Static electricity is the thing that sometimes gives you a little shock when you touch a metal door handle after walking on a carpet. It makes your hair stand on end when you put a woolly jumper on and can be used for lots of fun science experiments and demonstrations. This static electricity demonstration shows…
We’ve heard a lot about viruses recently, but how do they work? Viruses cannot live for long without a host. Viruses consist of either a DNA or RNA genome ( genetic code ) and a protein coat, some also have an extra fatty envelope to protect their genetic material. They cannot reproduce without being inside…
Have you ever had an electrostatic shock from a shopping trolley or escalator or noticed your hair standing on end when you rub a balloon on it? The shock is caused by static ( non-moving ) electricity, which is caused by electrons building up with no circuit to flow along. An object that has gained…
The Grinch is one of my favourite children’s Christmas books. This melting the Grinch’s heart activity is super simple and can be carried out in lots of different ways. Younger children can just try to rescue the buttons by pouring warm water over the ice, while older children could set it up like a real…
From the outside a raw egg and a hard boiled egg look the same, so how can you tell the difference? How can you tell if an egg is raw or hard boiled? The key is in the spin! A hard boiled egg will spin nicely and a raw egg will wobble. The raw egg…
This cheeky elf has switched around Santa’s signs. Can you find a way to quickly reverse the arrows before Santa flies by? This science activity is a fun way to learn about refraction. Did you know that light bends as it moves from one material to another with a different density? This is unusual as…
Chain reactions are a great, fun STEM project that always keeps my kids busy for hours. This Christmas themed version can be adapted in lots of different ways using whatever you have handy around the house. Books can be used as dominoes, baubles as balls, and bells to make noise. A chain reaction is a…
This is just a really quick post with four simple ideas for Christmas crackers with a simple science experiment inside. The idea is that each cracker contains an easy but fun science investigation you can do around the table after Christmas dinner. It’s a great way to keep the kids busy and hopefully lead to…
Is taste linked to smell? Have you ever wondered why food doesn’t taste as good when you have a cold and blocked nose? When you eat, smell chemicals from the food travel up your nose, where they are detected by tiny nerve endings at the back of the nose. These nerves send a message to…
I’m very excited that my mini Christmas Science eBook is now available. It contains 12 hands-on, exciting, and easy Christmas science experiments for kids, perfect for home or school. Here at Science Sparks, we know the run up to Christmas can be hectic. If you’re anything like me, you have an endless list of things you’d like to make and…
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