7 Science Experiments You Can Do at Home

Piquing your child’s interest in science can be easy. After all, a sense of wonder comes naturally for kids, and in many cases you don’t even have to leave the house. Here’s a list of activities, all of which use common household products, to get you started

By Tim Johnson

7 Science Experiments You Can Do at Home

Vortex in a bottle

This demonstrates—in much less disastrous fashion—the same physical forces involved in dramatic weather phenomena such as hurricanes and tornadoes.

Take two empty 2L pop bottles (labels removed). Fill one ²/³ full of water and place a washer on its mouth. Invert the other bottle onto the washer and duct-tape the two bottles together (firmly, using glue if necessary) at the connection. Turn the bottles over, so the full one is on top, and swirl a few times—then watch the vortex form as the water drains from one bottle to the other. Add food colouring or small pieces of foam to observe more clearly.