Jars and cups
Clear plastic cups and containers with lids. For younger pupils plastic is better than glass: it won't break if a cup falls off the table.
Resources
Useful resources
A home lab doesn't need its own room. A box with a few simple things in it is enough, along with an agreement with an adult that experiments happen only on a tray and only together. Below is a list of what's worth keeping to hand — and what never goes into children's experiments.
The best equipment for a young scientist is the kind you don't mind spilling and can't hurt yourself with.
How this section works: we name types of items without brands or shops. Everything listed is usually already at home or easy to replace with something similar. If you're not sure whether an item is safe to use, it's better to leave it out.
What to keep in your experiment box
Six kinds of items that make up most of the experiments on this site.
Magnifying glass
A simple magnifier helps you see roots, salt crystals and bubbles up close. Never point it at the sun or hold it over paper on a sunny day.
Ruler and measuring spoons
Measuring turns an observation into an investigation. A ruler, measuring spoons and a measuring jug from the kitchen help you repeat an experiment under the same conditions.
Food colouring
A drop of colouring in water shows how liquids mix and how water travels up a plant stem. Use only food colouring and put a paper towel underneath.
Observation notebook
A separate notebook, a pencil and coloured pencils for drawings. Notes kept in one place are easy to compare and to show in class later.
Tray and paper towels
All experiments with water, baking soda and colouring are done on a tray with a raised edge. Paper towels and a cloth are put out in advance, not hunted for at the last minute.
What we never use in children's experiments
- Anything involving an open flame or heating without an adult in control.
- Cleaning products, washing-up liquid, laundry detergent and drain cleaners, as well as any aerosols.
- Medicines and anything from the first-aid kit, except iodine, which only the adult handles.
- Mains-powered appliances and plugged-in cables, as well as batteries that have been taken apart.
- Strong magnets, small beads and parts that a little child could swallow.
- Glass bottles for freezing, and concentrated vinegar essence instead of ordinary table vinegar.
Related sections
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.