Introduce chemistry concepts in terms kids and beginners can understand! You'll also find chemistry demonstrations, crafts, games, and projects that are suitable for kids. Some activities require adult supervision.
Kids in Science Photo Gallery
A mad scientist party is a fun and educational party theme, ideal for birthdays and Halloween. Get ideas for invitations, decorations, costumes, food and drink, cakes, mad scientist experiments and games, as well as party favors for guests to take home.
Are you searching for something fun and educational to do that suitable for kids? Here are some great chemistry activities and projects to get you started. They are safe and use easy-to-find materials.
Don't worry if you don't have a chemistry lab. These projects use materials you can find around the house.
Find science fair project ideas suitable for the kindergarten through fifth grade level. I've included projects for the preschool level also.
Find ideas for middle school science fair projects. These are projects suitable for the 6-8 grade level.
Get ideas for great high school science projects. These are projects targeted from the 9-12 grade educational level.
Download or print these periodic tables to help work chemistry problems or to predict properties of the elements.
This table was made with kids and homework in mind. It includes element groups and periods, element symbols, atomic numbers, atomic weights, and links to detailed facts for each element.
Are you ready for kid-friendly chemistry activities and games? Each newsletter features safe projects, games or quizzes, and links for additional learning. Learn about the elements, grow crystals, and more! When you sign up you'll get one newsletter a week until you've gotten them all.
Trying to find the topic for a science fair project can be almost as challenging as the project itself. Elementary school level projects should be not only informative but quick and fun. Great projects usually answer a question, rather than a general demonstration or display.
Making a baking soda and vinegar volcano is safe and easy, plus it only requires a few inexpensive kitchen ingredients. Here are detailed instructions for making a volcano, plus a look at the chemical reactions involved.
Rock candy is candy made by crystallizing sugar. You can grow sugar crystals yourself, plus add color and flavor to make rock candy that you can eat.
Find an idea for a 9th grade science fair project or entry level high school project.
Get ideas for 8th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for upper middle school level science fair projects.
Find an idea for a 7th grade science fair project or a science project targeted at the intermediate middle school level.
Get ideas for 6th grade science fair projects. These are topics and experiments suitable for upper grade school or entry level into middle school.
Get ideas for 5th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for upper elementary school level science fair projects.
Get ideas for 4th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for elementary school level science fair projects.
Get ideas for 3th grade science fair projects. These are experiments and topics suitable for grade school level science fair projects.
You can teach yourself general chemistry with this step-by-step introduction to the basic concepts.
The best toys never go out of style. Telescopes, rock tumblers, creature habitats, and chemistry kits are as educational as ever. The latest versions are safer and more interesting than ever before.
This is a collection of chemistry worksheets in pdf format. The answers to the questions are available on separate worksheets so you can fill them out and then check your work.
There are excellent reasons why you would want to do a science fair project, even if it isn't for a grade.
Teach yourself chemistry! Get started with this index of topics and tips for homework and labs. You'll also find worked probems, a library of chemical structures, a glossary, periodic table, and additional resources.
Stimulate your own ideas for a chemistry science fair project by looking at examples of chemistry projects other students have performed.
Start learning chemistry with the basics. Learn what chemistry is, what chemists do, and why it's important to study chemistry.
Here are long and short answers to this Frequently Asked Question.
Are you wondering what makes a chemical a chemical? Here's the answer to this frequently asked chemistry question.
Here's a list of the elements, in alphabetical order according to their IUPAC names.
This is a collection of photographs of the chemical elements. The images are public domain, so you are welcome to download and use them.
Find out what elements are in the human body and what these elements do.
Monoammonium phosphate crystals are among the quickest, easiest, and safest crystals you can grow. Learn how to grow these crystals yourself.
Get essential facts about atoms and the basics of atomic theory, work problems to test your skills, then take a quiz to make sure you understand the concepts.
Introduce students to chemical reactions and experimentation using common materials and baggies.
This is a twist on the classic baking soda volcano, where you use the ingredients to make squirt-able fountains of foam.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial for balancing chemical equations, along with a worked example. This is a must-read for students of general and introductory chemistry!
Are you confused about atoms, elements, protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, and ions? Here's a basic look at the model of the atom. It's a great overview for kids or anyone looking to grasp the essentials of atomic theory.
Use static electricity to bend a stream of flowing water. This is an easy science activity that illustrates how opposite electrical charges attract each other.
Are you ready for some chemistry fun? Match the chemistry-related images to win the game in this version of the classic concentration game. Now, can you beat your time? Preschool+
From your About Chemistry guide, this glossary includes terminology from featured articles. Additional chemistry definitions are always being added.
A chemistry scavenger hunt is an educational game where you find items that match a description. It's a great way to learn key concepts. Here's a list of chemistry scavenger hunt clues and items that match.
Find out who did what and when they did it. This timeline chronicles achievements in chemistry and in other disciplines (e.g., physics, mathematics) as they apply to chemistry.
Here's a ten question multiple choice quiz to test your understanding of general chemistry concepts. I'd rate it 'easy'. Are you up for the challenge?
This quiz is designed to trip up a middle school chemistry student. It focuses on everyday chemistry rather than simple textbook facts. Can you get a perfect score?
Analyze the dyes used in your favorite candies with paper chromatography using a coffee filter, colored candies, and a salt solution.
Here's a quick and easy science project you can do: make a cloud inside a bottle. This simple project uses water vapor and smoke from a match to help form a cloud.
Copper plate a holiday decoration as a Christmas ornament or for other decorative uses.
You don't see air and might not think much of it is contained in a bottle, but air and the pressure it exerts can be very powerful. The egg in a bottle demonstration illustrates the concept of air pressure.
The atomic number of an element is the same as its number of protons. The atomic number determines an element's order in the periodic table. Do you know the numbers of the first few elements? Here's your chance to test yourself, while learning some facts about the elements, too.
Can you match the names of the elements to their corresponding symbols? Here's an easy quiz to test your skill, using 10 of the first 18 elements. Have fun! Grade 6+
It's easier to navigate the periodic table and write chemical equations and formulae once you know the symbols for the elements. Here's an alphabetical list of element symbols with corresponding element names.
You can make fake snow using a common polymer. The fake snow is non-toxic, feels cool to the touch, and looks similar to the real thing.
This is an index of famous chemists and other scientists who made important contributions to the field of chemistry, arranged alphabetically according to the scientist's last name.
Fireworks are a beautiful and fun part of many celebrations, but not something you want kids to make themselves. However, even very young explorers can experiment with these safe underwater fireworks.
Flash cards can be a great study aid. You can use them to help memorize facts, lists, and structures as well as to reinforce important concepts. Here's how to prepare and use flash cards to help study chemistry.
Make your own version of Floam, a type of slime that contains polystyrene beads so that you can mold it into shapes.
These are ideas for science fair projects that involve food or cooking chemistry. Links are provided for additional science fair project help and food chemistry information.
If you have fruit, a couple of nails, and wire then you can generate electricity to turn on a light bulb. Learn how to make a fruit battery. It's fun, safe, and easy.
Measure the ripening of fruit from exposure to the plant hormone ethylene by testing starch levels with an iodine solution. This easy experiment can be performed on several types of fruit, such as apples, pears, and bananas.
Geodes are rocks that contain crystals. Normally, millions of years are required for flowing water and minerals to deposit crystals, but you can make your own 'geode' in only a few days. Grow blue copper sulfate crystals inside an egg shell to make your own geode.
It's very easy to make a glow in the dark crystal geode. The rock is a natural mineral (eggshell). You can use one of several common household chemicals to grow the crystals. The glow comes from phosphorescent paint, which you can get from a craft store.
Learn how to make a glow-in-the-dark crystal snowflake or other glowing holiday ornament. This is a safe and easy project that's great for kids and kids-at-heart. The crystal decorations are light-weight and inexpensive to make.
What is better than regular slime? Slime that glows in the dark, of course! This is an easy and fun project that is suitable for kids.
Hawaii's Green Sand Beach is an unforgettable destination. Learn why the sand is green and how to get to the beach.
Are you looking for a fun science fair project idea? Here are some ways you can turn crystal growing into a research project. There are links to instructions for growing different types of crystals and for designing a great science fair project, too.
Take a look at the Big Island of Hawaii from a chemistry perspective.
Science doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't require specialized lab equipment! These are ideas for science fair projects that involve testing or comparing common household products.
Learn about the different materials used as pencil erasers and how they work.
Find out how pop rocks candy works and whether or not it's true your stomach will explode if you wash down pop rocks with soda.
Okay, it's the kitchen equivalent of a volcano, not a real one. The 'eruption' is cool all the same! It's also more or less non-toxic, which adds to its appeal.
Make delicate, colorful crystals! This is a great classic crystal-growing project. You use charcoal briquettes (or other porous materials), ammonia, salt, bluing, and food coloring to grow a sort of crystal garden.
Do you want to grow crystals, but you aren't sure where to start or what to do to make sure your crystals turn out well? Here's some basic information on crystal growing. I've provided links to recipes so you can start growing crystals. These instructions are general, so if your recipe calls for something special (like no vibrations or dark), be sure to follow those directions, too.
These are quick and easy instructions for making non-toxic invisible ink using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
Make your own pH indicator solution! Red cabbage juice indicator is easy to make, exhibits a wide range of colors, and can be used to make your own pH paper strips.
There are lots of recipes for slime. Since most recipes are easy, look for one using ingredients you have on hand.
Make your own invisible ink so you can write and reveal secret messages. Get information about inks that are activated by heat, chemical reactions, and ultraviolet light.
Microwave a bar of Ivory soap and watch it expand to over six times its original size. The foam trick is good clean fun, plus it can be used to demonstrate Charles' Law, physical change, and foam formation.
Use chemistry to make a bouncing polymer ball, then alter the procedure to see the effect the changes have on the charactertistics of the bouncing ball.
Do you know the difference between a mixture and a compound? Combine iron and sulfur to make a mixture and then react them to form a chemical compound.
Learn about the chemistry behind magic rocks and make your own chemical crystal garden.
Have you heard about Mole Day? Here's a look at what Mole Day is, when Mole Day is observed, and what you can do to celebrate Mole Day.
The Mohs test is one way to determine the hardness of a rock or mineral. You can use the Mohs hardness to help identify an unknown specimen. Here's how you can do the test yourself.
This handy table is from your About Guide. Check back often for additional facts and figures.
Learn about the periodic table of the elements. Find out about the history of the periodic table, how the elements are organized, and how to use the periodic table to predict the behavior of unfamiliar elements.
Here are some science fair project ideas that involve plants and soil chemistry. Are you looking for an environmental science project? Check here!
A potato can function as an electrochemical cell or battery. It's fun to use a potato to power an LED clock.
Grow crystals quickly and easily with these top crystal growing projects.
If you don't have the time or patience to grow crystals over hours, days, or longer, try growing these sheet crystals. You'll get results in seconds!
Make a rainbow in a glass using colored sugar solutions with different densities. This project is very easy and safe enough to drink.
Learn how to make your own pH indicator test strips using red cabbage. This is a fun, safe, and easy chemistry project that you can do at home.
Get information about what makes a good science fair project, then test your understanding with this multiple choice quiz.
Words have very specific meanings in chemistry and other sciences. Learn about the difference between a scientific law, hypothesis, and theory. Examples are provided for each term.
You can create a pattern resembling tie-dye using colored Sharpie pens and rubbing alcohol. It's a fun and educational project that is great for kids.
Learn about the history of Silly Putty, how it works, how to make your own, and what you can do to explore the interesting properties of this viscoelastic liquid.
Slime is easy and fun to make, plus it only requires glue, borax, and water. Here are step-by-step instructions for making classic slime, complete with photos.
Snow made from water crystals melts at room temperature, but snow made from benzoic acid crystals will still be decorating your snow globe when the weather warms up. Here's how to make a snow globe by precipitating benzoic acid to make the 'snow'.
Here is a collection of several quick and easy recipes for ice cream you can make using snow.
Get help finding a subject, preparing a hypothesis, writing the report, and making a presentation for a science fair project. This guide is suitable for grade school through university level.
Science fair and research projects apply the scientific method. Here's an informal explanation of the scientific method and how it is used.
Black lights emit ultraviolet radiation, giving certain materials an eerie glow. Which materials? You can do a little experimental research or you can check out this list!
There are some truly exceptional chemistry sets out right now! Many of these chemistry kits introduce fundamental concepts through fun themes, such as 'slime' or 'glowing chemistry' or 'edible chemistry', while other sets are safer versions of the standard chemistry sets.
This is a collection of top-rated science fair project resources for students, parents, and educators. There are books that describe experiments, a CD-ROM packed with thousands of pages of ideas, and reference materials for making posters, giving presentations, and understanding the judging process.
Use these printable worksheets to practice unit conversions. These pdf questions and answers will test your understanding of metric-metric, metric-English, and temperature conversions.
No, we're not talking about the small burrowing mammal! Here's a look at a standard unit in chemistry and why it's used.
Find out what Earth Day is all about, when it is, and how it started.
Do you think it's the chlorine in the swimming pool that turns blonde hair green? Guess again.
Here's how to make a safe and easy chemical volcano using two common inexpensive household ingredients.
