6-week science course

Science Experiments

Six weeks of hands-on experiments where students learn to think like scientists and engineers - asking questions, testing ideas, and explaining what they find.

Grades 2-4
6 weeks
45-60 minutes per lesson
No lab or computer needed

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0 of 6 weeks completed

Start Week 1

What this course is for

Students learn science the way scientists actually work: they start with a question, make a prediction, run a fair test, observe carefully, explain what happened with evidence, and then improve their test or design. Each week is one experiment built from cheap, everyday materials - paper, baking soda, ice, a toy car, seeds - paired with one big science idea. The course builds from how scientists and engineers think, through chemistry, matter, forces, and machines, and finishes with living things and ecosystems.

Help students see science as something they do, not just read about.
Build the habit of testing ideas instead of guessing.
Teach real, accurate science ideas in words a second-to-fourth grader understands.
Show how scientists and engineers use the same loop to figure things out and make things better.

How every week works

Each week runs on the same loop that real scientists use. Students never aim for a perfect first try - they predict, test, see what happens, and improve.

1
Ask
Start with a real question about what will happen.
2
Predict
Make a smart guess and write it down before you test.
3
Test
Run a fair test, changing only one thing at a time.
4
Observe
Watch closely and record what really happens.
5
Explain
Use your evidence to say why it happened.
6
Improve
Change something and test again to learn more.

The 6-week path

Six weeks in order. Each week starts with a big question and answers it through one hands-on experiment.

What kids can do by the end

Over six weeks you did real science. You made a helicopter fall slowly, filled a balloon with gas you made yourself, kept ice frozen longer, raced a car down a ramp, built a machine or a tower, and grew a living thing. Every time, you used the same loop: you asked a question, made a prediction, ran a fair test, observed closely, explained your results with evidence, and improved your work. That loop is what scientists and engineers use every day - and now you can use it on any question you have.

Ask a science question and make a prediction before testing.
Run a fair test by changing only one thing at a time.
Observe carefully and record results with words, numbers, or drawings.
Use evidence to explain why something happened.
Improve a test or a design after seeing the results.
Explain a chemical reaction, states of matter, forces and friction, simple machines, and what living things need.

Materials by week

Everything is common and low-cost. You only need a small handful for any single week, so gather as you go.

Week 1

Think Like a Scientist and Engineer

2 sheets of paper
Scissors
A ruler
A few paper clips
A timer or phone stopwatch
A safe spot to drop from, like standing next to a chair (with an adult)

Week 2

Chemical Reactions

1 tablespoon of baking soda
About half a cup of white vinegar
A balloon
An empty plastic water bottle
A small funnel, or a piece of paper rolled into one
A measuring spoon

Week 3

States of Matter and Materials

3 or more ice cubes that are the same size
Small cups or containers, one per material
Materials to test: foil, cotton or a sock, a paper towel, foam or a plastic bag
A plate or tray to catch melt water
A timer

Week 4

Forces, Motion, and Friction

A toy car or anything that rolls
A board or piece of stiff cardboard for a ramp
A few books to prop the ramp up
A tape measure or ruler
Surfaces to test: bare floor, a towel, sandpaper, and foil
Tape to hold surfaces flat

Week 5

Simple Machines, Structures, and Stability

For a machine: a ruler and a pencil for a lever, or a spool and string for a pulley
Small weights to lift, like a stack of coins or a small toy
For a structure: index cards, straws, or craft sticks
Tape
A ruler
Coins or washers to test how much weight it holds

Week 6

Life Science and Ecosystems

A few dried beans or fast-growing seeds
Clear cups or resealable plastic bags
Paper towels
Water
A sunny windowsill and a dark spot like a cupboard
A notebook to record what you see each day

You do not need everything at once - each week uses only a small handful of supplies, and most weeks list swaps for anything you do not have on hand.

Safety notes

These experiments are safe, but a few habits keep them that way. Read these before you start, and each week adds its own specific notes.

An adult should be nearby for every experiment.
Never taste or eat experiment materials, even food items like baking soda or seeds.
Keep liquids away from faces and eyes, and wipe up spills right away so no one slips.
Wash hands after each experiment.
Carry and pass scissors with the handle first, and keep them on the table.
Wear safety goggles if you have a pair, especially for the vinegar reaction.
Use only safe, everyday household materials.

For parents and teachers

You do not need a science background to run this course. A little preparation makes each week go smoothly:

Skim the week ahead of time and set out the small list of materials before you start.
Have students write their prediction before they test - being wrong is useful, not a mistake.
Ask "what did you notice?" and "why do you think that happened?" instead of giving the answer.
Plan about 45-60 minutes per week; the seed lab in week 6 also needs a quick daily check-in.
Do the experiments together and keep water, vinegar, and scissors supervised.

After week 6

You think like a scientist and an engineer

Work through all six weeks, then come back here for your course reflection.

Look back and reflect

Which experiment surprised you the most, and why?
Which prediction turned out to be wrong? What did being wrong teach you?
Where in your everyday life have you seen one of these science ideas?
If you could redo one experiment to test something new, what would you change?

Keep exploring

Pick your favorite week and design a brand-new fair test for it.
Teach one experiment to a family member and explain why it happens.
Start a science notebook and write down questions you want to test next.
Try one of the related projects, like building a baking-soda volcano.

Ready to start?

Begin with Think Like a Scientist and Engineer and the Paper Helicopter Drop Test, then work through all six weeks at your own pace.

Start Week 1

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