Our favourite experiments
First click an image in the slideshow to find out how to try these science experiments yourself at home!
Ever seen a battery made out of a Christmas Dinner?
More Science at Home Experiments…
On this page we’ve grouped our experiments into themes – what do you want to find out about? Maybe you’re raiding the kitchen cupboards for chemicals? I mean… ingredients! Or perhaps you’ve noticed that water is pretty special and you want to find out what makes it so unique? Or maybe you love anything that moves or oozes or flows!
Let us know any suggestions you have for experiments!
Full list of experiments
| Experiment | Difficulty | Kit List |
|---|---|---|
| That Sinking Feeling |  | Raisins, fizzy drink |
| Rainbow on a Plate | | A plate, Skittles (or equivalent) |
| DIY Lava Lamp | | Tall thin container, baby oil, food colouring, water, fizzy tablet |
| Density Tower | | A tall thin container, various liquids from the kitchen e.g. water, washing up liquid, milk, honey, golden syrup, oil |
| The Cheerios Effect | | A clean glass container, paperclips or metal push pins, tweezers or a steady hand |
| Walking Water | | Several similar glasses, kitchen paper, water, food colouring |
| Blooming Snowflake | | Paper, scissors, tray of water |
| A-peel-ing Experiment | | Lemons, food colouring, bicarbonate of soda |
| Guarantee a White Christmas |  | Tissue paper, hair conditioner, bicarbonate of soda, food processor |
| Getting Under Water’s Skin | | Coins, water, paperclips |
| Gravity Defying Water | | A jar, a ‘reusable fruit bag’ or pair of tights or a flat metal mesh, scissors, water |
| Making a Rainbow | | Small glasses, food colouring, water |
| A Tower of Water |  | A tall thin container, water, salt, steady hand |
| Launching Rockets with Fizz | | Camera film pods (if you can find them!) or a bottle with a cork that will fit in the lid, card, scissors, fizzy tablets or bicarbonate of soda, vinegar |
| Tornado in a Bottle | | A 3D printer or superglue, duct tape and a drill, two bottles, water |
| A Wet Slop Swap | | Two identical containers, glasses or bottles, water, oil, a plastic card (e.g. shop loyalty card) |
| Marangoni’s Boats | | Card, scissors, washing up liquid, a tray of water |
| Bernoulli’s Bauble | | A round object, an air pump or vacuum cleaner with a ‘blow’ function or a hairdrier with a ‘cool’ setting |
| Making a Motor |  | Strong magnet (e.g. Neodymium), battery, wire |
| An Explosion of Colour | | A dish, milk, food colouring, soap or washing up liquid |
| Bubble Shadows | | Bubble mix (or washing up liquid), straws, a steady hand |
| Crystal Decoration | | Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) |
| Christmas Dinner Battery |  | Zinc metal, copperc coins, a potato, LEDs, crocodile clip wires |
| Jingle Balls |  | Sodium alginate, calcium lactate |
| The Banana Code |  | Banana (or strawberries), isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, ice, salt, washing up liquid, sandwich bags |
| Whoosh and a Cloud | | A glass bottle, high alcohol liquid (isopropyl alcohol) |