Are you searching for something fun and educational to do that is suitable for kids? Here are some great chemistry activities and projects to get you started.
Anne HelmenstineSlime is a classic chemistry project. If you are a slime connoisseur, there are actually several different versions, but this white glue and borax recipe is my own kids' favorite.
This is the quickest crystal project I know, plus it's easy and inexpensive. You evaporate a solution of epsom salts on construction paper, which can give the crystals brilliant colors. The crystals develop as the paper dries, so you will get quicker results if you lay the paper out in the sun or in an area with good air circulation. Feel free to try this project using other chemicals, such as table salt, sugar, or borax.
Part of the popularity of this project is it's easy and inexpensive. If you sculpt a cone for the volcano it can be a project that takes up a whole afternoon. If you just use a 2-liter bottle and pretend it's a cinder cone, you can have an eruption in minutes.
The foam fight is a natural extension of the baking soda volcano. It's a lot of fun, and a little messy, but easy to clean up as long as you don't add food coloring to the foam.
Invisible inks either react with another chemical to become visible or else weaken the structure of the paper so the message appears if you hold it over a heat source. We're not talking about fire here. The heat of a normal light bulb is all that's required to darken the lettering. This baking soda recipe is nice because if you don't want to use a light bulb to reveal the message, you can just swab the paper with grape juice instead.
Learn about freezing point depression, or not. The ice cream tastes good either way. This cooking chemistry project potentially uses no dishes, so clean up can be very easy.
Polymer balls are a variation on the slime recipe. These instructions describe how to make the ball and then go on to explain how you can alter the recipe to change the characteristics of the ball.
Sugar crystals do not grow overnight, so this project takes some time. However, it's a great way to learn about crystal-growing techniques and the result is edible.
This is a backyard activity, best accompanied by a garden hose. The mentos fountain is more spectacular than a baking soda volcano. In fact, if you make the volcano and find the eruption to be disappointing, try substituting these ingredients.
It doesn't have to be cereal. What you need is an iron-fortified food and a magnet. Remember, iron is actually toxic so you won't pull huge quantities out of food. The best way to see the iron is to use the magnet to stir the food, rinse it with water, then wipe it with a white paper towel or napkin to see the tiny black filings.
