Science Experiments with Water

Water experiments aren’t just for summer! Water is easy and budget-friendly for science experiments with preschoolers, elementary-age kids, and even middle school students. Check out our list of favorite science experiments with water, and look for the free printable guide.

Best Science Experiments with Water

Water is not only essential for life, but it’s also a key player in many exciting science experiments! Whether you’re at home or in the classroom, these experiments—using simple household items—will introduce kids to fascinating scientific concepts. Explore the properties of water, learn about the water cycle, discover how water interacts with different substances, and much more.

These water-based experiments are ideal for elementary through middle school students, enabling them to explore key concepts in chemistry, physics, biology, and other related fields. Additionally, we offer a variety of fun activities to complement your science lessons, including water conservation!

Water Science Concepts Explored:

• Water Cycle
• States of Matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas)
• Density: What is Density?
• Buoyancy
• Osmosis
• Capillary Action
• Surface Tension
• Reaction Rates
• Chemical and Physical Changes

Easy Water Experiments For Kids

Click on each link below to explore these hands-on water experiments. They’re not just fun, but they help kids understand fundamental science concepts! Grab this free water experiments guide.

Water Bottle Rocket (Grades 2–5)

• Concepts Explored: Air Pressure, Force & Motion, Newton’s Third Law
• Description: Launch a homemade rocket using a plastic water bottle, air, and water to explore propulsion and action-reaction forces.

What Makes Ice Melt Faster? (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: States of Matter, Freezing & Melting Points
• Description: Explore the solid forms of water with a series of ice experiments that highlight the scientific method.

Alka Seltzer Reaction Rates (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Reaction Rates, Temperature & Chemical Reactions
• Description: Use different temperatures of water and Alka Seltzer tablets to explore how temperature affects the rate of reaction.

Alka Seltzer Boat Experiment (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Newton’s Laws of Motion, Chemical Reactions, Buoyancy
• Description: When Alka Seltzer reacts with water, it produces carbon dioxide, propelling a mini boat across the water. Fun and physics-filled!

Bending Water with Static Electricity (Grades K-5)

• Concepts Explored: Static Electricity, Attraction and Repulsion
• Description: Can you bend water? Yes! Use a balloon and some water to create this electrifying experiment.

Rising Water Experiment with Candle (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Air Pressure, Heat, and Water Displacement
• Description: Can you make the water rise by burning a candle under a jar? Find out in this fun and simple experiment.

Celery Experiment: Osmosis in Action (Grades 1-5)

• Concepts Explored: Capillary Action and Plant Biology
• Description: This simple experiment demonstrates capillary action as celery absorbs colored water, making for an eye-catching science lesson.

Coffee Filter Flowers (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Solubility and STEAM (Art & Science Integration)
• Description: Make beautiful coffee filter flowers while learning about solubility.

Color Changing Flowers (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Capillary Action and Plant Biology
• Description: Watch flowers change color as water moves through their stems. This experiment makes for an engaging water science fair project!

Egg Osmosis (Grades 3-5)

• Concepts Explored: Osmosis, Egg Membrane Biology
• Description: Learn about osmosis by placing eggs in different liquids and observing how their size changes over time.

Freezing Water Experiment (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Freezing Points, Chemical Reactions
• Description: Explore what happens to the freezing point of water when you add salt and watch it freeze under different conditions.

Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Osmosis, Physical Changes
• Description: Put gummy bears in different liquids and observe how they grow or shrink. A fun way to learn about osmosis!

Hot and Cold Water Density Experiment (Grades 2-4)

• Concepts Explored: Density, Temperature Effects
• Description: Explore how temperature changes the density of water and how hot and cold water mix.

How Do Sharks Float? (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Buoyancy, Density
• Description: Learn about buoyancy and explore how sharks stay afloat in this oil and water experiment.

How Many Drops of Water on a Penny? (Grades 1-4)

• Concepts Explored: Surface Tension, Water Properties
• Description: This simple experiment will teach kids about surface tension by seeing how many drops of water fit on a penny.

Water Cycle in a Bag (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Water Cycle, Evaporation, Condensation
• Description: Learn about the water cycle by creating a small water cycle model in a bag. It’s a great way to visually see evaporation and condensation.

Water Evaporation Experiment (Grades 3-5)

• Concepts Explored: Evaporation, Temperature, Surface Area
• Description: Explore how temperature and surface area affect the evaporation rate of water.

Water Refraction Experiment (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Light Refraction, Optics
• Description: This simple experiment shows how light bends or refracts as it passes through water, making objects look different under the surface.

Rainbow in a Jar (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Water Density, Light Refraction
• Description: Create a rainbow in a jar using water, sugar, and food coloring. This colorful experiment teaches about water density and light.

Water Absorption Experiment (PreK -1)

• Concepts Explored: Absorption, Material Properties
• Description: This simple experiment is great for preschoolers to explore what materials absorb water and which ones do not.

Water Wheel Engineering Project (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Engineering, Water Power
• Description: Build a water wheel to explore how water can be used as a source of power and energy.

Water Clock (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Time, Engineering, Water Movement
• Description: Discover how to use water to tell the time by creating your own water clock.

Oil Spill Cleanup Experiment (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Environmental Science, Water Pollution, Buoyancy
• Description: Simulate an oil spill cleanup using simple materials like oil, water, and absorbent materials. This hands-on activity teaches students about the challenges of cleaning oil spills and the importance of protecting water resources.

Ocean Currents (Grades 4-6)

• Concepts Explored: Ocean Science, Water Flow, Engineering
• Description: Build a simple model of ocean currents using ice and water to learn how currents affect the movement of water in the ocean.

Paper Towel Test (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Absorption, Material Properties
• Description: Set up an experiment to investigate which brand of paper towel absorbs the most water.

Potato Osmosis Lab (Grades 3-5)

• Concepts Explored: Osmosis, Plant Biology
• Description: Explore what happens to potatoes when placed in concentrated salt water and pure water. Learn about osmosis in this fun potato experiment.

Penny Boat Challenge (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Buoyancy, Engineering
• Description: Design a simple tin foil boat and see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks in the water.

Rubber Band Paddle Boat (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Physics, Water Movement
• Description: Build a DIY paddle boat and learn about water propulsion and physics while having fun in the water.

Salt Lava Lamp Experiment (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Liquid Density, Chemical Reactions
• Description: Explore what happens when you add salt to oil and water to create a simple lava lamp effect.

Saltwater Density Experiment or Floating Egg Experiment (Grades 3-6)

• Concepts Explored: Density, Buoyancy
• Description: Explore whether objects sink or float in different liquids, including saltwater, to learn about density.

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Sink or Float Experiment (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Buoyancy, Density
• Description: Check out common kitchen items to explore which ones float and which ones sink. Simple yet fun!

Skittles Experiment (Grades K-3)

• Concepts Explored: Solubility, Water Interaction
• Description: Use everyone’s favorite candy to explore how Skittles dissolve in water. You can even try it with M&Ms or candy canes!

Soap Powered Boat Experiment (Grades 3-5)

• Concepts Explored: Surface Tension, Water Movement
• Description: Explore surface tension as kids observe how soap influences the movement of a small boat on the water’s surface.

Solid, Liquid, Gas Experiment (Grades 3-5)

• Concepts Explored: States of Matter
• Description: Learn about the properties of solids, liquids, and gases with this simple water experiment. Watch how water changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas.

Sticky Ice (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Temperature, Surface Properties
• Description: Is ice always slippery? This experiment explores how temperature, pressure, and surface texture affect the properties of ice.

Straw Boats (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Buoyancy, Engineering
• Description: Design a boat made from straws and tape, and see how many items it can hold before it sinks in the water.

Sugar Cube Experiment (Grades 2-5)

• Concepts Explored: Absorption, Material Properties
• Description: Investigate which materials will best absorb water and stop the sugar cube from dissolving.

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Toothpick Stars (Grades 2-4)

• Concepts Explored: Capillary Action
• Description: Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water. Learn about capillary action with this water experiment.

Walking Water Experiment (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Capillary Action, Color Theory
• Description: Can water walk? Make a colorful rainbow with a little color theory mixed in too! This walking water experiment is easy and fun to set up.

What Dissolves in Water (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Solubility, Chemistry
• Description: Explore which common household items dissolve in water. A simple and fun chemistry experiment!

Water Xylophone (Grades K-4)

• Concepts Explored: Sound, Physics
• Description: Create a homemade water xylophone to explore physics and sound science. Perfect for learning about vibrations and sound waves.

Water Conservation Pack

In addition to the fun water science experiments above, make sure to check out our Water Conservation Pack—designed to help kids understand the importance of saving water! Through engaging activities, students will learn about the water cycle, the value of clean water, and simple everyday practices that contribute to conserving this precious resource. This pack includes:

• Hands-On Activities
• Fun Facts About Water Conservation
• Printable Worksheets and Journal Pages
• Projects Exploring Water Usage and Recycling

The Water Conservation Pack is perfect for complementing any water-based science experiments, reinforcing key concepts about our planet’s most vital resource.

More Water Science Activities:

• States of Matter Experiments
• Surface Tension of Water Experiments
• Chemistry Experiments
• Physics Experiments
• Fizzing Experiments
• Physical Changes
• Capillary Action Experiments
• Printable Science Projects Pack: Includes over 300 pages of science activities, worksheets, and bonuses!