General Science Activities Worksheets

Science is the pursuit of truth and the ability to accept change dictated by the perceived truth. The focus of science is to better understand the natural world around us. These activities will help students begin to set out on their truth seeking mission.

1. Jelly Bean Sort - Jelly Bean classification!
2. Jelly Bean Record Page - Data collection sheet for the lab above.
3. Jelly Bean Graph - Graph page for Jelly Bean Lab.
4. Laboratory Safety Acknowledgement Form - A full safety form to help communicate the dangers of horseplay with students and their parents or guardians. It is a good habit to get into to ask them to sign this each quarter.
5. Now that's using your head! - A fun basic graphing lab, that examines if your head size is related to how high you can jump. Did you ever wonder if the size of your head is related to how far you can jump? You teacher has been wondering just the same, so he decided that we would take on this question in today's lab.
6. Time to lend NASA a hand - A great lab for introducing measurement! What units do we use to signify liquid volume, dry volume, temperature, time, density, & mass.

Easy and Fun Science Activities

Science can be daunting for some students, but fun and exciting science activities can really engage your students with the subject. It is truly a fascinating subject where there is so much to explore and learn about how the world around us works. We have searched the internet well to put together a list of easy and safe science activities for the curious minds in your classroom. All of these activities require simple and easy-to-gather ingredients but a whole lot of enthusiasm.

So put on your lab coats, and let us get these experiments going!

1. Baking Soda Volcano

Real life volcanoes are scary and people should steer clear of them but this homemade volcano is far from being unsafe. This miniature erupting volcano is a great way to teach children about the geological features of our earth.

What You Need for the Volcano Model

1. Two A3 sheets of card
2. 200 ml plastic bottle
3. Pencil
4. Scissors
5. Tape
6. Paint and paintbrushes

Ingredients for the Eruption

1. Small bowl
2. Cup
3. 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
4. 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid
5. 2 tbsp water
6. 1/2 cup vinegar
7. 1 tbsp red food coloring

Method

Put your bottle upside down in the center of a card and cut out a small circle around the neck of the bottle. Cut a straight line from the center point of the circle to the circumference. You can now easily overlap the sides of the card into a cone shape. Around the base of the cone, make a cut so that the cone sits flat. Place your cone over the bottle, covering it entirely, and then tape the base of the cone to another sheet card to secure the foundation. Get creative and paint the cone to look like a volcano.

In a bowl, mix bicarbonate of soda, dishwashing liquid, and water and mix completely. Now pour this mixture into the volcano. Mix vinegar and food coloring and add that to the volcano.

In a few moments,, it shall erupt with homemade lava!

2. New Pennies

There are definitely some old pennies that everyone has in their pockets and we're sure they are dirty looking. What if we told you, you could bring their shine back? Don't believe us? Do this fun science activity and be amazed!.

What You'll Need

1. Old pennies
2. 2 paper cups
3. Vinegar
4. Dishwashing liquid
5. Paper towel
6. Other liquids (ketchup, soda, etc.)

Method

Decide which liquid will make your old pennies look the shiniest, and then put your pennies in a paper cup. Fill one cup with enough vinegar to cover the penny. In a second cup, pour enough dishwashing liquid.

Let the penny sit in the mixtures for 10 minutes before taking them out and rinsing in water. Now clean your pennies with a paper towel to see themshine. Aren't they looking as good as new?

3. Tie-Dye With a Twist of Science

Tie and dye is a trend that is never out of fashion, and it looks hip. But did you know that your favorite t-shirt design is actually a cool science lesson too?

What You'll Need

1. Old white t-shirt or any old white cloth
2. Rubber bands
3. Buckets
4. Dye

Method

For this activity, roll your t-shirt or whatever cloth you have. Tie rubber bands to small pockets of cloth gathered to create a cool design.

In a bucket, add your dye and start dipping your material gently in it. Once you're satisfied with it, let the shirt dry. Open up the rolled up shirt after it is completely dry and enjoy the design that is revealed.

Although this feels like a basic activity, it will teach young children about water solubility and absorption.

4. Static Electric Hair

This is a science activity that always gets a goofy laugh out of children.t is interactive, fun, and informative. You get to teach children about static electricity in a safe but engaging way.

What You Need:

1. Piece of cloth
2. inflated balloon

Method

Rub the surface of your balloon with the cloth for about 40 seconds. Hold the balloon near your head and watch your hair stick to the balloon. That is how simple this science activity is! Tell them they might witness the same electric hair after rigorously brushing them as well. This is a great way to teach them how the same scientific principle is present in multiple situations around us.

5. Lava Lamps

This science activity will teach your students about liquid density and understanding how liquids move differently when some they are heavier than others. The ingredients are far from fancy but the end result of the activity itself is super fun!

What You Need

1. 3 tsp. bicarbonate of soda
2. Teaspoon (for mixing)
3. Tall glass or bottle
4. Vegetable oil
5. Small cup
6. Food coloring
7. White vinegar

Method

In your glass bottle, add the bicarbonate of soda. Fill 2/3 of this bottle or glass with oil. At this stage, don't mix or shake the oil and bicarbonate of soda together.

In a separate small cup, mix a little vinegar with a few drops of food coloring of your choice. Now slowly, add drops of the colored vinegar mix to the glass. Make sure to drop the mixture directly into the oil.

Witness your lava lamp floating and bubbling. To make it more interesting, shine a torch behind the bottle to let the colors stand out.

6. Rising Water Activity

What if we tell you that you can raise water without even touching it? Sure it seems like a cool magic trick, but really it is just simple science.

For this, you only need a few items that are easy to find around the house. For this activity, it is important for an adult to be present at all times because, while simple, we are using fire for this experiment.

What You Need

1. Glass or jar
2. Shallow plate
3. Water
4. Small votive candle
5. Matches or lighter
6. Food coloring (optional)

Method

For this fun experiment, take a shallow plate and fill it with enough water to cover the bottom. Add some food coloring of your choice to the water. It is not necessary, but it will help you observe the rise in water level clearly.

Put your candle in the center of the plate. Light your candle and quickly cover the flame with an empty glass. While doing this, make sure that the rim of the glass is touching the water.

Wait for the flame to go off as it uses up all the oxygen within the glass, and then witness the water rise into your glass. Discuss with your students why is this happening. Let's listen to their theories first before teaching them about vacuums and air pressures.