Simple Science for Toddlers to Tweens

We love a good science experiment in our house. Anything that involves exploring and learning about how things work is a win for us! Here’s a compilation of our Top 5 simple science experiments:

1. Colour Changing Ice Cubes

We were inspired to try out this colour changing experiment and the kids loved every minute of it!

- The day before your experiment, freeze 12 ice cubes with food colouring added to each (4 red, 4 blue, 4 yellow)

- Line up 6 clear glasses and add ice cubes to each, as follows:

2 red, 1 red 1 yellow, 2 yellow, 1 yellow 1 blue, 2 blue, 1 blue 1 red

- Have your child guess what colour each cup of ice cubes will turn and place the corresponding piece of paper in front of it

- Pour the hot water into each cup and watch the colours change!

Materials

✔4 blue, 4 red, 4 yellow ice cubes

✔6 clear glasses

✔1 kettle or pitcher of HOT water

✔6 pieces of scrap paper, each of a different colour (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

2. Volcanoes

I couldn't resist introducing my kids to a simplified version of the classic volcano experiment that I loved as a kid.

- Fill your plastic cup about 1/4 of the way with baking soda

- Build the play dough around the cup to form the base of the volcano

- Mix about 1 cup of vinegar with red food colouring

-Slowly pour in the vinegar solution and watch the volcano erupt! .

Materials

✔Short plastic cup, filled about 1/4 high with baking soda

✔1 cup of vinegar, mixed with red food colouring

✔Play Dough (we used some that was on its way out as a way to upcycling it)

✔tray

3. Rainbow in a Jar

Learn about density while creating this Rainbow in a Jar!

-Start with the 1/4 cup honey and mix in 1 drop red + 1 drop blue food colouring to make it purple (I used maple syrup because I didn't have honey on hand so mine was more brown). Pour into the bottom of the jar using funnel, careful not to hit the sides of the jar

-Add 1/4 blue dish soap (or white/clear dish soap coloured blue) slowly on top of honey

-Add a few drops of green food colouring to 1/4 cup water and use the syringe/eyedropper to slowly add the water so it runs down the side of the jar slowly

-add 1/4 cup olive oil, using syringe so it runs slowly down the side of the jar

-add a few drops of red food colouring to 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (i used nail polish remover because i didn't have rubbing alcohol on hand), using the syringe so it runs slowly down the side of the jar .

Materials

✔Tall Glass Jar

✔Funnel

✔syringe or eye dropper

✔Food Coloring: Red, Blue and Green

✔1/4 cup Honey

✔1/4 cup Blue Dish Soap

✔1/4 cup Water

✔1/4 cup Olive Oil

✔1/4 cup Rubbing Alcohol

✔Jars for mixing and pouring

✔Teaspoons for mixing

4. Running Rainbow

Combine art and science in this simple colour mixing experiment. Definitely heard a lot of WOWs and giggles during this one!

-Have your child draw a large rainbow on the paper towel

-We like to sing The Rainbow Song while we draw

-Start at the top and slowly begin to syringe water across the rainbow until all the colours blend together

Materials

✔Paper Towel

✔Magic Markers

✔Tray

✔Water

✔Syringe

5. Colour Changing Flowers

This classic science experiment was a big hit in our house. The kids loved checking in on their flowers throughout the day to watch the process unfold!

-Before beginning the activity, create your 'parts of a flower' chart, fill up your cups about half way with water and cut the stems of your flowers so they reach the bottom of the cup. You should also take your remaining flower and separate it into a stem, root, leaf, petal and seed

-Have your child add 3-4 drops of food colouring into each cup

-Place 1 flower in each cup and set aside

-Help your child learn about the different parts of a flower by using the separated flower to fill in the 'parts of a flower' chart

-It takes about 4-6 hours for the white flowers to turn a truly different colour, but check back hourly to watch the process unfold

Materials

✔1-5 white flowers

✔1-4 cups

✔1-4 different colours of food colouring

✔water

✔Paper and Pen to create a simple 'Parts of a Flower' chart

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