Experiments with light and heat can lead to important learning about weather, weather patterns, and storms. Conduct the experiments using simple household items such as water glasses, water, a thermometer, plastic bands and black and white paper. Kids can measure water temperature as affected by black and white paper attraction. Once they discover how dark surfaces attract and absorb more heat than light surfaces, they'll know how to dress on hot summer days. Discovering what happens when temperatures rise is easily accomplished using a bottle, a balloon and hot water. Stretch the balloon across the mouth of a bottle, place the bottle in a jar of hot water. As the bottle stands in hot water the air molecules inside the bottle, excited by the heat, begin to move away from each other and blow up the balloon.
Kids can observe and track the sky at night from their bedrooms, a rooftop or outside in the middle of an open yard. Following star movement and observing the night sky leads to learning about constellations, moon positioning, earth rotation, and planetary observation. As they study the moon's phases they can track its visibility using a monthly calendar to make comparisons with and draw conclusions on a hypothesis at the end of the month. Focus projects on drawing the constellations, observing the sky to confirming hypotheses on planetary movement, moon phases and other predictions about planetary movement.
Have students learn about plants and animals by examining their habitats, species characteristics, food chain, predatory habits and growth. These hands-on science fair projects can work within environments students are already familiar with as they monitor and track growth and develop and confirm facts. Categorizing and drawing conclusions with the resulting data allows students to confirm hypotheses and present the data in science fair projects.
Biology topics range from learning about cells and bacteria to cloning. Have students breed bacteria taken from various sources around the home or their backyards. They can experiment with exercise to learn about lung volume. They can taste foods to experiment with taste buds and how they're affected by spices, hot and cold and other food combinations. Have the students observe microscopic creatures under a powerful microscope to see just how many live in the water they drink, swim in, and play in outdoors. Most experiments can be done by using simple household ingredients with adult supervision. Floating eggs, melting chocolate, making vinegar volcanoes and breeding bacteria are all experiments that promise to deliver fun and learning at the same time.