Fun science experiments you can do at home!

At Unistage we’re all about the fun factor – combining education with fun for a lesson your children certainly won’t forget! 

In keeping with this, we thought we’d share some ultra fun science experiments that you can do in your kitchen – educating your little ones with all things science while keeping them amused…

Terrible Tornado

Image Credit: IMG Kid

For a little demo of fluid dynamics, you can create your very own vortex with just water and oil.

What you’ll need: Empty two-litre drinks bottle, olive oil, water

Directions:

1. Fill the bottle with water, leaving about ½ inch space at the top.
2. Pour in a tablespoon of olive oil and then cover the top with one hand before turning the bottle upside down.
3. Rotate the bottle in a clockwise direction and at the same time, once you’ve got the movement going, lower your hand from the opening of the bottle.

As the oil is less dense than the water, it will be sent whizzing out from the vortex – leaving you with your own tornado in a bottle.

Creating clouds

Image Credit: Boots  Morrisons  Excellence in teaching

If it’s raining outside, why not explain the reasoning behind April showers with a scientific experiment that provides insight to the weather.

What you’ll need: Water, food colouring, clear jar, shaving foam

Directions:

1. Fill a clear jar with water and top with an inch of shaving foam. The foam resembles a cloud in the sky, which your little one will fill with water to see what happens.
2. Grab a small tumbler of coloured water (made using food colouring) and transfer the coloured water from the tumbler to the clear jar.

See how it begins “raining” in the jar, with the food colouring transferring through the “cloud” as it gets to heavy and can’t hold the water any more. This demonstrates that when a cloud gets to heavy, it begins to rain.

Walking on eggshells

Image Credit: Eat Smarter

To demonstrate the science of structure, why not carry out this fun experiment with a box or two of eggs.

What you’ll need: A few packs of large eggs, bucket of soap and water, barefoot friends, large bin liner.

Directions:

1. Place the bin liner on the floor and place multiple cartons of eggs on top of it in two rows.
2. Make sure all the eggs are sat up in the right way to ensure the surface is easy to stand on.
3. Remove your shoes and socks and ask a friend to assist you as you step onto the first carton of eggs.
4. Keep your feet as flat as possible to ensure your weight is distributed evenly across the eggs and begin walking.

The structure of the egg should support your weight much like a three-dimensional arch structure. If you were to hold an egg with your hand and squeeze the top and bottom it wouldn’t crack as these are the strongest points of an egg.

Do you have any other ideas for mixing science with fun at home? If so, share them in the comments below or tweet us @Unistage