During the school year, children find themselves fully immersed in academic activities. Then, over the summer, that abruptly stops. For some children, this leads to summer learning loss, where they fail to retain knowledge they gained when school was in session. Fortunately, there are plenty of educational activities you can do in the comfort of your home, from reading challenges to science projects. Here are a few science experiments that can be fun for the whole family:
Project 1: DIY Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
This classic science experiment never gets old. People of all ages enjoy watching the results of this chemical reaction between common household products. When you do this experiment together, you can experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to create different eruption heights and effects.
Materials needed for this experiment include:
A plastic bottle
Baking soda
Vinegar
Food coloring
A container to contain the volcano eruption
Here’s how the experiment works:
Build the base by placing the plastic bottle in the center of the container. Add materials like paper mache or clay to create a more realistic volcano shape.
Mix a few drops of food coloring into the baking soda.
Fill the plastic bottle about halfway with vinegar.
Carefully pour the baking soda into the vinegar-filled bottle, and step back quickly to watch the volcanic eruption!
Clean up messes after completing the experiment.
Project 2: Homemade Slime
What could be more fun than playing with a gooey material that can easily wash off your hands with soap and water? Making homemade slime is a great way to spend a summer afternoon. Your child may even forget that they’re learning when you perform this science experiment together.
These are the materials you will need for this experiment:
White school glue
Liquid starch
Water
Food coloring
Here are the steps:
Mix 1/2 cup of white school glue with 1/2 cup of water in a mixing bowl. Stir until well blended.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the glue mixture. Stir until you have evenly distributed the color.
Slowly add 1/4 cup of liquid starch to the glue mixture, stirring constantly.
Continue stirring and kneading the slime until it reaches the desired consistency. Add more liquid starch if the slime comes out too sticky. Add a little water if it's stiff.
Once the slime has the right texture, customize it with different colors! Divide the slime into separate portions, and mix in different food coloring to create a variety of colors.
Store your homemade slime in an airtight container when not in use to keep it from drying out. Enjoy playing with your colorful, customized slime!
Project 3: Solar Oven S'mores
S’mores and summer fun go together like chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. Campers traditionally make these snacks over a campfire, but you can also make them in a solar oven. And when you make them in an oven, you’re doing science! This experiment is educational and delicious.
To make solar oven s'mores, you will need the following ingredients and materials:
Ingredients:
Graham crackers
Marshmallows
Chocolate bars
Materials:
Cardboard pizza box with a lid
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Black construction paper
Tape
Scissors
Here are the steps for making solar oven s’mores:
Line the inside of the pizza box with aluminum foil, shiny side up, to create a reflective surface that will help trap and reflect the sunlight.
Cut a piece of black construction paper to fit the bottom of the pizza box, and tape it in place. The black paper will absorb the sunlight and help create heat inside the solar oven.
Arrange the ingredients for the s'mores on the graham crackers - place a piece of chocolate on one graham cracker and a marshmallow on the other.
Place the s'mores on a small plate, and carefully place them inside the pizza box.
Close the pizza box lid, and securely tape it shut to seal in the heat.
Place the solar oven in direct sunlight, with the reflective side facing the sun. Adjust the position of the solar oven throughout the process to ensure maximum sunlight exposure.
Allow the s'mores to cook in the solar oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the marshmallow melts and the chocolate becomes soft.
Carefully remove the plate from the solar oven, and assemble the s'mores by placing the marshmallow and chocolate between the two graham crackers.
Enjoy delicious solar oven s'mores!
We encourage you to make science fun with these easy-to-do at-home science experiments this summer. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.