Water and ice
Watch water turn into ice and back again, find out what sinks and what floats, and see why freezing water takes up more space.
a schoolchild's home lab
A schoolchild's home lab
You don't need test tubes or a special classroom to feel like a scientist. A kitchen table, a couple of cups, a notebook and a curious eye are enough. Here you'll find simple, safe experiments for school years 1 to 9, along with tips on how to ask a question, test a guess and record the result. Every experiment assumes an adult is right there with you.
A good experiment doesn't start with a jar or a spoonful of baking soda. It starts with a question you genuinely want answered.
Where to start
Light and colour
Split white sunlight into a rainbow with a glass of water, explore shadows and see how the colour of objects changes under different light.
Plants
Sprout seeds on a damp paper towel and watch the shoot turn towards the window. This observation lasts a week and is perfect for a diary.
Kitchen chemistry
Only safe kitchen ingredients: baking soda, ordinary vinegar, starch. Watch gas bubble up and colours change, and always work together with an adult.
Reference sections
- Lessons
Short observation lessons by topic: what exactly we see in each experiment and why it happens.
- Topics
Research topics for younger and older pupils, plus the catalogue of upcoming articles.
- Tasks
Week-long observation tasks: a plant by the window, water in the freezer and testing your own hypothesis.
- Resources
What to keep at home for experiments, what never to use and how to set up a safe workspace.
- Methods
The scientific method in simple words, an observation diary and presenting your result in class.
- Glossary
Clear definitions of words you meet in experiments, from hypothesis to phototropism.
- Questions
Answers about safety, experiments that didn't work and how to present your work for a project.
Your first experiment in five steps
Ask a question
Put what you want to find out into one sentence. For example: what happens if you mix baking soda with vinegar?
Write the question in your notebook before the experiment, not afterwards.
Make a hypothesis
Write down your guess: what you think will happen and why. Being wrong is fine here — that's exactly what a hypothesis is for: to be tested.
Gather what you need
For this experiment you need a clear plastic cup, a teaspoon of baking soda, a little ordinary vinegar, a tray and a paper towel. The adult pours the vinegar and puts the bottle well out of reach.
Do the experiment with an adult
Put the cup on the tray, add the baking soda and ask the adult to pour in the vinegar slowly. Watch from the side, don't lean over the cup and never taste anything. The bubbles are carbon dioxide, a gas released when the two are mixed.
Record the result
Describe what you saw and heard and how long the bubbling lasted, then compare it with your hypothesis. Was your guess right? If not, think about what you could change next time.
The essentials
Are you a school?
No. Myschool54 is an independent reference of home experiments. We don't run classes, enrol pupils or speak on behalf of any educational institution.
Can I do experiments on my own?
No. Even the simplest experiments with water and baking soda are done only together with an adult. The adult helps set up the space, keeps things safe and helps work out what happened if something goes wrong.
Will this work for a school project?
The ideas and the order of work will: question, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion. We explain in general terms how to present a project, but it's best to check the exact length and format with your teacher.
Do you sell experiment kits?
No. We don't sell anything or recommend specific kits. Almost everything you need for the experiments here is already at home.
About the project
Myschool54 is an independent reference of safe experiments and observations that a schoolchild can carry out at home with their parents. We explain in simple words what happens in each experiment and show how to turn curiosity into a small investigation with a question, a hypothesis and a conclusion.
This domain previously hosted the website of an educational institution and later carried unrelated advertising. The current reference has no connection with either, does not speak on behalf of any school and does not continue the work of the address's previous owners.
Related sections
- Lessons
Short observation lessons by topic: what exactly we see in each experiment and why it happens.
- Tasks
Week-long observation tasks: a plant by the window, water in the freezer and testing your own hypothesis.
- Methods
The scientific method in simple words, an observation diary and presenting your result in class.
Sources
- School science textbooks (in general terms)
- Guides for young researchers (in general terms)
- Safety rules for experiments (in general terms)
The experiments are described in general terms, based on school science textbooks, guides for young researchers and safety rules. Results at home may differ from what you expect, so repeat each experiment together with an adult and write down honestly what you actually saw.