DIY: Quick Easy Experiments | Tinkerer Box Blog

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DIYs » Stem Activities » Quick Easy Experiments » Age 3 - 5

A hand holds a smartphone with a yellow attachment projecting a circular image of a Christmas present onto a dark surface, with another hand partially visible in the foreground.

DIY Christmas Projector

Want to know how to transform ordinary patterns into magical shadows on your wall? This activity will show you how to create a projector using paper cups, bringing Christmas shadow magic to every corner of your home. Let's make the Christmas atmosphere even more enchanting!

$A clear glass sits on a light wooden table with a piece of white paper positioned behind it. The paper features two arrows: a blue arrow pointing to the right and a red arrow pointing to the left. A hand pours water from a clear glass pitcher into the empty glass. As the glass fills, the arrows appear to change direction due to the refraction of light through the water. This video demonstrates a simple science experiment illustrating the principles of light refraction.$

Arrow Reversal

Don't blink - you're about to witness 'magic' happening before your eyes! Why does the arrow change direction when water is added? This fascinating scientific phenomenon is actually related to light refraction.

A clear plastic tray holds a container of assorted googly eyes and small packets of colourful playdough or modelling clay.

Clay Monsters

Who says monsters have to be scary? They can be adorably ugly and funny too! You can make your own clay using flour or start with ready-made materials. For young children, these monsters are not just for Halloween parties but are fun for play and crafting at any time.

A clear plastic tray holds a container of assorted googly eyes and small packets of colourful playdough or modelling clay.

Clay Monsters

Who says monsters have to be scary? They can be adorably ugly and funny too! You can make your own clay using flour or start with ready-made materials. For young children, these monsters are not just for Halloween parties but are fun for play and crafting at any time.

A bit of spooky charm! A sweet little pumpkin, with big, friendly eyes, sits all alone on a pale green plate. It's ready for some Halloween fun, wouldn't you say? Let's get crafting!

Zoom! Halloween Speedsters!

Make spooky Halloween characters sprint through water with this super simple science experiment. Zoom zoom zoom! Floating ghosts, pumpkins, and bats will add some scientific fun to your children's Halloween.

Two hands, a piece of paper, and a cardboard magnifying glass are displayed on a light wood-grain table. The paper is covered in red scribbles with small blue marks at their centers. The right hand holds the cardboard magnifying glass, which has a red-colored square window, over the paper. The left hand is positioned at the bottom left corner of the paper. The setup suggests a visual searching or decoding game using a homemade color filter.

Hidden Letters

Here's a fantastic way to help young children learn letters! It makes learning the alphabet as fun as a game while incorporating STEAM scientific knowledge, sparking young scientists' curiosity and desire to explore.

On a light wood-grain table, a white, bear-shaped dish holds water and light purple glitter. A hand interacts with the glitter, with a finger gently touching and seemingly moving the glitter within the water. The scene suggests a step in a craft activity, experiment, or sensory play.

Magic Sparkles

Create your own magic glitter effect! All you need is water, glitter, and soap. This experiment is simple to set up and will amaze your young children! The magic lies in how soap changes water's surface tension.

A white plate with small ear-like protrusions sits on a light wood-grain surface. Several toothpicks are arranged in a starburst or asterisk pattern in the center of the plate, suggesting the completion of a simple craft or arrangement.

Magical Toothpick Stars

How can you transform a loose five-pointed star into a perfect star using just water? This simple experiment will lead children to explore capillary action and water surface tension.

A light blue paper cloud cutout is attached to a white string that trails down onto a light wood-grain surface. A hand at the bottom of the frame holds a small piece of clear tape, preparing to attach something to the string. This image likely depicts a stage in a crafting or decorating project.

Magnetic Floating Ghost

Try this simple magnetic STEM activity! This experiment requires very few materials and is super simple. Children will learn about gravity and magnetic force while having fun.

A light blue paper cloud cutout is attached to a white string that trails down onto a light wood-grain surface. A hand at the bottom of the frame holds a small piece of clear tape, preparing to attach something to the string. This image likely depicts a stage in a crafting or decorating project.

Mixing Colours

How many colours can you create with the primary colours red, yellow, and blue? This science experiment lets children experience the magic of colour mixing firsthand.

On a light wood-grain table, a white paper plate presents a visual representation of the lunar cycle. A drawing of Earth, depicted with green continents and blue oceans, sits in the center. Oreo cookies encircle the Earth, each with its cream filling partially scraped off to illustrate the different phases of the moon. A hand holding a white marker is drawing arrows around the cookies, indicating the direction of the moon's orbit and the progression through the phases. This setup clearly demonstrates the lunar cycle using Oreo cookies as a learning tool, likely for a science project or educational activity.

Oreo Moon Phases

A delicious science activity that no child can resist! Children will use Oreo cookies to create moon phase diagrams and learn about the lunar cycle.

Several small, handmade sailboats are displayed on a light wood-grain table. Each boat has a light green foam ring for a hull and a colored paper sail attached to a straw mast with a small paper flag at the top. The sailboats have sails and flags in various colors: light green with a dark green flag, bright yellow with an orange flag, and blue with a light green flag. Two hands are shown in the foreground, one holding a yellow-sailed boat and the other holding a pair of white scissors, seemingly about to trim the sail. This image likely depicts a craft activity involving making toy sailboats.

Pool Noodle Boat

Ever wondered why pool noodles float instead of sink? Let's explore the science behind it by creating pool noodle boats using simple household materials! These boats make bath time more fun and educational.

Multicoloured Skittles, arranged in a curved line resembling a candy cane or walking stick, are dissolving on a white tray, their colours bleeding slightly.

Rainbow Candy Science!

This is a magical candy show where rainbow candies and water will transform into a dazzling flow of colours. Get ready for a collision of science and sweetness that will surprise your eyes and brain!

A hand carefully pours water from a small, clear plastic cup onto a white plate. Arranged around the edge of the plate is a circle of brightly coloured Skittles sweets. The water is being poured into the centre of the circle, where it will begin to dissolve the candy shells and allow the colours to diffuse. The plate rests on a light blue surface. The image depicts a step-by-step guide to a Skittles science experiment, focusing on the addition of water to initiate the colour separation process. The overall style is clear and instructional.

Skittles Rainbow

Did you ever think that the rainbow sweets children love could also be used for experiments? Yes! This is a slightly sweet science experiment.

A playful, ghostly figure is constructed from a light green balloon with a drawn-on face, attached to a clear plastic bottle partially filled with water. Two light teal pipe cleaners are shaped and attached to form arms, giving the creation a whimsical, spooky appearance. The bottle is wrapped with a further length of pipe cleaner, adding to the overall effect. The background is a soft, muted green, complementing the colours of the ghost figure. The image suggests a fun, creative science project, possibly involving a chemical reaction to inflate the balloon.

Boo! Spooky Balloon Ghosts for Halloween

This Halloween, make a self-inflating little ghost! It can be achieved with simple kitchen materials.

A hand holds a black marker and draws two small vertical black lines onto a white cylindrical object wrapped with orange and blue stripes. The object, possibly made of paper or cloth rolled around a dowel, is held by another hand, partially visible at the bottom of the frame. This image likely depicts a craft project, where details are being added to a handmade item.

Tissue Paper Caterpillar

What makes a tissue paper caterpillar wiggle and suddenly grow? Let's explore the magical phenomenon of capillary action.

The image shows a collection of items laid out on a light grey surface, clearly prepared for a science experiment, likely involving inflating a balloon using a chemical reaction. The items include a plastic bottle, scissors, adhesive tape, a small black measuring spoon, two small containers of white powder (presumably bicarbonate of soda), a small glass jug containing a clear liquid (likely vinegar), a light green balloon, and a piece of light green pipe cleaner. The arrangement is neat and suggests a planned, step-by-step process. A piece of dark material, possibly card or a similar material, is also included, possibly for creating a funnel or covering the bottle neck.

Rainbow Water Magic

Have you ever wondered how trees absorb water from the soil? Or why we need to use a towel to dry a table?

@Tinkerer 2024