What children learn in their growing years – and how they learn it – can benefit their development and success in the long run. With that being said, it is no secret that children love to play and that when done in a structured environment, play can be an excellent way for them to learn and develop their thinking.
As a parent, you would want to support your child in any way to help them stay motivated, interested and engaged in their learning so as to ensure that they get the most out of it. With that in mind, parents can conduct science experiments with their young ones as they provide hands-on learning experiences for children while also being exciting. The subject of science not only teaches your little one valuable knowledge, it also improves their communication, focus, observational skills and overall awareness. By encouraging them to actively explore the subject of science itself, you can help them better understand the world around them in a fun and enjoyable manner as they ask questions and problem-solve instead of just memorising facts and formulas.
Between work and other commitments, we understand that it may be difficult for parents to find time to research, prepare and conduct these science projects with their children from start to end. MindSpace takes the complexity of brainstorming out of the equation for you with these three fun science experiment ideas to embark on with your child:
1. How to Make Elephant Toothpaste
One of the most popular science projects for children is the elephant toothpaste experiment. It teaches them the key concepts of chemistry by creating a reaction of foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube with an amount so large that it could be used for an elephant. Simple and engaging, this will be a memorable project that enables your child to learn more about science and have fun at the same time.
Materials to Prepare:
- Empty plastic bottle
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Warm water
- Yeast
- Dish soap
- Funnel
- Tray
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Safety goggles
- Plastic gloves
Instructions to Follow:
- Wear your safety goggles and plastic gloves to practice safety during the science experiment.
- Place your empty plastic bottle in the middle of the tray and place your funnel in the bottle neck.
- Add a few pumps of dish soap into the bottle through the funnel followed by your half cup of hydrogen peroxide before gently swirling the bottle to mix.
- Separately prepare a pasty mixture containing one tablespoon of yeast and half a cup of warm water. Then, stir to dissolve.
- Pour the mixture into the funnel and give it a quick swirl then step back to watch your reaction go.
How Does it Work?
When hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it turns into oxygen and water. This breakdown normally happens very slowly, but the yeast acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction. During this reaction, the oxygen gas forms bubbles which will usually escape the liquid and pop quickly. However, the addition of the dish soap creates surface tension which traps the bubbles and allows the foam to build up and ooze out of the bottle.
2. How to Make Magic Milk
The magic milk experiment is simple to do and fun to learn from, making it the perfect science project for children. With a myriad of colours and patterns that will emerge at the end of the experiment, your young one is sure to go wide-eyed with excitement and curiosity about how the whole thing works.
Materials to Prepare:
- Milk
- Liquid food colouring
- Dish soap
- Cotton swabs
- Empty container
Instructions to Follow:
- Pour a thin layer of milk into a container and add drops of food colouring in different colours all around the milk.
- Dip your cotton swab in the dish soap and put it in the milk by pressing down on a single spot for approximately 15 seconds.
- Continue to do this in a few other areas and watch your milk turn into swirls of vibrant colours.
How Does it Work?
Milk is made up of minerals, proteins and fats. When the dish soap is added, it lowers the surface tension of the milk and reacts with the protein molecules which causes it to alter its shape. As a result, the soap molecules attach to the fat molecules in the milk to form micelles. This movement is only made visible through the food colouring which causes a kaleidoscope of colours swirling around the milk.
3. How to Make Crystal Stars
This last science experiment will keep your little one waiting till bedtime to see the results, but it is worth it when they realise how stunning these crystal stars are. Due to how kid-friendly and visually appealing this project is, your child will undoubtedly be in awe and inspired to learn more about science through various other experiments after this.
Materials to Prepare:
- Borax
- Boiling water
- Pipe cleaner
- Star-shaped cookie cutter
- Thin ribbon or string
- Popsicle stick
- Mason jar
Instructions to Follow:
- Bend the pipe cleaner around your cookie cutter to make it star-shaped, then tie the ribbon or string around the pipe cleaner and hang it from the popsicle stick.
- Lower your star into the mason jar and be careful not to let it touch the sides or bottom, then leave the popsicle stick to rest on the opening of the jar.
- Pour two cups of boiling water into a measuring cup and add borax. Then, dissolve it by stirring.
- After it has dissolved, pour the mixture into the mason jar just until it covers the star fully, then wait approximately six hours for your crystals to grow.
How Does it Work?
A supersaturated solution is made when hot water is mixed with borax, which is a soft crystal. The hot water causes the water molecules to move further apart so that the borax can effectively dissolve in the solution. As the solution cools, the water molecules come closer together again, causing the forming borax crystals to cling onto the pipe cleaner, creating the crystal star.
Choose MindSpace to Support Your Child’s Learning
Apart from these fun science experiments to work on with your child, it is also important to provide them with a conducive environment that develops them holistically. MindSpace is a community-based student care centre in Singapore that gives your child a safe and structured space to learn and grow in.
Dedicated to nurturing your young one with a Champion Mindset, we offer after school student care services as well as weekend enrichment programmes to boost their learning experiences and stay ahead of the curve.
We place high value and importance on strengthening your child’s young mind through our curriculum that encompasses enrichment classes for a variety of subjects and proprietary learning techniques. At MindSpace, we equip children with the skills and tools vital for thriving in their academic environment and beyond. Contact us or book a visit with our educators today to get a better understanding of how our student care services can enhance your young one’s learning.