#1. Giant bubbles.
Perfect for overcast days, as the humidity makes the bubbles last longer, use 6 cups of water, 1/2 cup of washing up liquid, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 1 tablespoon of glycerine to make the solution.
Use string, sticks, or straws to create your bubble wand and explain to kids how the baking powder and glycerine create surface tension that allows the bubbles to stay intact.
Full instructions here.
#2. Spinning a bucket filled with water.
This seemingly impossible challenge relies on centrifugal force as you spin a bucket full of water on rope around your head and don’t spill a drop — or get really soaked on a sunny day as your kids attempt this experiment!
Find out more here.
#3. The bottle rocket.
Instead of mentos and Coke, try mixing a bottle of water with an vinegar and adding an empty teabag filled with baking soda before watching it explode (from a safe distance).
The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas causing the charge as the pressure builds in the bottle.
Get the full instructions here.
#4. Homemade parachute.
Give a toy a high-flying adventure and teach kids about air resistance with a homemade parachute, made from a plastic bag and string. Or you can make a messy challenge by using eggs as weights and seeing how gently you can land.
Find out how here.
#5. Magic upside down glass of water.
Air pressure, atmospheric pressure, and water vapor all combine to make this trick work. Fill a glass halfway with water and place paper over the top, before quickly turning the glass upside down and removing your hand from the bottom to see it magically stay in place.
Watch the video here.
#6. Colorful ant observatory.
If you’ve got ants in your garden, learn about their fascinating behavior with your kids with this fun experiment. Use food coloring to paint the top of an anthill, watching as it disappears and reappears as ants constantly rebuilt their hoe to prevent mold.
Another idea is to feed ants with translucent abdomens colored sugar water and watch the ants take on vibrant (and harmless) colors.