Cool Summer Science Experiments to Beat the Heat
Are your students looking for fun ways to learn about science this summer? These simple summer science experiments will keep their minds active while enjoying the sunny months. With easy instructions and supplies you likely already have at home or in class, these hands-on activities make perfect summer learning opportunities.
Simple is Best
Kids don’t need complicated labs or expensive materials to explore scientific concepts. In fact, some of the coolest experiments use everyday household items. The key is stoking their natural curiosity about how things work. These low-prep ideas will get their minds buzzing!
Ice Cream in a Bag
Teach your students about freezing points with this delicious experiment. All you need are some basic ingredients like milk, sugar, and ice. Kids will love making their own ice cream while learning about how salt lowers the freezing point of ice.
<<Click here for the full Ice cream in a bag experiment>>
Solar Oven S’mores
Use the power of the sun to make a tasty treat. Create a solar oven using a pizza box, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. This experiment demonstrates how solar energy can be used for cooking.
Chromatography Butterflies
Let coffee filters and washable markers create colorful winged creatures. As the filters get wet, the water molecules separate out the pigments. Neat!
Black & White Balloons
Explore the effects of concentrated solar energy with this fun activity. Place a black balloon inside a white balloon. Use a magnifying glass to focus sunlight on the balloons. The black balloon will pop first because it absorbs more heat. This experiment demonstrates the concept of heat absorption and the concentration of solar energy.
<<Click here for the full popping balloons experiment>>
Show the water cycle in action with a simple plastic bag experiment. Fill a zip-lock bag with water, tape it to a window, and watch evaporation, condensation, and precipitation occur over time.
<< Click here for the full water cycle in a bag experiment>>
Melting Ice Race
Place different materials on ice cubes and observe which ones melt the ice fastest. This activity helps students understand heat transfer and insulation.
DIY Barometer
Create a simple barometer using a glass jar, a balloon, and a straw. This experiment helps students understand how atmospheric pressure changes with the weather.
Ice Cubes on Black and White
Teach students about heat absorption and reflection with this simple experiment. Place an ice cube on a black surface and another on a white surface. Observe which one melts faster and discuss why darker colors absorb more heat.
Bubble snakes
Make long, colorful bubble snakes using a plastic bottle and a sock. Cut the bottom off the bottle, stretch the sock over the open end, and dip it into a dish of bubble solution. Blow through the mouth of the bottle to create a snake of bubbles. This activity is a great way to explore surface tension and the properties of bubbles.
<<You can find more bubble activities here>>
Tin Foil Boat Contest
Engineer miniature sailboats from aluminum foil and see whose design holds the most pennies or marbles before sinking.
These summer science experiments are perfect for keeping students engaged and learning during the hot summer days. They cover a range of scientific principles, from chemistry to physics to environmental science. Try these fun activities with your students and watch their curiosity and knowledge grow.
