School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean opportunities for learning and education must end! Pull your children from the TV, computer screens, and video games for the afternoon and give them a fun-filled scientific experience instead.
These experiments are an effective way to motivate your kids to learn and make it entertaining at the same time. What better way to show them how cool science can be than to get them involved in the learning process?
Try one of these simple summer scientific experiments with the whole family that will engage your kids and motivate them to continue learning.
1. Salt Crystal Feathers
This re-envisioned way to grow crystals is a creative and inexpensive way to create a three-day-long science experiment.
Lab Supplies Needed:
- Salt
- Colorful Faux Feathers
- Jars
- Clothespins
Heat a pot of water to boiling and add salt until the salt dissolves and a layer of crystallized salt forms on top of the water, looking like ice. Pour the water into the jars, hold feathers into the water with clothespins and watch the crystals grow as the water evaporates.
Turn this learning activity into a month-long exploration of gems, rocks, and minerals with the proper lab supplies!
2. Egg Drop
What kid doesn’t love to throw stuff and see if it breaks? Split family members into teams to create a friendly competition to see who can construct the safest egg holder to prevent the egg from breaking when dropped from the top of a ladder or out of the second-story window.
Lab Supplies Needed:
- Eggs
- Ladder or somewhere to drop an egg from a tall height
- Tape, glue, cotton balls, cardboard, styrofoam, etc. (Scour the house for creative cushioning material to construct egg holders)
Build the holders and brace for impact. Try having each team make one or two different ones out of certain materials for an added challenge.
3. Magic Potions of Hogwarts
To increase engagement, incorporate your favorite movies into science projects, like creating and writing with invisible ink.
Lab Supplies Needed:
- Yellow paper
- Turmeric root
- Soap
- Water
- Spray bottle
Draw a secret message on the paper with turmeric root and give it to someone to reveal with a spray bottle filled with a water/soap solution. Mischief managed!
4. Dominant Side Determination
One of the most active summer engaging experiments is to engage in simple activities to determine which is your dominant eye, foot, hand, etc.
Lab Supplies Needed:
- Pen
- Paper
- Empty paper towel tube
- Small ball or something soft you can throw
Write a “right” and “left” column on the paper to track which side each family member favors throughout the activities and compare similarities and differences at the end.
School is probably the last thing on your child’s mind during the summer months. But by introducing them to fun activities that provide an opportunity for growth, learning can become far more enjoyable!
The whole family can enjoy extensive learning all summer long with these great experiments. After the experiments, your family will be ready to enjoy some homemade ice cream.
Copyright: prometeus / 123RF Stock Photo
