Even though summer is over, the fun can still continue on the weekends! While the school year is in full effect this fall, spending quality time with your children is a definite priority. Making that time enjoyable for kids can sometimes be tough, but a water-based science experiment never fails. Below you will find a few fun and educational water-based activities to do with your kids at home. For more seal products, get in touch with Real Seal today!
1. Home Made Bath Bomb Experiment
This is a great experiment for kids of any age. This experiment involves bath bombs, varying temperatures of water, and how the two interact.
Before you get started, you’ll need three mason jars and three bath bombs (this experiment can accommodate three children). You can either make your own bath bombs or purchase them. If you purchase bath bombs, make sure they are all the same (size and ingredients) to ensure the experiment is consistent.
Set out the three mason jars on a baking sheet (this will get messy). You will have three different temperatures of water that will go into each jar. The first jar will include water straight from the fridge (cold), the second one will have water straight from the tap (room temperature), and the last one will have water straight from a boiling kettle (hot).
Before you drop the bath bomb in the water, ask the kids what they think the effect of the water temperature will have on the bath bomb once it is dropped in the water. Once you have all of the water set and ready to go, have each child (ideally three) drop their bath bomb into their respective mason jar.
When each mason jar has been filled with a bath bomb the results will be clear. The warm water will fizz substantially faster than the cold. It’s slightly messy, but it’s definitely fun!
2. Water Wall Experiment
The water wall experiment is great for kids of all ages, but is especially entertaining for the little ones. A water wall is essentially a wall-like structure that holds containers, tubes, and funnels. This should set up by an adult (or with substantial help from an adult).
The kids pour water into the contraptions affixed to the wall and are able to see how the water pours, flows, and drips through the series of various containers, tubes, and funnels. At the very end is the final bucket that all of the water drops into.
This activity helps teach kids about gravity, angles, and water flow. It also can help the little ones with their hand-eye coordination. For a water wall on a budget, use recycled containers, zip ties, and a staple gun.
As you are attaching the recycled pieces to the wall, be sure to line them up accordingly so that the water can pass through each piece into the bottom bucket.
For a fancier version, use Real Seal products to attach your containers to the water wall. Real Seal is a manufacturer and distributor of custom seal products and mechanical component goods, perfect for your upgraded water wall needs!
3. Solutions Experiment
This experiment is fast and easy to set up and can be fun for all ages. To get started you’ll need five mason jars, water, stirring sticks, sugar, salt, gelatin powder, flour, and pepper.
Before getting started, have the kids guess which substances will dissolve in the water and which ones won’t. Before putting the water in the jars, warm the water on the stove so the interaction happens faster. You can also try it with both hot and cold water to note the differences in time for an additional component to the experiment.
When you’re ready, place a tablespoon of the selected ingredient in the jar and then add the water. Stir for 60 seconds and see what happens. This is the perfect chemistry experiment for kids to be introduced to solutions. The ingredients are the “solute” and the water is the “solvent.” Together, they are a solution. A solution occurs when the solute is mixed with the solvent and ultimately dissolves with an even consistency. This is also known as a homogenous mixture. This a great way for kids to get a glimpse into the world of chemistry!
Whether your kids are bored, or you want to do something fun and educational outside of school, these water-based experiments should keep your kids busy and entertained.
