These little science challenge bags would be great as party favour, class rewards, homework challenges or something to keep children busy if they finish their work early. You could fill them with an almost endless variety of inexpensive materials. I’ve put together a few ideas to start with and will keep adding more, so do pop back.

Science Challenge Bags

1. Write a secret message?

This bag contains white card and a selection of coloured crayons including white. The idea is that the children write a message using the white crayon and ask a friend to reveal the message by rubbing a different colour over it.

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2. Build a tower

For this challenge, children can use the little cups ( £1 for a bag in Tiger ) and paper to build a tower.

Extra challenge

Add weight to the top.

Build a tower wider at the top than the bottom.

3. Build a tower with straws and plasticine

This tower is a bit trickier to build than the cup tower. Children need to mould the plasticine into small balls and stick the straws into it to make a shape.

Extra challenges

Make 3D shapes

4. Create a Skeleton

Create a skeleton using black card and ear buds.

Extra Challenge

Draw with chalk instead.

5. Static Electricity Balloon

The idea is that once the balloon is blown up, it can be rubbed on hair or a jumper and become charged with static electricity. If held near the tissue paper the paper will jump up and stick onto the balloon.

Extra Challenges

Try different types of paper and shapes, do they still stick to the balloon?

6. Density Bottle

The bottle contains coloured water and vegetable oil. The oil and water will always separate if the bottle is shaken as oil and water don’t mix.

Extra Challenge

Find small objects to float on each layer.

7. Pipe Cleaner Challenge

The idea here is that children construct a pipe cleaner figure that will stand up without support.

8. Make a Paper Spinner

The full instructions for making spinners are here. These are super simple and perfect for starting to think scientifically. Children can try making bigger and smaller spinners and add different amounts of weight to the bottom to see how that effects the speed of descent.

Can you think of any more challenges for us?

If you liked these challenges, check out our summer science challenges and boredom busters too.