Instant Science Experiments: Chemistry

 These chemistry experiments do NOT require an investment of time or money.  I’m hunting for simple demos your kiddo can manage alone.  (They might raid your secret candy stash.).  Print out copies of a lab report template.  (It helps to have a crate with plastic cups, craft sticks, and a thermometer for experiments.)  Print or book-mark these ideas for days when you’re feeling guilty your kiddos haven’t done any experiments in weeks.

1. Fizz Bizz requires clear soda, M&Ms, Skittles, and Mentos.  Alternatively, Pasta with Pep Chemistry uses pasta in clear soda, not candy.

2. Sink or Float with a carrot!  

3. Stained Glass Glue requires a yogurt lid, glue, food coloring, and dish detergent.  I substitute tempera paint for food coloring all the time-much cheaper.  

4. Tiny Kiddos: Try Science ABCs.  Ask an older sibling to lead the tiny times in some science from ACS.  B is for Bubbles, F is for Float or K is for Kazoo will keep both kiddos engaged.  Absolutely, the older child should write up the lab as an instructor.  

5. Foiling Spoiling has practical applications for your home.  Use lemon juice with an apple, banana, and potato.

6. Measure Yourself in Metric in millimeter, centimeters, and meters.  You can cut a pieces of string or yarn and use a ruler instead of a measuring tape.  You do need two kiddos for this activity.  Metrics is foundational to Chemistry.  Temperature Touch does NOT require a thermometer.

7.  Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz is a reaction rate lab requiring Alka-Seltzer tablets and a thermometer.  Here is the kinetics version for your teen.  Add It’s a Gas! if you have never inflated balloons with Alka-Seltzer (or Baking Soda and Vinegar.)

8.  Try the Chalk Chromatography activity in the BASF Activity Book.  I think it’s more fun than Butterfly Chromatography.  I may be wrong.

9.  You do need litmus or pH paper; however, kiddos can search the kitchen, bathroom, and pantry for liquids to test acids and bases: citrus juices, liquid detergent, vinegar, baking soda, shampoo, etc.

10.  My favorite kit is Edible Chemistry. Please add sugar.  Insist the kiddos do the experiments before they go all in on their own concoctions.  You do need a good reader.  This kit is always wildly popular with children.