Age guide: 4 to 9 years. Younger children can join in with a grown-up.
An experiment can be as simple as asking, “What do you think will happen?” and then finding out. These four need only things you probably have in the kitchen. In each, your child guesses first, then watches, then writes or draws what happened.
How to keep a simple record
Draw a three-column chart on paper: who guessed, what they guessed, and why. After the test, add the result. It is fine to be wrong. Children often learn more from a surprise than from a correct guess.
1. Paper helicopters
Time: 20 minutes. You need: strips of paper about 7 cm wide and 15 to 20 cm long, scissors, paperclips.
- Cut a slit down the middle of the strip, about halfway.
- Fold one flap forwards and the other backwards, so the top looks like two wings.
- Fold the bottom up and add a paperclip.
Make several, with no paperclips, one or two. Ask which will stay up longest. Drop them from as high as you can reach and watch or time them. Keep everyone’s feet on the floor or a low, steady step with an adult nearby. Please don’t stand on a chair. Paperclips are small, so skip this with children under three.
2. The ice slide
Time: 20 minutes. You need: a few ice cubes and four flat surfaces: a wooden board, one covered in paper, one covered in cloth and a metal baking tray.
Prop all surfaces at the same slope. Ask which will let the ice cube slide fastest and write down guesses. Put a cube at the top of one at a time and see which gets to the bottom first. Try a warm tray against one from the fridge. Wipe up water straight away so nobody slips. Keep ice out of mouths for the youngest children, because whole cubes can be a choking hazard.
3. Straw races
Time: 10 minutes. You need: a straw for each person and lightweight objects, such as scrunched paper, a cotton wool ball and a feather.
Line up the objects at a start line. Ask which will travel furthest with one big blow, and why. On “go”, everyone blows. Measure how far each went. Give each player their own straw and only blow out, never suck in. Stop if anyone feels dizzy. Keep small items away from children under three.
4. Predict before you stir
Time: 15 minutes. You need: a lemon, honey, water, a bowl and a spoon.
Show the ingredients and ask what you might be making. Before each step, ask what will happen: What will happen when we squeeze the lemon? When we add honey? Stir and add the water. Ask what they think they have made, then taste it. Honey is not safe for babies under 12 months, so leave it out if a baby is around. Check for allergies. The same idea works with muffins, salad or sandwiches. Ask your child to predict what happens next.
Wrap-up
Ask, “What surprised you?” and “What would you change next time?” For a related idea that is about creative testing, see the bridge fell. What shall we try next?
