Activities You Kids Will Love

Summer gives your kids the freedom to play outside, but it’s also a perfect time to keep their minds busy with science activities. These science experiments are both fun and educational, helping build skills they’ll need if they decide to attend college later.

Water Displacement Experiment

This cool water activity teaches measurement skills that build strong math foundations needed for college-level courses.

What You Will Need:

• Large measuring cup
• Various waterproof objects
• Second container to catch overflow
• Small measuring cup
• Towels for cleanup
• Notebook for recording results

Steps:

1. Fill a large measuring cup to a marked line
2. Drop objects one at a time into the cup
3. Note where the water level rises to
4. Subtract the first measurement from the second to find the object’s volume
5. For the overflow method, fill a container to the brim inside a larger, dry container
6. Place the object in the water and collect the overflow
7. Measure the spilled water to find the object’s volume

Let children write down what they think will happen before testing. Try objects with different shapes like an apple and a banana. This builds prediction skills—a key part of college science courses.

Homemade Ice Cream Science

Making ice cream teaches chemistry concepts while creating a treat everyone enjoys.

What You Will Need:

• Small coffee can with lid
• Large coffee can with lid
• Duct tape
• 250 ml cream or half and half
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg (optional)
• Rock salt
• Ice
• Gloves
• Optional flavours: strawberries, chocolate

Steps:

1. Mix cream, vanilla, sugar, and egg (if using) in the small can
2. Seal the small can with its lid and secure with duct tape
3. Place small can inside the large can
4. Fill space between cans with ice and rock salt
5. Have children roll the can back and forth for about 10 minutes
6. Continue rolling until cream thickens (about 10 more minutes)
7. Older children can roll the can down a hill instead

Explain how salt lowers the freezing point of ice, making it cold enough to solidify the cream mixture. Understanding phase changes helps with chemistry—an important subject for college science programs.

Cornstarch Quicksand

This experiment shows how substances can act as both liquids and solids—teaching college-level physics concepts in a fun way.

What You Will Need:

• 2 cups cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• Large bowl or container
• Food colouring (optional)
• Plastic sheet or easy-to-clean outdoor space
• Old clothes (this can get messy)

Steps:

1. Mix cornstarch and water in the bowl
2. Add food colouring if desired (may stain clothing)
3. Put your finger slowly into the mixture—it sinks like quicksand
4. Punch the mixture quickly—it feels solid
5. Hold some in your hand and make a fist to keep it solid
6. Relax your hand and watch it ooze through your fingers like a liquid

This activity teaches non-Newtonian fluids—a concept covered in college physics courses. Children struggling with science now will benefit from this hands-on introduction to complex ideas.

Balloon Rocket Cars

This simple activity introduces basic engineering and physics principles that build college readiness.

What You Will Need:

• Empty plastic bottle
• 4 bottle caps
• 4 wooden skewers
• Balloon
• Tape
• Scissors
• Straw
• Cardboard piece

Steps:

1. Cut the plastic bottle in half lengthwise to create the car body
2. Push skewers through the bottle to create axles
3. Attach bottle caps to ends of skewers as wheels
4. Cut a small hole in the back of the bottle
5. Insert straw through the hole and secure with tape
6. Attach balloon to the outside end of the straw
7. Blow up the balloon through the straw, pinch the end, then release on a smooth surface

This experiment teaches action-reaction forces—basic physics concepts needed for college science courses. Children learn problem-solving as they test and improve their designs.

School May Be Out, but Kid’s Can Still Have Fun with Great Science Activities