Kids repeating and observing a science lab project at home - the baking soda and vinegar volcano

Hands-On Activities to Get Kids Interested in Science + Giveaway!

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Most kids love science, and for good reason! It is one of the most interesting core subjects that lends itself to hands-on learning and imagination where other subjects just can not compare. If you’re looking for a way to encourage your child to spend time learning, you can never go wrong by adding more science into their lives!

These hands-on activities to get kids interested in Science are great tools for kids who aren’t interested in science, need more action-oriented learning, or even just some fun! 

kids looking through a microscope with the text overlay Science can be more simply defined as an in-depth study of the world through observation and experimentation. It lends a great way to use the senses, explore the world around you, and more deeply understand the structure and makeup of our lives.

Hands-On Activities to Get Kids Interested in Science

Bioscience

If you’re really brave, getting a new pet is a great way to encourage your child to explore the world of animals! When you have a living subject to study, it makes things a little more interesting!

Two children, brother and sister, cute little girl and adorable baby boy feeding a goldfish swimming in a round fish bowl aquarium having fun with their pet at home

With a new pet, your kids can learn more than just responsibility , but you can make every step of the process a teaching moment! The anatomy of the animal your family picked, how important it is to care for another living thing, how each living thing requires different amounts of attention and respect.

The opportunities here are endless; genetic makeup, animal families, food chains, breeding, nutrition, reproduction. 

Don’t let having to take care of another living thing deter you from having a pet. If you’re struggling with the decision, a goldfish is a great starter pet for diving into the science of animal husbandry.

Astronomy

Kids play astronaut. Little boy in space costume jumping on bed with rocket. Solar system and planet room decoration. Creative child, future profession.

Nearly all children are fascinated by space, and can you blame them? There’s something a little engrossing about learning about what’s beyond the sky.

What better way to get their attention than tying in things that they are already passionate about? Use those ideas to craft your own hands-on activities to get kids interested in science!

Doing something as simple as building a model solar system or exploring the night sky with a telescope is a great way to capture your child’s attention. These simple bits of exploration will spark curiosity about what is out there beyond their reach. 

The stars, the planets, gravity, water, air, life- even on to astrophysics, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology and physics. With so little known about space and it’s occupancy, studying it makes it more intriguing! 

You don’t have to have fancy equipment to study space, you can simply pick up a book and make some crafts! How cute is this telescope craft from Table Life Blog?!

Are you looking for fun homeschool hands-on science activities or a great Christ-centered Science Curriculum?

Experience Astronomy and Experience Biology are excellent resources for exploring Science from a Christian perspective! Limited-time enrollment, so be sure to register now!

Geology

Rocks and minerals make the most simple and fun learning opportunity for kids! Because they are everywhere, all you have to do is step outside or go for a walk and pick up any interesting rocks you can find. I cannot suggest enough how important it is to have a Science notebook to record your experiences! 

Once you get home, have your kids write out their experience, then have them clean the rocks you found. Be sure to keep your notebook handy so that you can record how your rocks react to water/scrubbing. Did the water runoff, are they smooth? When you scrubbed, did the rock deteriorate? What color is the rock? How does it smell or feel? 

Once the rocks are clean, you can really get a good look at them to help determine their origins, composition, and name. Now, you can use the internet to discover what each rock is. This is a great rock identification tool.

You can even order kits packed with rocks and minerals for your child to explore online! 

Gastronomy

Supercilious little boy chef standing proudly with folded arms looking down on a cute little girl also in chefs uniform

Kill two birds with one stone and get your kids excited about science by working in the kitchen! The kitchen is a great place to dive into Science and explore the world of chemical and physical reactions, all while teaching your child the valuable life skill of cooking!

This vital life skill is a great opportunity to encourage your child to learn about chemistry and math in a natural, hands-on, way.

How does yeast react with warm water? What makes baking soda and baking powder different? Sugar and salt look the same, how are they different? Where do particular spices come from? Why do foods taste different when they are grown in different places? Why does my body react differently to certain foods? 

Learning about healthy eating, food composition, food originations, the food pyramid, molecular makeup- start with your kid’s favorite foods and just follow their lead!

Still not convinced? Here are 4 Reasons You Should Incorporate Cooking in Your Homeschool.

Microscience

 three children exploring hands-on science activities with a microscope

Get microscopic with an image magnifier. A cheap microscope and preset slides are a great way to get your child excited to explore things that they never could before. Anything from tiny ants, hair, food particles, dirt- kids love small things and making them bigger is so fun!

If a microscope is not an option a camera (even on a phone) with a good zoom or macro lens kit added is a great way to give your child an up-close look at everyday objects.

Rainbow Resource Giveaway

Looking to add some Science resources to your homeschool? Rainbow Resource has everything from curriculum (Apologia is a great Christian approach to Science) to puzzles, kits and toys! 

I’ve teamed up with a great group of homeschool bloggers that would like to help and bless a few homeschool families this year.  We wish we could bless more, but we will be able to give THREE families $200 to spend at Rainbow Resource Center to buy curriculum, resources, and supplies for their homeschools.

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Now I know this is quite a few entries, but each of these bloggers has generously chipped in their own money to make this giveaway possible, so I hope you will take the time to do all of the entries.  And hey, the more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!

Giveaway ends July 31, 2020, at 11:59 pm ET.  Must be at least 18 years of age.  Must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to enter.  Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn.  By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers (see the Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter form for the complete list).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 What hands-on activities to get kids interested in science have you used?
The joy of homeschooling is seeing your kids learn by enjoying the life around them! Take advantage of it by using everyday moments and ordinary objects as stepping stones for educational conversations!

3 Comments

  1. Jennifer Johnson says:

    Those are some great hands on ideas! My kids would love if I added a microscope to our supplies. ?

  2. Susan Campbell says:

    What an interesting article. I will have to use your ideas. Thank you.

  3. We are excited about any science that is messy, colorful and engaging!

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