With the weather getting warmer, now is a great time to do some science projects with your kids. You can have so much fun with science this summer. Cool off with water science, learn about the sun’s power, or do an easy garden science project. You can study a wide range of scientific ideas through various fun, hands-on activities this summer.
You will love this list of fun science projects for kids to do this summer, whether you are a parent or a caregiver at an Olney preschool. These summer science activities for kids use everyday items and have a really cool result. Picking which science project to do first this summer will be the hardest part! With these awesome summer science games, you can keep your kids learning all summer.
Growing an avocado tree is one of the simplest scientific experiments children may participate in. An avocado pit, a jar, some toothpicks, and water are all needed to get your tree off the ground. Your plant’s roots will begin to sprout after some time and exposure to sunlight.
Many people have attempted science experiments over the years; some have been successful from the start, others require a great deal of modification, and others are total failures! Regardless of the results, the majority have been a lot of fun. To spare you and your aspiring scientist from the calamities, caregivers from a preschool in Olney have compiled a list of the best science projects suitable for children.
Put different-colored Skittles on a plate and pour water over them. Watch as the candy’s colors melt into the water. Try it out with different temperatures of water and even various kinds of candy. If you still have Skittles left over, you could try candy chromatography.
Chromatography is a way to separate things that are mixed together. The blend is put through something else, in this case, filter paper. The different colors of ink move through the filter paper at different speeds, revealing the colors that make up the pen ink.
Although this sounds messy, if done outside, no clean-up is involved. To do this experiment, you will need a plastic cup, water, four tablespoons of baking soda, 2 ounces of washable paint, one teaspoon of dish soap, and one cup of vinegar.
Mix the “base ingredients” together first. Fill the plastic cup with water, about two-thirds of the way full. Addish soap, baking soda, and washable paint. If you use washable paint, you won’t have to worry about food coloring ruining the rocks or staining fingers.
Have the kids make a mound out of pea gravel or dirt while you mix the main ingredients. Put the cup on top of the hill to make it a mountain. Just before you add the last thing, give it a good stir. It’s time for the explosion! Add the vinegar and stir it until it foams up and starts pouring over the rocks like lava.
You could do this simple solar science project with your kids over the summer. Sunography paper or fabric is what you need to make your sun pictures. Find various objects around the house that you want to make prints of. These can be wooden shapes, cookie cutters, or random objects found throughout the house.
Lay the objects directly on paper or fabric and set them out in the sun. It should be a bright, sunny day with not too many clouds. You can still make the prints with clouds, but they will need to be out in the sun for a lot longer. The best day is one that is calm and doesn’t have much wind or air. Leave them out in the sun for several hours. You can experiment with times to see what kind of effect the objects have on the paper or fabric.
Corn flour and water are used to make oobleck. Dump some cornstarch into a bowl to make this mixture, and slowly add water. Mix everything until it becomes sticky and slimy. Use food coloring to give it some color. When you squeeze it between your fingers, it feels solid, but when you let go of the pressure, it turns into liquid. This type of liquid is called a Non-Newtonian liquid.
In a bowl, combine three parts baking soda, one part water, and however much Jell-O powder you want to use together. The best way to mix it is like a paste. If there is too much water in it, the cold letters will come out a little too soft, making them hard to get out of the ice cube trays. If the mixture seems too thin, just add more baking soda until it is less liquid.
Pour the mixture into letter-shaped ice cube trays; you can also use regular trays or number trays. Place the trays in a freezer until solid. Dump the trays out. Bring out a bowl of vinegar and an eyedropper. Let the kids slowly drop vinegar onto the frozen shapes and see what happens.
With these sugar cubes, you can learn how things absorb water and their properties, especially whether they are waterproof. People want to stack sugar cubes in a tower and see which materials can keep the taller cubes safe. It is a beautiful hands-on practice that kids can see as it is happening.
Learn how to bounce an egg, but be careful, as it will eventually break. To start, put the egg in vinegar to remove the shell. The membrane is the only thing left over. You can bounce the egg after taking off the shell.
According to caregivers at the preschool in Olney, MD, if you get outside this summer and try these fun science experiments, you and your kids will learn while you play. However, if weather or extreme temperatures prevent you from going outside for these experiments, you can always set up a little station inside!
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.