101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Experiments are what makes learning in science fun! But if you have a strict budget or don’t have the resources, it becomes hard to include experiments regularly in your lessons. So I’ve put together 101 cheap budget science experiments for kids! These cheap science experiments utilise common household items, inexpensive basic lab materials, or items you can get at the dollar store. These experiments are so much fun to do at home with your kids on rainy days, or to use in a science lab on a low budget.
So sit back and relax while I give you 101 budget science experiments you can do with inexpensive materials.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
101 Easy science experiments on a budget
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Chemistry Experiments
Check out these cool science experiments for kids of all ages! Younger children will love the wow factor of these while elementary students can start to explore the reasons behind each chemical reaction.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano – Classic chemical reaction with baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. You could do this in a plastic bottle.
- Homemade Slime – Use glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution and mix together.
- Lemon Volcano – Add baking soda to a halved lemon and watch the fizz.
- Magic Milk Experiment – Add drops of food coloring to milk on a plate. Dip a cotton bud in some washing detergent and touch the surface of the milk to watch it swirl!
- Color-Changing Cabbage – Test pH by adding vinegar or baking soda to red cabbage water.
- Invisible Ink – Write with lemon juice, then use a heat source like a blow dryer to reveal.
- Balloon Inflation – Create carbon dioxide by combining baking soda and vinegar in a bottle with a balloon over the top.
- Homemade Bath Bombs – Combine baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils. Compress into balls.
- Exploding Sandwich Bags – Use vinegar and baking soda in sealed bags.
- Rock Candy Crystals – Dissolve sugar in hot water to make a saturated solution and let it crystallize on a stick.
- Erupting Soap Foam – Microwave a bar of Ivory soap and watch it puff up.
- Density Column – Layer different liquids (e.g., honey, oil, water) to explore density.
- Rainbow Skittles Experiment – Arrange Skittles in water and watch colors dissolve.
- Salt and Ice Experiment – Put salt water with varying amounts of salt in an ice tray and freeze. Take out and observe how salt affects ice melting.
- Baking Soda Rockets – Use baking soda, vinegar, and a plastic film canister.
- Floating Egg – Test density with a salted water solution vs normal water with an egg.
- Lava Lamp – Mix water, oil, and add an Alka-Seltzer tablet.
- Making Butter – Shake heavy cream in a jar until butter forms.
- Burning steel wool – Use a long match or a power pack to light the steel wool and watch the metal burn!
- Chemical Reactions in a Bag – Mix vinegar, baking soda, and observe gas formation.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Physics Experiments
Have fun with these physics experiments using everyday household items!
- Balloon-Powered Car – Make a car powered by a balloon. This can be done even using recycling materials like plastic bottles, bottle caps for wheels, skewers, balloon etc.
- CD Hovercraft – Create a mini-hovercraft using a CD, bottle cap, and balloon.
- Spinning Penny in a Balloon – Show centripetal force by spinning a penny inside a balloon.
- DIY Periscope – Use mirrors and cardboard to make a periscope.
- Static Electricity with Balloons – Rub a balloon on hair and observe static effects.
- Floating Paperclip – Test surface tension with a paperclip on water.
- Paper Airplane Physics – Test different airplane designs for flight distance.
- Gravity Drop Test – Drop items of different masses to observe gravity.
- Marble Roller Coaster – Use foam pipe insulation to build a track for marbles.
- Inclined Plane Experiment – Test friction by rolling items down ramps with different surfaces.
- Magic Spinning Top – Make a top with a pencil and cardboard circle to explore spin.
- Water Displacement – Measure how much water objects displace in a bowl.
- Straw Rockets – Launch small rockets by blowing through a straw.
- Pendulum Swing – Observe pendulum motion with different weights.
- Paper Towel Chromatography – Separate ink colors with a strip of paper towel.
- Density Ball Drop – Drop balls of different materials to see density effects.
- Bottle Flip Science – Test water bottle flipping and the effect of water level.
- Water Pressure Straw Fountain – Make a fountain by blowing through a straw underwater.
- Siphon Experiment – Use two containers and a straw to demonstrate water flow.
- Egg Drop Challenge – Protect an egg with various materials to prevent breaking
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Cheap biology science experiments
So many of these are a great way to explore kitchen science.
- Regrowing Vegetables – Regrow veggies like green onions in water.
- Seed Germination – Observe sprouting seeds in a clear plastic bag.
- Apple Browning – Test how lemon juice slows apple oxidation.
- Osmosis in Potatoes – Soak potato slices in salt and fresh water.
- Yeast and Sugar Balloons – Inflate a balloon using yeast, sugar, and water.
- Coloring Flowers – Place white flowers in colored water and observe.
- Leaf Rubbing – Create impressions of leaf veins with crayons and paper.
- Fingerprint Analysis – Use a pencil and tape to lift fingerprints.
- Bread Mold Experiment – Observe mold growth on different types of bread.
- Homemade Fossils – Press objects into salt dough and let it dry.
- Plant Growth in Light vs. Dark – Compare plant growth in different light conditions.
- Dissecting a Flower – Explore flower parts by gently pulling them apart.
- DIY Bird Feeder – Attract birds with a homemade feeder.
- Build a Biome in a Jar – Create a mini ecosystem with soil, water, and plants.
- Banana Ripening – Test how different storage conditions affect ripening.
- Making Yogurt – Turn milk into yogurt by adding starter cultures.
- Observing Cell Walls – Look at onion cells under a microscope or magnifying glass.
- Sun Prints with Leaves – Use construction paper and sunlight to make leaf prints.
- Ant Observation – Set up a sugar trail to observe ant behavior.
- Potato Battery – Create a simple battery with a potato and pennies.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Cheap earth science experiments
- Water Filtration – Build a filter with sand, gravel, and charcoal.
- Mini Compost Bin – Make a small compost with organic scraps in a jar.
- Homemade Solar Oven – Use a box and foil to create a solar oven.
- Rain Gauge – Measure rainfall using a clear container.
- Wind Speed Measurement – Make an anemometer with paper cups.
- Erosion Experiment – Observe how water affects sand and soil on slopes.
- Acid Rain Simulation – Add vinegar to water and observe its effect on plants.
- Oil Spill Cleanup – Simulate an oil spill in water and test cleanup methods.
- Thermal Insulator Test – Wrap ice cubes in different materials to see which keeps them cold longest.
- Evaporation Experiment – Measure water levels in a dish over time.
- Water Cycle in a Bag – Create condensation and precipitation in a sealed bag.
- DIY Barometer – Use a balloon and jar to make a simple barometer.
- Floating Garden – Grow small plants on a sponge to mimic a hydroponic system.
- Acid-Base Indicators – Use cabbage juice to test rainwater pH.
- Soil Testing – Compare water absorption and plant growth in different soil types.
- Build a Mini Greenhouse – Use a plastic bag to create a greenhouse for plants.
- Observing Decomposition – Track how different materials decompose in soil.
- Temperature and Plant Growth – Test how plants grow in various temperatures.
- DIY Thermometer – Make a thermometer with water, alcohol, and food coloring.
- Rainwater Collection – Set up a collection system and measure rain volume.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
STEM Experiments
- Marble Maze – Design a maze for marbles with cardboard.
- Tower Challenge – Build the tallest tower with marshmallows and spaghetti.
- Bridge Building – Create bridges with popsicle sticks or straws and test strength.
- Parachute Challenge – Design a parachute to carry a small object.
- Paper Cup Phone – Build a “phone” with string and cups to explore sound.
- Water Wheel – Create a simple water wheel with plastic cups and observe its rotation.
- Wind Turbine Model – Design a model turbine that spins in the wind.
- Paper Structure Test – Test the strength of different paper shapes.
- Balloon Helicopter – Use balloons and straws to create a spinning “helicopter.”
- Egg Parachute – Build a parachute to protect an egg from breaking.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Simple Science Explorations
- Leaf Colors in Fall – Collect leaves and observe color changes.
- Weathering Rocks – Place rocks in water, vinegar, etc., to observe effects.
- Sound Waves with Rubber Band Guitar – Stretch rubber bands over a box to make sounds.
- Homemade Compass – Float a magnetized needle on water to create a compass.
- Testing Magnet Strength – Use various magnets to lift different weights.
- Bubble Blowing with Different Liquids – Test bubble solutions using soap and water.
- Exploring Shadows – Observe how shadows change during the day.
- Hot vs. Cold Water Density – Add food coloring to cold and warm water to observe density differences.
- Sink or Float – Test the buoyancy of different objects.
- Mirror Reflections – Experiment with mirrors to explore reflections.
- Growing Crystals – grow crystals using saturated copper sulfate solution or alternatively a saturated salt water solution and string. Soak the string in the solution and leave it to dry and crystalise!
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Conclusion
Never underestimate the power of an easy experiment. Engage students with these 101 budget science experiments using household ingredients and common household materials.
101 cheap budget science experiments for kids
Note: Always consult your school’s specific experiment and risk assessment guidelines and policies, and seek guidance from experienced colleagues or administrators when in doubt about safety protocols.
About the Author
Katrina Harte is a multi-award winning educator from Sydney, Australia who specialises in creating resources that support teachers and engage students.
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