Getting bored at home? Learn and have fun at the same time using things already in your home, with these 20 STEM Kitchen Science Projects for Kids!
It’s lockdown period here and in many parts of the world as we go through the Coronavirus crisis. Schools were the first institutions to close down, and everything followed soon after. Which means that our kids have been home for quite a while now!
This has posed several challenges for parents. For one, there’s the worry about the academic year getting messed up, and then there’s the big problem of dealing with boredom. Kids can’t go out and play or invite their friends over, and we’d rather have something to do that doesn’t involve screens.
Thankfully, there is a solution – STEM! Yes, this is the perfect opportunity for science projects, which helps kids learn, takes care of boredom and has nothing to do with screens. Not to mention these are great for the whole family to do together!
20 STEM Kitchen Science Projects for Kids
1. Magic Pepper and Soap Experiment
The first thing to teach kids during the quarantine period is of course, washing their hands. As with everything else, explaining how things work always works better than simply instructing kids to do something. Coffee Cups and Crayons has the perfect little experiment to show how soap can keep germs away, using very few things from your kitchen.
2. Fireworks in a Jar
Science can be beautiful too, as this project form Growing a Jeweled Rose proves! With cooking oil and food coloring in a few different colors, you’re good to try this simple project!
3. Play Dough Volcano
This is an experiment that is sure to get lots of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the kids! Life Over C’s makes use of the wonderful reaction between baking soda and vinegar to create a volcano. Making it out of playdough adds an extra activity for the kids!
4. Celery Osmosis Experiment
Celery makes a great snack, but it’s also excellent to teach kids about osmosis! Little Bins for Little Hands makes use of liquids in different colors and celery stems to show how the color travels up.
5. Tornado in a Jar Experiment
Many kids don’t know what a tornado look like, but with this project from Homeschool On, you have the opportunity to display a tornado in a controlled setting – inside a jar!
6. DIY Eggshell Geode Crystals
How gorgeous are these crystals from A Pumpkin and a Princess? With empty eggshells and some alum, you can create your own crystals. Add some food coloring to the mix and you can create an entire rainbow of them!
7. Salt Pendulum
Babble Dabble Do has a science experiment that requires a bit of a setup, but is worth every step! Everyone has a funnel and salt at home, and the rest can be managed with odds and ends around the house. Food colors only make it better!
8. Melting Ice Science
We all know that ice melts, but what happens when you add salt to the mix? Let the kids find out themselves, with this fun experiment from Artful Parent that ends up creating a pretty sun catcher!
9. Snowstorm in a Jar
So we know how to create a tornado in a jar – now it’s time to create a snow storm! One Little Project has a project that has many science lessons woven into it, so make sure you explain all of them to the kids!
10. Seed Germination Activity
Watching a seed germinate is sure to make anyone fall in love with science! Little Bins for Little Hands gives us all the steps to recreate this evergreen classic experiment which is perfect for a lockdown so kids can observe the seed’s progress every day.
11. The Science of Yeast Experiment
Watching dough rise because of yeast is something that makes even adults go ‘Wow’, so imagine the effect on kids! Playdough to Plato has a simple experiment that beautifully illustrates the action of yeast, using balloons.
12. Magic Milk Science Experiment
Whether they like drinking their daily glass of milk or not, this magic milk experiment from Little Bins for Little Hands is sure to be loved! Kids will enjoy watching the effect of colors in the milk – but don’t forget to explain the science behind it!
13. Balloon Skewer Polymer Science Experiment
How does the skewer go straight through without puncturing the balloon? As Life over C’s shows us, it’s not magic – it’s science! Keep a few balloons handy for this one, the kids are going to want to try it again and again!
14. Egg Drop Experiment
The egg drop experiment is another one of those evergreen hits that kids have been trying for generations. Ask the kids how they think the egg can land without breaking. Then check out Green Kid Crafts for the perfect solution!
15. Fishing for Ice Experiment
A Dab of Glue will Do has a great experiment that’s perfect for summer. You don’t need anything more than water for this – in solid and liquid forms! After explaining about the forms of matter, go ahead with the experiment and ask kids why they think the ice sticks.
16. Sprout House
This sprout house from The Stem Laboratory is so cute!! Yes, you will have to use up your sponge stash for this activity, but how can you not, when you see how gorgeous the house turns out to be!
17. Rubber Egg Experiment
We’ve experimented with getting an egg to land without breaking, now how about turning the egg into rubber? Growing a Jeweled Rose has all the steps needed to make rainbow rubber eggs – sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike!
18. Rainbow Density Experiment
We all need rainbows in our life, and when the rainbow can also teach us about densities, even better! My Kids Lick the Bowl has a simple but effective experiment to learn about density using food colors in liquids.
19. Edible Soil Layers Activity
Science is fun, but science you can eat is super! Super Teacher Blog gives kids an opportunity to create a project based on soil layers – and eat it later! You can use whatever edibles you have in your kitchen that’ll match the project’s theme.
20. Orange Buoyancy Experiment
Show your kids this picture and ask them what they think. Playdough to Plato gives us an easy project that only requires an orange and a tall vessel, like a vase. Be sure to use a clear one so kids can see what’s happening inside.
As you can see, most of these experiments require very few materials, and you probably already have them lying around your home. Which is a good thing in the current scenario, since you can’t run out every time you need something for your project. To make the most of the learning, we recommend having a little science journal on hand, which kids can use to keep track of their experiments and refer to later. Sunny Day Family has a good one, and you’ll find many more if you search. With so much to do, get ready to make the most of this period with learning and fun!
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