15 Classic Science Experiments for Kids and Teens!

Here Are 10 of the Best Kid’s Science Experiments to Try Today!

These classic science experiments are perfect for learning in the classroom whether you are enrolled in a private or public school. You can also do this at home! Make sure you get your parent or teacher’s permission before jumping in… some of these can be messy! Also, there are some school clubs that will teach you more of these so find one and join.

1. Rubber Egg Science – Via: Little Bins for Little Hands

Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

The first experiment on this list is one you may already have all of the supplies for!

If you weren’t already aware, there are many different fun egg science experiments! In this example, we’ll be looking at the timeless “Rubber Egg” experiment; where we’ll be using acetic acid (vinegar) to cause a chemical reaction with calcium carbonate (the eggshell).

The reaction looks like this:

To get started, all you will need is:

• 1 Egg… or a Dozen!
• 1 Mason Jar or Glass Vase.
• 1 Bottle of White Vinegar.
• 1 Week’s Time.

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Place your egg inside the jar or vase.
2. Cover the egg with vinegar.
3. Wait 24 hours, then drain the jar and fill with fresh vinegar.
4. Leave the egg in the vinegar for 7 full days, record any changes you observe.
5. Drain vinegar, rinse, and report any observed changes to the egg.

Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

Observations and results:

Over the course of this experiment, the egg will undergo a significant change to its physical properties…

Did you notice anything strange or unusual?

• Did you notice any bubbles along the sides of the egg?
• Was the egg soft after the week had passed?
• Can you see through it with a flash light?
• Does the egg bounce?
• Will it pop if you squeeze it?
• What caused this transformation to the shell?
• Why do you think this happened?

The egg looks translucent when you shine a flashlight through it because the hard outside shell is gone. The only part that remains is the thin membrane called a semipermeable membrane. You might have noticed that the egg got a little bigger after soaking in the vinegar. Here’s what happened…Some of the water in the vinegar solution (remember that household vinegar is 96% water) traveled through the egg’s membrane in an effort to equalize the concentration of water on both sides of the membrane. This flow of water through a semipermeable membrane is called osmosis. Via: Steve Spangler Science

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Sick Science!

2. Potato Powered Alarm Clock – Via: PBS Kids

Source: Robert Lee Fulghum

Renewable energy is the future!

With populations all across the world seeking out new ways to power devices, stay cool in the summer, and access all the other many benefits of modern electrical power; maybe it’s time we learn how we can start making our own totally FREE electricity… from potatoes! This is one of the many science experiments that promote sustainable living!

Here’s what you’ll need to start your own tiny power plant:

• Two Potatoes and One Kitchen Plate.
• Three 8″ Pieces of Insulated Copper Wire (each with 2″ of insulation removed).
• Two Pennies.
• Two Common Galvanized Nails.
• One Digital Alarm Clock.
• Advanced: Digital Multimeter.

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Cut a potato in half and put the two halves on a plate so they stand on their flat ends.
2. Wrap the end of one piece of wire around a galvanized nail and wrap the end of a second piece of wire around a penny.
3. Stick the nail and penny into one half of the potato so that they’re not touching each other.
4. Wrap the third piece of wire around the other penny and put it into the other half of the potato.
5. Put the other nail into the second half of the potato, but this nail should not have wire wrapped around it.
6. Connect the wire from the penny on the first half of the potato to the nail that has no wire on it in the second half of the potato.
7. Touch the free ends of the wires to the wires coming out of the digital clock, get power through the clock.
8. Advanced: Use your digital multi-meter to see how much power you can generate through the potatoes.

Observations and results:

Did your clock turn on? No? Try connecting the wires in different ways… did anything change?

A potato battery is an electrochemical battery, otherwise known as an electrochemical cell. An electrochemical cell is a cell in which chemical energy is converted to electric energy by a spontaneous electron transfer. In the case of the potato, the zinc in the nail reacts with the copper wire. The potato acts as a sort of buffer between the zinc ions and the copper ions. The zinc and copper ions would still react if they touched within the potato but they would only generate heat. Since the potato keeps them apart, the electron transfer has to take place over the copper wires of the circuit, which channels the energy into the clock. Presto! You have potato power. Via: Kidzworld

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Taras Kul

3. Alka-Seltzer Powered Film Canister Rocket – Via: The Science Kiddo

Source: The Science Kiddo

We think most young scientists would agree… there’s almost nothing more fun than sending a rocket soaring into the air! In fact, there are many science experiments that aim to imitate the same concept.

Though you may not be sending a Tesla Roadster from Earth to Mars, you can certainly get some incredible results from launching this Alka-Seltzer powered rocket from an open parking lot! This is another one the science experiments which is perfect for understanding how even the smallest of rockets create enormous amounts of thrust using high-pressure gas. For a detailed overview of basic rocket science, check out “How Rocket Engines Work” by How Stuff Works.

No fuel rods necessary… just grab:

• One or more snap-top plastic bottles – Ex: 35mm film canisters (vintage, right?), Airborne tablet tubes, M&M Minis tubes, etc… get creative!
• A bottle of water.
• Alka-Seltzer tablets.
• Cardboard & hot glue to construct a proper rocket frame (optional).
• Protective goggles – Safety first!

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Construct your rocket.
2. Add water (fuel) to your canister.
3. Drop one Alka-Seltzer tablet (oxidizer) into canister.
4. Quickly close the canister, set rocket upright, and take cover!
5. Blast Off!!

Source: NASA

Observations and results:

Did your rocket take flight as expected!?

• How high did your rocket fly? Advanced: Rocket Equations
• What happens if you use more/less fuel?
• What happens if you use more/less oxidizer?
• What fuel/oxidizer ratio worked the best for your specific canister?
• How did the cardboard body design affect your rocket’s flight path?

So what makes the explosion happen? It is actually the same chemistry that happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar together. An acid plus a base mix to form carbon dioxide gas, which are the bubbles you see. When enough carbon dioxide has been produced the pressure builds until the container can no longer contain it, at which point the top pops off and the gas and liquid explode out. Alka-Seltzer is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which acts as a base. When the tablets are solid and dry the acid and base don’t react, but as soon as they are immersed in water they react to form carbon dioxide. This is what causes the explosion. Via: The Science Kiddo

See this experiment in action, courtesy of GrandadIsAnOldMan.

4. Rain Cloud in a Jar – Via: Fun Learning for Kids

Source: Fun Learning for Kids

Here’s one of the most interesting science experiments for the next generation of meteorologists!

This is one of the easiest Earth science experiments for kids which will help them visualize how clouds are formed, and how Earth’s water cycle creates rain! Making clouds in a jar is easier than you might think! This experiment is perfect for the classroom, or for learning at home!

We’ll only need a few ingredients to make awesome jar clouds:

• One large glass mason jar or plastic cup.
• Shaving cream – Foam, not gel.
• Food coloring or washable watercolors.
• Pipettes or eye droppers.
• Water.

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Fill the large jar with water until it is about 3/4 full.
2. Use your shaving cream to create a thick cloud layer on top of the water.
3. Wait 1-3 minutes for the foam to settle.
4. Drop food coloring or watercolor on top of foam.
5. Observe what happens within and below your cloud!

Source: Google Galaxy Science

Observations and results:

What did you notice after you dropped the coloring into the cloud?

• Did the cloud change colors?
• Did the colors stay suspended for a moment before dropping?
• What caused the colors to make it through the cloud?
• Did different colors have a different effect?
• What happens if you use warm vs cold water?

Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air. When the vapor hits cold air, it turns back into droplets of water. Those tiny drops of water floating in the air collect and “stick” together to form clouds. When clouds get so full of water that they can’t hold any more, the water falls back to the ground as rain. Via: Kidspot

See this experiment in action, courtesy of HooplaKidzLab.

5. Classic Erupting Volcano Science Project – Via: ThoughtCo.

Source: Red Tricycle

Here we have probably one of the most popular, yet controversial science experiments of the last decade!

Almost all students, at some point, have heard of science experiments involving DIY erupting volcanoes.

Given its incredible simplicity, overwhelming popularity at science fairs, and the endless potential for customization, the erupting volcano has sometimes been deemed “lazy” or “uninspired” by some teachers, as it relates to fair and/or class project submissions. However… we’re not here for a grade… we’re here to have some fun! So without further ado, we present the world-famous erupting volcano experiment!

This project has two main parts, the volcano itself and the chemicals that cause the eruption.

You will need the following:

• 6 cups flour.
• 2 cups salt.
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil.
• Warm water.
• Plastic soda bottle.
• Dish washing detergent.
• Food coloring.
• Vinegar.
• Baking dish or another pan.
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda.

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed).
2. Stand the soda bottle in the baking pan and mold your fresh dough around it, creating a volcano shape. Make sure you don’t cover the bottle’s hole or drop dough into it!
3. Allow your volcano to dry and harden, then paint it as desired (optional).
4. Fill the bottle most of the way with warm water and a bit of red food color.
5. Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle. (Detergent helps trap the bubbles produced by the reaction so you get better lava!)
6. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the liquid.
7. Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle… then step back!
8. Observe the eruption and record your thoughts!

Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

Observations and results:

What happened after you added the vinegar to the bottle?

• Was the eruption as mellow or violent as you expected?
• What happens if you use more baking soda?
• What happens if you use less warm water?
• Can you think of any way to make the eruption bigger?
• How can you make the eruption last longer?

The red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. In this reaction, the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle until the gas bubbles out of the volcano. This is a good representation of what happens in real volcanoes. Via: Weather Wiz Kids.

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Kids Go Smart

6. Making a Sundial – Via: LASP Colorado.

Source: We Have Kids

Though we don’t see sundials used as much as other time tracking devices, understanding how they work can open a student’s perspective to a broader sense of how the Earth’s position in space, relative to the sun, creates our daily and annual cycles!

Students who follow the detailed guide provided by LASP will find themselves with a home made sundial and the opportunity to track the movement of the sun, and determine the time of local solar noon.

To get started, all you will need is:

• 1 Wooden dowel or similar pole at least 50cm long.
• 12-24 Shadow markers (flags, rocks, sticks, nails, etc.)
• 1 Meter stick.

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Select a day that will be sunny for at least seven hours.
2. Head outside to a relatively flat spot that will be out of the shadow of buildings and trees. Place the pole in the ground making certain that it is perpendicular to the ground using a plumb bob (a piece of string with a weight on it) or a level. Measure and record the height from the ground to the top of the pole.
3. Put a #1 on the first object (rock, flag, etc.) you will use to mark the position of the shadows. Place the marker on the ground at the end of the shadow and to record the time from your watch.
4. Measure and record the distance from the base of the gnomon to the end of the shadow in the table provided. (Optional: Also measure the angle using a compass.)
5. Visit the gnomon at least once an hour for the remainder of the day. Measure the length of the shadow (and the optional angle), place a new numbered marker at the end of the shadow, and record the time of day.
6. Use your notes to determine which marker is closest to the pole. This is the time of the shortest shadow and is the observation closest to solar noon. If you have the time, you can take more frequent measurements around the time of this observation on the following day to get a better estimate of solar noon.

Observations and results:

• What is the path of the sun as it moves
  across the sky?
• Does the path of the sun across the sky
  and the pattern of the shadows from the
  gnomon on the dial change during the
  year?

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Waylight Creations!

7. Diet Coke and Mentos Eruption Experiment – Via: Science Kids

Source: Image Kid

Here we have one of the most legendary experiments of the modern day! We present to you, the Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment!

First things first, do NOT attempt this experiment indoors! This will, without a doubt, make a HUGE mess! Though simple in its form, this timeless experiment is sure to entertain young scientists of all ages. Make sure you grab some eye protection for this one! Once you’ve done the experiment with traditional Diet Coke, try repeating the steps with other beverages!

To get started, all you will need is:

• 2-liter(s) of Diet Coca-Cola
• 2-liter(s) of other beverages (optional).
• Roll(s) of Mentos Mints.
• 1 Funnel or tube (optional).

Steps to create this experiment:

1. Set up your materials OUTSIDE. Grassy areas work best!
2. Stand the 2-liter of Diet Coke upright and unscrew the lid.
3. If you’ll be using a funnel or other device, attach it to the top of the Coke bottle now.
4. Quickly drop 1/2 of the Mentos pack into the Coca-Cola bottle and RUN!
5. Record observations.

Source: Simply Designing

Observations and results:

• How long did it take for the geyser to begin?
• If you add more Mentos, is the eruption bigger?
• Did the type of beverage make a difference?

Although there are a few different theories around about how this experiment works, the most favoured reason is because of the combination of carbon dioxide in the Diet Coke and the little dimples found on Mentos candy pieces.

The thing that makes soda drinks bubbly is the carbon dioxide that is pumped in when they bottle the drink at the factory. It doesn’t get released from the liquid until you pour it into a glass and drink it, some also gets released when you open the lid (more if you shake it up beforehand). This means that there is a whole lot of carbon dioxide gas just waiting to escape the liquid in the form of bubbles.

Dropping something into the Diet Coke speeds up this process by both breaking the surface tension of the liquid and also allowing bubbles to form on the surface area of the Mentos. Mentos candy pieces are covered in tiny dimples (a bit like a golf ball), which dramatically increases the surface area and allows a huge amount of bubbles to form.

The experiment works better with Diet Coke than other sodas due to its slightly different ingredients and the fact that it isn’t so sticky. I also found that Diet Coke that had been bottled more recently worked better than older bottles that might have lost some of their fizz sitting on shop shelves for too long, just check the bottle for the date.

via: Science Kids!

See this experiment in action, courtesy of Olivia Rose!