Interactive Children’s Science Activities for Summertime

Swimming pools are opening, camping gear is out of storage, and many kids are out of school. All of these are signs that summer is upon us! Over the last couple weeks, we have been sharing some activities geared toward making summer not just about pleasure but also about continued learning in fun ways, too. This time we’ll take a look at science activities to do at home or on simple excursions in surrounding communities.

Science at Home:

Without even thinking about it, many home projects relate well to science. Whether you’re cooking or planting a garden, there are science lessons to be learned. Invite the kids into the kitchen and yard with you. As you interact, kids can learn about the chemistry behind yeast as you bake bread or the parts of a plant as you garden. There are lots of ways to do experiments at home. Be creative with finding ways to make home projects into science learning opportunities, and enjoy the results- some of which may even be edible!

For a floral science experiment, have kids plant their own flowers in small pots and water them using a variety of liquids (water, soda, milk, lemonade, juice, kool aid, etc.). Hypothesize which one will grow the tallest, and see what happens! Talk about the importance of keeping other factors the same such as where the plants are located, how often and how much they are “fed”, etc.

Making homemade ice cream can be a science experiment, too. Learn the science behind the freezing point of water. Believe it or not, the salt lowers the water’s freezing point, which helps freeze the ice cream!

Science in the Community:

Just as there are many wonderful places to visit that teach us more about social studies such as historical landmarks and history museums, there are opportunities everywhere to learn about science in our communities. Three major divisions of science that are studied throughout elementary, middle, and high school are life science, physical science, and earth science. Consider visiting places that showcase those forms of science. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Life Science- zoos, animal sanctuaries, botanical gardens, farms, state parks, etc.

• Physical Science- discovery museums, science museums, manufacturing factories that give tours, etc.

• Earth Science- planetariums, observatories, weather stations, etc.

If you have a college or university in your area, check out summer programs there. Many schools offer science camps, special exhibits, and other science-related activities during the summer that are suited perfectly for kids!

If you think about it, the world we live in really is a giant science lab so have fun getting out there and exploring this summer!

If you love this post, make sure to also check out these which are part of our Children’s Summer Learning series:

Interactive Children’s Science Activities for Summertime
Interactive Children’s Math Activities for Summertime
Interactive Children’s Writing Activities for Summertime
Interactive Children’s Social Studies Activities for Summertime