Fun Environmental Science Activities for Children

Fun Environmental Science Activities for Children

When science meets hands-on activities, it begins to look like magic! A study conducted in Hanoi found that fun activities are the most effective way for young children to develop sustainable environmental behaviour. 

Wondering how would you introduce your children to environmental science? Environmental science connects our kids to the world around them. Moreover, it teaches them important lessons about sustainability, energy, and nature. 

For this reason, we have described below 6 interesting environmental science activities for you to engage your children in. Happy learning! 

1. Rewilding and Homemade Seed Bombs

Children truly enjoy being outdoors, and this activity is the perfect excuse to spend some time under the sun. 

Seed bombs are little balls of clay, compost, and native seeds, which can be put into areas that need a bit more greenery. Over time, these little bombs “explode” and sprout into beautiful plants.

What you’ll need:

  • Air-dry clay

  • Compost or soil

  • Native wildflower seeds (We have specifically chosen native wildflowers for their ability to thrive with minimal care)

  • Water

  • A bowl for mixing

How to do it:

  1. Mix clay, compost, and seeds in a bowl.

  2. Add a little water to make it stick together.

  3. Roll into small balls and let them dry overnight.

  4. Head outside and throw them into an area with extra greenery.

Make sure that you are seed-bombing appropriate areas like your own garden or a community space that welcomes initiatives like this. 

The best time to do this activity is from autumn right through early spring. The cool and damp season will allow your seed bombs to settle comfortably into the soil. However, if you are going to do this activity when the weather gets warm, there is one extra step you will have to take: provide them with adequate water for growth. That’s all!   

2. Oil Spill Cleanup Activity

Oil spills are a significant environmental problem. This simple but powerful activity shows kids the impact of pollution. They will experiment with different cleanup methods to see which one works best.

What you’ll need:

  • A bowl of water

  • Cooking oil to represent the oil spill

  • Cotton balls, sponges, dish soap, paper towels

  • A spoon

How to do it:

  • Pour some oil into the water to create a ‘spill’.  Use this moment to discuss the impact of oil spills on marine life. 

  • Let kids try different ways to clean it up–like scooping it out, using cotton, or adding soap to break it up.

  • Discuss their observations and help them identify which methods work best and why. 

Safety Note: Avoid using real motor oil. Make use of vegetable oil for a safe experiment. 

3. Building Food Batteries

Have you ever wondered if food can produce electricity? Try asking your kids this question and watch their curiosity spark!

Surprisingly, certain foods like lemons and potatoes can generate electricity. This simple experiment demonstrates how natural energy sources create power through a chemical reaction. The acid in a lemon or the moisture in a potato reacts with metal, producing a small electric current.

What you’ll need:

  • A lemon or potato

  • Two different metal nails (copper and zinc)

  • Two wires with alligator clips

  • A small LED light that runs on a battery

How to do it:

  1. Insert the nails into the potato or lemon. Keep them slightly apart.

  2. Attach one end of each wire with alligator clips to each nail.

  3. Connect the other ends of the wires to the LED light.

  4. As soon as this circuit is complete, you will see the LED light up!

Caution: Avoid touching both metal pieces at the same time. It might give a tiny shock (nothing dangerous, but surprising)!

4. Sustainable STEM Design Challenge Using Compostable Packaging

This activity turns an everyday item—compostable packing peanuts—into a fun engineering challenge. Unlike plastic, they don’t harm the environment because they dissolve in water. Your kids will have the chance to design and build the tallest structure they can, all while learning about biodegradable materials. 

What you’ll need:

  • Compostable packing peanuts

  • Water to help them stick

How to do it:

  1. Give kids a pile of packing peanuts and a small bowl of water.

  2. Challenge them to build the tallest tower using only the peanuts and water to stick them together. 

  3. Demonstrate how to do it and then let them take charge.

  4. Watch as their engineering skills take shape. 

While they are engrossed in the activity, try discussing the following topics with them:

  • Impact of plastic on the environment

  • Alternatives to plastic 

5. Making Bioplastics

Did you know you can make plastic from milk? 

This fun experiment teaches kids about sustainable materials by transforming milk into an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. When vinegar is added to warm milk, it triggers a chemical reaction that causes casein proteins (A protein present in both milk and in the seeds of leguminous plants) to clump together, forming curds. Once dried, these curds harden into a plastic-like material!

What you’ll need:

  • 1 cup of milk

  • 4 teaspoons of vinegar

  • A pot and a hob

  • A strainer

How to do it:

  1. Heat milk in a pot, but don’t let it boil.

  2. Add vinegar and stir. You will notice that it will start to form curds.

  3. Strain out the solid curds and press them together.

  4. Leave them dry in a hardened plastic-like material.

Safety Note: Make sure you are supervising your kids while they’re heating the milk. If they are too young to manage the flame, let them sit by you while you perform the experiment.

6. The Power of Plants: Visualising Photosynthesis

We all know that plants breathe and prepare their own food via Photosynthesis. But have you ever seen it happen? This simple experiment lets kids witness oxygen production in real time. How? As the leaf absorbs sunlight, it uses carbon dioxide and water to create energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The bubbles you see are proof that Photosynthesis is happening. 

What you’ll need:

  • A fresh leaf

  • A clear glass of water

  • Sunlight

How to do it:

  1. Place the leaf in the water and put it in direct sunlight.

  2. Wait for about 30-60 minutes.

  3. Look closely! Tiny small bubbles will form on the leaf’s surface, a sign of oxygen being released.

Inspiring Next Generation Environmentalists! 

Environmental science comes to life when kids can see, touch, and experiment with it. These hands-on activities turn big environmental concepts into exciting discoveries. With every experiment they perform, they’re exploring how the world works, developing curiosity, and appreciating the planet a little more. 

So, gather your materials, spark some curiosity, and let the fun learning begin.

Who knows? You might just inspire a next-generation environmental changemaker! 

 

Back to blog