Science can be demonstrated with all sorts of household items. The following are just a few examples of experiments you can do with things you’d otherwise throw in the recycling bin or garbage. Have a fun-filled afternoon with your children using these inexpensive ideas.
Sparkling Whirlpool
This activity can be done with a variety of plastic bottles. Smaller bottles work for smaller hands, but I have found two-liter bottles work well. Simply fill one with water, add a little food coloring if you’d like. I always add a some glitter for pizzazz, it also acts to simulate debris that get sucked down the whirlpool.
I use electrical tape and duct tape to secure one bottle on top of the other, though I am sure many types of tape will work, these did the trick for me. Now you are ready to give your whirlpool a whirl. Flip the bottle over and swirl vigorously until you see the cyclone forming, then sit back and enjoy the show!
Dough fun
I always end up with expired baking supplies. It just so happens that these make perfect ingredients for all sort of play dough! If you have flour, corn starch, baking soda, and salt, you most likely have the makings for a number of play dough recipes. The one I have used calls for
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1.5 baking soda
- 1 cup cool water
The fun of this dough can start as soon as the ingredients are gathered. Have your child help or observe you add the cornstarch, baking soda, and water into a sauce pan. Note that mixing the ingredients doesn’t make the dough, only slowly cooking it for a few minutes on low/med heat while stirring continuously will create the dough and that is pretty amazing to see!
Now let the concoction cool and let your child pick his favorite color food dyes. Once the dough cools you can knead the color of your choice right into the clay. You can seal this dough in a Tupperware container for safe keeping or make clay models and let them dry. Whatever you decide to do, you will definitely have fun with this activity.
Sink or Float
The next time you come across a two-liter bottle, save it for this fun experiment, a homemade Cartesian diver. You will also need to raid your stash of condiment packets, I found a soy sauce packet to work best for my needs. This is what you will add to the water-filled two-liter bottle. One of two things will happen when you add the packet.
If the packet floats when you drop it in, great, fill the bottle to the top and cap it. Give it a squeeze to see if it sinks. If it does not, try another packet until you get the right results. If it sinks when you first drop it in, add some table salt cap and shake, repeat until the packet floats, then cap it and give it a squeeze.
Like magic, the packet will float depending on the pressure applied. Not only is it exciting to see the packet sink and float, it is a quick lesson in buoyancy and density.
There are a host of experiments you can do at home so if you have fun with these, there are tons of others you can try. In fact, if you have an idea, feel free to share it in our comments section we would love to hear it!
Are you looking for other great ideas for keeping the kids busy? How about planting a garden!
By Tara, Free Stuff Finder Contributor
