Science Sensei<\/em><\/a>, all we do is deliver great science content for you to look at and hopefully learn something new. While we’d love to tell you that reading our website will be educational for your child, this is quite self-indulging.<\/p>\nRather, we wanted to give you some really cool ideas for you to do with your kids or have them do on their own. This will involve simple things you do around the house that will allow you to use things like Anatomy, Chemistry, Biology, and even Mathematics.<\/p>\n
Of course, science and math often play off of each other. Don’t worry, we won’t be giving you Calculus and Algebra stuff to do. Even we find them useless most of the time. Rather, these ideas will involve some day to day stuff you can add science and\/or math to or small experiments you can do with your kids.<\/p>\n
Since we’re trying to cover all bases as best we can, we will be adding a recommended age for each concept. Of course, we also want to make sure you’re prepared. This is why we’ll also be adding a list of things you’ll need to do each thing too.<\/p>\n
Let’s get started!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThermometer. Photo Credit: VIZ UALNI\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n30. Taking Temperatures<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 5 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> One Or More Thermometers<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTemperatures are very interesting things to measure. While Americans often use Fahrenheit to determine certain temperatures, this is measured in Celcius elsewhere. Regardless of which you prefer, we’d recommend teaching your child about both versions. For example, the average body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celcius.<\/p>\n
We’d also recommend you show them how temperatures can change based on heat or movement. For example, have them take their temperature and you take your own. Then go outside for a bit, if possible, or do some indoor exercises. Once you have worked up a sweat, take the temp again. It’ll show them the basic science behind temperature and how it shifts.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nGardening with Kids. Photo Credit: RawPixel.com\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n29. Gardening<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 3 to 4 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Place To Plant\/Pot, Seeds, Dirt<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nGardening is a major part of agriculture, which is a massive part of science overall. No need to go over the top with seeds, as there are certain fruits\/vegetables already with them. You can purchase a lot of other seeds for cheap too, but we recommend you look into what is best for your region.<\/p>\n
For example, in Florida, oranges are easy to consider but you can also easily plant tomatoes too. However, you also want to keep your child interested in this, so you’ll also want to search for some faster-growing stuff. Vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, green onions, spinach, and lettuce grow pretty quickly. We’d also recommend planting a tree, for we cannot get enough of those. Perhaps you’ll want to plant an Apple Tree, to ensure fruit for years to come.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSalt and Ice Experiment. Photo Credit: YouTube<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n28. The Salt & Ice Trick<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 3 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Ice, Basic Table Salt, & A String<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat you’re going to do is essentially prove how salt melts ice and can make things stick to it like glue. We recommend you get a string to prove this. It can be a basic string or even one from your sock. Put it on the ice and then take it off, showing them how it’s wet and slides off the ice.<\/p>\n
Do the same thing again but this time put the string on and add some basic table salt. Leave the string on the ice for about 30 seconds. Then pick it up, showing that the ice and string are now connected. The science behind this is that salt lowers the freezing point of ice, thus allowing the salt to become a thin layer on top of the ice. Once it melts and sticks, the string also sticks. If the ice re-freezes, the string will remain in place.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nOxidized Rusty Pennies. Photo Credit: Eddie Jordan Photos\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n27. Fun With Pennies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 7 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Several Pennies, Lemon, Vinegar, Ammonia, Bleach<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nToday, pennies are made out of Zinc and have copper plating, meaning they are no longer completely copper. This means that acidic products can affect them. Each acidic item you use will affect pennies differently. We recommend you get several pennies, which are likely easy to find around your home.<\/p>\n
The next thing you need is a measuring cup, glass, any good liquid-holding product. We recommend clear versions you can see into, as it’s easier to see what is happening. You’ll show forms of oxidation and how acid affects things. Vinegar will actually tarnish the penny while Bleach will often turn it into different colors. Things like Lemon juice & Ammonia will mess with them too. However, if you have a penny made before 1981, it’s mostly copper…so less will happen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSparklers in a glass jar. Photo Credit: Kan bokeh\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n26. Fireworks In a Jar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 6 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Warm Water, Liquid Food Coloring, Vegetable Oil, Tablespoon, Large Mason Jar, Small Jar Or Bowl<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat is better for kids than creating fireworks in a jar? We might be freaking out parents with this “science at home” concept, but don’t worry. To create this, start with your warm water in the large mason jar, fill it roughly 75% full. In your small bowl or jar, add 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 4 drops of food coloring. We recommend you get at least 4 different colors.<\/p>\n
Slowly mix around all of this, and you should see the droplets break apart. Then slowly pour this mixture into the warm water. You’ll then start to see why oil and water simply do not mix and the reaction to all of this inside the jar. It should result in an oil fireworks show, trapped in a jar.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nOriginal Optical Lenses. Photo Credit: Xiaorui\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n25. Fun With Lenses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 6 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Glass Lenses (eyeglasses, magnifying glass, etc.)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLenses are quite important to our everyday life. We use them in several different forms, which is why science at home experiments could be a good way to teach this. You’re essentially teaching them about light refraction and how light can affect how we see things overall. Lenses bend light rays as they pass through lenses.<\/p>\n
You will then notice that the light rays can come from a point closer or further away from their original source. This, in turn, is what often dictates the size of an object in the lense. For eyeglasses or contacts, lenses can correct vision by directing light to focus properly on the eye’s retina. Meanwhile, magnifying glasses will be able to look closer at objects.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nBaking With Kids. Photo Credit: Evgeny Atamanenko\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n24. Simple Cooking Or Baking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\nAge Recommendation:<\/strong> 8 Years+<\/em><\/li>\nSupplies Needed:<\/strong> Measurement Cups, Bowls, Mixers, & Other Cooking Supplies<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nCooking and Baking can be a great way to teach science at home. The idea behind this is that you’re essentially doing tiny portions of larger concepts. When you bake or cook, you have to follow exact instructions to get the best results. The best part is that you get to eat what you make after, so who could be upset about that?!?<\/p>\n
With baking alone, you have to make sure you use exact measurements. This is key as it helps you to know the beginnings of things like Chemistry, where it is also key to use exactness. Overall, you’re teaching them a skill with this too. After all, it is cooking and good to know how to do if you wish to survive for a longer period of time in life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSlime Making. Photo Credit: Tsuguliev\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n