Science is a wonderful thing for kids! There is so much to learn and discover right around us. Many science concepts start in the kitchen with simple materials you already have on hand. Fill a plastic tote with easy-to-find supplies, and you will have a homemade science kit filled with learning opportunities that are sure to keep them busy all year long!
DIY Science Experiments for Kids
We love simple science experiments you can do at home or in the classroom. I wanted to assemble a kids’ science kit to show you how simple it is to try your own science experiments at home.
Most of our favorite science supplies for kids are super simple to find at the grocery store or dollar store, and you may already have many items at home. However, I have also added a few of our favorite science tools from Amazon. Read on to find out what to put in an at-home science kit.
Of course, water is an awesome material for science experiments. Make sure to try one of our awesome water science experiments! Grab a container and start filling it!
Join the Library Science Club
What’s our Library Club all about? How about fantastic, instant access downloads to instructions, photos, and templates (for less than a cup of coffee each month)? With just a mouse click, you can find the perfect experiment, activity, or demonstration right now. Learn more:
Click here to check out the Library Club today. Why not give it a try, you can cancel any time!
What are DIY Science Kits?
While you can search Amazon for various pre-made science kits at various price points, there is so much you can do by making your own science kit.
A DIY science kit is something you assemble for home, school, or group use without buying a toy kit from a store that will only have a few limited activities. Our homemade science kits allow you to use everyday materials in various ways to create fun, engaging, and educational science experiments for kids in preschool right through middle school. Nothing fancy!
Find the best supplies for making your own science kit, simple science experiments, and additional science resources below.
Science Experiments by Age Group
While many experiments can work for various age groups, you will find the best science experiments for specific age groups below.
Grab the Free MEGA Supply List
Amazon Prime – Science Tools To Add
These are some of my favorite science tools for kids, whether you’re in the classroom, at home, or in a group or club setting. Fill out your science/STEM kit!
(Please note that all Amazon links below are affiliate links, meaning this website receives a small percentage of each sale.)
Although this is a science kit
with experiments to try, I specifically like the test tubes that are supplied. Super easy to reuse!
Be Amazing! Toys Big Bag of...Shop on Amazon
A magnet set is a must-have addition to a science kit and pairs well with our magnet STEAM pack too!
EUDAX Labs Junior Science N...Shop on Amazon
Younger kiddos will get a ton of use out of this primary science kit! I know we used our set for years!
Learning Resources Primary ...Shop on Amazon
Snap Circuits Jr is a fantastic way to explore electricity and electronics with curious kiddos!
Introduce a microscope to curious kids who always want to look a little bit closer!
AmScope 120X-1200X 52-pcs K...Shop on Amazon
Science Experiment Suggestions
Below you’ll find some of our favorite science activities that go along with materials from our homemade science kit list. The supplies below are some of the most common materials we always have on hand.
1. ALKA SELTZER TABLETS
Start off your homemade science kit with a fizz and a pop! We love using Alka seltzer tablets in our homemade lava lamps to make these awesome pop rockets.
2. BAKING SODA
Baking soda, along with vinegar is one item for your science kit, that you will want to use again and again. A baking soda and vinegar reaction is a classic science experiment and we have so many variations for you to try!
Baking soda is also an ingredient in our popular fluffy slime recipe!
Here are a few of our favorites…
- Sandbox Volcano
- Fizzing Slime
- Balloon Experiment
- Hatching Dinosaur Eggs
- Baking Soda Painting
- Bottle Rocket
- Lemon Volcano
Check out all our baking soda science experiments!
3. BORAX POWDER
Borax powder is a versatile item in your DIY science kit. Use it to make borax slime, or experiment with growing your own borax crystals.
Check out these fun variations for growing crystals…
4. CANDY
Who would have thought that candy and science go together? We even have a bunch of edible slime recipes or taste-safe slime for kids to make and play with.
Candy you could include in your DIY science kit:
- Skittles for a Skittles Experiment
- M&Ms for a M&M Science Experiment
- Check out this science experiment with chocolate
- Peeps for one of these fun Peeps Science Activities
- Find out things to do with Jelly Beans
- Grow sugar crystals with rock candy.
5. COFFEE FILTERS
Coffee filters are inexpensive and fun to include in your homemade kit. Combine art and solubility science with these easy ideas…
- Coffee Filter Flowers
- Coffee Filter Snowflakes
- Coffee Filter Apples
- Coffee Filter Turkeys
- Coffee Filter Christmas Tree
6. COTTON BALLS
Use cotton balls to explore water absorption for a simple DIY science experiment.
7. COOKING OIL
Oil is a great household item to include in your DIY science kit. Why not make a Lava Lamp with oil and water, and learn about density simultaneously? Or even make waves in a bottle.
8. CORN STARCH
Cornstarch is an awesome item to have on hand in your kids’ science kit. Mix some cornstarch and water to make oobleck, and explore non-Newtonian fluids!
Also, check out these activities with cornstarch…
9. CORN SYRUP
Corn syrup is great for adding to density layer experiments like this one.
10. DISH SOAP
Try our classic Magic Milk Experiment with this DIY science kit item. It’s also a fun item to have on hand for extra foam with a baking soda volcano.
11. FOOD COLORING
Food coloring is such a versatile item to include in your science kit. Add color when making slime, or oobleck, even to a baking soda and vinegar experiment or ocean sensory bottle… The options are endless!
12. IVORY SOAP
The key ingredient in our expanding ivory soap experiment.
13. SALT
Salt is another must-have item for kids to add to your DIY science kit. Substitute salt for borax powder, as we did, to grow salt crystals.
- Try painting with salt for a bit of art and science!
- Learn about salt and ice with our ice fishing experiment.
- We also used salt for our Salt Water Density Experiment.
14. SHAVING FOAM
Shaving foam is a must-have ingredient for making the fluffiest slime! Check out the best fluffy slime recipe of all time!
15. SUGAR
Sugar, like salt, is another DIY science kit item that is great for experiments with water. Why not make a rainbow in a jar or explore which solids dissolve in water.
16. VINEGAR
Vinegar is another common must-have household item to add to your science kit. Combine vinegar with baking soda (see above) for lots of fizzing fun or use it on its own!
More Ways to Use Vinegar in Experiments:
17. WASHABLE PVA GLUE
PVA glue is one of your must-have slime ingredients for making homemade slime. Clear glue, white glue or glitter glue, each one gives you a different type of slime.
Add Cheap Science Tools to Your Science Kit
Our kids’ science kit is also filled with tools and necessary equipment. Dollar store cookie sheets, muffin trays, ice cube trays, and small ramekins are always used to contain the mess, test liquids, sort items, and freeze ice!
A cheap bow, a set of measuring spoons and cups, big spoons, and
I usually always set out a magnifying glass and often a hand mirror. We use tweezers and eye droppers often as well. No kid’s science kit is complete without a pair of safety goggles!
You can check out more about the science tools we use here!
More Helpful Science Resources
The following resources feature fantastic printables to add to your DIY science kit or science lesson plans!
SCIENCE VOCABULARY
It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get them started with a printable science vocabulary word list. You’re definitely going to want to incorporate these science terms into your next science lesson!
WHAT IS A SCIENTIST
Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Learn about the different types of scientists and what they do to increase their understanding of their areas of interest. Read What Is A Scientist
SCIENCE PRACTICES
A new approach to teaching science is called Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more free–flowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers. These skills are critical to developing future engineers, inventors, and scientists!
FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Click below to grab our free science challenge calendar and guide to our best science experiments for kids!
Click below to get your quick and easy science challenge activities.
This is such a great collection of science experiments! I love that I already have most of the item needed around the house!
Thanks for sharing!!
your articles is very useful for children. thank you for sharing.
Love this! So many ideas all wrapped in a neat package. Thank you!
Science and water experiment is wonderful concept for kid. All handmade science experiment, kid can easily learn and make their own. They can really enjoy when they will do.