Questions
Pupils' questions
Here are the questions young scientists and their parents ask most often. The answers are split into three groups: safety, experiments that didn't work and presenting your work. If your question isn't here, start with the section on method — careful notes solve a lot of problems.
If an experiment seems dangerous, don't do it. A good scientist knows when to stop and ask an adult.
Safety
Why are all experiments done only with an adult?
Even baking soda and vinegar can get into your eyes, and a wet floor can make someone slip. An adult notices these things sooner and knows what to do if something goes wrong.
What should I do if something splashes into my eyes or onto my skin?
Tell an adult straight away and rinse the area with plenty of clean, cool water. If the discomfort doesn't go away, the adult decides whether a doctor is needed.
Can I taste the result of an experiment?
No. Nothing is ever tasted in a lab, even if the ingredients come from the kitchen. This applies especially to iodine and mixtures containing vinegar.
Which experiments from the internet should I not repeat?
Any that need a flame, hot water without an adult, mains electricity, cleaning products, medicines or taking batteries apart. If in doubt, don't do it.
When experiments don't work
There are hardly any bubbles. What's wrong?
Perhaps there was too little baking soda or vinegar, or the baking soda had been left open for a long time. Write down the amounts, try again with a fresh batch and compare the results.
The shoot didn't turn towards the light.
Plants need time. Check that there is enough water and light coming through the window, and extend the observation by a few days. A slow result is still a result.
No rainbow appears from the glass.
You need a direct sunbeam and white paper in the shade. Try moving the glass or the paper, tilting the sheet, and repeating the experiment at a different time of day.
The result didn't match my hypothesis. Is that bad?
No, it's normal and actually interesting. Write down what really happened and think about why your guess wasn't confirmed. That's how the next question is born.
Write-ups and projects
Can I use an experiment from here for a school project?
Yes, you can use the idea and the order of work. But you need to do the experiment and make the notes yourself, and check the project requirements with your teacher.
How many times should I repeat an experiment?
At least two or three times under the same conditions. If the results are similar, the conclusion is more reliable; if they differ, it's worth looking for which condition changed.
Do I need photos?
They help but aren't essential. Neat drawings and a table from your diary also show clearly what happened. Usually the adult takes the photos.
How do I talk about my experiment in class?
Keep it short: the question, the hypothesis, what you did, what you saw and what you concluded. Prepare one drawing or table and practise telling it at home.
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.
- Home
An independent reference of home experiments for schoolchildren: water and ice, light, plants and safe kitchen chemistry.
Sources
- Safety rules for experiments (in general terms)
- Guides for young researchers (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.