40 Amazing Summer Science Experiments

These summer science experiments are a fun way for kids to learn new things in the summertime. Try a few of these and amaze your kids!

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Summer is a great time to explore and learn new things. Kids are endlessly curious, and while they’re learning a lot during the school year, summer is the perfect time to let them lead the way.

Kids often learn best through doing. Hands-on activities not only help them feel involved in the process, but also make it easier for them to remember.

As Miss Frizzle (from The Magic School Bus) says, “Take chances. Make Mistakes. Get messy!”

We’ve got a big collection of science experiments that will excite and inspire kids of all ages. However, children should be supervised by a responsible adult when doing any experiment.

Simple experiments

These simple experiments don’t require much prep and can be done with items you probably alreay have at home.

1. Turn on a lightbulb using a balloon, via Happy Brown House.
2. Make a tornado in a jar using household items according to Coffee Cups and Crayons.
3. Show kids that it’s impossible to crack an egg by squeezing it in your palm, via Steve Spangler.
4. Make a compass with a needle, via Cool Science Experiments Headquarters.
5. Use the scientific method to design the perfect paper airplanes, via Feels Like Home.
6. Grow a rainbow using M&Ms candy, from Gift of Curiosity.
7. Learn the trick to blowing a bubble inside another bubble with Hello Wonderful.
8. Make magic pepper, from Coffee Cups and Crayons.
9. Find out what happens when you microwave Ivory soap, via Happy Hooligans.

Tabletop science experiments

Tabletop experiments include anything that’s relatively easy, but might require special tools or have more steps than the simple ones.

1. Learn about air pressure with a burning candle in water experiment at Mombrite.
2. Grow crystals in a jar with From Engineer to Stay-at-Home Mom.
3. Make old pennies shiny and clean again, via Raising Lifelong Learners.
4. Growing a Jeweled Rose has an easy way to turn white daisies into colorful ones.
5. Make a super bouncy ball with Life’s Carousel.
6. Grow plants from your kitchen scraps like Laughing Kids Learn.

Food science experiments

All of these experiments are done either using food or to make food. They’re not all edible, but some of them are.

1. Build a solar oven that you can really cook in, via I Can Teach My Child.
2. Make a lemon volcano for a variation on a classic science fair project with Teaching Exceptional Thinkers.
3. Make your own ice cream in a bag with a recipe from Around the Kampfire.
4. Discover why apples turn brown with Left Brain Craft Brain.
5. Little Bins for Little Hands shares how to make a candy DNA model.
6. Make homemade butter in a jar, thanks to Teach Beside Me.
7. Learn how to use lemon for a battery from STEAM Powered Family.

Messy science experiments

These messy experiments are great for outdoor fun, but can be done indoors if you don’t mind the cleanup.

1. Turn milk into plastic with this trick from How We Learn.
2. Hands On As We Grow shares how to make elephant toothpaste.
3. The classic Coke and Mentos experiment gets a rainbow update from Living Life and Learning.
4. Make dancing oobleck to explore sound with Housing a Forest.
5. Exploding dinosaur mud, from Parenting Chaos, sounds incredible!
6. Make magnetic slime with this trick from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.
7. Visit The Geek Pub to learn how to make magic water proof sand.
8. Blow unpoppable bubbles, via Learning Resources.
9. Melt ice using salt with this idea from Typically Simple.
10. Make exploding baggies from Kids Activities Blog.

Outdoor science experiments

These activities are best when done in your backyard or somewhere outdoors. Some require more space or are safer outdoors.

1. Build a sundial and use it to tell time with KC Edventures.
2. Learn how to build a dam, via Kitchen Floor Crafts.
3. Draw on the sidewalk with fizzy foam paint, thanks to The Tiptoe Fairy.
4. Get tips to attract fireflies from Inspiration Laboratories so you can see them up close.
5. Make a cool exploding pop rocket, via Playdough to Plato.
6. Build a baking soda-powered boat to sail from 123 Homeschool for Me.
7. Turn fire green like a dragon, from Kid Minds.
8. Play music with a water xylophone, like Sugar, Spice, and Glitter.

There are so many creative activities here that you could spend the whole summer doing science experiments! Plan a week of backyard summer camp with a science theme, or save these for a day when the kids are bored.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• 33 Modeling Clay Craft Projects for Kids
• 20 Dinosaur Books for Kids – Fiction and Nonfiction
• 12 Hands-On Science Experiment Books