Top Five Science Materials to Keep in Your Kitchen

You don't have to have expensive science equipment to engage children in meaningful science activities at home.  In fact, you don't have to spend much money at all.  In this blog post, I'll share with you five items that you may already have in your kitchen.  If you don't have them already, you can find them in grocery stores and dollar stores near you.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

1.  Baking Soda

Baking soda is an inexpensive item that you can buy in the grocery store.  I often see it for less than $1.00 per box.  Not only does baking soda absorb bad odors in your refrigerator, but it can also be used to make volcanoes (vinegar + baking soda), trendy bath bombs, and elephant toothpaste.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is another inexpensive item that can be purchased in large quantities.  In addition to making volcanoes with vinegar, you can use vinegar to rubberize chicken bones and even dissolve the shell off of a chicken egg to see what is inside!

3. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is the main ingredient in many slime recipes, which are the rage among children right now.  Cornstarch can also be used to make oobleck and quicksand.

4.  Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is highly acidic and can be used in many dissolving experiments.  For example, you can take tarnished and dirty coins and soak them in Coca-Cola all night.  In the morning, they will be shiny and look new.

5. Eggs

Eggs can be used in a variety of experiments.  You can use eggs to teach about dental care and the need to brush your teeth.  Simply soak some eggs overnight in coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, etc. overnight.  In the morning they should be discolored.  Take a toothbrush and toothpaste and try brushing the eggs' surfaces.  Were they easy to clean?  Try soaking the eggs again for two or three nights.  How much harder was it to clean the surfaces?  Were you able to completely dissolve them?  What does this teach us about taking care of our teeth?

What other science materials can you think of that are lurking in your kitchen as we speak?  What would you add to this list?  Tell us in the comments below!

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