Cool Hands On Science Activities You Can Do At Home
Hands on science activities are essential parts of a well-rounded science curriculum.
Science experiments give tweens the opportunity to interact with concepts they’re learning about, in a fun and engaging manner.
Kids love testing theories and experimenting, so make sure you add some of these projects to your lesson plans. They’ll love seeing science in action.
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Why you should include hands on science activities in your homeschool curriculum
There are so many reasons to add experiments to your homeschool curriculum.
Science is a subject that can be difficult to grasp from just reading a textbook. However, when students get involved and experiment with the concepts they’re studying, they usually find the material much more engaging and easier to understand. Plus, they get to practice their problem solving and critical thinking skills.
There are a variety of ways to incorporate hands-on activities into your lesson plans. One option is to complete some experiments at home, which can often be done relatively easily and inexpensively. You can also check out local homeschool co-ops or classes to find one that offers lab time as part of their curriculum. Additionally, many online homeschool programs now offer science courses with accompanying labs that can be completed at home.
No matter which direction you choose, your kids will definitely benefit from the experience of completing experiments as part of their science class. By working with the concepts, they’ll gain a better understanding of the material, see how it relates to the world, all while seeing how much fun science can be.
How to Make Science Fun
The best way to learn science is to do science! This means experiments. It’s time to stop skipping the labs from your science curriculum. I know they can be messy and require some planning, but they’re essential parts of a well-rounded experience. They give kids the opportunity to get practical experience with the topics they’re studying. And it’s more fun to see science in action than just reading about it.
Tips For Adding Science Experiments to Your Homeschool Day
Here are some things to keep in mind before you get started:
- Whether you’re focusing on the experiments included in your curriculum or you want to put aside the textbook and just have some fun with science, you need to make sure you know and understand what concept you’re trying to teach. This will help you choose a relevant activity.
- If you don’t have any available, use the activities below. You can also do a quick search online to find some cool ideas.
- Before you begin, make sure to have all of the necessary materials on hand. This will make sure things run smoothly and prevent any frustration.
- Allow your tweens to take the lead. Hand them the instructions and let them experiment and explore. This will help them learn and understand the concepts. Plus, they’ll be building their independence and problem solving skills.
- Stick around to answer questions and help troubleshoot any problems that arise.
- Finally, have fun!
Scientific Method
Use these free printables when you work on these experiments to teach your tweens about the scientific method.
Fun Science Activities for Middle School
I’ve gathered some fun projects that will engage your tweens and get them excited about science. They’re easy to complete, use minimal materials (most you have around the house already), and will definitely liven up your science lessons.
Below, you’ll find what you need to bring a wide variety of topics to life in your homeschool, so choose one and get started.
Hands On Science Activities for Middle School
Fun experiments you can do at home with minimal materials to teach tweens about chemical reactions.
Your tweens will have a blast with this chemistry experiment, creating gummi bears in the kitchen. This hands-on activity is educational and yummy!
To simplify measuring distances in the solar system, scientists use astronomical units. Make a scaled model of the solar system and learn how to take the actual distance between planets and convert those distances to astronomical units. Includes a 30-page free printable for middle and high school students.
Did you know you can make homemade pop rocks? It’s actually a super fun edible STEM activity that kids of all ages can enjoy and the science behind it is surprisingly simple!
Teach tweens about density with this fun lava lamp project. It uses simple household products and takes little time to complete.
A fun chemistry experiment testing whether these natural cleaners actually work like they say they do.
Learn why dinosaurs could eat rotten food and we can't with this fun, hands-on experiment that teaches about acidity and bacteria.
When elements of one type combine with elements of other types, compounds are formed. Compounds each have unique properties of their own. One way scientists learn about different compounds is to expose them to a flame. In this "colorful" experiment, we will safely observe what happens when salt and salt substitute are exposed to a flame.
However you choose to enjoy this activity, your kids are sure to have a blast while also learning a lot about catalysts, acids, bases, and more.
A variety of hands-on activities to teach older kids about levers.
This project applies science to real life - and will help you figure out the best brand of paper towel to buy!
Did you know fire comes in many different colors? Learn how to make each one with this experiment.
Is it possible to make a glass of water cooler without adding ice to it or putting it in the refrigerator? In this activity students learn about endothermic chemical reactions. They will learn about solutes, solutions, chemical reactions, and dependent and independent variables.
An experiment you can do at home to teach your older kids about acid rain.
If your kids are visual learners, they'll love building this digestive system model as part of their anatomy studies.
This STEM activity will teach tweens about the hydraulic lifts - the science behind them, calculating the load capability, and how to build one.
Additional Hands-on Science Resources
If you’re looking for even more projects for your homeschool, these are perfect for older kids.
- Kids can build their own solar robot toys with this kit.
- The Kitchen Pantry Scientist will help turn your kitchen into a science lab with Chemistry for Kids.
- With Snap Circuits, tweens can explore the topics of electronics and engineering.
- Use the Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book to choose labs for your older kids.
Which fun science experiment are you going to do first?
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