How To Help Make Using The Scientific Method Fun For Kids

2/2/2025

Science can be a lot of fun for young learners! When we teach kids the scientific method, we’re helping them build critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime.

But what is the scientific method? It’s simply a process scientists use to explore the world around them. In this post series, I’ll break down the steps of the scientific method and show you how you can apply them with simple, engaging experiments that will excite your children.

Whether you're teaching in a classroom or homeschooling, these activities will help primary-aged children practice the essential steps of scientific inquiry. Let's dive in!

The Scientific Method: A Quick Overview

There are basically 6 steps in the scientific method.

Ask a Question: Every experiment starts with a question. Encourage children to ask "Why?" or "How?" to spark their curiosity. For example, “What will happen if we mix baking soda and vinegar?”
Make a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a prediction based on what children think will happen. It’s okay if they’re not always right—this is all part of the learning process! For example, “I think the baking soda will bubble when it mixes with vinegar.”
Test the Hypothesis (Materials Needed and Procedure Followed): This is where the fun happens! Have kids conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis. They’ll gather materials, follow steps, and make observations.
Observe: Observation is key. Children should describe what they see, hear, and sometimes smell! It’s a great opportunity to practice language skills while diving into science.
Record Results: It's important to make notes about what is observed and noticed so that conclusions can be made based on this information.
Draw a Conclusion: After the experiment, kids should reflect on whether their hypothesis was correct or not. This is where they learn from the experiment and understand the cause and effect behind the results.

Let's Put It Into Action

What better way to understand the scientific method than to put it into action. Let's take a look at an experiment that uses the scientific method as it's framework.

Experiment Highlight: Fizzing Volcano

Ask a Question
Start with an engaging question:
“What will happen when we mix baking soda and vinegar?”
Encourage predictions: “Will it bubble? Will it stay the same?”
Make a Hypothesis
Explain that a hypothesis is a guess based on what they know.
Example: “I think it will make bubbles because I’ve seen soda fizz when shaken.”
Test the Hypothesis
Gather materials:
- A small container (like a cup or plastic bottle).
- Baking soda.
- Vinegar.
- Optional: Food coloring and dish soap for a colorful, foamy eruption.
- A tray or towel to catch the mess.

Steps:

- Place the container on the tray.
- Add a few drops of food coloring and a squirt of dish soap for extra fun.
- Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda into the container.
- Quickly pour in about ¼ cup of vinegar and watch the eruption!

Observe and Record
Provide a simple observation sheet:

- Record what happens (bubbles, fizzing, foam, the speed of the reaction).
- Ask questions: “How high did the foam go? Did it happen quickly or slowly?”
- Draw or write about what they see.

Draw a Conclusion
Discuss what they learned:
After the eruption, discuss the science behind it. Explain that the baking soda (a base) reacts with the vinegar (an acid) to create carbon dioxide gas. This is the fizzing and bubbling action they observed. They’ll begin to understand how chemicals can react and produce new substances!
Introduce the idea of chemical reactions in simple terms, like “It’s like two ingredients making something new!”

Encourage Exploration: Extensions and Variations
Once the basic experiment is done, it’s time to explore! Here are some ways you can extend the learning:

Test the Effect of Different Quantities:
- What happens if you use more baking soda? Less vinegar?
- Have kids make predictions and test their ideas.
Explore the Reaction with Other Materials: Try using lemon juice instead of vinegar, or try adding salt to see what happens!
Relate it to Real Life:

Ask your students, “Where else might we see a chemical reaction like this?”
Discuss how chemical reactions are important in real-world situations, such as in cooking or even rocket propulsion!

Grab a free copy of this poster that helps to explain the steps of the scientific method.

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Get Kids Excited About Science!

The scientific method is an exciting way to teach kids to think critically and solve problems. By conducting simple experiments like the Fizzing Volcano, children not only learn about science, but they also build observation and reasoning skills. They begin to see the world through the lens of curiosity, asking questions and finding answers in fun and hands-on ways.