10 Fun and Easy Science Experiments to Try at Home with Your Kids

Here’s a cool one that looks like magic but is actually science in action. The walking water experiment uses colored water to show capillary action. 

You’ll need: 

• 6 clear cups 
• Paper towels 
• Food coloring (red, yellow, and blue work well) 
• Water 

Line the cups in a circle or a straight line. Fill every other one with water, and leave the others empty. Add food coloring to the full cups. Fold the paper towels into strips and place them connecting the cups, one end in a full cup, one in an empty one. 

After a while, the water “walks” through the paper towel into the empty cup, and you’ll even see new colors mix. It’s one of the best science experiments with water at home, especially for younger kids. 

This one is perfect for little scientists who are just starting out. It’s super simple but still feels like a magic trick. 

Here’s what you need: 

• A glass of water 
• An egg 
• Salt 

Start by gently placing the egg in plain water. It sinks. Now, start adding salt and stir. Eventually, the egg floats! 

This experiment introduces the concept of density in a fun way. It’s one of those egg science experiments that even preschoolers can try (with help). 

Do you want something that looks beautiful and teaches a lesson at the same time?  

Try making a rainbow in a jar using different liquids. 

You’ll need: 

• A tall, clear jar or glass 
• Honey, dish soap, water, oil, rubbing alcohol 
• Food coloring 
• A spoon 

Color the liquids, then pour them slowly into the jar in this order: honey, dish soap, water, oil, and alcohol. Each one should float on top of the last. 

This is an awesome visual lesson in liquid density and one of those interactive science experiments parents can do with kids, because it really helps if someone holds the jar while the other pours. 

This one is noisy, fast, and super exciting.  

It’s one of those awesome physics experiments that never fails to impress. 

You’ll need: 

• A balloon 
• String
• A straw 
• Tape 

Thread the string through the straw and tie the ends to two chairs far apart. Tape a blown-up balloon (don’t tie it) to the straw and let it go. 

Whoosh!  

The balloon races across the string like a rocket. This is Newton’s third law in action, but for kids, it’s just cool. 

No need to buy one. Make your own mini lava lamp instead. This one combines simple science experiments with just enough wow factor. 

You’ll need: 

• A clear bottle 
• Vegetable oil 
• Water 
• Food coloring 
• Alka-Seltzer tablets 

Fill the bottle most of the way with oil, then top off with water and add food coloring.  

Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet and drop it in. 

Bubbles rise and fall in colorful blobs, just like a lava lamp. This is a great chance to talk about how oil and water don’t mix and how gas escapes as bubbles. 

This one’s almost too easy, but the results are so fun. It’s perfect if you’re looking for easy science experiments to whip up on a weekday afternoon. 

What you need: 

• A glass of clear soda (like Sprite or 7Up) 
• A few raisins 

Drop the raisins into the soda and wait. After a moment, they’ll start to rise and fall like they’re dancing. 

The bubbles stick to the raisins, lifting them up. Then, pop at the surface and drop them back down. Kids can try this with different items to see what floats or sinks. 

This one’s always a hit and it uses things you’ve already got at home. You can do a simple tornado-in-a-bottle using just a few supplies. 

Grab: 

• A clear plastic water bottle 
• Water 
• A bit of dish soap 
• Glitter (optional) 

Fill the bottle with water, add a squirt of soap, and some glitter if you’ve got it. Screw the cap on tight, swirl it in a circle, and watch a tornado form inside. 

It’s one of the coolest water bottle science experiments and it doubles as a calm-down tool if you leave it on a shelf. 

This one’s quick but seriously cool. And no, it doesn’t make a mess if you do it right. 

Here’s what you need: 

• A ziplock bag 
• Water 
• Sharp pencils 

Fill the bag about halfway with water. Then, while holding it over the sink (just in case), slowly poke a pencil through the bag. Amazingly, it won’t leak! 

The plastic seals itself around the pencil. This is one of those interactive science experiments that always gets a surprised reaction. 

Bonus: older kids will want to try poking more pencils to test the limit. 

If you’ve got ice cubes and salt, this one’s super quick and fun for curious minds. 

What you need: 

• Ice cubes 
• A cup of water 
• Salt 
• A string or thread 

Place the ice in a cup of water and lay a piece of string over it. Sprinkle salt where the string touches the ice, then wait 30 seconds. When you pull the string up, voilà! You’ve “caught” the ice cube. 

It’s simple, it’s quick, and it gives preschoolers a big moment of victory.  

That’s what makes it perfect as part of science activities for preschoolers. 

The beauty of these simple science experiments is that they don’t take much time or effort. You don’t need to buy special kits or turn your kitchen into a lab.  

Most of these just use basic stuff you already have like baking soda, vinegar, salt, balloons, water bottles, and a little curiosity. 

You’re not just keeping the kids busy either. You’re building memories and giving them a deeper understanding of the world around them.  

These are the kinds of science experiments for kids that get them asking “why?” and “what happens if…?”. Honestly, those are the best kinds of questions. 

So, if it’s a volcano vinegar and baking soda experiment or a few silly raisins dancing in soda, these moments turn your kitchen table into a place where discovery happens. 

The best part is that kids don’t even realize they’re learning. 

So next time the kids say “I’m bored,” don’t resort to screens. Pick an experiment, pull out the baking soda or string, and see where your little scientists take you.