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Summer Fun Science: a lesson from Native Scientists workshops

  • 13 minutes ago
  • 4 min read

Summer is here and that means long days, curious minds, and the opportunity of turning your house into a science lab! At Native Scientists, we believe that science happens everywhere: at the kitchen table, in the garden, and yes, even in the bath.

Inspired by the kinds of experiments we bring to children in our science workshops, here are five fun, easy activities you can try at home with your little ones. No special equipment needed, just everyday household items and a sense of wonder.



🌋 The Baking Soda Volcano 

What you'll need: a small bottle or cup, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), vinegar, washing-up liquid, food colouring (optional), a tray or bowl to catch the mess.


How to do it:

  1. Place your bottle on a tray.

  2. Add 2–3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the bottle.

  3. Add a few drops of food colouring and a small squirt of washing-up liquid.

  4. When you're ready — pour in a good splash of vinegar and watch your volcano erupt!


What are we learning?

When bicarbonate of soda and vinegar mix together, they create a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas, the same gas we breathe out. That gas is what makes all those brilliant bubbles. This is a brilliant introduction to chemical reactions and how different substances can change when they meet each other.



💨 The Magic of Air Pressure 

What you'll need: a clean glass jar, a washing-up bowl filled with water, a square of card (bigger than the jar opening), petroleum jelly, and optional food colouring.


How to do it:

  1. Fill the jar completely with water (add food colouring to make it more fun!).

  2. Smear petroleum jelly around the rim of the jar.

  3. Place the card firmly on top of the jar.

  4. Holding the card in place, carefully turn the jar upside down over the bowl.

  5. Slowly remove your hand from the card. Does the water stay in?


What are we learning?

It does! The air around us is constantly pushing in all directions. This is called air pressure. Even though water is heavy, the air pushing up on the card from below is strong enough to hold the water inside the jar. This experiment shows children that even invisible things like air have force.


🚢 Float or Sink? 

What you'll need: a washing-up bowl or sink filled with water, a balloon, a small block of wood, a ball of modelling clay or playdough, a small bowl, and optional food colouring.


How to do it:

  1. Blow up the balloon, tie a knot and push it underwater, then let go. What happens?

  2. Put the block of wood in the water. Does it float or sink?

  3. Roll the modelling clay into a ball and drop it in. Does it float?

  4. Now mould the same piece of clay into a boat shape with flat edges. Try again: what happens this time?


What are we learning?

Water pushes back on objects placed in it,  this force is called buoyancy. A balloon full of air is light for its size, so the buoyant force pushes it back up. The clay ball sinks because it's too heavy and compact. But when you shape the clay into a boat, it spreads the weight across a larger area and traps air inside,  just like a real ship! This is the same science that keeps enormous cargo ships floating on the ocean.


💧 Skinny Water (Surface Tension)

What you'll need: a shallow bowl of water, paper clips, a cotton bud, washing-up liquid, a plate, milk, and food colouring.


How to do it:

Experiment A: Paper clips on water:

  1. Fill a bowl with water.

  2. Very gently, drop paper clips onto the surface one by one — can you get them to float?

  3. Dip a cotton bud in washing-up liquid and touch the water's surface. What happens?


Experiment B: Milk and colour:

  1. Pour some milk onto a plate.

  2. Add a few drops of food colouring to the milk.

  3. Dip a cotton bud in washing-up liquid and touch the surface of the milk. Watch what happens.


What are we learning?

Water molecules like to stick together,  especially at the surface, where they form a kind of invisible "skin." This is called surface tension, and it's strong enough to hold a paper clip! Washing-up liquid breaks that skin apart, which is why the paper clips sink and the food colouring shoots outward in the milk. This is also how soap cleans things,  it breaks the surface tension and lifts dirt away.


🌈 Rainbow in a Glass (Density Tower)

What you'll need: a tall, clear glass or jar, honey, washing-up liquid, water (with food colouring), vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol (optional, for older children).


How to do it:

  1. Carefully pour honey into the bottom of the glass.

  2. Slowly pour washing-up liquid on top,  try not to mix them.

  3. Add coloured water next, pouring slowly over the back of a spoon.

  4. Finally, gently pour vegetable oil on top.

  5. Watch the layers separate and stay in place.


What are we learning?

Not all liquids weigh the same. Some are denser than others. Denser liquids sink to the bottom and lighter ones float on top. Honey is very dense, so it sinks; oil is less dense than water, so it floats. This experiment is a beautiful, colourful way to understand density, a concept at the heart of chemistry and physics.



Keep Exploring! 🔬

Loved these experiments? Here are some brilliant resources to discover even more science fun at home:


Because every child deserves to see themselves as a scientist. 🧪✨


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