Engaging Science Experiments for kids

You guys know I’m a big fan of hands on homeschool science and I’m always on the lookout for great products.  Recently I found out one of my favorite publishers has amazing science experiments books for kids (should it be science experiment books?  There’s multiple science experiments in each book, back on topic).

{I received a free copy of Tabletop Scientist from Dover publications and compensation for my time, all opinions are my own.}

Before I talk about their science experiments let me talk about Dover Publications

 

What I look for in a good science experiments book

 

• accurate, this may seem like a given, but it’s not always true
• engaging pictures that my kids will spend lots of time looking through for ideas
• clear pictures of what to do, nothing more frustrating than not being able to figure out what you’re supposed to do
• lots of experiments they want to do

These books fulfilled every single one of the requirements, and then some.

I started off giving the kids the books and said, “Pick out an experiment you want to do from each book.”  They handed the books back to me covered in sticky notes, and disagreements over who picked which experiment.  Score 1 for the science experiments books.

Science of Air Science Experiment

This experiment is what blew me over the moon with happiness with the books.  To my mind the best learning activities are the ones I start, and the kids just run with the idea, and that’s exactly what happened with this experiment.

The goal is to design your own glider and see how to make it fly the farthest.  All you need: straws, paper, clay, and tape, lots and lots of tape.

The kids happily set to work making their gliders, and I had a blast watching them and making my own.  Then we set out to try them.  Our first attempts didn’t go so well.

But this inspired the kids to try out different versions, and they happily made gliders for over an hour.  Let me repeat that OVER AN HOUR.  Three kids happily working on science experiments for over an hour.

By the end my scrap paper pile was significantly decreased.

Science of Water Science Experiment

This next one I wasn’t quite so sure it would be a huge hit.  But, it involves water, clay, and straws, so that alone made my kids happily engaged.

Side note, the experiments are laid out easily enough my kids can gather all the materials and do this completely on their own, but then I don’t get the fun too.  But Princess carefully gathered, and set up all the supplies for us ahead of time, including measuring out the straws.  There was a great disagreement over straw colors.

But in the end we successfully discovered how the straws will float or only sink partway because of the amount of air in the straw.  It was fascinating to try out all of the different variations and see what happened to the straws.