Simple Summer Science Experiments for Curious Kids

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Summer is the perfect time to lean into curiosity, mess, and magic—and science experiments offer all three! You don’t need a lab coat or fancy equipment to spark a love of learning. Just a few household items, a dash of wonder, and a willingness to explore.

Here are a few easy and fun science experiments you can try at home with your children this summer—great for filling a rainy afternoon or inspiring a garden adventure!

1. Magic Rainbow in a Jar (Density Layers)

What you’ll need:

• Honey
• Washing-up liquid
• Water (dyed with food colouring)
• Cooking oil
• Rubbing alcohol (optional)
• A tall, clear glass or jar

How to do it:
Carefully pour each liquid into the jar very slowly in the following order: honey, washing-up liquid, coloured water, oil, and alcohol (if using). Each liquid has a different density, so they’ll settle into colourful layers like a rainbow!

The science bit:
Liquids that are denser sink to the bottom, while lighter ones float. This is a simple way to explore the concept of density.

2. Dancing Raisins

What you’ll need:

• A clear glass
• Fizzy water or lemonade
• A few raisins

How to do it:
Drop a few raisins into the glass of fizzy drink and watch what happens!

The science bit:
Carbon dioxide bubbles stick to the rough surface of the raisin, lifting it up. When the bubbles pop, the raisin sinks again. This creates a fun up-and-down “dancing” motion!

3. Homemade Volcano

What you’ll need:

• A small plastic bottle or cup
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Vinegar
• Washing-up liquid
• Red/orange food colouring (optional)
• A tray to catch the mess!

How to do it:
Put a few tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the container. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid and a few drops of food colouring. Pour in the vinegar and watch your volcano erupt!

The science bit:
This is an acid-base reaction. The vinegar (acid) reacts with the bicarbonate (base), producing carbon dioxide gas and a bubbly, frothy eruption.

4. Melting Race: Ice Science

What you’ll need:

• Several ice cubes
• Salt
• Sugar
• Warm water
• A sunny windowsill or outside spot
• Small bowls or plates

How to do it:
Place ice cubes in separate containers. Sprinkle one with salt, one with sugar, pour warm water over one, and leave one as the control. Ask your child to predict which one will melt fastest—then observe!

The science bit:
Salt and warm water help ice melt more quickly by lowering the freezing point. This is a great introduction to how science affects the world around us—like roads being gritted in winter!

5. Make a Balloon Inflate Without Blowing

What you’ll need:

• A balloon
• A small bottle
• Vinegar
• Bicarbonate of soda
• A funnel or paper cone

How to do it:
Fill the bottle with vinegar. Using the funnel, add a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda into the balloon. Carefully attach the balloon to the top of the bottle without letting the powder fall in just yet. Once it’s secure, lift the balloon and let the powder drop in. Watch it inflate!

The science bit:
When vinegar and bicarbonate mix, they create carbon dioxide gas. The gas needs somewhere to go—so it fills up the balloon!

Why Science at Home Matters
These experiments might look like simple fun (and they are!), but they’re also powerful learning tools. They help kids:

• Ask questions
• Make predictions
• Think critically
• Get hands-on with the world around them

Most of all, they remind children that science is all around us—and it’s exciting.

Ready to Explore?
Pop these experiments onto your summer activity list, and don’t forget to keep a little science journal! Let your children draw pictures, write what happened, or record any new questions they have—it’s a great way to nurture that natural curiosity.

Have fun, little scientists! 🧠✨