Science fair projects and activities

by Chris Woodford. Last updated: November 14, 2011.

Science is all about putting your curiosity to good use to find out how the world works. As every science teacher knows, a powerful, hands-on science experiment is worth 100 hours of staring at the blackboard. In other words, there's no better way to learn about science than by doing it. This is our short collection of hands-on science activities. Let us know if you find any other good science activity sites and we'll add them in here.

Photo: Did you know you can make a magnifying glass from nothing more than a drop of water? That's the kind of simple science activity you can try for yourself at home!

Science experiments on this site

A few of our articles contain simple experiments and activities you can safely try at home or school:

• Lenses: Make a magnifying glass with some cellophane and a drop of water.
• Intruder alarms: Make your own bedroom burglar alarm with a flashlight bulb, a battery, and a piece of string.
• Digital radio: Compare digital and analog radio—and hear the time lag caused by digital processing.
• Electricity: Make an electromagnet.
• Fiber optics: See how fiber-optics works with a torch and some aluminum cooking foil.
• Forensic science: How good a detective are you? Search for the clues and catch the criminals!
• Jet Ski® and Sea-Doo®: Make your own personal water craft with a balloon and an old washing detergent bottle.
• Surfing science: Make your own ocean waves.

More ideas for home science activities and science fair projects

There are hundreds more activities on these other sites. Please note that these are external sites over which we have no control. While we try to recommend only the most reputable websites, we can't take any responsibility for content provided by other people. In particular, we cannot guarantee that the activities on other sites are safe or appropriate for young people.

• Science Buddies: A really comprehensive free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools to teachers, parents, and students from all walks of life.
• Practical Physics: Offers "tried and tested physics experiments, in sufficient detail that they will work in any school laboratory." A joint project by the Nuffield Curriculum Centre and The UK's Institute of Physics.
• Bizarre Stuff: You Can Make in Your Kitchen: Some truly inspired practical projects you can make at home: "This site is a museum of classic home science projects. It is not so much meant to be 'how to' or educational, but more of a celebration of early to mid 20th century home experimentation and pop science illustration."
• Surfing scientist: impress your friends and scare your family with these wacky science tricks from Australia's ABC channel.
• Resources for science learning: The Franklin Institute has a broad selection of activities in bioscience, communications, computers, earth science, energy, mathematics, oceanography, space, and transportation (for all grade levels).
• Simply Science: A searchable database of activities from the Science Museum of Minnesota.
• BBC schools science clips: Animations and videos for children aged 5-11.
• Science Explorer: An exploratorium at-home book: Loads of activities from the Exploratorium science museum.
• Do Science: Experiments you can do at home, in a restaurant, or at school.
• Activities and Experiments: Loads of things you can try from National Geographic magazine. Includes optical illusions, experiments with floating, and how to make your own hurricane in a bowl of water!
• Science activities, labs, and lesson plans: Lots more links to science activities.
• Science Made Simple: Easy science experiments and science project ideas.
• Cockeyed Science Club: Some more unusual activities!
• The Naked Scientists: Kitchen science experiments: 80 very cool experiments you can do at home.
• Instructables: The World's Biggest Show and Tell: Lots more very cool things to make and do. This site is a whole community of people who love to make and do things themselves.
• Steve Spangler Science: Steve's web store has lots of science kits and experiments you can buy.
• Steve Spangler YouTube Channel: You'll find lots of Steve's short, sweet, very entertaining DIY science experiments here!
• Science Hobbyist: Some really good how-to's and easy-to-build projects from Bill Beaty, who lists "crackpot physics" as one of his favorite sports!
• Fizzics Education: Lots of engaging experiments on this Australian site.
• The Creative Science Centre: Some really fun things from Dr Jonathan Hare.
• At the Science Fair: The Science Siblings (with a little help from Kevin Temmer) explain why it's cool to take part in the science fair!