Science is likely one of your children’s favorite subjects in school. At home, you can extend this interest with some science investigations of your own. For 2020 and beyond, let us take a very close look at three fun science projects to do with your kids.
1. Insect hotels
To start things off, insect hotels are amazing projects to work on. This consists of building an intricate structure designed to house insects and other bugs. First, you need a sturdy foundation as a base. Insects can weigh a surprising amount, and flimsy materials simply won’t cut it. Cut and paste the wood together to create a hotel for insects. You might also want to put some grass and nuts in the hotel to attract them in the first place. Much like a hotel, you won’t see insects there the whole day. They will come and go from day to night as they go about their normal routines. Your kids will love identifying these different bugs and species. It’s not a bad idea to use the internet to look up certain bugs and learn more about how they like to live. It can also be a fun activity to try to identify males and females and baby insects. Kids typically come in two types, those that are fascinated by bugs and those that squeal in terror the moment they see a cockroach. After getting comfortable with the insect hotel, there’s a good chance they’ll fall into the former category.
2. River models
Next up, river models are terrific for learning about the earth’s natural landscape. This project consists of building a model of a river. There are many ways to approach this depending on what other elements you want to include. For the water, you can either use blue ribbons or actual water on a flat surface. For grass and trees, use green paint or actual shrubs from your backyard. In essence, you can create a real river environment, just downsized from its full scale. Teach your kids about how the river flows to the ocean and the natural process of evaporation. They’ll love thinking about how the water flows from location to location and all the way back again. Other elements that you can include are toy animals and rocks. Although your children have probably seen rivers before, it’s always nice to take a moment to appreciate the earth’s beauty. In addition to the water, there is an entire ecosystem that can be modeled in your very own home. Ask them to think about how wildlife interacts with nature and reciprocates certain favors.
3. Lava lamps
Last but not least, lava lamps will keep your kids fascinated for hours. As mesmerizing as lava lamps are, they really only consist of a few ingredients. You’ll need water, food coloring, oil, and antacid tablets. Because oil and water don’t mix, they will form little blobs and bounce up and down as the antacid reacts. It’s not a true lava lamp, but it really does look just as good. Moreover, there’s some very real science going on at the core. Ask your kids whether they can identify the source of the movement. Is it the water flowing? Is the food color the source of the reaction? Soon enough, they’ll realize that science is behind the lava lamp and won’t hesitate to stare at it for hours. As always, lava lamps look best in the dark. Add in a variety of colors and turn off the lights for a bubbly show in the comfort of your own home. However, be careful as one small leak can lead to a slippery mess in your kitchen.
Right now, when all is said and done, these are some fun science projects to explore with your kids. They’ll love the stunning visual and sound effects. At the same time, they will learn a thing or two about science that they might not find in the classroom!
