Summer Science Experiments

Get your kids exploring and discovering outside of the classroom over break

Learning should never take place exclusively within school walls. The mind of a child is ever-changing, constantly adapting, and filled with potential, so it’s important to encourage kids to ask questions about the world around them — and use practical tools to find an answer — every day. Summer vacation is prime-time for the most exciting and interactive type of learning: science experiments. Kids can get go outside, get messy, and engage in important critical thinking and problem solving skills, all while having fun and enjoying vacation.

You don’t have to be a scientist to successfully guide your child through a science experiment. Whether it be at home with parents and siblings or at summer camp with friends, you can use household items (and nature!) for a great project. The internet is full of creative parents, teachers, and students sharing their ideas. We’ve gathered some of the best resources for you to encourage the kids in your life to inquire, explore, and discover.

1. Our science experiments Pinterest Board is a collection of our favorite projects for the summer! Let your children pick out their favorites and do a new experiment regularly throughout the summer months.
2. For on-the-go science engagement, our app, Pinball Energy Challenge, combines interactive digital gaming with a unique learning experience. Kids move through levels of a pinball challenge that teaches them about energy and energy transfers.
3. You can also consult these comprehensive lists of exciting science activities put together by a community of parents and educators:

• “24 Kid’s Experiments That Adults Can Enjoy, Too”
• “Classic Science Experiments You Can Do At Home”
• “25 Outdoor Science Projects for Kids”
• “Science Experiments for Kids”

These activities do more than blend learning with fun. They function on a much deeper level, and can have a long-standing impact on your child’s educational success. Studies show that the during the summer, kids can lose up to two months of curriculum content from the school year, and teachers spend weeks in the fall reviewing from the previous grade level. We call this the summer slide, and it can be prevented by consistently reading and learning throughout the summer. While books are great (and we mean really great) it is important to vary learning experiences. Hands-on science experiments are a great way to do just that, all while reviewing science content to prepare for the next year. So instead of letting your children slip behind in learning during the summer months, take advantage of the flexibility that summer offers to help them explore different educational avenues that they may not be exposed to in the classroom. It will be a rewarding and unique experience for you, a parent acting as a teacher, to watch your children discover something new about the world and potentially about themselves.