6 Simple At-Home Science Experiments

Children are natural explorers. At New Horizon Academy, our teachers prepare purposeful experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for your child to investigate. Below are some ideas for science experiments for you to try with your child at home.

Making a Cloud

Materials: mason jar, hot water, ice cubes, hairspray

Steps:
• Pour hot water into a jar
• Turn lid upside down and place on jar
• Put cubes onto the top of the lid and let rest for 20 seconds
• Quickly remove the lid and spray hairspray into the jar and put lid with ice back on

Exploding Colors

Materials: shallow pan, milk, food coloring, Q-tips, dish soap

Steps:
• Fill pan with milk
• Add drops of food coloring into milk
• Dip Q-tip in soap and touch it to the milk, watch colors move away from soap

Making Ooblek

Materials: mixing bowl, spoon, cornstarch, water, food coloring, measuring cups

Steps:
• Mix 1 cup water and food coloring together
• Add 2 cups cornstarch, mix until combined

Making Lava Lamps

Materials: empty water bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, Alka Seltzer

Steps:
• Fill up bottle halfway with oil
• Fill the rest of the bottle up with water (leave about an inch at the top)
• Add 10 drops of food coloring
• Break Alka Seltzer pill in half and add pieces into the bottle to watch it bubble

Filling Up a Balloon

Materials: baking soda, vinegar, plastic bottle, balloon, funnel

Steps:
• Fill bottle 1/3 full with vinegar (use funnel)
• After cleaning funnel and drying, use to pour baking soda into the empty balloon (fill about halfway)
• Cover top of the bottle with the balloon (don’t let baking soda fall into bottle)
• Lift balloon so baking soda falls into the vinegar and watch the balloon grow

Creating a Rainstorm

Materials: clear cup, water, shaving cream, food coloring

Steps:
• Fill cup with water
• Put a layer of shaving cream on top of the water
• Drip food coloring into shaving cream and watch it fall into the water.

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