Science activity
Design Your Own Experiment
Ask a question and find the answer like a real scientist! Pick something you're curious about — like 'Which color do bugs like best?' — and do a test to find out!
Materials and setup
- varies by chosen experiment
- notebook
- pencil
- ruler
- timer
- household materials as needed
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Ask a question and find the answer like a real scientist! Pick something you're curious about — like 'Which color do bugs like best?' — and do a test to find out!
Steps
- Ask a question together: 'What do you wonder about?' Help narrow it to something testable (e.g., 'Do plants grow better with music?' or 'Which ramp angle makes a car go fastest?').
- Make a guess: 'What do you think will happen? That is called a hypothesis!'
- Set up a simple test: for a ramp experiment, try 3 different angles and roll a toy car down each one.
- Watch carefully and tell your parent what you see. They write down your observations.
- Talk about the results: 'What happened? Was your guess right? It is okay if it wasn't — that is how scientists learn!'
- Tell a grown-up one thing that surprised you.
Learning objectives
- Ask a testable question about something they are curious about
- Make a prediction (hypothesis) before testing
- Understand that scientists learn from results whether or not they match predictions
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Follow the full scientific method from question to conclusion! Pick your own question, make a prediction, test it, record results, and share what you learned.
Steps
- Choose a question to investigate. Ideas: 'Which paper airplane design flies farthest?' 'Do bigger seeds grow faster than smaller seeds?' 'Does ice melt faster in sun or shade?'
- Make a hypothesis: 'I think ___ because ___.'
- Plan your experiment: what will you test? What will you measure? What will you keep the same?
- Conduct the experiment 3 times to make sure results are consistent. Record results each time in a chart.
- Draw a picture of your experiment and write (or dictate) your conclusion: 'I found out that ___.'
- Present your experiment to a family member: show your hypothesis, procedure, results, and what you learned.
Learning objectives
- Follow all steps of the scientific method from question to conclusion
- Repeat an experiment multiple times to verify results
- Communicate experimental findings through a simple presentation
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Design and conduct a complete original experiment using the scientific method. Include a research question, hypothesis, controlled variables, data collection, analysis, and a formal lab report.
Steps
- Brainstorm 5 questions you're curious about. Choose the best one — it must be testable with materials at home.
- Research your topic: what is already known? This is your background research. Write 1-2 paragraphs summarizing what you found.
- Write a clear hypothesis: 'If [I change this], then [this will happen], because [reason].'
- Design your experiment: identify your independent variable (what you change), dependent variable (what you measure), and controlled variables (what stays the same). List all materials needed.
- Conduct the experiment with at least 3 trials per condition. Record all data in a table. Create a graph of your results.
- Write a complete lab report: Title, Research Question, Background Research, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure (numbered steps someone else could follow), Data Table, Graph, Analysis, Conclusion (was your hypothesis supported?), and Future Questions.
- In one sentence, tell a parent or sibling what surprised you today.
Learning objectives
- Design an original experiment with identified independent, dependent, and controlled variables
- Conduct multiple trials and analyze data using tables and graphs
- Write a comprehensive lab report following the complete scientific method
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Conduct a rigorous original scientific investigation: develop a research question from literature review, design an experiment with proper controls and sample size, perform statistical analysis, and write a publishable-quality research paper.
Steps
- Choose a research area and conduct a literature review: read 3-5 sources (kid-friendly science sites) about your topic. Identify what is already known and what questions remain. This gap becomes your research question.
- Develop a testable hypothesis based on your research. Explain the scientific reasoning behind your prediction.
- Design a rigorous experiment: include at least 2 conditions, 5+ trials per condition, clearly identified variables, and a detailed procedure that someone else could replicate exactly.
- Conduct your experiment. Record all data meticulously. Note any unexpected observations or sources of error.
- Analyze your data: calculate means and ranges for each condition. Determine if the difference between conditions is meaningful or could be due to chance. Create professional-quality graphs with labeled axes, titles, and error bars if possible.
- Write a scientific paper in standard format: Abstract (summary), Introduction (background and hypothesis), Methods (detailed procedure), Results (data presentation without interpretation), Discussion (interpret results, compare to hypothesis, discuss limitations and sources of error), Conclusion, and References.
- In one sentence, tell a parent or sibling what surprised you today.
Learning objectives
- Develop a research question from a literature review of existing knowledge
- Design and execute a rigorous experiment with proper controls and sample size
- Write a formal scientific paper with all standard sections including error analysis
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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