Hour of Science

By age

Science activities by age

Kids of every age can do real science. What changes is how long they can focus, how much they can do with their hands, and how far they can take their own questions.

The age ladder

Each column below shows experiments that suit that age as a starting point. Ages are rough guides. Many three-year-olds love oobleck, and many twelve-year-olds still do too.

Ages 3 to 5

Short, hands-on, lots of talk. The adult reads steps aloud and helps with words like "predict".

310 minMkMilk color burst3+415 minLlLiquid layers5+520 minObOobleck3+610 minDrDancing raisins3+1315 minSfSink or float3+1410 minWlWater drop lens5+1510 min + 2 weeksSjSeed jar3+1615 min + 1 dayTcThirsty celery4+1720 minLfLeaf rubbings3+1930 minMbMinibeast hunt4+21A sunny dayShShadow clock5+225 min a dayClCloud log4+

Ages 6 to 8

Children follow simple steps, draw results and start to change one thing at a time.

115 minFzFizz balloon5+230 minCcCabbage color test6+415 minLlLiquid layers5+720 min + 2 daysScSalt crystal art6+820 minBrBalloon rocket5+920 minPdPendulum test7+1215 minPhPaper helicopter5+1410 minWlWater drop lens5+2020 min + dailyRgRain gauge5+21A sunny dayShShadow clock5+235 min a nightMdMoon diary6+

Ages 9 to 12

Run any of these as a fair test: repeat it, measure, record a table and draw a graph.

115 minFzFizz balloon5+720 min + 2 daysScSalt crystal art6+820 minBrBalloon rocket5+920 minPdPendulum test7+1020 minRrRamp race4+1110 minSbStatic balloon4+1215 minPhPaper helicopter5+1815 minBcBird count4+2020 min + dailyRgRain gauge5+

Ages 3 to 5: wonder and words

Preschoolers learn through their hands and through talk. Keep sessions short, often 10 to 20 minutes, and pick activities with a big, quick result such as milk color bursts or sink or float. Give them science words as you go: "predict", "observe", "dissolve". They won't remember every word the first time, and that's fine.

Adults do more of the work at this age. Pour, hold and guide, but let the child make the choices: which color, which object next, sink or float.

Ages 6 to 8: following steps

Children in early elementary school can follow three or four simple steps, draw what they see, and start to understand a fair test. Try asking "What if we changed just one thing?" The cabbage color test and the seed jar suit this age well, since both give kids something to record.

This is a good age to start a science notebook. Drawings with labels count as real records.

Ages 9 to 12: measure and repeat

Older kids can plan their own fair tests, measure carefully, repeat results and make simple graphs. Take any activity from the table and add the "go further" step. The scientific method page walks through a full example. Many children this age also enjoy long projects, such as a month of rain gauge readings or bird counts.

Older kids still need an adult nearby. They can take on more steps themselves, but heat, sharp tools and anything from the never list stay off limits.

Can siblings of different ages do science together?

Yes. Give the older child the measuring and recording jobs and let the younger one do the pouring and predicting. Keep small parts away from children under 3.