Science is best understood when we witness it in action. Hands-on experiments make learning more engaging, participatory, and memorable. Here’s a collection of simple science experiments that students can conduct at school or at home using minimal materials.
List of science experiments
1. Volcano Eruption with Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Materials: baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and food colouring.
- Process: Mix baking soda inside a clay volcano. Add vinegar + soap for a bubbly eruption.
- Concept: Acid-base reaction.
2. Invisible Ink with Lemon Juice
- Materials: Lemon juice, cotton swab, white paper, candle.
- Process: Write with lemon juice. Heat the paper gently over a candle flame to reveal the secret message.
- Concept: Oxidation reaction.
3. Rainbow in a Glass
- Materials: Sugar, water, food colours.
- Process: Dissolve different amounts of sugar in water with other colours. Carefully layer solutions in a glass.
- Concept: Density difference in liquids.
4. Dancing Raisins
- Materials: Clear soda (Sprite/7Up), raisins.
- Process: Drop raisins into soda. Watch them sink and rise repeatedly.
- Concept: Carbon dioxide bubbles + buoyancy.
5. Floating Egg Experiment
- Materials: Eggs, water, salt.
- Process: Mix salt in water and drop an egg inside. It floats!
- Concept: Density of liquids vs. solids.
6. Magnetic Paper Clip Chain
- Materials: Magnet, paper clips.
- Process: Touch the magnet to one clip, then attach others to form a chain.
- Concept: Magnetic induction.
7. Walking Water Experiment
- Materials: 3 cups, water, paper towels, and food colouring.
- Process: Place colored water in two cups and an empty one in the middle. Insert paper towels. Water “walks” into the empty cup.
- Concept: Capillary action.
8. Balloon Rocket
- Materials: Balloon, straw, string, tape.
- Process: Thread the string through the straw. Tape an inflated balloon to a straw and release.
- Concept: Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
9. Homemade Lava Lamp
- Materials: Oil, water, food colour, and Alka-Seltzer tablet.
- Process: Mix water and oil, add food colour, then drop a tablet.
- Concept: Density and chemical reactions.
10. Static Electricity with a Balloon
- Materials: Balloon, small paper pieces.
- Process: Rub the balloon on hair/clothes, then bring it near paper bits—they jump!
- Concept: Electrostatic charges.
11. Paper Towel Colour Mixing
- Materials: Paper towels, colored water.
- Process: Dip towel ends into two colours; watch them merge in the centre.
- Concept: Diffusion and absorption.
12. Oobleck – The Non-Newtonian Fluid
- Materials: Cornstarch, water.
- Process: Mix cornstarch with water. It’s solid when pressed, liquid when left alone.
- Concept: Viscosity and non-Newtonian fluids.
13. Soap-Powered Boat
- Materials: Cardboard, dish soap, bowl of water.
- Process: Cut a cardboard boat, add soap to the back notch, and place it on the water. It moves forward.
- Concept: Surface tension.
14. Melting Ice Race
- Materials: Ice cubes, salt, sugar, plain water.
- Process: Sprinkle each on ice cubes and observe melting rates.
- Concept: Effect of impurities on freezing point.
15. Bottle Tornado
- Materials: Two plastic bottles, tape, water, and glitter.
- Process: Connect bottles neck-to-neck with tape. Swirl water to create a tornado effect.
- Concept: Centripetal force.
Conclusion
Science is all about curiosity and discovery, and these experiments allow kids to do both in a fun, hands-on setting. By participating in these basic exercises, students not only improve their understanding of scientific subjects but also build critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Whether at school or at home, these experiments transform everyday items into exciting learning tools, instilling a lifetime passion for science.
