Science Experiments Teaching Resources
Unlock science experiments for kids and a love of experimentation in your classroom with ready-made experiments created for your elementary and middle school students by science teachers just like you!
This extensive collection of curriculum-aligned experiments was created to save you time on your lesson plans and help you help your students learn to discover brand-new knowledge about the workings of the world around us!
New to teaching students to conduct experiments or just looking for some handy tips? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a way to explain what an experiment is, plus some handy terminology!
What Is a Science Experiment? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If it's your first time introducing experiments, a definition may come in handy. Here's how we explain the meaning of this concept to students:
A science experiment is a way to test a hypothesis or investigate a question in a systematic and controlled manner. Experiments allow us to ask questions, form hypotheses and discover new information.
What Is a Fair Test?
In order to set the stage for successful experimentation, students need to understand how to set up fair tests — also known as controlled experiments.
A fair test is an experiment in which all variables — except for the independent variable — are kept constant and controlled. The goal of conducting a fair test is to ensure that any observed changes or outcomes can be confidently attributed to the independent variable being tested.
Here's what students should know about fair tests:
- Controlling variables means keeping them the same or at the same level across all groups or conditions in the experiment.
- Without controlling variables in a fair test, it becomes difficult to determine the true cause-and-effect relationship between the independent variable and the observed changes.
- A fair test should be an experiment that can be replicated. That means that other scientists should be able to repeat the experiment and achieve similar results by following the same procedures and controlling the same variables.
Creating a rain cloud in a jar is a fun science experiment for kids that allows students to see the actions of water vapor and condensation in action in the classroom.
What Is an Independent Variable in a Science Experiment?
You know that your students will need an independent variable to ensure the success of their science experiments, but do you need a handy definition to explain what these are? We've got you covered!
Here's how to explain these core components of any good experiment to your young scientists:
An independent variable is the factor in an experiment that a scientist deliberately changes or manipulates to test their hypothesis. Changing the independent variable can help you determine if it has an impact on the outcome or on the dependent variable — which should not be changed or manipulated.
As noted earlier, in order to have a true fair test, students need to control or keep constant all other variables except for the independent variable.
Independent Variable Example
For example, let's say a student wanted to run an experiment to determine if plants grow better in conditions where classical music is played than in conditions where there is no sound or rock music is played.
In this type of experiment, the sound introduced to the plant would be the independent variable. It would change, while other variables — such as the amount of sunlight and water that the plant received — must remain the same.
What Is a Control in an Experiment?
The independent variable will change in a student's experiment, but the control will do the exact opposite!
The control in a science experiment refers to any variables or conditions that are kept constant or unchanged throughout the experiment. It's just as important to the fair test that these stay constant as it is that the independent variable is changed.
Control Example
For example, in the plant and sound experiment described above, the amount of water and sunlight would be controls as neither would change.
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Inquiry Project - Template
A diverse template to help students craft inquiry questions to produce different types of research projects.
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Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
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Insect Scavenger Hunt- Outdoor Observation Activity
Investigate and observe insects and minibeasts with a printable Minibeast Scavenger Hunt Observation Activity.
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Observing Photosynthesis Experiment (K-2)
Investigate how oxygen is made with a hands on photosynthesis experiment.
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Design a Fair Test - Differentiated Experimental Design Worksheets
Use a differentiated experimental design worksheet to introduce your students to the concept of fair testing in science.
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Water Cycle in a Bag – Investigation Activity
Create a water cycle in a bag, make observations, and answer discussion questions with this printable science activity.
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Observing Conduction Experiment - Thermal Energy
Teach students to make predictions about and observe thermal energy transfer through this conduction experiment.
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Environmental Impact Science Experiments
Use these simple science experiments to teach your students about environmental issues such as oil and water pollution, soil quality and climate change.
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How Does the Environment Affect Plants? Science Experiment
Investigate the effect of the environment on plant life with a no-cut printable science experiment mini-book.
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Light and Shadow Experiment Design Activity
Explore light and shadow while developing science inquiry skills with our Light and Shadow Experiment design activity pack.
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Balloon Rocket Experiment
Complete a hands-on Balloon Rocket experiment to use when investigating how energy can make things move.
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Observing Chemical Reactions Experiment for Kids
Investigates chemical changes and the law of conservation of mass with our Observing Chemical Reactions Experiments.
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Evaporation Experiment - Cover to Conserve
Investigate if evaporation can be reduced by covering a body of water with a hands on Evaporation Experiment.
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Going, Going, Gone! - Changing States of Matter Experiment
Explore the changing states of matter due to temperature with an engaging science lab activity.
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Five Senses Science Centers
Show your students the power of their five senses with a pack of printable 5 Senses Science Stations!
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Plant Growth in Soils – Science Experiment
Explore how plants grow in different types of soil with this science experiment perfect for elementary school science lessons.
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Bean Growth Experiment
“Grow” your students’ knowledge of plant life cycles with a plant growth experiment.
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Rain Cloud in a Jar Experiment
Use this science experiment when learning about the different types and features of clouds and how they contribute to the water cycle.
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Does the Sun Transfer Heat? – Science Experiment
Discover how the sun transfers thermal energy and which objects absorb more heat with this science experiment for kids.
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Friction Experiment - Sticky Friction
Use this engaging friction experiment when teaching your students about sliding friction and the effect it has on the movement of objects.
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Force and Motion Experiment – Throwing, Dropping, Bouncing, Rolling
Use this hands-on force and motion experiment when teaching your students about how forces influence the movement of objects.
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Magnet Experiment – Magnetic Flux Lines
Use this engaging magnet experiment when teaching your students about magnetic fields and their effect on magnetic objects.
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Science Experiment - True Colors
A science experiment that explores the perception of color.
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Science Experiment - Shine Bright, Electric Light!
A science experiment that investigates how changes to electrical circuits affects their components.
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Seeking Sound Waves Experiment
Immerse your students in the study of sound and how it travels with our Seeking Sound Waves Experiment.
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Bread Mold Experiment
Observe how the environment causes changes in mold growth with an engaging Bread Mold Experiment.
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Apple Mummification Experiment
Explore and observe physical changes to materials with an engaging Apple Mummification Experiment.
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Moving Materials Science Experiment Pack
Explore materials and how they behave with an engaging Moving Materials Science experiment pack.
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Roll or Slide Worksheets - Science Inquiry (K-1)
Explore motion and boost science inquiry skills with Roll or Slide Worksheets.
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Sink or Float Experiment Pack (K-1)
Explore properties of matter and boost science inquiry skills with a Sink or Float Science Experiment.
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Observing Shadows Science Investigation (1-2)
Explore the world of light, shadow, and scientific inquiry with an engaging, outdoor Shadow Observation experiment.
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Bend, Twist, or Stretch? Changing Materials Inquiry Activity
Explore materials, observe physical changes, make predictions, and share scientific observations with a hands-on Properties of Materials Science Investigation.
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