Science Homeschool Activities and Ideas 

Science has an important place in a homeschooling curriculum. Not only does it help your child understand the world around them, but it instills other essential skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. 

If you want to incorporate more science-based learning and activities into your lesson plans, we have some ideas to inspire you. 

Creating Your Homeschool Science Curriculum 

When creating your science homeschool program, you not only want to make it age-appropriate, but also tailor it to your child’s interests and learning style. 

To give your child the best of both worlds, find a healthy balance between structured study units and hands-on science experiments. 

By incorporating a mix of reading materials, videos, interactive projects, and real-world experiences, you can make science a more engaging and relatable topic. You may even want to work in some field trips to science museums, nature reserves, and laboratories where the concepts you teach can be brought to life. 

A science curriculum that encourages a love for exploration and inquiry can nurture a lifelong appreciation for learning and discovery. 

Homeschool Science Experiments for Kids 

Fun science experiments will make your child want to learn more. They can also help them better understand otherwise complex scientific methods. Here are some ideas for easy science experiments that you can set up at home using basic supplies. 

Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano 

Concept: Chemical reactions using acids and bases. 

Materials: Baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, food coloring, a bottle, and a tray. 

In this experiment, kids learn that the reaction between a base and an acid releases carbon dioxide. 

Mix baking soda and a few drops of dish soap in the bottle and add food coloring to make it more visual. Next, create the vinegar reaction by pouring it into the bottle and watch the foamy eruption. 

Growing a Bean Plant 

Concepts: Plant growth, photosynthesis, and life cycles. 

Materials: A clear jar, a paper towel, water, and dried beans. 

Teach kids that plants need water, light, and air to grow, roots absorb nutrients, and leaves rely on photosynthesis. 

Wet a paper towel and place it inside the jar before pressing a bean seed against the glass so you can see it. Keep the jar in sunlight and observe how the roots and stem develop. 

DIY Rock Candy Crystals 

Concepts: Crystal formation and supersaturation. 

Materials: Sugar, water, food coloring, wooden skewers, and a glass jar. 

This is one of our favorite science experiments for kids. They’ll discover how molecules arrange themselves into a solid crystalline structure when a solution cools and evaporates. 

Boil water and stir in the sugar until no more dissolves to create a supersaturated solution. Pour this into a jar, add food coloring, and insert a wooden skewer. Let it sit for a few days and watch your crystals grow. 

Walking Water Experiment 

Concepts: Capillary action, absorption, and color mixing. 

Materials: Three cups, water, food coloring, and paper towels. 

Capillary action is how water moves through materials, but kids will also see how colors combine. 

Fill two cups with colored water (different colors) and leave the middle cup empty. Place folded paper towels between each cup to connect them. You can now watch as the water “walks” into the empty cup and mixes. 

Static Electricity Balloon Experiment 

Concepts: Static electricity, attraction, and repulsion. 

Materials: Balloons, wool or a sweater, small paper pieces. 

This one is simple and kids love it. When you rub balloons together, it transfer electrons and creates static electricity that attracts objects. 

Rub a balloon against your hair or sweater and then hold it near small paper pieces or a running water stream. 

DIY Water Filtration System 

Concepts: Water purification, filtration, and pollution. 

Materials: Plastic bottle, sand, charcoal, gravel, cotton, and dirty water. 

Show your child how natural filtration systems clean water and the importance of clean water in ecosystems. 

Cut the bottle in half, invert the top, and layer cotton, charcoal, sand, and gravel. Next, pour dirty water through and observe how it filters. 

Egg in a Bottle Trick 

Concepts: Air pressure, gas expansion and contraction. 

Materials: A hard-boiled egg, a glass bottle, and matches. 

Exhibit the power of air pressure with this science experiment. Heated air naturally expands and as it cools, it contracts, creating a vacuum. 

This experiment works by lighting a small fire inside the bottle before quickly placing the egg on top – watch it get sucked in as the fire goes out. 

Making a Simple Circuit 

Concepts: Electrical circuits, conductors, and insulators. 

Materials: A battery, copper wire, a small light bulb, and electrical tape. 

Demonstrate how electrical currents flow through a closed circuit to power devices. 

Connect one end of the wire to the battery and the other to the light bulb. Complete the circuit and watch the bulb light up. 

Project-Based Science Learning Ideas 

Fun science experiments are just the start – there are alsoH a number of projects you can work into your plan for the year that will encourage your child to explore different scientific concepts over several days or weeks. 

Grow Your Own Hydroponic Garden 

Explore plant growth without soil by creating your own hydroponic garden. All you will need is some plastic egg trays, cotton balls, seeds, water, and nutrients. Moisten the cotton balls, place the seeds in between two balls, and place them in the closed egg container. 

You can now track and compare plant growth to soil-based plants. Take it one step further by experimenting with different nutrient solutions and record their effects on plant growth. 

Construct a Homemade Weather Station 

Give your kids the chance to learn how to measure and predict weather patterns. To make this happen, you will need: 

• A thermometer 
• A rain gauge made from a plastic bottle with measurement marks 
• An anemometer, which can be constructed with cups on straws 
• A barometer, which is made with a balloon and jar 

Once you have what you need, record daily weather conditions, including temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and air pressure, and compare your readings to local forecasts. Graph data over a month and identify weather patterns. 

Discover What Happens to Trash Over Time 

In this long-term experiment, kids can explore how different materials decompose by burying items like a banana peel, paper towel, plastic wrapper, aluminum foil, cotton fabric, and cardboard in soil. 

Over 4-6 weeks, they will check weekly for changes in color, texture, and size, recording their observations. This helps them understand the differences between biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials and how soil conditions affect decomposition. 

By the end, they will compare what remains of each item and discuss the impact of waste on the environment. 

Raising Young Scientists 

If you want to be a STEAM-powered family, science is a subject you should prioritize in your lessons.

Kids are changing the world, one experiment at a time, and focusing on this essential STEAM subject can set them up for a successful future.

Don’t forget to check out Snapology’s STEM classes, workshops, and camps for kids of all ages. If you would like your child to receive guidance from qualified instructors and connect with other kids who share their passion for science, we’re the perfect addition to your homeschooling curriculum.