There are many science projects that can be done at home with very little preparation. Below are 84 simple lessons from Michigan State University Extension in various science fields. They do not require any expertise, just a willingness to ask questions and sometimes a tolerance for mess. The goal of these lessons is not to teach specific content, but to get young people ask questions and seek out their own answers. Most of the supplies, if any are needed, are probably already around your home.

Process of science

These lessons are a good place to get started if you are uncomfortable with what science is.

• Exploring How We Do Science
• The Shape of Science (it’s a slinky)
• Speaking the Language of Science if You Are Not a Scientist
• 4-H Grows Science
• How to Teach Science When You Don’t Know Diddly-Squat
• Creating Your Own Science Process Model Example

Understanding our senses

Science begins with using our senses to observe and try to understand the world around us.

• What Does It Mean to Be Colorblind?
• Gloves and Mittens - Using gloves and mittens to understand our grip, sense of touch and animal adaptations.
• Beyond the Five Senses: Body Awareness
• Beyond the Five Senses: Temperature
• Beyond the Five Senses: Time
• Beyond the Five Senses: Direction
• How Does Sound Travel?
• Can You Hear Better Underwater?
• Can Kids Hear Things That Adults Can’t?
• Can You See in The Dark?
• Are You Right-Handed or Left-Handed?
• Does Color Affect Our Taste?
• Do Different Types of Milk Taste Different?
• Can You Hear Better with Paper Ears?
• Sensory Awareness
• Animal Sense Stations

Physical science

• Football Science
• Oobleck - Make a substance with cornstarch that has the properties of both a liquid and a solid.
• Why Do Some Things Sink and Some Things Float?
• Does Different Paper Make Better Airplanes?
• How Do Puddles Disappear?
• Why Does Poop Splash?
• Do You Run Faster with Shoes or Without Shoes?
• Can You Move Something with Static Electricity?
• Bouncing Bubbles
• Chromatography Butterflies
• Shining Pennies
• Dancing Popcorn Kernels
• Cotton Ball Catapults
• Easy Lava Lamps

Engineering

• Why is a Hammer Shaped Like a Hammer?
• Explore Wind Energy
• Can You Make a Boat From Foil?
• Can You Build a Wind-Powered Car?
• Incredible Inflating Balloons
• Can You Build a Bridge Out of Pasta?
• Stacking Cards
• Keeping Your House Warm
• Build Your Own Cooler
• Ramp N Roll

Animal science

• How Do Animals Use Sound?
• Why Are Animals’ Feet Different?
• Can You Make an Animal Move Without Touching It?
• Why Do Cows Have Tails?
• Why Do Animal Poops Look Different?
• Create a Critter
• What Genes Do
• Identifying Great Lakes Fish

Plant science

• Spreading Seeds
• Seeds
• Tree Detectives
• Do All Apples Taste the Same?
• Build a Salad with Plant Parts

Environmental science

• Rock N Roll Frogs
• Playing in the Dirt
• Signs of Spring Science
• Mud Science
• Where Did the Water Go?
• Wild Animal Poop in the Backyard
• Race Through the Dirt
• Animal Disguises
• Exploring Pollinators
• Why Do Some Animals Use Camouflage?
• Rain in a Jar
• The Dirt on Clean Water
• Walk in a Bag

Food science

• Making Noodles
• Making Candy
• Hot Chocolate Experiments
• Mashed Potatoes and Science
• Gravy Science
• Density and Tasty Drinks
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Science
• Kitchen Science
• Clean a Tooth

Social science

• Do Moms Really Have Eyes in The Back of Their Heads?
• Does Texting Affect Safe Driving?
• The Marshmallow Test - a lesson about economics 
• Build a Farm

Use these lessons to improve the critical thinking systems of youth and have fun around your home.