3 Educational Crafts to do at Home
By Dianely Luis, Arlington Parks & Recreation
Posted on April 06, 2020, April 06, 2020

samples of at home experiments

If you are slowly running out of ways to keep the kids busy, we have the perfect activities to try! Here are 3 fun crafts that incorporate learning and utilize things you already have at home.

Grow Salt Crystals:

This is a exciting science experiment that teaches kids about supersaturated solutions and crystal formation. Everyone in the family can make one and observe as crystals start to form! It can take a few days for crystals to form if you are using regular salt, so you can try using epsom salt instead if you already have some and want to see faster growth. Use different food colorings if you want to have some colorful results.

Click here for step by step directions

Materials: a jar, salt, pencil/popsicle stick, food coloring, and string

Watch a Balloon Self-Inflate:

Only need a few supplies are needed to create this cool chemical reaction which causes a balloon to inflate all on it’s own! Use this activity to teach kids about PH levels and chemical reactions. Baking soda is basic while vinegar is acidic, so when these two things are mixed together, they release CO2 which inflates the balloon. 

Click here for step by step directions

Materials: a balloon, an empty water bottle, baking soda, vinegar, a funnel, and water.

*Tip: If you do not have a funnel, you can make one with wax paper or aluminum foil.

Make Your Own Sundial:

Before the creation of clocks, sundials were the only way to tell time. The sundial dates all the way back to 1500 B.C. and was used to tell time for many centuries to come. Now you can use the sundial to show your little ones how shadows change as the day goes by and how they can help us tell time. Since you must check back on the clock every hour, this is also a great way to get the family moving throughout the day. 

Click here for step by step directions

Materials: a paper plate; a straw, markers or crayons, ruler, tickytack or a thumb tack

*Tip: Get creative with the materials! You can use different things you find in your backyard like rocks, twigs, leaves, etc.

Share your experiments with us! Tag us on social @arlingtonparks.

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