experiment from Teaching Without Chairs is a fun ocean science project.

Learn why leaves change colors with this simple experiment from How Wee Learn.

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments with Baking Soda

Create a gas to fill a balloon with our fun Grow the Grinch’s Heart science experiment.

Learn about history and make a simple volcano with our fun Erupting Mount Vesuvius project.

Use science to make art with this fun Baking Soda Art project from Mosswood Connections.

Do the classic Exploding Baggies science experiment like this from Buggy & Buddy.

Make a simple lemon volcano like this fun idea from Sixth Bloom.

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to prep a fun science project. That’s why I love Green Kid Crafts Discovery boxes. The boxes are packed full of projects that are fun and inviting. You can choose to get a subscription or a one-off box based off of a specific theme. Any one you choose would be a lot of fun!

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

Wouldn’t it be so much fun to get STEAM family activities delivered to your inbox? I think so! That’s why I’ve created this fun series, STEAM Family Fun, to be delivered to your inbox. After going through all the letters in STEAM each week with a fun activity devoted to each, you’ll start receiving a fun STEAM activity once a month. (And I’ll also pop up in your inbox occasionally if I’ve got other fun things to share.)

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

Fun Popcorn Science Experiments for Kids

February 22, 2021 By Terri Thompson

Do you love popcorn! I definitely do and so do my kids.

But, there’s more to popcorn than just a yummy snack. There’s a lot of science involved too.

So, let’s explore a little, do some popcorn science experiments, and learn while we snack.

How does popcorn pop?

Perhaps one of the simplest experiments you can do is to pop a batch of popcorn to find out how it pops.

Ask a simple question: What elements do you need to pop popcorn? (Hint: Heat) But, why does heat make it pop?

It all has to do with pressure, and the particular make-up of the popcorn kernel. There’s a tiny bit of water inside a popcorn kernel. The heat produces steam, pressure forms, and POP! You’ve got popcorn.

While you’re popping, check out this article at Wonderopolis that answers all your questions. It goes into much greater detail of all the science at work in popcorn.

So yes, your favorite salty snack is basically science at work.

Fun Popcorn Science Experiments

(Pictured left to right in above photo)

Now that we’ve talked about how popcorn works, let’s do some fun popcorn science experiments!

Use popcorn to do a fun classic experiment, Hopping Corn, with One Time Through.

What’s the difference between corn and popcorn? Explore and do some fun hands-on activities to answer this question at A Little Pinch of Perfect.

Explore volume and physical change with this fun popcorn experiment from EDventures for Kids.

Pop popcorn in a different way by popping it on the cob. Tinkerlab shows you how.

More Popcorn Science Projects

Try a popcorn and milk science experiment inspired by the book Farmer Boy. Check out Simple Living Creative Learning for all the details.

Use popcorn to compare weight with this fun science activity from Inspiration Laboratories.

Can changing how popcorn kernels are treated prior to popping change how well (or how many) they pop? Answer this questions with a fun Popcorn STEM activity from Lemon Lime Adventures.

What happens with you pop dyed popcorn? Our Whimsical Days shows you how to do this fun experiment. (Not pictured.)

Turn snack time into learning time when you do some fun popcorn science experiments.

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

Melting Snow Science Experiment

February 17, 2021 By Terri Thompson

We’ve had plenty of snow this year, but the sub-zero temps have been keeping us inside most days.

Luckily, with the exception of a quick trip outside to gather snow, this simple melting snow science experiment is done indoors.

We used the snow to practice both prediction and observation.

Practice making predictions and observations with this simple melting snow science experiment. It's perfect to do on a cold, snowy day!

Supplies needed for your snow science experiment:

Snow (if you don’t have snow, you can use crushed ice)
4 clear jars or drinking glasses
Ruler
Notebook

Let’s start our snow science project!

Step 1:

Measure an equal amount of snow into 4 jars. We added about 2 inches of snow to each. Use the ruler to measure.

Place each jar in 4 different locations. We chose a window (on a grey, cloudy day), a dark room, the refrigerator, and outside (temp was -4 F).

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Step 2:

Record your predictions.

We asked the question, which jar of snow will melt first?

We then ranked them from the fastest melting to the slowest.

Each girl had a chance to make individual guesses.

Step 3:

Make your first observations.

When the timer went off, the girls ran around and checked all of the jars. I was their recorder and the person elected to check the frigid outside jar.

After five minutes, we discovered that the jar in the window and the one in the dark room had already started melting. The refrigerator jar had no melting, nor did the one outside (obviously).

After making your first observations, set the timer for an additional 5 or 10 minutes. We chose five.

Step 4:

Make your second observation.

After an additional five minutes had passed, we discovered that our window jar was melting the fastest, and the dark room was second. The refrigerator jar and outside jar still showed no melting.

Step 5:

Make your final observations.

After our second observation we left to run a few errands. When we came back, we discovered that despite our initial observations, the jar in the dark room melted faster than the one in the window.

The refrigerator jar had started melting and the one outside was still as frozen as it started out.

What did we learn with our snow science experiment?

This led to a quick examination. Why did the jar in the window stop melting so quickly? The girls discovered a very cold window and a cloudy day.

My 1st grader also observed that the heater had come on and suspected that it helped speed up the melting in the dark room. I love it when their scientific minds start working!

This snow science experiment is perfect for both preschoolers and elementary students. It’s a simple way to introduce making predictions. Your older kids can practice their writing by recording all the observations in the notebook. Plus, it’s simple and safe so that your older kids can do the entire experiment on their own.

Note: This post was originally published on January 6, 2014. Updated and republished on December 29, 2018.

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

5 Fun Ways to Learn With a Daily Weather Report

December 20, 2020 By Terri Thompson

I don’t know about you, but I check the weather app on my phone every single day. Sometimes, I’ll check multiple times.

But, do you ever share this habit with your kids? You should. It’s a great way to learn.

There’s more you can do than just simply checking in the weather. Check out these fun ways to learn with a daily weather report.

This simple STEM activity is fun and requires absolutely no prep time!

Get out your phone for this simple weather report activity. You can learn so much with a daily weather report. Here are a few ideas to try.

Five Ways to Learn with a Daily Weather Report

Compare temperatures

Use your math skills to discover the difference in temperatures. Find the difference between a day’s high temperature and its low temperature.

For example: Today’s high is 88 degrees and the low is 59 degrees. I use subtraction to find the difference. There will be a 29 degree difference today!

You could compare temperatures over the week. Record the temperature at the same time everyday. For example: What was the temperature at 3:00 pm every day? Find the temperature difference over the week. Find the difference between the week’s highest temperature and the lowest temperature. Or, simply find the difference between Monday’s 3:00 pm temperature and Tuesday’s 3:00 pm difference.

Learn to read a radar

Nowadays, we carry a weather report around in our pocket and can access it anytime. Because of that, I consider it a life skill to be able to click on the radar and know what it is telling you.

Do you know what all the colors mean? Do you know how to make the radar move and understand what it tells you?

Share this information with your kids and teach them how to understand what you’re seeing on the radar.

Note: You will want to pick a rainy or snowy day for this. There’s not much to see on the radar on a clear day!

Learn about predictions

Weather forecasting is all about making predictions. But, these predictions are pulled out of thin air, they’re based on a lot of information like weather patterns, radars, climate, and more.

You can learn more with one of these informative books:

Weather Forecasting by Gail Gibbons

Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons

What Will the Weather Be? by Lynda DeWitt

Or, you can try this activity to learn more about weather prediction. Record the weather first thing in the morning. At the end of the day, go back to this prediction. Was the weather forecast correct? What changed?

Next look at the extended forecast and find the prediction for three days from now and five days from now. Was the forecast correct? What changed? Can you come up with some reasons why?

Use the weather report to plan the week

How does the weather report help you plan for the day or for the week? It can tell you whether you need to wear a winter coat or a light jacket. Or whether or not you need to grab an umbrella.

Are you planning a trip to the pool? Sit down with your kids and the extended forecast and have them help you pick the best day to go.

Look at the weather report before picking out your clothes for the next day. How did the weather report help you plan?

Other weather report activities

What else can you learn with a daily weather report?

You can find all sorts of information: rain totals, wind speed, air pressure, pollen count, etc.

You can look up cities around the world and see how it is different from what where you live.

Can you come up with some more ways to learn with a daily weather report?

Get ready to learn with these fun daily weather for kids activities. Learn to read a radar, use the weather forecast, and more.

Learn More With a Book About the Weather

Combine this weather activity with a fun book to learn even more. Here are some great weather books that I’d recommend:

Do want more STEM activities?

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

Mount Vesuvius Activity STEM Challenge

September 18, 2019 By Terri Thompson

I’m not sure if there’s a kid these days that hasn’t made a volcano. It’s such a classic science experiment. It’s fun to put together and it’s fun to watch the eruption.

Both of my girls have done this experiment before. In fact, they’re old hands at it. So, it was time to kick it up a notch and combine some history, some science, and a good book into one fun STEM project. We’re going to learn about Pompeii with this Mount Vesuvius activity.

Pompeii History for Kids

Have you read any of the books in the You Wouldn’t Want To series?

We discovered them about a year ago and have been enjoying them whenever we find them at the library. This series is such a fun way to learn about history. You learn about the gritty and real parts of history in a kid-appropriate way.

You Wouldn't Want to Live in Pompeii Volcano STEM challenge

Recently, we brought home You Wouldn’t Want to Live in Pompeii! A Volcanic Eruption You’d Rather Avoid by John Malam. Pompeii is such a fascinating story. It seems like the plot of a good fiction book, only it’s very, very real.

In this book we became a resident of Pompeii. We learned about what life was like in the town in AD 79. We lived through the days leading up to the eruption, we experienced just how frightening it was during the eruption, and we learned what life was like for those who survived. This book covered a lot of good stuff.

Building out Mount Vesuvius model with clay.

Mount Vesuvius Activity

Once we were done reading, we were ready to recreate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We used a small cup and some modeling clay to create our volcano.

We were very aware that our model was not an accurate model of the volcano. But, nonetheless, we talked about the different parts of a volcano we learned about in our book. The cup represented our magma chamber (the space under the mountain that is filled with molten rock). We build a mountain around it using the modeling clay. (You can also use play dough for this step.)

Learn about pompeii history for kids with this fun STEM challenge.

Once Mt. Vesuvius was complete, we put it in the corner of our plastic tray and got to work building Pompeii.

Note: You’ll want to do this experiment on an enclosed surface. It will get messy! We used a plastic tray. If you don’t have a plastic tray, a baking sheet will also work well.

We used our Legos and built a tiny town to represent Pompeii. We had houses, a library, a school, a vineyard, and a river made out of clay.

Combine history with science in this fun Mount Vesuvius activity. Your kids will learn all about Pompeii and volcanos with this STEM challenge.

Erupting Mount Vesuvius

Finally, it was eruption time! My girls filled the cup half full of baking soda. We wanted a big eruption. Then, they added the white vinegar. Boom! Mount Vesuvius erupted and the lava flowed toward Pompeii.

We knew our STEM challenge wasn’t quite complete. We missed the tremors that happened for days before and also the ash that fell from the sky before the lava started flowing. So much ash and pumice fell that roofs began to collapse and started burying the town. By the time it was over, the ash, lava, and volcanic debris completely buried the town.

But, wait a minute! What about the science?

Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When the two meet, a chemical reaction occurs which creates carbon dioxide – the bubbling, fizzing reaction. The carbon dioxide creates a pressure which pushes your mixture out of the cup similar to the pressure that pushes the molten rock out of the volcano.

Combine history with science in this fun STEM learning activity for kids. Learn about Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius and create your own volcanic eruptions.

I’ve always loved bringing history alive. It’s such a great way to explore and learn about the world, both past and present. And, it was so much fun to tell the story of Pompeii through our volcano STEM challenge. It’s a lesson we’ll never forget!

You’ll also love these STEM activities:

Paper Plate Layers of the Earth Project

LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids

Phases of the Moon Mobile

20 Cool STEM Activities to Learn About Ancient Times at Techie Homeschool Mom

Mount Vesuvius Books for Kids

For our Mount Vesuvius activity, we used the book You Wouldn’t Want to Live in Pompeii!, but that’s not the only book you can use. Here are some other great books about Pompeii for kids.

Family STEM Challenges

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

Science Activities for Kids

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments for Kids

Fun Chemical Reaction Science Experiments

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments with Baking Soda

You May Also Like One of These Science Activities:

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

STEAM Family Activities