At-Home Activities
Can’t make it to the MOST? Want to keep the learning going after your visit? You’re in the right place! Explore our wide selection of activities that you can try at home or in your classroom – perfect for budding young scientists who can’t wait to visit the MOST!
To help, we’ve marked each activity by Materials Required (Basic, Medium, or Advanced) and by Complexity (Easy, Medium, or Advanced). All of our activities are designed to be inclusive and sensory-friendly, but we’ve put a Sensory Warning next to activities that might involve loud noises or other sensory triggers.
A Note for Adults:
We recommend adult supervision for all science experiments, both for safety and for a better learning experience! Remember to ask questions before, during, and after the experiment about what they think will happen, what they notice/observe, and what they learned. Encouraging discovery and curiosity are fundamental to the learning process!
Engineering & Design
Technical Drawing 101
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: BASIC
[Description Coming Soon]
I-Spy City
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: BASIC
[Description Coming Soon]
Dream Room
COMPLEXITY: MEDIUM
MATERIALS: MEDIUM
Kids can learn the basics of architectural drafting and design their own DREAM BEDROOM using this new activity sheet! This activity is perfect for future artists, engineers, and architects alike. A more advanced version of this activity is available (see “Technical Drawings 101”).
Balloon Rocket
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: MEDIUM
*SENSORY WARNING
Explore how rockets BLAST OFF using Newton’s Laws of Motion in this exciting homemade rocket activity! (No jet fuel required!)
Marble Run Challenge
COMPLEXITY: MEDIUM
MATERIALS: BASIC
Draw up a design, gather supplies from around the house, and test your creation to see if it can move a marble 5 feet from start to finish. Check out some advice and examples from TinkerLab for inspiration. This activity is a great introduction to the engineering design process (part of the NYS Science Standards), and it’s also a fun challenge to try as a family!
Sort It Out
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: BASIC
Young children are natural scientists — they observe, touch, test, ask questions, and explore! But at their age, STEM learning doesn’t have to mean rocket science – it’s about fostering their natural scientific thinking! Activities like Sort it Out help encourage observation, description, categorization, and classification – ideas that apply across all STEM fields!
Sandwich Maker
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: BASIC
Kids too young to code can still start to learn the concepts behind how computers work! Try out this fun family activity to explore how computers follow directions “literally” — and how the end result can get pretty messy (and sometimes silly)!
Physical Science (Chemistry & Physics)
Seeing Sound
Bouncing Balls
COMPLEXITY: EASY
MATERIALS: BASIC
Parents can introduce the scientific method at an early age — it’s as simple as guess, test, repeat! Capture your child’s love for bouncy ball fun in this experiment that introduces the concept of making and testing a hypothesis. (It’s a great pairing with the Scientific Method Song from Ready Jet Go on PBS!)
Cup and String [SF]
World’s Smallest Boat [SF]:
In our new mini-experiment, use recyclable materials to create the “World’s Smallest Boat”! With takeout containers or a reusable dish, the clip/tab from a loaf of bread, and a few other basics, this little boat reveals the science of surface tension and molecular attraction!
Measuring Volume [SF]:
To find out the volume of something, all you need is a measuring cup and some water! For this activity, just drop in your object, do the math, and the mystery object is revealed!
Homemade Spectroscope [SF]:
In the rainy days of spring, you might be able to see a rainbow – but do you know how a rainbow is formed? Easy to do at home, this activity lets you build your own Spectroscope and discover the secrets of the visible light spectrum!
Air Pressure:
Even though you can’t see it, air pressure shapes the world you live in! Test out how it works with this fascinating experiment that’s easy to try at home – just have an adult light the match!
Fizzy Egg [SF]:
Perfect for younger scientists, try out some sensory kitchen science with our new Fizzy Egg experiment! Explore color mixing and the chemistry of acids and bases in this simple activity!
Light Refraction [SF]:
Water has some pretty special properties, and we’re testing one of them today! Discover the secrets of water and light refraction along with us – all you need to get started is a glass jar.
Super Sand [SF]:
Super scientists can make super sand using the power of chemistry! Great for outdoors play in the yard, driveway, or sidewalk, and perfect for sensory learners.
Syracuse Crunch Slapshot Science:
Professional hockey players have recorded slapshots as fast as100 MPH (160 KM). They make it look easy, but there’s a lot ofscience behind this famous hockey shot! Let’s take a look at the physics at work in the slapshot, and explore ways that science can help improve our shots.
Magic Sandwich [SF]:
We’ve said it before: sometimes science can seem like MAGIC! Today, we’re playing with POLYMERS and discovering the versatile properties of these amazing substances! Discover the magic behind polymers along with us by trying out your very own Magic Sandwich Bag trick!
Underwater Volcano [SF]:
Create an easy (and not very messy!) underwater volcano using our simple instructions! This activity is perfect for elementary school kids, who will love watching the “lava” rise to the top!
Salt Water Ice Cubes [SF]:
Why do we spread salt on the sidewalk during the winter? Find out for yourself in this new Ice Cube experiment — record your results and let us know what you’ve discovered!
Newton’s Penny Drop [SF]:
A little physics and some sleight of hand are basically all you need for this simple “magic trick” experiment! Like this!
Brilliant Bubbles [SF]:
You don’t need fancy bubble soap and wands to enjoy some playful bubble time with your toddlers! Plus, older kids can use bubbles to explore the role of surface tension, hydrophobic , or the molecular structure of water! Check out our bubble recipe and get popping!
Math Scavenger Hunt [SF]:
Math isn’t just equations on a chalkboard – it’s all around us! Discover the geometry of daily life (and get off the couch!) with the MOST’s Math Scavenger Hunt — who knew math could be so moving?
Density Jar & Floating Eggs:
It’s time to SINK or SWIM! Explore density with two new colorful, magical hands-on experiments for all ages — using only basic kitchen ingredients!
Invisible Ink:
Using basic chemistry, you can send “invisible” messages just like a secret agent… For younger children or a simpler method, try using a blowdryer instead of a candle flame.)
Making Room for More:
Everyone could use a little more chocolate right now, so we love this “Infinite Chocolate Bar trick” that we’ve seen making the rounds online! It may seem like magic, but it’s really the magic of MATH! Grab a chocolate bar (or paper/cardboard) and get to work on your very own infinite chocolate bar
Shark Buoyancy:
Sharks are known as agile predators — but what helps them swim with ease through the ocean deeps? Find out in this easy buoyancy activity that explores the special equipment that helps sharks and fish float!
Make Some Sound (Tissue Box Guitar) & Make Some Sound (Popsicle Stick Harmonica):
Sound is produced by vibration — but not all objects produce the same vibrations! Test different objects and the the vibrations (sounds) they make with today’s homemade instrument activities!
Pepper & Soap [SF]:
You can’t SEE germs, so it may be hard to explain to kids how important hand-washing is! Try out this simple experiment at home that demonstrates the power of SOAP and how it works to wash away dirt and germs.
Naked Eggs [SF]:
It’s not magic, it’s chemistry! Dissolve an egg’s shell without cracking it open in our newest at-home activity, The Naked Egg!
Milk & Soap [SF]:
Use the chemistry of soap to create milk paintings in this STEAM activity, perfect for teaching little ones about the power of soap AND bringing out their inner artist!
Bread Baking [SF]:
Baking can be a great family activity, and it’s an easy way to bring STEM learning into the kitchen! Behind every loaf of bread like the one in today’s activity, there is CHEMISTRY! Warm water reacts with the yeast, which feeds on the sugar and creates carbon dioxide bubbles. The warm water also forms gluten when combined with the flour, which helps hold the carbon dioxide bubbles inside the bread as it bakes — which is why the bread puffs up in the oven! Check a slice of the bread once it’s baked for little air pockets – that’s the trapped carbon dioxide!
Color Blending Cups [SF]:
Cool Chemistry Alert! Explore capillary action (how liquid can flow against gravity) right in your kitchen with this color-blending experiment! (Fun Fact: Capillarity was first observed by Leonardo da Vinci!
Beautiful Butterflies [SF]:
Science can be beautiful! Try out this STEAM craft that uses the power of capillary action (how liquid can flow against gravity) to create colorful butterflies using basic household supplies. Perfect for the little ones!
Scratch & Sniff [SF]:
Discover the crazy chemistry behind JELLO with these great science illustrations! Then, use the science of gelatin to make your own scratch & sniff art!
Salt Dough [SF]:
What can YOU create? Make your own batch of the MOST’s kid-tested, non-toxic maker dough, then ‘fire’ your creations for permanent display! It’s endless creativity and kitchen science together in one!
Oobleck [SF]:
Use basic kitchen ingredients to make Oobleck, then conduct an experiment to see if it behaves like a solid or a liquid!
Homemade Lava Lamp [SF]:
Use ingredients from around the house to make your own chemistry lava lamp! Discuss density, chemical reactions, and more as you watch the colored bubbles rise to the top!
Crafting Crystals [SF]:
Use the science of evaporation to create fun geode crystals overnight! Make the mixture the day before, add food coloring, and wait until morning for your crystals to form!
Earth & Space Science
At-Home Excavation [SF]:
Missing the fossil dig pit at the MOST? Make one of your own at home using the salt dough recipe on our website and this At-Home Excavation Guide!
Earth Layers [SF]:
Did you know that there’s a whole world below our feet that we can’t see? Explore the geologic secrets of our planet by making your own Earth Layer Spinner!
Constellation Cups [SF]:
Constellation Cups MOST Activity Sheet
If the weather isn’t right for stargazing outdoors, you can use basic household materials to make your own Constellation Cups! Use them like a personal telescope viewer, or grab a flashlight and turn your bedroom into a planetarium. We’ve provided a basic constellation template to get you started, but you can create any constellation using our simple instructions!
Stellarium [SF]:
If you love the Silverman Planetarium at the MOST, check out this free planetarium software from Stellarium! Users can explore a realistic 3D night sky, watch visuals of shooting stars and eclipses, and trace dozens of constellations — all from home! MOST Educators prepared a brief introduction to get you started.
Crafting Crystals [SF]:
Use the science of evaporation to create fun geode crystals overnight! Make the mixture the day before, add food coloring, and wait until morning for your crystals to form!
Rock Candy [SF]:
Scientists with a sweet tooth will love this Rock Candy activity that is part chemistry experiment, part candy recipe! Wait and watch as the crystals grow, then enjoy the sweet rewards of scientific inquiry!
Orbiting Marbles:
What would the solar system look like if it could fit in your hand? How do the planets orbit the sun? Draw your own solar system model on a paper plate, then use marbles to simulate the orbiting planets and moons to create a handheld solar system of your own! What else can you think of that has an ORBIT?
Life Science
Dissecting a Seed [SF]:
Scientists and inventors know that sometimes the best way to discover how something works is to take it apart! Learn more about the anatomy of a simple seed and explore how our plant friends start their lives in this Seed Dissection activity! (Works best with a lima bean!)
Prehistoric Pottery [SF]:
Anthropologists are social scientists who study humans – their remains, cultures, languages, behaviors, and societies. Discover more about the cultures of our past with our open-ended STEAM activity: Prehistoric Pottery!
Exploring Fingerprints [SF]:
Aspiring forensic scientists can practice identifying fingerprints using basic materials around the house! Check out our Fingerprinting activity, and track down the culprit of your own household mystery!
Watch a Science Documentary – Aliens of the Deep [SF]:
Aliens of the Deep Teacher’s Guide & Aliens of the Deep MOST Guide
One of our favorites from the Bristol IMAX Omnitheater at the MOST is Aliens of the Deep, now available on streaming services like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Check out the documentary, then try some of the cool hands-on activities in the Teacher’s Guide our science educators use.
Dinosaur Feet [SF]:
How BIG really were the dinosaurs? Grab your sidewalk chalk and find out! Explore how scientists use footprint tracking to discover the secrets of the dinosaurs, and compare the size of your foot to the track of a real dinosaur.
Garden Science [SF]:
With warmer weather right around the corner, try out this seed germination experiment! This is the perfect starter activity for families who want to garden together this spring — which we think is the perfect sensory STEM learning experience!
Citizen Heart Rate Experiment:
Participate in our Citizen Science Heart Rate Experiment! Citizen Science is the term for when the public helps contribute to scientific research. The MOST is conducting its very own citizen science experiment about the effect of exercise on heart rate, and we need your help! Follow the instructions on the activity sheet, then submit your data and check out how your numbers compare to the data from other citizen scientists who have submitted.
Visit this page for activity sheet, a link to submit data, and a view of a live online data chart.