A question that has popped up a lot in my inbox since the Coronavirus related school closures started is, “What should I do for science? Do you know where I can get a kit or something?” If you are on your own for science or just looking for more homeschool STEM activities to fill long days at home, I’ve gathered some I have used in class, a bunch I’ve used at home, and some cool finds. Many of these science kits for kids aren’t meant to be one in one day; they are intended to be spread out. Also, don’t miss the links to simple kitchen science you can do with things you have on hand!
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Science Kits for Homeschooling
Bacteria Growth Kit <– this is the coolest. We have used this kit three times, once for 4th grade Science Fair and twice for summer science fun around the house. It’s gross and awesome! Check out our post about it here.
Butterfly Garden, I really hope I still have enough of a school year once we return to preschool to do this with my class. It’s a highlight every year, and the students love seeing a butterfly lifecycle right before their eyes. This would be an excellent option for this time stuck at home. You can find free printable observation sheets here too!
Steve Spangler Science has great stuff. I really love these kits – we’ve done a few, and they are always a hit. This Bubble Science kit is perfect for preschool – school age.
This Exploring Physics kit is great for school-age kids!
If you are up for the mess and have some 2-liter bottles of soda on hand, the Geyser kit was a blast with my kids.
This Hydroponics Lab is pretty rad. I think there is something so stress-relieving about gardening even if it’s inside! This set also offers children a chance to watch a plant grow from seed, observe the growth, and for them to tend to something.
This Clean Water Science Kit would be great for upper elementary and middle schoolers!
Kitchen Science Using Things You Have
Which Will Rot First? This was such a hit we have repeated it many times. Are you looking for some test tubes like these? Buy them here.
Constellation Cookies – by Rosie Research. I love the mix of baking and astronomy. Also, the writer of this post, Dr. Erica, is offering online science classes while schools are closed. Check them out here.
How To Make A Cloud In A Jar – This isn’t a long term experiment, but it is a fun kitchen science experiment. I’ve done it in my preschool class, and the kids were amazed!
What Will Freeze First? – I can’t tell you how many times this has been repeated over the years. My daughter has learned that hand sanitizer doesn’t freeze thanks to the alcohol, but I doubt any of us will be using hand sanitizer for a science experiment right now. The beauty of this activity is you can use anything!
Shreiya Aggarwal says
Thanks so much, Allison for putting together this list. Cloud in a Jar is one of my favorite experiments I like to do with kids 🙂 I’m a STEM blogger myself and I collated a similar of list of about 20 science activities here – https://kidpillar.com/best-science-activities-for-kids/ – if you’re interested 🙂