Science is a wonderful thing for kids! There is so much to learn and discover right around us. Many science concepts start in the kitchen with simple materials you already have on hand. Fill a plastic tote with easy to find supplies and you will have a DIY science kit filled with learning opportunities that are sure to keep them busy all year long!
DIY SCIENCE KITS FOR KIDS TO LEARN WITH SCIENCE!
DIY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
We love simple science experiments you can do at home or in the classroom. I wanted to put together a kids science kit to show you how simple it is to try your own science experiments at home.
Most of our favorite science equipment for kids are super simple to find at the grocery store or the dollar store, and many items you may already have at home.
Of course, water is an awesome material for science experiments so make sure to try one of our awesome water science experiments! Grab a container and start filling!
Want printable instructions with pictures for our science activities all in one place? It’s time to join the Library Club!
DIY SCIENCE KITS
Find our list below of the best supplies to include to make your own science kit, as well as some simple science experiments to try.
These science experiments are perfect for the youngest scientist as well as great for an older child, just add in some journaling, graphing, and making predictions etc. Several ages can learn together if necessary. There is always plenty of room for creativity, discovery, and exploration!
1. ALKA SELTZER TABLETS
Start off your homemade science kit with a fizz and a pop! We love using alka seltzer tablets in our homemade lava lamps and to make these awesome pop rockets.
2. BAKING SODA
Baking soda, along with vinegar is one item for your science kit, that you will want to use again and again. A baking soda and vinegar reaction is a classic science experiment and we have so many variations for you to try!
Baking soda is also an ingredient in our popular fluffy slime recipe!
Here’s a few of our favorites…
Check out all our baking soda science experiments!
3. BORAX POWDER
Borax powder is a versatile item in your DIY science kit. Use it to make borax slime, or experiment with growing your own borax crystals.
Check out these fun variations for growing crystals…
Crystal Candy Canes Crystal Snowflakes Crystal Seashells Crystal Flowers Crystal Rainbow Crystal Hearts
4. CANDY
Who would have thought that candy and science go together! We even have a bunch of edible slime recipes or taste safe slime for kids to make and play with.
Candy you could include in your DIY science kit:
- Skittles for a Skittles Experiment
- M&Ms for a M&M Science Experiment
- Check out this science experiment with chocolate
- Peeps for one of these fun Peeps Science Activities
- Find out things to do with Jelly Beans
- Grow sugar crystals with rock candy.
5. COFFEE FILTERS
Coffee filters are such an inexpensive and fun item to include in your homemade kit. Combine art and solubility science with these easy ideas…
- Coffee Filter Flowers
- Dr Seuss Coffee Filter Tie Dye
- Coffee Filter Snowflakes
- Coffee Filter Apples
- Coffee Filter Turkeys
- Coffee Filter Christmas Tree
6. COTTON BALLS
Use cotton balls to explore water absorption for a simple DIY science experiment.
7. COOKING OIL
Oil is a great household item to include in your DIY science kit. Why not make a Lava Lamp with oil and water, and learn about density at the same time? Or even make waves in a bottle.
8. CORN STARCH
Cornstarch is an awesome item to have on hand in your kids’ science kit. Why not mix up some cornstarch and water to make oobleck, and explore non-Newtonian fluids!
Also check out these activities with cornstarch…
9. CORN SYRUP
Corn syrup is a great for adding to a density layer experiments like this one.
10. DISH SOAP
Try our classic Magic Milk Experiment with this DIY science kit item. It’s also a fun item to have on hand for extra foam with a baking soda volcano.
11. FOOD COLORING
Food coloring is such a versatile item to include in your science kit. Add color when making slime, or oobleck, even to a baking soda and vinegar experiment or ocean sensory bottle… The options are endless!
12. IVORY SOAP
The key ingredient in our expanding ivory soap experiment.
13. SALT
Salt is another must have item to add to your DIY science kit for kids. Substitute salt for borax powder as we did, to grow salt crystals. Try painting with salt for a bit of art and science! Learn about salt and ice with our ice fishing experiment. We also used salt for our Salt Water Density Experiment.
14. SHAVING FOAM
Shaving foam is a must have ingredient for making the fluffiest slime! Check out the best fluffy slime recipe of all time!
15. SUGAR
Sugar, like salt is another DIY science kit item that is great for experiments with water. Why not make a rainbow in a jar or explore which solids dissolve in water.
16. VINEGAR
Vinegar is another common must-have household item to add to your science kit. Combine vinegar with baking soda (see above) for lots of fizzing fun or use it on its own! We used also vinegar in our classic Naked Egg Experiment and in our Dissolving Seashells Experiment.
17. WASHABLE PVA GLUE
PVA glue is one of your must have slime ingredients for making homemade slime. Clear glue, white glue or glitter glue, each one gives you a different type of slime. Plus, we now have our own 2 ingredient slime recipe just for glitter glue!
PLUS… SCIENCE TOOLS
Our kids’ science kit is also filled with science tools and necessary science equipment. Dollar store cookie sheets, ice cube trays and small ramekins are always used to contain mess, test liquids and sort items as well as freeze ice!
I usually always set out a magnifying glass and often a hand mirror. We use tweezers and eye droppers often as well. No kids science kit is complete without a pair of safety goggles too!
You can check out more about the science tools we use here!
ALSO CHECK OUT OUR THEME SCIENCE KITS
- Winter Tinker Kit
- Christmas Tinker Kit
- Engineering Kit
- Slime Kit
- Halloween Tinker Kit
- Easter Science Basket
- Valentine’s Day Science Kit
MAKE YOUR OWN DIY SCIENCE KIT FOR ANY TIME LEARNING FOR KIDS!
Click on the image below or on the link for awesome science experiments for kids.
Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive science experiments?
We have you covered…
Click below to get your quick and easy science activities.
Build A LEGO Catapult
Bekki @a better way to homeschool
This is such a great collection of science experiments! I love that I already have most of the item needed around the house!
Thanks for sharing!!
butterfly fields
your articles is very useful for children. thank you for sharing.
Wendy LeMay
Love this! So many ideas all wrapped in a neat package. Thank you!
Gameimake
Science and water experiment is wonderful concept for kid. All handmade science experiment, kid can easily learn and make their own. They can really enjoy when they will do.