If you told my 15-year-old self I would one day be sitting at this desk writing a post about sensory science experiments for kids, I wouldn’t have believed you.
And yet, here we are, LOL.
While I did the mandatory biology, chemistry, and geology courses in middle and high school, I found each subject tedious, boring, and difficult, and figured I just wasn’t smart enough to be a scientist.
I avoided anything to do with science from grade 10 onwards, and it wasn’t until my daughter started telling me about all of the amazing science experiments she did in preschool and kindergarten that I started poking around on Pinterest for science experiments for kids we could do together at home, and I was pleasantly surprised with all of the fun ideas I found.
As it turns out, science can actually be fun!
RELATED:100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work
And with a huge shift towards STEM learning, finding ways to get kids interested in science is becoming more important than ever. Whether you’re looking for sensory science experiments for kids in preschool and kindergarten, oramazing science experiments for kids in elementary school and beyond, we’ve got 27 super cool ideas below!
What is Science?
Simply put, science refers to the act of studying the world around us.
There are all different types of science – biology, chemistry, physics, botany, paleontology, geology, astronomy, etc. – and scientists study these through observation, hypotheses, prediction, and experimentation.
Why Is It Important to Do Science Experiments with Kids?
With more classrooms focusing on STEM education – a multifaceted approach to learning that combines science, technology, engineering, and math to developa child’s problem solving and critical thinking skills while also encouraging creativity, communication, and teamwork – finding ways to foster a love for science is becoming more important than ever. Engaging children in science experiments at home and in the classroom:
- Encourages higher level thinking
- Teaches children not to accept the status quo and make their own predictions
- Fosters an interest and excitement for research
- Provides opportunities for failure in a safe environment
- Encourages innovative and creative thinking
- Teaches children how to work collaboratively
Unfortunately, kids are often taught that science is boring and difficult, and if parents and teachers don’t intervene, these negative thoughts can persist through high school and beyond, making children less interested in and willing to participate in STEM-based subjects. This can have a huge impact on their academic growth and development, not to mention their career paths.
How to Get Kids Excited About Science
Start young. It’s never too early to get kids excited about science and other important areas of education, and the internet is filled with all kinds of amazing science experiments for kids of all ages.Sensory science experiments tend to work best with younger kids as they are more hands on, and we’ve rounded up some fabulous ideas below to inspire you!
Make it hands on. Instead of getting kids to MEMORIZE scientific facts and equations, get them involved! Not only will this make your lesson plans more engaging and fun, but it will also help your students retain more information.
Appeal to your child’s interests. If you’re finding it difficult to foster a love for science in your child, find ways to apply it to the things he or she loves. Think outside the box and use props, materials, and/or toys that appeal to your child’s interests to capture his or her attention and make learning fun instead of tedious.
Get online. There’s no question that our children love spending time watching TV and on their iPad, so use this to your advantage! Find science-themed TV shows and search YouTube for inspirational videos and tutorials your child might find interesting.
Be a good role model. Instead of telling your child how much you hated science when you were in school (ahem…), model everyday inquisitive behavior to foster a love for learning in your child. You will be amazed at what this simple change in mindset can do!
Make it fun!From sensory science experiments for preschoolers, to amazing science experiments for kids in elementary school, there are SO MANY WAYS you can make science fun for kids. We’re rounded up 27 ideas for kids aged 3 to 13 below to help get you started!
14 Sensory Science Experiments for Preschoolers
Fizzing Colors Baking Soda & Vinegar Experiment | Happy Hooligans
Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime | Left Brain Craft Brain
Instant Hot Ice with Baking Soda and Vinegar | Frugal Fun with Boys and Girls
Fizzy Cloud Dough Experiment | Powerful Mothering
Floating M M&M Candy Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands
Underwater Magic Sand | Teaching Mama
Turn Milk Into Plastic! | How Wee Learn
What Dissolves in Water Experiment | Hands On As We Grow
Rainbow Soap Foam | The Chaos and the Clutter
Melting Snowman Baking Soda Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands
Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment | The STEM Laboratory
Dancing Oobleck | Housing a Forest
Elephant Toothpaste | Preschool Powol Packets
Erupting Apple Science Experiment | Little Bins for Little Hands
13 Amazing Science Experiments for Kids in Elementary School
Salt Volcano Liquid Density Science Experiment | What Do We Do All Day?
Static Electricity Butterfly Experiment | I Heart Crafty Things
Magic Milk Science Experiment | Natural Beach Living
How Clouds Make Rain | Mrs. Jones’ Creative Station
How to Make a Lava Lamp | 123 Homeschool 4 Me
Glowing Tornado in a Jar | Growing a Jeweled Rose
Fireworks in a Jar | I Can Teach My Child
Crystal Growing Experiment | Creekside Learning
The Science of Sound Waves | Edventures with Kids
Invisible Ink Science Experiment | Homeschool-101
Snow Volcanoes | Growing a Jeweled Rose
Frozen Bubbles Science Experiment for Kids | Growing a Jeweled Rose
Homemade Butter Science Experiment | 123 Homeschool for Me
I hope this collection of tips to get kids excited about science, as well as the sensory science experiments for younger kids and the awesome science experiments for older kids we’ve included inspires you in your quest to raise inquisitive learners!
‘We should not teach children the sciences but give them a taste for them.’
-Jean Jacques Rosseau
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