Upcycled Rain Gauge

My lds projects turns a plastic bottle into a rain gauge using small pebbles.  She even includes observation templates. 

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://myldsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/05/bear-cub-scout-elective-2c-rain-gauge.html

Volcano Gun Fights

No time for flash cards shares a new take on the exploding baking soda and vinegar experiment.  She fills a water gun with vinegar and food coloring. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/08/squirt-gun-volcanoes-science-experiment-for-kids.html

Playdoh Layers of the Earth

Jill dubien has a very cute idea for earth day using red, orange, yellow, black, blue and green playdoh creating mini Earths accounting for all of the layers. 

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2011/04/playdoh-planet-earth-and-some-babbling.html

Liquid Density Experiement

Steve sprangler science takes the separation of oil and water to the next level adding 5 other liquids to stack them bay desnity.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/seven-layer-density-column

Kids Tornado Experiment

Ellie moon shares a fun science experiment where kids can create a tornado in a jar using water and dish soap and some really good shaking.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://elliemoon.typepad.com/blog/2012/02/tornado-in-a-jar-diy.html

Make a Penny Battery

Instructables has a really cool tutorial for how to make a battery out of a stack of pennies, lemon juice, sand paper, tape and an led to power.

Good for ages 12 and up.

Get the instructions here:
 http://www.instructables.com/id/Miller-Penny-battery/

Ice Rainbows

5 orange potatoes has a science experiment freezing food colored water into plastic molds and then melting them in oil.  She calls it melting rainbows.  She also suggests melting them onto paper towels.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/blog/2009/03/10/melting-rainbows/

Elephant Toothpaste Experiment

Preschool powol packets posted instructions for how to make what she calls elephant toothpaste.  The experiment calls for hydrogen peroxide so you'll need to do the experiment for the kids, but it's still a great way to talk about chemical reactions and the scientific process.

Get the instructions here:
http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/2012/01/science-experiment-elephant-toothpaste.html 

Colorophyll

Ms. laura shares a great photo of a lettuce leaf and food colored water to demonstrate how water travels through a plant.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mslaura/4023084459/

Paint cut paste has a similar experiment using white carnations.

Get the instructions here:
http://paintcutpaste.com/color-changing-carnations/ 

All for kids has a non nature version of this experiment using tissue paper.

Get the instructions here:
http://allforkids.tv/episode-guide/season-4/episode-37/absorbing-science/

Kids Science - How Fast Will it Flow?

Science sparks has another great science experiment.  This time hypothesizing and testing how fast different liquids will flow compared with each other.  You'll need a stop watch and tape measure to record the kids observations.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/04/23/viscosity-races-investigating-the-flow-of-liquids

Grow a Pineapple Plant

Ricks woodshop creations has a very detailed tutorial for how to grow a pineapple plant. The best part is that it looks like a pinepple/palm tree.

Good for ages 9 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.rickswoodshopcreations.com/Pineapple/pineapple.htm

Grow an Avocado Tree

Avocado.org has instructions to grow your own avocado tree. Kids will love seeing the pit grow roots and leaves. They even have a troubleshooting guide in case things go awry.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://www.avocado.org/grow-your-own-tree/

Growing Salt Crystals

The chemistry channel of about.com has instructions on how to grow crystals from epsom salt. All you need is warm water and the salt which you can find in the laundry section of most stores. You can also add food coloring for fun or a sponge to have a base.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/growingcrystals/ht/epsomcrystal.htm

Kids Dissolving Science Experiment

Hands on as we grow has a fun way to spend some time using different cooking ingredients to see if they'll dissolve in water. Some of the items she suggests trying include flour, sugar, noodles, and oatmeal.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://handsonaswegrow.com/2012/03/kids-what-dissolves-in-water-experiment.html

Kids Flotation Science Experiement

Let's explore has a great way to spend some time predicting and testing the boyancy of different objects. It's as much fun finding and choosing the object to test as actually testing their results.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://lets-explore.net/blog/2009/05/experiment-sink-or-float/

How to Color a White Flower

Child care land has a fantastic science experiment using a white carnation and food coloring showing how flowers drink water all the way from the stems to the leaves.

Fun guerrilla has a similar experiment with roses and splits the stem into two.

Get the instructions here:
http://funguerilla.com/rainbow-roses-all-colors-in-one-rose/

Candy Acid Experiment

Candyexperiments.com shows how to test the acidity of any fruit flavored or sour candy using just warm water and baking soda. They even have videos for lemon heads, nerds, piie sticks and war heads.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.candyexperiments.com/2009/09/acid-test.html

Grow Your Own Gummy Bears

Did you know gummy bears grow if you place them in water? A survival guide to middle school knows all about the science behind the water and gummy bear chemical reaction and has activity sheets and videos.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://asurvivalguidetomiddleschool.blogspot.com/2011/10/yummy-gummy-bears.html

Decomposing Apple Science Experiment

Science sparks has a fun way for kids to learn about the decay process. Using apples, vinegar, lemon juice and salt water kids can compare how certain chemicals can affect food and speed up and slow down the process.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/03/05/rotting-apples/

Gas Filling Balloon Science Experiment

All for the boys has a nifty science experiment featuring an empty water bottle, white vinegar, baking soda and a balloon.

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.allfortheboys.com/home/2011/8/4/science-fun.html