One of the many challenging parts of homeschooling is properly conducting experiments for science classes. For parents who don’t have science degrees or teaching credentials, chemistry experiments are an intimidating prospect that hints at kitchen explosions or burn scars on the walls. Fortunately, not all chemistry experiments have to involve dangerous chemicals, and some are remarkably simple and fun for you to do with your kids!
Crystals are one of the easiest chemistry experiments to do. They are easy to form, versatile, and fun. Some types of crystal (rock sugar or salt) can even be eaten afterwards by the kids for an added fun factor! Explore different recipes for crystals, from simple experiments involving suspending a penny or paper clip in totally still, saturated sugar water, to more complicated experiments that require alum. These latter type are fun to make because you can make rock gardens or use food coloring to add more variety.
Making things never grows old with kids, because they can see tangible results and use whatever they make for a while afterwards. For example, kids can make their own soap, beauty products like lip gloss, slime, or play-dough. Making household cleaning products, ice cream, and all kinds of recipes from bread to cake involves chemical reactions. Take the opportunity to teach them just what chemical reactions are taking place, and how they affect the finished recipe (any flubbed attempts can be used to illustrate the point). All of the above can be made naturally, teaching kids to be eco-friendly at the same time.
Flashy demonstrations are always popular, too. The most infamous type, perhaps, is the baking soda and vinegar volcano. This can be an art project (creating a volcano) and chemistry experiment (setting it off), and you could even incorporate a geology lesson or environmental studies lesson, too. An alternative to these ingredients is the equally infamous Mentos and diet soda fountain. For the braver and more safety-conscious parents, burning or exploding things is very fun for kids, as long as you supervise them properly so there are no injuries.
Chemical and physical changes are easy to demonstrate at home. You could try modeling a variety of chemical and physical changes in front of them, such as tearing paper, burning toast, or freezing water. For each change, ask them whether it’s chemical or physical, and why.
Invisible ink also intrigues kids, and you can make your own in several different ways. One involves mixing equal parts of water and baking soda, then writing messages on paper with toothpicks, Q-tips, or paintbrushes. When they’re dry, hold them to a lightbulb or paint over the entire paper with grape juice to reveal the messages. This can easily become a game or an exploration into what it’s like to be a spy (yes, this can turn into a history lesson, too).
These are just some of the experiments you could undertake with your kids. You may even find you have a budding Chemistry major in the household, sparking a lifelong interest in chemistry.