Engage Children with Fun Science Activities this Summer

 

Spark Your Child’s Curiosity with Fun Science Activities this Summer!

 

The long summer holidays bring a break from the structured routines of school, giving children time to relax and recharge. It can become a time of growth, discovery and excitement, providing a unique opportunity to explore new interests, spend time with friends and family, develop new skills, and nurture creativity.

However, during this time it is also wise to recognise the importance of keeping children engaged and learning in a fun and hands-on way. Summer learning loss, also known as the ‘Summer Slide’ can have a significant impact on a child’s academic progress. The summer slide is when children regress or forget what they learned the previous year over the course of the lengthy summer break. Research studies have produced different results as to the extent of loss, but some say children can lose up to 40% of the gains they have made over the school year.

One area of exploration that children will need little persuasion to get involved in over the summer break is science, as long as they don’t realise it’s science and that your kitchen has become their classroom! Children love conducting their own experiments, so encourage them to become little scientists and set up a lab at home. Science activities provide children with hands-on experiences that will not only entertain but also educate, ignite their imagination, and help to develop their cognitive skills. So let’s explore the various ways fun science activities can benefit children; 

 

 

Curiosity and Wonder 

Carrying out experiments and exploring the unknown sparks curiosity and ignites a sense of wonder in children. When presented with intriguing experiments, puzzling or thought-provoking questions, children become inquisitive and want to find answers. Having fun with science encourages them to explore further and ask more questions about the mysteries of the world around them. Start your child off with a simple experiment, such as filling a jar with water and adding a couple of different food colourings, then they can watch as the colours mix together. 

 

Hands-on Learning

 

 

Being hands-on with science gives children the opportunity to actively engage in the learning process. By providing interactive experiences, children are encouraged to explore, observe and experiment, which will help them to gain a deeper understanding of scientific concepts. The tactile nature of these activities helps to make learning more tangible and memorable, and many children really benefit from this way of learning.

The GALT Dino Lab, aimed at children over 5, is great if your child likes messy and sensory activities. The set encourages children to develop their scientific thinking through discovery as they dig up a fossil, experiment with amber slime and make dinosaur tracks. The booklet included in the set also contains quizzes and facts which can be used as an activity for quiet time.

 

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Practising these particular skills is really important for children over the long summer break, helping to keep their brains active and thinking analytically. Scientific experiments require children to be logical and come up with a hypothesis, so to get them thinking like a scientist, explain what you’re going to do, and ask them to predict what will happen. Simple experiments, like the following, are easy to set up and are not only fun but also introduce children to science in an engaging way;

Make a ‘Vinegar Volcano’, using a small plastic bottle, baking soda, vinegar and washing-up liquid.

Place the bottle on a tray or in a bowl (to contain the mess), and fill the bottle halfway with vinegar. Add a few drops of washing-up liquid, then a spoonful of baking soda, and watch as the volcano erupts! 

You can explain that when baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reacts with vinegar (acetic acid), it produces carbon dioxide gas. The washing-up liquid helps trap the gas, creating a foamy eruption.

 

Or for the ‘Dancing Raisins’ experiment, you will need a clear glass, carbonated water, and raisins. 

Pour some of the water into the glass until it’s half full, then drop a few raisins into the glass and watch how they ‘dance’.

Explain that the water contains carbon dioxide gas which bubbles on the raisins’ surface, causing them to float to the top. When these bubbles pop, the raisins sink back down.

 

 

The GALT Rainbow Lab, for children aged 5 and over, is sure to appeal to your mini-scientist. Combining creativity with scientific exploration, children can experiment with colour mixing and are introduced to concepts such as crystal formation. The set includes an easy-to-follow lab book which enables children to work out how to conduct fun experiments with minimal adult help, giving them space, freedom to experiment, and independence.

 

Building Resilience and Adaptability

The predictions children make about the outcomes of experiments are not always right. But getting it wrong can be really positive, as when faced with unexpected results, children learn to assess, analyse, and modify their approach or method. This process is great for teaching them to embrace challenges, learn from failures and persist in finding solutions – a great mindset to have throughout their life. 

 

Connecting Science with Everyday Life

 

 

Encouraging your child to carry out experiments with everyday items will help them to understand abstract scientific concepts. They will then understand the relevance of science in their lives. Whether it’s understanding the physics behind a bouncing ball or the chemical reactions involved in cooking, these connections will give children a deeper appreciation for science and encourage them to view the world through a scientific lens.

Help your child to really feel the part with the GALT Giant Science Lab. A bumper science kit, for ages 6 and over, that not only contains 30 experiments, but also a lab coat and goggles! Children can really immerse themselves in the experience and have hours of fun running their own experiments, and the 52-page ‘Lab Book’ encourages children to think about how they record and present their findings.

Learning about science in a fun and interactive way at home will keep your child’s mind active during the long summer break and help them to learn new skills, absorb new knowledge, become more confident in their abilities, and be better equipped for the new school year. It’s also an opportunity for you to actively participate in your child’s education and is a fun way to strengthen family bonds. So grab some science kits or search for easy experiments online, and let the learning adventure begin! Whether it’s digging for dinosaur fossils, exploring slime, creating a baking soda volcano or watching raisins dance, science at home can make the summer an exciting journey of discovery. Let’s empower our children to explore, experiment, and embrace the wonders of science.