DIY Science Experiment Advent Calendar

I’m very excited to share the brand new Science Sparks Advent Calendar, full of easy Christmas science experiment ideas! To access the activities, download the PDF ( click on the image ) and click on a bauble.

Each activity uses only very basic materials, most of which you probably already have!

Science Sparks Advent Calendar - 12 days of science experiments

12 Days of Science Advent Calendar

Day 1 – Frosty the Snowman

Find out how to use the power of ice and salt to make a Frosty the snowman!

Another idea using the same principle is to grow a frosty beard for Santa!

two tin cans decorated like a snowman for an ice and salt experiment

Day 2- Fizzy Elf Lab

Make a fun, fizzy elf lab and learn about acids, bases and chemical reactions at the same time.

Fizzy Elf Lab - girl sat behind a test tube rack with coloured baking soda and vinegar

Day 3 – Make a Bell for an Elf

Design and build a new bell for your elf! This is a fun, musical, festive STEM challenge.

Day 4 – Snowman Catapult

Make a snowman catapult and bounce a ball or pom pom into a tower of snowman cups!

snowman themed catapult with a white paper cup snowman tower to knock over

Day 5 – Reindeer Lava Lamp

Learn about acids, bases and chemical reactions with these fun, fizzy Christmas lava lamps!

Christmas lava lamps made to look like a snowman and reindeer

Day 6 – Festive Optical Illusions

Make some exciting Christmas optical illusions!! I’ve created a simple template, so these are easier than ever to create.

Christmas themed optical illusions. Make baubles appear on a Christmas tree

Day 7 – Science with Gingerbread Men

Find out what happens to gingerbread men if you submerge them in different liquids or discover how strong a gingerbread house is.

Image of very simple gingerbread houses made for a Christmas STEM Challenge

Day 8 – Dissolving Candy Canes

Find out whether candy canes dissolve faster in cold or warm water by placing them in cold, warm and hot water and timing how long each takes to melt.

Candy canes in different liquids as a dissolving science experiment

Day 9 – Peppermint Creams

Our delicious peppermint creams will make everyone’s day and are a great example of science in the kitchen.

Peppermint Creams made for a science experiment about changes of state

Day 10 – Sparkly Christmas Stars

Learn about melting and changes of state with sparkly Christmas stars. Children can pop the icy stars in cold and warm water to see where they melt the fastest or sprinkle warm and cold water over the top.

Frozen sparkly stars in water for a science experiment

Day 11 – Raft for the Reindeer

Design and build a raft for Santa’s reindeer. This is great fun to test as well!

Raft for the reindeer, lolly stick raft for a festive STEM Challenge

Day 12 – Shelf for the Elf

Finally, build a shelf for an Elf from recycled materials. Or try one of my other Elf STEM Challenges!

If these aren’t quite what you’re looking for, I also have Santa STEM Challenges, lots more Christmas science experiments and ideas for homemade science kits too!