Science is one of those things that can either become really boring or something that can be perceived as magic. It is all in how you look at it and if you want to give your kids a better outlook on science or if you want to encourage their budding interest in the subject, why not try out some experiments at home? Watching science in action is not only education for the kids but it is also highly entertaining and gives them something better to do than watching TV. Science experiments need not be overly complicated and below are some examples of amazing science experiments you can do at home.
Elephant toothpaste
This experiment is a lesson in reaction and the resulting foam is safe to touch. To get started, grab a soda pop bottle and set it in a tray to avoid making a mess. In a separate bowl, mix a tablespoon of yeast and two tablespoons of warm water. This mixture will help speed up the reaction.
In your soda pop bottle, pour in half a cup of hydrogen peroxide (6%). Choosing 8% will work too but if you get the 3%, it may not work as well. A few squirts of dish soap and some food coloring in the bottle and you are done. Pour in your yeast mixture in the bottle and watch magic happen! If you are performing this with older kids, they might have questions and it can be summed up in this formula that you can ask them to research: 2 H2O2 –> 2 H2O + 02.
Lava lamp
Lava lamps are groovy and if you have ever seen one in the stores and balked at the price, you can easily make one on your own and you can ask your kids to make it with you. It is a fun experiment that teaches them how oil and water do not mix. The result is just as groovy as a lava lamp you see in stores but so much cheaper. For this recipe, you need a clear and clean bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and effervescent tablets like Alka Seltzer. Fill your bottle with oil halfway and then add water. Make sure you have an inch of space left on top and add 10 drops of food coloring. Break your antacid tablets in quarters and drop them in one at a time. Make sure all the bubbles are gone before capping the bottle. The bubbles will move the globules of oil around and this will give off that lava lamp effect. This will teach your kids how oil and water do not mix and it makes for a nice room accessory.
These experiments are so much fun and very easy to do. Chances are, you already have the materials that you need and even if you do not have them, you can easily find them in your local stores. They are also safe to perform and you can manage the experiment with kids of all ages and never have to worry.