Science Articles

Last year I made some very simple homemade science kits for my children to give to friends who love science. Each kit contained the materials and instructions for 5 different investigations.

I also have lots more FREE printable science experiment instruction sheets you can download, which would be a great addition to any homemade science kit.

This little kit makes an excellent, inexpensive science gift for Christmas or a birthday.

My super scientist certificate is a lovely extra resource as well.

How to make your own science kit

What you’ll need to make a homemade science kit

Balloon

Tissue paper

Pipette

Skittles

Pom poms

Elastic bands

Lolly sticks

Filter paper

Film canisters

Effervescent vitamin tablets – give these to an adult

Ping-pong balls or pom poms

Instructions

Place all the items in a shoebox-sized box. I made the catapult, but another idea is to include the lolly sticks and

Lava lamps are a simple but fun science experiment for kids using materials you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards. We’ve given these a Christmas twist by decorating them like a reindeer and a snowman. Crafts are not my strong point, so I’m sure you can do a much better job with your Christmas lava lamp.

If you’re on the hunt for awesome science gifts, I’ve got some great DIY science kit ideas and ready-made science kit suggestions too.

I also have FREE a Christmas Lava Lamp printable instruction sheet you might find handy.

Christmas Lava Lamps

Don’t forget to check out my Christmas Science Ebook, which contains 12 printable Christmas themed experiments and activities, perfect for this time of year.

How to make a Christmas Lava Lamp

What you need

A clear plastic bottle or jar
Vegetable oil
Food colouring and decorations
Alka Seltzer or effervescent

We’ve all been there, the last-minute elf panic, wondering what simple but exciting mischief they will get up to that night.

This year, Science Sparks makes the elf antics easy with 24 super simple science ideas and a bit of elfish fun to delight elves and children alike.

I’ve tried to make each day as simple as possible with templates for some activities and by only using very basic materials that hopefully you already have at home.

You can print off the whole pack or just a selection of 4 days.

Elf Ideas Days 1-4

Tidy up time

Leave out a balloon and tissue paper chopped into small bits. These could be cut into candy cane shapes if you want to be extra fancy.

Boiled or not

For this one, boil one egg and leave the other uncooked. The boiled egg will spin more smoothly than the raw one.

What’s

December is coming around fast and I’m confusing myself with all my Christmas science investigations, experiments and STEM Challenges so thought I’d pull everything together in one place to make it a bit easier.

Here you have the ULTIMATE list of Christmas science experiments for kids!

The ultimate list of Christmas science experiments for kids

Christmas Advent Calendar

This free downloadable science advent calendar has an activity for each of the 12 days in the run-up to Christmas. Just click on each bauble to be taken to an activity for that day!

Christmas Science Experiments

Print and play paper science experiments

My new favourite Christmas resource is this print-and-play pack of paper based festive activities! Race Christmas liquids, make spinning sleighs, magic opening holly and more. The idea behind this booklet is that you print the pack, complete the activities and then recycle everything so there’s almost no

The Pont du Gard is the highest of the Roman aqueducts. It was built in the 1st Century AD to transport water to the Roman colony of Nemausus ( now Nimes ) in the South of France. The impressive bridge towers above the Gardon, a feeder river of the Rhone. It’s astonishing to think it was built before the days of the large cranes and machinery we have today.

What is an aqueduct?

Aqueducts transport water from one place to another, usually from a water source to a town or city. The water is carried either through underground tunnels or overground on a bridge like the Pont du Gard. The Pont du Gard is just a small part of the 50km aqueduct which the Romans built to transport water from the start of the Eure to Nemausus.

Aqueducts use gravity to allow water to flow. The slope has to