Kids Science / Engineering Projects

Gondola | Ages 3-9

Gondola   |   Ages 3-9

“How can you move something great distances with something as simple as a string? In this experiment, you’ll use a Ziploc® brand sandwich bag, string, and two chairs to build a mini-gondola. Once you construct your system, fill the bag with a secret message and pull the string to deliver your message! How does pulling and pushing the string change the direction of the system?”

Ages 3-9

See instructions here

Cranberry Catapult | Ages 5-16

Cranberry Catapult   |   Ages 5-16

“We love catapults around here at Kiwi Crate. Launching things is endless entertainment. This particular catapult that we created includes a nod to the Fall season and Thanksgiving. Cranberries make for the perfect ammunition. We tried Pom Poms too, and they worked just as well.”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

Dancing Puppets | Ages 5-11

Dancing Puppets   |   Ages 5-11

“Levers are simple machines that help us move or lift something. See how levers work by making your own dancing puppet!”

Ages 5-11

See instructions here

Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree | Ages 3-8

Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree   |   Ages 3-8

“Make merry this season with a tree to call your own. This pint-sized pine was inspired by the tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas, which my cousins adore watching every December.”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

Rubber Band Racer | Ages 5-16

Rubber Band Racer   |   Ages 5-16

“I’m a huge race car fan, so when we started experimenting with wheeled vehicles in our kid testing lab, I knew just what I wanted to create! Using simple household materials and tools, it was super easy to create a rubber band-powered racer. The steps below require some adult assistance as we used an electric drill and a hot glue gun, but our kid testers were happy to help with the other steps -- and of course experiment with wheels, rubber bands, and different surfaces to see how fast their racers could go!”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

Pretzel Log Cabin | Ages 3-8

Pretzel Log Cabin   |   Ages 3-8

“I think all kids love to build things. It just seems natural to them. My kids especially love to build things they can eat. Pretzel log cabins may just be their new favorite, it's a twist on the gingerbread house, perfect for the holiday season or anytime little hands need to build something.”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

Homemade Bell | Ages 3-8

Homemade Bell   |   Ages 3-8

“Make a bell? Yes, please! That is how my five-year-old feels. I don't know what it is about bells and this girl, but if it dings or jingles, she has got to have it! (Probably just because she can make even more noise with an accessory.) So yes, excitement was in the air to make our very own bells. She called them "cow bells" and I am not really sure why.”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

Toilet Paper Roll Kazoo | Ages 3-8

Toilet Paper Roll Kazoo   |   Ages 3-8

“We have been into making music for the past few weeks at our house so we decided to add to our growing collection of instruments by making this kazoo!”

Ages 3-8

See instructions here

Simple Lift | Ages 9-16

Simple Lift   |   Ages 9-16

“With a little imagination and creativity, there are many things that you can create by learning how to make a simple lift! A parking garage, a dollhouse, a make-believe tree house, and an elevator are just a few ideas. If you have some extra crates or boxes to repurpose this Earth Day, give this DIY a try!”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

Marshmallow Launcher | Ages 5-16

Marshmallow Launcher   |   Ages 5-16

“This is such a fun and simple activity to do with young kids when it’s too cold to play outdoors! Create mini marshmallow shooters with everyday household items. Get extra cozy with some hot cocoa and see how many marshmallows land inside your mug! It kept my high-energy nieces and nephews busy for quite some time.”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

Mini Trampoline | Ages 5-16

Mini Trampoline   |   Ages 5-16

“Have you ever seen the magic trick where someone yanks the tablecloth off a table, and all the dishes and silverware stay in place? Well, it’s not magic - it actually happens because of inertia! Inertia is a physical property of all objects. Because of inertia, a thing will stay at rest (or keep moving how it’s moving) unless it’s pushed or pulled by something else. Otherwise, it’ll stay put, like all the dishes and silverware on the table.”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here

Tipping Fountain | Ages 9-16

Tipping Fountain   |   Ages 9-16

“With summer in full swing and the sun shining bright, we decided to take full advantage of this time of year with some outdoor water fun! Center of gravity is at the heart of this activity, which teaches kids how to make a small scale version of a fountain that’s used in agriculture to scare away deer.”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

Thermal Powered Flower | Ages 9-16

Thermal Powered Flower   |   Ages 9-16

“Have you ever seen hot air rise? In this project, explore the physics behind thermal air currents (hot air rising) by harnessing them to power your own spinning flower! Note that this project uses fire and paper, and should only be attempted with adult supervision. Happy spinning! Check out this video tutorial to see all the steps in action!”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

Lego Puzzle Cards | Ages 3-11

Lego Puzzle Cards   |   Ages 3-11

“For my six-year-old, the best toy is a brand-new LEGO set to build. He loves to carefully follow the instructions, which is why I was so excited to find these instructions for DIY LEGO Instruction Books from Kids Activities Blog. For my little building fans, this is a great activity to bring the energy level down and focus-- for a little while, at least!”

Ages 3-11

See instructions here

Spaghetti Pattern Towers | Ages 3-5

Spaghetti Pattern Towers   |   Ages 3-5

“My little architects had a great time noodling around with this fun building activity! Using just a few simple items that we had around the house, the kids had fun creating (and toppling over!) towers. This idea is a fun way to keep your kids occupied while you're fixing dinner. You can customize this activity to your child's age and incorporate a variety of math skills, such as patterning and counting.”

Ages 3-5

See instructions here

Water Whistle | Ages 3-16

Water Whistle   |   Ages 3-16

“My kids have recently taken on a new project - learning to whistle! While they quite haven't mastered the art of whistling yet, I thought it would be neat to introduce them to whistling with just a straw and a cup of water! We made this simple water whistle, and they've loved tooting along to their favorite songs.”

Ages 9-16

See instructions here

Straw Fountain | Ages 5-16

Straw Fountain   |   Ages 5-16

“I'm always on the lookout for fun and easy science experiments to try with my kids, so when I came across this simple straw fountain, I knew I’d found a winner. You’d never guess by looking at it that this little straw triangle could act as a water pump, capable of spraying water halfway across the kitchen! (Grabbing some towels before you start is definitely recommended.) Silly as this straw fountain is, it actually opens up some really interesting questions about centrifugal forces if you want to take the discussion a little deeper. Or, just let your kids explore and experience some amazing spinning science!”

Ages 5-16

See instructions here