3 Science Activities to Do at Home (No Fancy Equipment Needed!)

Looking for easy science experiments to do at home with your kids? These printable, low-mess activities spark curiosity using materials you already have in your kitchen.

You don’t need a lab or a science degree to bring wonder into your home. Just a few household items, a curious kid, and a printable activity sheet can turn your kitchen into a science playground!

These three simple, screen-light science experiments are perfect for ages 6–10 and help kids ask questions, make observations, and learn through play. Bonus: they’re designed to be low-mess and low-stress for caregivers and educators alike.

1. Sink or Float: The Kitchen Edition

• Big Question: What makes something float or sink?

  You’ll Need:

  • A bowl or tub of water

  • 5–7 small household objects (like a spoon, cork, crayon, grape, marshmallow, etc.)

  What to Do:
  Let your child guess whether each object will float or sink. Then test it out and talk about why.
  Encourage them to sort the items into “Floaters” and “Sinkers” and come up with a rule or theory.
  Bonus Prompt: “What happens if you crumple a piece of foil vs. leave it flat?”

2. Dancing Raisins Experiment

• Big Question: Can raisins move on their own?

  You’ll Need:

  • A clear glass

  • Soda water (or any fizzy drink)

  • A few raisins

  What to Do:
  Drop raisins into the soda water and watch. Bubbles will collect on the raisin’s surface, making it rise—then fall again when the bubbles pop.
  It’s like magic… except it’s carbon dioxide at work!

  Talk About:
  “What are the bubbles made of?”
  “Why do they make the raisin float, but not forever?”

3. DIY Rainbow Walking Water

• Big Question: Can water move from one cup to another—on its own?

  You’ll Need:

  • 3 clear cups

  • Water

  • Food coloring (red, yellow, blue)

  • 2 paper towels

  What to Do:
  Fill the first and third cup halfway with water and add red and blue food coloring. Leave the middle cup empty.
  Twist a paper towel into a rope and place one end in the red cup and the other in the middle cup. Do the same from the blue cup to the middle.
  Wait a few minutes—and watch as the water “walks” and mixes colors!

  Ask:
  “What’s making the water move?”
  “What new color do you see in the middle?”

Add a Scientist’s Journal

Every activity becomes more powerful when kids document their discoveries:

• A place to draw observations

• Prompts to write what they wonder about

• Simple reflection questions

This turns each experiment into a mini science story—and helps build those foundational science thinking skills.