200 Quick & easy experiments

Crazy chemistry experiments

Electronics & Robotics

Engineering & Building

Motion & Mechanics

Anatomy & Biology

Toy & game design

Math made fun

STEM Activities

750+ Quick & easy craft ideas

Recycled creations

Fun & functional projects

Jewelry & Fashion design

Handmade cards & gifts

Art & Creativity

Fun & Games

Hands-on learning

Sound & Music

Pretend play

Play & Learn

Kitchen science

Fun with food

Sweet & salty snacks

Treats & Dessert

Cooking for kids

Cooking & Baking

Animals & Bugs

Plants & Rocks

Seasons & Weather

Radical rainbows

Outdoor Adventures

Space exploration

Nature & Adventure

Birthday fun

Pi Day

Earth Day

Easter

Holiday & Events

printable

earth

learning activity

at-home learning

nature science

nature

science project

art-science projects

Eager to learn more about the world around us? Explore the science of rocks and volcanoes with a <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/professions-geologist/5846" target="_self">Geologist Starter Kit</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>!

a126800feec72.jpg

Gather your materials. <a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt5d966d0d1776691c/blt89a3a0d46c95210d/648a3623cc30bb395eb05c4e/Ziploc_Water_Cycle_Bag_Printable.pdf" target="_blank">Download the water cycle printable here</a>.

a37ee568f9b24.jpg

Smooth the Ziploc® brand bag out on a flat surface. Use the permanent marker to draw the water cycle from the Water Cycle Printable on the bag. (Draw carefully to avoid puncturing the bag.)

a16c976d1c2b2.jpg

Pour ⅓ cup of water into the bag (avoid filling the bag more than halfway). Put one or two drops of blue food coloring into the water.

aa0edb4db7407.jpg

Find a sunny window and tape the bag up. Tape the bag at a slight angle to simulate the runoff and collection stages of the cycle.

aa20a8b801d33.jpg

Check in on the water cycle bag at different times throughout the next few days. Do you see water droplets form along the bag from the condensation? Eventually, you’ll see streaks along the side of the bag as the droplets grow and drop down the side, representing precipitation. From there, the water will recollect and pool at the bottom. How does this mimic the water cycle we see on Earth?

On Earth, the water cycle is influenced by many things, such as energy from the sun, temperature, and the force of gravity. What changes can you make to your bag to observe some of these factors? Try creating a second bag and placing it in a different location (perhaps a shady window) and see how the results differ. You can also leave the bag for a few days and check on it at different stages. See how time of day, temperature, and amount of sunlight affects it!

ziploc® brand sandwich bag

permanent marker (soft felt-tipped)

water (1/3 cup)

blue food coloring (optional)

Tape

water cycle printable

Water Cycle Bags

seasonal

outdoor science projects

KiwiCo crate box

backyard science

Repurpose your KiwiCo box and make a pinhole projector for safe solar viewing! Light from the sun is focused through a tiny pinhole, then projected onto a screen hidden inside the box. Just peek through the viewing window to safely observe the image of our closest star — the sun!Instead of observing the sun directly, this projector allows you look at an image of the sun. Only a tiny bit of the sun's light enters the pinhole, so this image is much, much, MUCH dimmer than unfiltered sunlight, making it safe to view. And if you're lucky enough to experience a solar eclipse, you can use this viewer to observe the motion of the moon's shadow!Explore more about the cosmos with an <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/astronaut-starter-kit/5696" target="_self">Astronaut Starter Kit</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>! This project comes with everything you need to construct a shuttle, paint a set of model planets, and more.

NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. Even a moment's viewing can damage your eyes forever! Even a partial solar eclipse can cause severe eye damage, so stay safe and always use a projector like this one for eclipse watching or solar viewing. Looking at the sun is dangerous because your eye is a lens, just like a magnifying glass. Ever seen a magnifying glass used to focus sunlight and start a fire? That's exactly what happens to your eye when you look at the sun — so don't do it!

Eclipses occur when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth. This blocks the sun's light, casting a moon-shadow on the surface of the earth below. During most eclipses, the sun and the moon aren't quite lined up perfectly, so the sun's light is only partially blocked. During a partial solar eclipse, the sun appears crescent-shaped, like the moon. (When safely viewed through a projector, of course.) Very rarely, the sun and the moon line up perfectly, creating an amazing astronomical show for anyone standing in the path of the moon's shadow — a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses are very special events, but even a partial eclipse is an exciting chance to experience the moon's motion directly. So have fun — and safe — solar viewing!

a7496eab7a689.jpg

a08938d4f7b81.jpg

On the back of the box, use a pushpin to make a small hole about 2” in from the middle of one short edge.

a2b45e7928e91.jpg

On the other end, make an eyehole using an X-acto knife to cut a 2” square about a ½” in from the edges. 

a62ea6470118c.jpg

Cut two 2½” squares out of black paper. 

a466ec1293e1f.jpg

Place a roll of tape in the middle of one black square and trace the inside circle. Carefully cut out the circle without cutting into the square. This will be your eyehole. Optional: Use the second black square to make a smaller or bigger eyehole. 

a45cca23bd193.jpg

Open the box and tape the square to the inside of the box so that the circle is in the middle of the eyehole. 

a184e927fa5a9.jpg

Cut one 10½” x 3¼” rectangle out of the white paper. Use double-sided tape to stick the rectangle to the inside of the box, across from the eyehole. 

Close the box. Then, look inside the eyehole. Use black tape to cover up any holes that are creating light inside the box. 

a9df226f0c6d3.jpg

Now, you’re ready to use your projector! Experiment with a flashlight first! Direct the light at the pinhole while looking through the eyehole. You should see a small circle of light inside the box. Then, try taking your box outside and using the sun as your light source! 

To move the position of the light inside the box, tilt the box either up or down. 

crate box

Ruler

x-acto knife

paper - white

double-sided tape

paper - black

Scissors

Solar Eclipse Science Project

plant science

plants

easy experiment

biology

Have you ever noticed how plants grow toward the light? Build this simple light maze, and watch the plant grow around the obstacles to reach the light! Try experimenting with different mazes and see how the plant reacts. Can your plant complete its maze?Explore more ways to harness the power of the sun with a <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/us/store/dp/solar-crayon-recycler-project-kit/5702" target="_self">Solar Crayon Recycler</a> from the <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/store" target="_self">KiwiCo Store</a>. Make your own crayon recycler, transform crayon pieces into custom rainbow crayons, and more!

a95e734e26372.jpg

a317ef57a8aab.jpg

Prepare your plant. We picked a bean because it grows pretty quickly. Plant the seed in a cup of dirt (about 1 inch under the surface) and add water so that the dirt is moist.You may want to plant several cups ahead of time to make sure the bean sprouts.Optional: Place the plant near a windowsill and wait a few days until a small plant sprouts. This will ensure you are starting the experiment with a good seed.

af8ee19bb4974.jpg

Now it's time to create the light maze!Start by cutting a large hole at the top of your box. This acts as the exit of your maze.

aaae8ff02a3b6.jpg

Close your box and make sure nothing obscures the hole you just made. If needed, cut off any blocking material and open the box back up.

a60e341b81d7b.jpg

Measure the inside of the box to create a divider. Add about a 1/2-inch border to three sides. Those will act as a glue flap in the later steps. Make sure you use a thick paper that does not let light through. We first tried using white cardstock, but found that it did not block the light out. So, we switched to a thick, black cardstock.

aef9cdc96d1e6.jpg

Draw and cut out a circle in the divider, on the opposite side of the hole at the top of the box.

a56ecfb4ed4ec.jpg

Place your plant cup inside the box, and glue or tape in the shelf above the plant cup.The fun part of this project is designing your own maze, we decided to go with a single divider, but you can get creative! Just make sure you don't block off the light completely.Note: We also cut out a white backboard just so we could see the plant better.

a4e61b28fb37f.jpg

Close the box up and place it near a window. Now watch your plant grow! Make sure to keep your plant well hydrated. Check back every day and see your plant travel through the light maze.ongate.

What's happening?
Plants grow toward the light as a way of generating more energy through photosynthesis. So how do the plants grow toward the light? Plants contain a hormone called auxin, which causes plant cells to grow longer. Plant cells on the shady side of a plant contains more auxin hormones, making the plant bend toward the light as the cells in the shade el

seeds - fast-growing, like beans

soil

small cup

box - like shoebox

Paper

tape or glue

pencil

Plant Light Maze

family activities

explore at home

activities at home

everyday materials

experiment

indoor project

Mother's Day

STEM

science experiment

flowers

spring

Turn plain white flowers into a rainbow bouquet with just a little of science (and food coloring).

Rainbow_Flowers_Step_1.jpg

Trim off the bottom of the stem. This will help the flower drink up the water.

Rainbow_Flowers_Step_2.jpg

Carefully slice the stem down the middle. (Grownup assistance required.)

Rainbow_Flowers_Step_3.jpg

Fill 2 cups with warm water and add food coloring. Pick your favorite colors and add lots! The water should look very dark.

Rainbow_Flowers_Step_4.jpg

Place half of the stem into each cup. You may need to lean the flower against something so it doesn’t tip over.

Rainbow_Flowers_Step_5_A.jpg

Wait for a day or so and watch the colors appear!

white flowers (roses or carnations work best)

food coloring

2 cups of water

knife or scissors

Rainbow Flowers

nature crafts

outdoor activities

outdoor experiments

Learn how to water your plants with just string and a sandwich bag!

a1fe0186a1bd3.jpg

a10f0ae344d2e.jpg

Fill your Ziploc® brand sandwich bag with one cup of water(avoid filling the bag beyond half its size). Seal the bag. 

a332ad2c21847.jpg

Carefully use the two clothespins to attach the bag to one side of the potted plant. The bag should be upright and rest gently on the ground. 

af21cf8492bef.jpg

Use the scissors to cut a length of string long enough to go from the bag to the pot and into the soil about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm)&nbsp;deep. If your pot has multiple plants, you’ll need a piece of string for each one.  

a56ba72e8ee23.jpg

Tie the ends of the string(s)to paperclips  (the paperclips will anchor the strings). Carefully open the bag and drop in the paperclip(s) so they sink to the bottom and rest on the ground.

afd0befccc9b1.jpg

Use your finger to make holes about three inches deep by the roots of the plant. Pull the other end of the strings over the side of the pot and bury it in the holes. Uses your fingers to press the soil and make sure the string is taut (cut it shorter if necessary).

a52f4367f6f63.jpg

You’ve made a self-watering planter! Make sure to refill the bag if it gets low on water. 

Capillary action describes how water moves through tiny tubes or spaces, like the fibers in string. Water molecules like to stick to each other and to other things. That’s why your finger gets wet when you dip it in water —the water molecules stick to you! In your self-watering planter, the water molecules stick to the string fibers. Because water molecules also stick to each other, the water that sticks to the fibers also pulls up its friends. The water molecules keep climbing and pulling each other up until they reach the soil, keeping your plant alive! From there, the plant’s roots also use capillary action to bring water up from the soil to the leaves. 

water (1 cup)

wooden clothespins (2)

low potted plant in soil (no more than 4-inches tall)

thick string or yarn

paperclips

Self Watering Planter

bugs

easy craft

summer

Fourth of July

Nothing ruins a great picnic celebration like mosquito bites. This year, I'm going to make some natural DIY mosquito repellent that also serves as decoration so that my family and I can enjoy the weekend festivities without any unwanted visitors. I was surprised how easy the DIY mosquito repellent jars were to make, and that all I needed were a few ingredients from the produce section of the grocery store. Once I had the lemons, limes, and rosemary, it only took me a few minutes to make each container. Plus, I could make them before the party and just screw the lid on tight until it was party time.

a875f97d6c1e1.jpg

Gather the materials you need to make your natural DIY mosquito repellent.

a3e9752ef6ec7.jpg

Slice up the lemons and the limes. Have a grownup assistant help with this step.

a923fd4e0b688.jpg

ad59dade33b75.jpg

Fill the water about 3/4 of the way up with water. 

a2e6c6cce748f.jpg

Place a few slices of lemon and lime on top of the water. 

af9327ff1a10d.jpg

Place a floating tea light candle on top. Your DIY mosquito repellent is ready! Now, when it's time to party, all you have to do is light the candle. Use them at your next picnic, backyard party, or camping trip to keep those pesky mosquitoes away. It's the natural essential oils in the plants that make this DIY mosquito repellent effective. They don't like them, which means they won't be hanging around your party.

15 easy nature science projects for kids

Screen-free fun!