3 Fun & Easy Science Experiments for Kids | British Science Week Activities

British Science Week is the perfect opportunity to spark curiosity and excitement in young minds. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or just someone who loves science, there are endless ways to make science fun and engaging for kids. This annual event encourages children to explore the wonders of the world around them through hands-on activities and creative experiments. Here are three science experiments that will make British Science Week unforgettable for your young scientists!

Create a Mini Volcano

Nothing grabs a child’s attention quite like an erupting volcano! This classic experiment is a fun and safe way to demonstrate chemical reactions in action.

What You Will Need:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Food colouring
• Small container
• Dish soap (optional, for extra fizz!)

Instructions:

1) Place the small container on a tray or plate to catch any spills.

2) Fill the container halfway with baking soda.

3) Add a few drops of food colouring for a colourful lava effect.

4) Optional: Add a squirt of dish soap for extra foaming action.

5) Pour in the vinegar and watch as your volcano erupts

The Science Behind It: 

When baking soda (a base) meets vinegar (an acid), they react to create carbon dioxide gas. This builds up pressure and results in a spectacular fizzing eruption, just like real volcanic activity! Adding dish soap makes the reaction foamier for an even bigger wow factor.

Grow Your Own Crystals

Transform your kitchen (or classroom) into a mini laboratory with this dazzling experiment! Kids will love watching their very own crystals grow while learning about solubility and saturation.

What You Will Need:

• Table salt, sugar, or borax
• Warm water
• Glass jar
• String or pipe cleaner
• Pencil or stick

Instructions:

1) Heat some water until warm (but not boiling) and pour it into the glass jar.

2) Slowly stir in your chosen substance (salt, sugar, or borax) until no more can dissolve (this means the solution is saturated).

3) Tie one end of a string or pipe cleaner to the middle of a pencil or stick.

4) Suspend the string in the solution so it hangs in the jar without touching the sides.

5) Leave the jar undisturbed for several days and watch as crystals start to form along the string!

The Science Behind It: 

When you dissolve a substance in warm water, it creates a solution. As the water cools and evaporates, the dissolved particles join to form crystals. This is the same process that creates natural crystal formations in caves and even snowflakes in winter!

Make a DIY Lava Lamp

Bring some colour into the classroom (or your home) with this mesmerising lava lamp experiment! It’s a fun way to explore density and chemical reactions in a visually stunning way.

What You Will Need:

• Clear plastic or glass bottle
• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Food colouring
• Effervescent tablet (such as Alka-Seltzer)

Instructions:

1) Fill the bottle about one-quarter full with water.

2) Pour vegetable oil into the bottle until it is nearly full (the oil will float on top of the water).

3) Add a few drops of food colouring and watch as the droplets sink through the oil and mix with the water.

4) Drop in half an effervescent tablet and observe as colourful bubbles rise and fall, creating a lava lamp effect!

5) To keep the fun going, add more effervescent tablets as needed.

The Science Behind It: 

Water and oil do not mix because they have different densities. The oil stays on top of the water. When you drop in an effervescent tablet, it creates carbon dioxide gas, which lifts blobs of coloured water through the oil before they sink back down, just like a real lava lamp!

British Science Week is not just about learning it is about making science exciting and accessible for kids of all ages. These hands-on experiments encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a way that feels like play. So, put on your lab coat, gather your materials, and get ready for a week full of exciting exploration!

Share your experiments with us and inspire others! Tag your photos and experiences on social media using #KentTeachScienceExperiments.