Help: Home science experiment supplies - what do we need?

[QuiEstLa]

So DS, who's 6 is very into those science kits (GALT horrible science, volcanic eruptions, chemistry kits etc) - but they are expensive! He has also collected a selection of goggles, lab coats, pipettes from these many kits he has gone through from grandparents/us for birthdays etc.

I am now wondering - if all that plastic tat (pipettes, test tubes etc) can be retained but we just buy some supplies to use as cheaper than yet another kit?

But what do we need? So far i have -

1. Baking soda
2. Vinegar
3. Balloons
4. Rubber bands
5. Coffee filters
6. Food colouring
7. Washing powder (?)
8. Dish soap liquid
9. Tissue
10. Drinking straws
11. Few empty mineral water bottles
12. Sugar

What else? Have used this site here for inspiration but you may have more ideas!

It will be a bit hard to wean him off the glamour of a kit but I am thinking - setting up a dedicated Scientists' Table in the playroom and arranging all those plastic tat pipettes, tubes, goggles, lab coats from Kits Past (!) may help!

V grateful for any more ideas before I head to the supermarket at the end of day!

Cornflour for Oobleck. Ingredients for slime? Something else acidic, like lemons/lemon juice. Fizzing tablets (eg alka seltzer). Salt

Brilliant. Adding cornflour, fizzing tablets, lemon juice, salt.

For slime - BBC says I need contact lens cleaning solution which I dont have, but will buy PVA white glue and bicarbonate of soda.

Absolutely just keep the bits from kits and make up your own. Extra strong mints in coke is another good one (don't screw the lid on for that one).

Red cabbage. Old white cloths.

Remember that there is more to science than chemistry.
So some batteries, lightbulbs, buzzers, switches, crocodile clips might be helpful, and in the main are resuable.
Also a small light source, lenses and a prism.
A balloon, sports bottle top and a CD/DVD & bluetack make a hovercraft

Fab ideas. And yes we were thinking of physics/circuitry but didnt get too far. Batteries - we also have a 2 year old so needing to be slightly careful with batteries at the moment but have noted all the ideas!

Shaving foam, can be used to make fake clouds and also slime.
If adventurous then some hydrogen peroxide and yeast to make elephants toothpaste (although I'd do that outside).
Yeast can also be used to blow up balloons.
A wormery or small animal tank with woodlice to feed veg peelings etc.

You can grow salt crystals from a saturated solution. That's fun.

Magnets. And second the wormery.

I'd recommend getting a practical science book. There are plenty for his age group. He then has instructions to follow as he did with the kits.

Some biology... grow a sweetpea or marrowfat pea in a test tube to see its roots, or some mung beans in a couple of plastic cups taped together as a rotator as they grow towards the light. Make a moving hand using bits of straws attached to a paper hand at the 'joints and use string to lace together...

There were some good scout/guide science virtual camps last year. Have a Google for Midlands girlguiding fascinate! Or WCAIR and Dundee girlguiding, or look on the scouts website for the Beaver experiment badge there are loads of ideas there.
There are also Crest awards which might interest him - again lots of experiments to follow

There are some good ideas for experiments here

Well, ignore that... and try this

gosciencegirls.com/5-6years/

Go and have a look at MEL Science.
They do STEM for age 5-9, Chemistry experiments for 10-16 & Physics experiments for 8-14 + VR simulations which my son loves.
If you are signed up, they also do live online lessons with their kits.

Even if you don't sign up for the kits, there are videos of the experiments & some can be done with things you already have or by just buying a couple of extra things.

You can find their videos on YouTube like this one on making a red cabbage universal PH indicator - you might not have all the things, but you'd definitely be able to do the vinegar & carbonated water.

Lolly sticks are very useful.
Old medicine syringes (for calories, not injections!)
Stopwatch

Is it just chemistry experiments DC is interested in, or would they be interested in other STEM stuff too? Things like Snap Circuits are good.
If it's just chemistry, then I second the oobleck and red cabbage as fantastic home experiments (do the oobleck outside!). Another good one is put an upturned shot glass inside a pint glass, balance a tealight onto the shot glass, pour bicarb around the shot glass at the bottom of the pint glass, light the candle, then pour vinegar carefully down the inside of the pint glass (the carbon dioxide produced will extinguish the flame).

Wow this is amazing!! Thanks you all :)

DS is interested in all things science - not just Chem. he comes buzzing out of science club and coding club and I’m sure he will appreciate the physics/circuitry things too. I’ll sit and make a list from your amazing suggestions soon.

Some great ideas here. Does anyone know who to make smoke like you get in a smoke machine?

*how

Look up red cabbage indicator.

The "cloud in a jar" experiment makes a fog effect. Instructions easy to find online.

Thanks very much

Potato
Boric acid (aka Borax in US)
Milk
Fairy Liquid
Sugar
Vegetable oil
Alka seltzer tablet
White school glue
Heavy cream
Egg
Vinegar
Birthday candles

mommypoppins.com/kids/50-easy-science-experiments-for-kids-fun-educational-activities-using-household-stuff
Some great ideas here.