Science is one of the most interesting subjects out there. It helps us to understand the world around us and how things work. If you’re a teen who’s interested in science, you’re in luck! There are plenty of fun science experiments that you can do right at home. Here are 10 of our favorites.
The Balloon Rocket Experiment
You’ll Need:
-1 balloon
-1 straw
-1 piece of string
-1 ruler or measuring tape
-1 pencil
-1 notebook
-1 adult helper (optional)
Directions:
- Blow up the balloon and tie it off.
- Cut a small hole in the center of the straw.
- Thread the string through the hole in the straw, and tie it so that the balloon is securely attached to the straw.
- Measure out a distance of 10 feet, and mark it with a pencil on the ground or floor. This will be your starting line.
- Have your adult helper hold the balloon rocket at the starting line, or if you’re doing this experiment solo, place the balloon rocket on the ground at the starting line.
- When you’re ready, have your helper let go of the balloon rocket or give it a gentle push to start it down the track. If you’re doing this experiment solo, release the balloon rocket from your hand when you’re ready to start it down the track.
- Observe and record how far your balloon rocket travel’s in your notebook, then repeat the experiment 2 more times for a total of 3 trials. Be sure to blow up your balloon fresh for each trial!
Once you’ve completed all 3 trials, calculate the average distance traveled by your balloon rocket and record that in your notebook as well.”
The Baking Soda Volcano Experiment
You’ll need:
-1/2 cup baking soda
-1/4 cup vinegar
-1 small container (empty film canisters work well)
-food coloring
-a tray or cookie sheet to catch any spills
Directions:
1. Add baking soda to your empty container until it’s about halfway full.
2. Next add 10 drops of food coloring to give your volcano some color, then mix it in with a popsicle stick or spoon until it’s evenly distributed throughout the baking soda.
3. Pour vinegar into a bowl or cup.
4. Now for the fun part! Carefully pour vinegar into your baking soda volcano until it starts to fizz and overflow.
5. Sit back and watch as your homemade volcano erupts!
The Dancing Egg Experiment
You’ll Need:
-1 egg
-1 tall glass
-water
-vinegar
Directions:
1. Fill your glass with water until it’s about 3/4 full.
2. Carefully lower your egg into the water; if it sinks to bottom that’s fine.
3. Add vinegar to water until glass is full; if you don’t have enough vinegar, just add enough so that egg is mostly submerged.
4. Wait 5 minutes then observe what happens.
5. After 5 minutes have passed, use a spoon to carefully remove egg from water.
6. Your egg should now be rubbery and bouncy!
7. If you want to see what happens when an eggshell is completely removed, carefully crack open egg and remove shell.
8. Place egg back into vinegar solution.
9. Observe what happens over next 5 minutes; compare results with un-shelled egg.
The Floating Penny Experiment
You’ll Need:
-a clear glass or jar
-water
-penny
Directions:
1. Fill jar with water until it’s about 3/4 full.
2. Drop penny into jar.
3. Observe what happens.
4. What do you think makes pennies float?
Hint: It has something to do with density!
The Moldy Bread Experiment
You’ll Need:
-bread
-a Ziploc baggie or container with lid
-a dark location like a closet or cabinet
Directions:
1. Place bread in Ziploc baggie or container.
2. Close baggie or container lid tightly.
3. Leave bread in dark location for 24 hours.
4. After 24 hours have passed, open baggie or container and observe bread.
5. What has happened to bread? Can you see any mold growing?
6. If there is mold growing on bread, what do you think made mold grow?
Hint: Mold needs food, moisture, and warmth to grow.
The Cracking Celery Experiment
You’ll Need:
-celery stalks
-food coloring
-clear cups or jars (one for each color)
-water
Directions:
1. Fill each cup or jar with water until it’s about 3/4 full.
2. Add different food coloring colors to each cup of water; we used red, yellow, green, and blue.
3. Place celery stalk into each cup of colored water.
4. Observe celery stalks over next few hours; check back every hour or so.
5. After several hours have passed (we left ours overnight), remove celery stalks from colored water
6. What has happened to celery stalks? Did they change color?
These are just a few fun science experiments that you can do at home with everyday materials! With a little bit of creativity, you can come up with all sorts of experiments to try out on your own time. Remember to always ask an adult for help when needed, especially when using materials like knives or hot stoves. Have fun exploring all that science has to offer!
Don’t forget to track all your Valentine’s activities in your Modify™ App in your science course.
