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handson

7 Picture Books About Science For Kids Who Love Visual Learning

October 3, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Take a look at these 7 picture books about science for kids: oversized, fantastic illustrations, and wonderful kid-friendly information.

If you have a kid who learns best with their eyes, who studies every corner of an illustration before they even listen to the words, then big, beautifully illustrated science picture books are pure magic to them.

7 Picture Books About Science For Kids Who Love Visual Learning

One series that does this better than almost anyone else is the Big Book of… series by Yuval Zommer. Each title in this oversized, large-format series pairs whimsical watercolor illustrations with genuinely meaty nonfiction.

They are fun enough for a 4-year-old to flip through on their own, detailed enough that an 8- to 10-year-old will still pull it off the shelf for reference. This range is what makes the series so good for a mixed-age family or co-op situation.

BOOK BY BOOK-HANDS-ON PROJECTS FOR PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT SCIENCE

Then here are some hands-on activities to add to these science picture books for kids.

BUGS BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Make an Easy Praying Mantis Craft: Awesome Insect Projects for Elementary Students
  • Set up a backyard pitfall trap or bug hotel, then use the book to identify what you find.
  • Also, look at my page Free Kids Insect Unit Study for more ideas.
  • Build an insect out of recycled materials-egg carton body, pipe-cleaner legs; six legs and three body parts required.
  • Bugs Facts For Kids And Free Paper Bug Bracelets
  • Graph a week of bug sightings in the yard by type (ants, beetles, spiders, etc.) and compare to the book’s “Bug Families” spread.

BEASTS BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Make plaster salt-dough animal track casts and match them to the “paw print” spotting game in the book.
  • Sort animal photos or toy figures into the book’s categories: mythical beasts, Ice Age beasts, beasts on your street, endangered beasts.
  • Design a “backyard beast” habitat diorama for an animal that actually lives near your house (raccoon, possum, squirrel).

THE BLUE BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  •  Build an ocean-layer diorama in a shoebox or flat like this How To Make A Fun Intertidal Zone Diorama. 
  • Make a salt-crystal “sea star” or explore density with a homemade ocean-layers jar (oil, water, food coloring).
  • Sort toy sea creatures by how they breathe underwater (gills, lungs, skin) using the book’s opening spread as a guide.

BIRD BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Build a simple pinecone-and-peanut-butter bird feeder or other type of simple feeder, then keep a backyard bird-watching log using the species pictured in the book. 
  • Make a bird-beak matching game: cut different “beak” shapes (tweezers, clothespin, spoon) and test which “beak” picks up which pretend food (seeds, worms, nectar).
  • Start a nest-building challenge: give kids twigs, grass, and mud and see if they can engineer a nest that holds an egg (a small ball) without collapsing.

BLOOMS BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Press flowers from a walk and build a labeled botany journal page; here are directions for How to Easily Make a Simple and Fun Kids DIY Flower Press.
  • Grow a bean or sunflower seed in a clear cup so kids can watch the life cycle described in the book unfold in real time.
  • Build a paper Venus flytrap that “snaps shut”  to explore how carnivorous plants work.
  • Do a flower dissection scavenger hunt: find and label petals, stem, stamen, and pistil on a real flower.

NATURE ART BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Just open it; the 22 projects inside are already designed to be five-minute, low-mess, natural-materials crafts, so this book is the hands-on activity list.
  • Pick one project a week and pair it with a nature walk to gather that week’s materials (twigs, seed pods, leaves) beforehand.

BELONGING BOOK HANDS-ON IDEAS

  • Have your child sort plastic animals by various traits: those that live in the water, those with spots, those that use camouflage, nocturnal vs. diurnal animals.
  • Do a fingerprint/pattern lab: take everyone’s fingerprints and compare them to zebra stripes or cowrie shell patterns from the book, and talk about how no two are identical.
  • Try a “communicate without words” game (like the fava beans’ chemical signals or reef squid’s color changes) using only gestures or colored cards.
7 Picture Books About Science For Kids Who Love Visual Learning

The Big Book series is a fantastic anchor, but round out the shelf with a few other visual-learning standouts. These are mostly series books with the same vibe as the Big Book of Series.

5 MORE SCIENCE PICTURE BOOKS WORTH ADDING

  1. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty (1 of 7 in a series) – A cute rhyming story about a young scientist’s curiosity, great for framing “what does a scientist actually do?”
  2. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page– Cut-paper collage illustrations turn animal-adaptation facts into a guessing game.
  3. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series (Space, Animals, Ocean, and more) — shorter and simpler than Zommer’s books, a good bridge for younger visual learners.
  4. Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman  (1 of 6 in the series)- technically this is an art-meets-science reference guide rather than a picture book, but it belongs on the same shelf; older elementary kids will pull it out again and again. 
  5. Over and Under the Pond / Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (1 of a series of 9)- A quieter, more narrative nonfiction with soft illustrations, good for a slower-paced read-aloud on habitat and season.

And look at these other picture books.

  • 16 Beautiful Picture Science Books for Kindergarteners
  • Science Books for Middle School: An Easy Guide for Parents
  • Fun Winter Books For Preschool Kids They Will Love
  • 8 Engaging Pond Books for Preschoolers Who Love Pond Animals
  • Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Below is the full rundown of the series. 

Finally, add the hands-on project ideas that use the physical books themselves (yes, even use as spines) as teaching tools.

7 Picture Books About Science

There are also sticker and activity companions for several titles (Beasts, Bugs, Birds, the Blue, Blooms) if your visual learner wants to interact with the content rather than just read it, and board-book versions (Little Snail's Book of Bugs, Little Bee's Book of Blooms, Little Robin's Book of Birds) for their younger siblings.

Image for The Big Book of Bugs

The Big Book of Bugs

This is the book that started it all. Introduces insects, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies by habitat and behavior.

Image for The Big Book of Beasts

The Big Book of Beasts

Wild mammals grouped by family tree, defense mechanisms, and communication.

Image for The Big Book of the Blue

The Big Book of the Blue

All about ocean life, from coral reefs to the deep seabed.

Image for The Big Book of Birds

The Big Book of Birds

 Birds of the world, plus tips for backyard bird-watching.

Image for The Big Book of Blooms

The Big Book of Blooms

Botany basics, flower anatomy, pollinators, and a few gloriously gross carnivorous plants.

Image for The Big Book of Nature Art

The Big Book of Nature Art

This is not a nature-facts book but a craft book: 22 easy nature-inspired art projects using natural and recycled materials.

The Big Book of Belonging

The newest entry in the series connects human life to the rest of the natural world through side-by-side comparisons (sea otters hold hands, just like us; butterflies have bedtimes, just like us).

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: book lists, books, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford’s Theatre

September 28, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A great Abraham Lincoln project for kids to bring history to life is a Ford’s Theatre shoebox diorama. You’ll also love my free War Between the States or American Civil War Unit Study and Lapbook page.

Instead of just reading about the events of April 14, 1865, kids can recreate the theater where one of the most important and tragic events in American history took place.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

This project is simple enough to make with a shoebox and basic craft supplies, but it also provides plenty of opportunities to learn about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, theater life in the 1860s, and what happened on that fateful night.

The building we know today as Ford’s Theatre did not actually begin as a theater. The building was originally constructed as the First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C. in the 1830s. The church eventually moved to another location, leaving the building vacant.

First, look at these books about Abraham Lincoln.

FUN BOOKS AND RESOURCES ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

I have some Abraham Lincoln facts, some great books, and resources to turn your topic into a unit study.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Books and Resources

Add some of these books and resources to make a learning day about Lincoln and his accomplishments to American history

Image for Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

It was this spirit they hoped to exemplify in their biography of young Abe as he grew into manhood against the backdrop of the wilderness of Kentucky, the deep woods of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois. Camping for weeks in Lincoln country, the d'Aulaires imbibed the spirit of the man Lincoln as well as his humor and good will. From his days as a clerk, teaching himself law reading Blackstone, practicing law in Springfield, running unsuccessfully for office, debating Stephen Douglas over the issue of slavery, and ultimately becoming President of the United States, the d'Aulaires have written and beautifully illustrated the life of one of America's most remarkable citizens.

Image for Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom (Heroes of History)

Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom (Heroes of History)

When President Lincoln died the next morning, the United States mourned as it had never mourned before. An assassin had killed the man who had led Americans through the bloody turmoil of the Civil War with an unswerving commitment to rebuilding a strong and united country.

Image for Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America: The Jim Weiss Audio Collection

Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America: The Jim Weiss Audio Collection

This dramatic audiobook introduces young listeners to Abraham Lincoln’s life and explains his role in American history. Jim Weiss’ spirited narration will remind children and adults alike why Lincoln
holds a special place in American history and in our hearts. This audiobook includes vivid descriptions of Lee, Grant, Stephen Douglas, Mary Todd Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, the complete Gettysburg Address, and more.

Image for Lincoln's Grave Robbers

Lincoln's Grave Robbers

The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd - and $200,000 in cash.
From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.

Image for Abe Lincoln Grows Up

Abe Lincoln Grows Up

A beautifully told story of young Abraham Lincoln’s coming-of-age. Drawn from the early chapters of Carl Sandburg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, this is the story of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood.

Growing up poor on the family farm, Abe did chores, helped his father cut down trees, and expertly skinned animals and cured hides. As a young man, he became an avid reader. When he witnessed a slave auction while on a flatboat trip down the Mississippi, he was forever changed—and so was the future of America. This is the remarkable story of Lincoln’s youth, early America, and the pioneer life that shaped one of our country’s greatest presidents.

Image for My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln

My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography all about President Abraham Lincoln! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers!

Image for I am Abraham Lincoln (Ordinary People Change the World)

I am Abraham Lincoln (Ordinary People Change the World)

The heroes are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. This book spotlights Abraham Lincoln who always spoke his mind and was unafraid to speak for others.This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are:• A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable• Childhood moments that influenced the hero• Facts that make great conversation-starters• A virtue this person embodies: Abraham Lincoln's compassion made him a great leader.

Image for Abraham Lincoln: An Adventure in Courage (Pop-Up Book)

Abraham Lincoln: An Adventure in Courage (Pop-Up Book)

Pop-up pages trace the life of Abraham Lincoln,

Image for Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Winner of the Lincoln Prize Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Abraham Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.

In the early 1860s, a theater owner named John T. Ford leased the building and transformed it into a theater. The first theater on the site opened in 1862, but a fire caused extensive damage that same year.

It quickly became an important entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. and President Abraham Lincoln was a regular visitor. I imagine it was a relief from the tension right after the Civil War. By April 1865, the Civil War was finally coming to an end. On April 9, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.

ABOUT FORD THEATRE

Five days after that on the evening of April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, went to Ford’s Theatre to watch a comedy called Our American Cousin. They were joined by Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris.

The Lincolns were seated in a special box above the stage. This was known as the Presidential Box, or State Box. The box was decorated with American flags and a portrait of George Washington. (You may want to include these details in your diorama because they are some of the most recognizable features of the theater).

During the performance, actor John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln. Booth was a Confederate sympathizer who opposed Lincoln.

A doctor named Charles Leale, who was attending the performance, rushed to help him. Because Lincoln’s injury was so serious, several men carefully carried him out of the theater and across the street to the Petersen Boarding House.

He died the following morning, April 15, 1865, at 7:22 a.m. at just 56 years old.

Ford’s Theatre did not continue operating after Lincoln’s assassination, it became a crime scene, and the government closed the building. Although John T. Ford tried to reopen the theater, public opposition prevented it from returning to normal operation.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Eventually, the federal government purchased the building. The inside was removed and the building was converted into government offices. Over the years, the building had several different uses and even suffered another terrible disaster when part of the building collapsed in 1893, killing 22 people.

Finally, Ford’s Theatre was restored. It reopened as a working theater in 1968, more than 100 years after Lincoln’s assassination.

Today, Ford’s Theatre is a National Historic Site where visitors can learn about Lincoln, the Civil War, the assassination, and the history of the theater.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN PROJECTS FOR KIDS

  • 16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll
  • Paper Bag Craft: 3D Lincoln Log Cabin Instructions
  • Abraham Lincoln Paper Plate Craft: How To Make For Fun Mask
  • How To Make A Mini Mount Rushmore & Landmarks Of USA
  • Lincoln’s Cookies | Recipes from American History
  • Don’t forget my huge free Civil War Lapbook.
  • How to Draw Abe Lincoln: Easy Step-by-Step Art Lesson for Kids

HOW TO MAKE A FORD’S THEATER DIORAMA

For our project, we used a shoebox to create a miniature Ford’s Theatre. You can have your child make their theater as simple or detailed as you would have them do it.

We used this site for inspiration and referencing how the theater looked back then.

You will need:

  • A shoebox with a lid
  • Colorful construction paper
  • scissors/straight edge cutter
  • Glue
Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

We used the top of the shoe box to create the stage. First we drew the shape of a rounded stage.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Then cut it out leaving the edges of the box long so that we could wrap them around the top, tape down and have sides.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Finish it off by covering it in brown construction paper and add wood grain details if you like.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Cover the bottom of your box with red construction paper for the carpet and secure with glue.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Glue the stage in place at one end of the box.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Next, create the presidential box seats layering white for the framework, yellow for curtains, brown seats, and a red wall background.

You can make tiny figures of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Rathbone, and Clara Harris sitting inside the box.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Draw or make a flag swag out of scrap paper to hang over the edge.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Ford’s Theatre had rows of seats facing the stage. Make miniature seats by cutting small ovals of brown paper and folding them in half.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Glue your rows of seats down to the base.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Add white strips vertically and horizontally to create the balcony and supports around the back of the theater.

Abraham Lincoln Project For Kids: How to Make Ford's Theatre

Finish off your stage with stage curtains in red.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, americancivilwar, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool

Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

September 26, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free trees lapbook and resources today for a fun study about trees. Too, on my Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning page you can find more free homeschool lapbooks.

And studying trees can bring together botany, biology, ecology, earth science, geography, math, and environmental science in one natural science unit study for an older study. With a younger student, they can start learning the parts of a tree.

Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

A tree study is a great introduction to botany without making science feel abstract. Instead of only reading about plant structures in a textbook, kids can go outside and study trees.

They can examine bark, compare leaves, look for seeds, measure trunks, study roots, observe insects, and notice differences among tree species.

Use my lapbook as a segue into a deeper study. For example, older kids are ready to go beyond simply identifying the roots, trunk, branches, and leaves.

Next, add some of these books about trees to your unit study and to this lapbook.

BOOKS ABOUT TREES FOR KIDS

We prefer living books when we can find them.

And then we add reference books or field guides as we need them.

9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.

Image for Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.

Image for The Busy Tree

The Busy Tree

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

Image for The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.

It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more

Image for Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.

Image for Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. 

Image for Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.

Image for The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.

Image for Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.

Image for Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.

In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.

Next, look at some more hands-on tree activities.

FUN HANDS-ON TREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Why Evergreen Trees Are the Ultimate Winter Wonder & Tree Craft
  • From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Celebrate Arbor Day With A Fun Flowering Cherry Tree Activity
  • 10 Fun Facts About Kapok Trees You’ll Love
Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE TREES LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS INCLUDED:

  • All About Trees
  • Parts of a Tree
  • Common Tree Forms
  • Tree Life Cycle
  • Fun Facts About Trees
  • Why We Need Trees
  • What is a Tree
  • My Tree Promise

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie

HOW TO GET THE FREE TREES LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science, trees

Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

September 22, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free magnet lapbook science and resources today for a fun study about magnets. Too, on my Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning page you can find more free homeschool lapbooks.

A magnet lapbook can turn an ordinary science topic into an interactive exploration of forces, materials, energy, electricity, and technology.

Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

And studying magnets provides an opportunity to explore invisible forces, conduct experiments, make observations, and discover how magnetic fields work

Magnets can attract certain materials without even touching them.

They can push and pull on other magnets, and their force can act through objects.

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT PHYSICAL SCIENCE

10 Books About Physical Science

Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.

Image for What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases

What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Can you make an ice cube disappear? Put it on a hot sidewalk. It melts into water and then vanishes! The ice cube changes from solid to liquid to gas. This Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the three states of matter. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, uses simple, fun diagrams to explain the difference between solids, liquids, and gases. This book also includes a find out more section with experiments designed to encourage further exploration and introduce record keeping.

Image for Matter: Physical Science for Kids

Matter: Physical Science for Kids

In Matter: Physical Science for Kids, kids ages 5 to 8 explore the definition of matter and the different states of matter, plus the stuff in our world that isn’t matter, such as sound and light! In this nonfiction picture book, children are introduced to physical science through detailed illustrations paired with a compelling narrative that uses fun language to convey familiar examples of real-world science connections. By recognizing the basic physics concept of matter and identifying the different ways matter appears in real life, kids develop a fundamental understanding of physical science and are impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and
laboratories

Image for The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery.

Image for Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

Image for Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics

Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics

Charles Ludwig retells Michael Faraday’s remarkable life story in fictionalized form. Here is the father of the electric motor, the dynamo, the transformer, the generator. Few persons are aware of the brilliant man’s deep Christian convictions and his determination to live by the Sermon on the Mount. For ages 12 to 15.

Image for Junior Science Book of Electricity

Junior Science Book of Electricity

Book about electricity for children.

Image for Energy Makes Things Happen

Energy Makes Things Happen

Did you know that energy comes from the food you eat? From the sun and wind? From fuel and heat? You get energy every time you eat. You transfer energy to other things every time you play baseball.

Image for Waves: Principles of Light, Electricity and Magnetism (The Secrets of the Universe)

Waves: Principles of Light, Electricity and Magnetism (The Secrets of the Universe)

Have you ever wondered why a prism turns ordinary sunlight into a rainbow? Isaac Newton knew why. How can a magnet be used to generate electricity? Michael Faraday could have told you. Can you explain how a toaster toasts bread? In this book, author Paul Fleisher answers these and many more questions as he looks at the laws that describe how waves behave. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of light, electricity and magnetism in a fun, exciting way.

Image for Liquids and Gases: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (Secrets of the Universe)

Liquids and Gases: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (Secrets of the Universe)

Have you ever wondered why a 10-tonne boat floats but a tiny pebble sinks? Archimedes knew why. How does a basketball or tennis ball bounce? Robert Boyle could have described how! Can you explain why a hot-air balloon rises but a balloon you blow up drops to the ground? To answer these questions and many more, author Paul Fleisher explains the laws that define how and why liquids and gases behave the way they do. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of fluid mechanics in a fun, exciting way.

Image for Marbles,Roller Skates,Doorknob

Marbles,Roller Skates,Doorknob

Explains the concepts of simple and complex machines and mechanical advantage, and describes how wheels, including gears and ball bearings, work

Then look at some resources and activities about magnets.

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES TO STUDY MAGNETS

  • Junior Science Book of Magnets
  • Exploring Symmetry with Magna-Tiles
  • The Story of Electricity and Magnetism
  • Magna Tiles Rocket Ship Building Activity with Tin Cans
  • Magnet Arts and Crafts for Kids
  • Magnet Experiments
Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

Last, look the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE MAGNET LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS

  • What Happens When We Put 2 Magnets Together
  • Did You Know
  • Magnets What is a Magnet
  • Separating Mixtures
  • The Earth is a Giant Magnet
  • Earth Has Magnetic Poles

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE MAGNET LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, magnets, science

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

September 7, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There are so many easy chemistry experiments to do at home using just basic household supplies in your pantry or under the sink.

You don’t need a lab coat or a cabinet full of chemicals to explore real chemistry. Some of the most fascinating reactions happen with stuff you probably already have in your kitchen.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Milk, vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring aren’t just cooking staples; they’re active chemical ingredients.

Acids, bases, proteins, and gases are all sitting in your pantry, just waiting for the right combination to set off a reaction.

You don’t need a fancy lab to see real chemical reactions in action.

Curdling milk into plastic, watching an egg turn rubbery, or making a volcano erupt on your countertop are all genuine demonstrations of acid-base chemistry, protein structure, and gas production.

That makes your kitchen one of the best (and safest) places to introduce chemistry concepts. For example, acid-base reactions, protein denaturation, and gas production can be learned in the kitchen.

BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR A CHEMISTRY UNIT STUDY

Next, look at these books about chemistry and with fun chemistry activities.

12 Chemistry Books & Resources for Kids of All Ages

But first here are some resources that are a great introduction and more to chemistry for kids.

Image for Superstars of Science

Superstars of Science

Discover fun facts about the greatest scientists from history through Basher's fresh and unique illustration style.

Did you know that Marie Curie used to keep radioactive materials in her pockets? Or that Mendeleyev literally dreamed up his famous periodic table? Superstars of Science tells the stories behind the big ideas in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, earth sciences, and engineering. Read about 40 great scientists including Newton and Einstein who produced theories that explained the way in which the Universe works, Crick and Watson who uncovered the structure of DNA, and Alexander Graham Bell who had the big idea that became the telephone. Each one of these greats of science has had some vital flash of insight that has changed the way we see the world and the way we live. Come meet the superstars of science!

Image for Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us.

Image for Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

This book is a classic in the field of popular science. Standard reading since the 1930s, it is one of the few histories of chemistry to concentrate on the lives of the great chemists. Through these dramatic and human stories, it gives an authoritative and entertaining account of the great discoveries and advances in this scientific field. After many printings in three previous editions, this book has been newly revised by the author for this fourth edition. Beginning with Trevisan and his lifelong search for the "philosopher's stone," the author narrates the lives and discoveries of such towering figures as Paracelsus and his chemical treatment of disease; Priestley looking for phlogiston and finding oxygen and carbon dioxide, Lavoisier creating a new language of chemistry; Dalton and his Atomic Theory; Avogadro and the idea of molecules, Mendeleeff arranging the table of elements under his Periodic Law; the Curies isolating radium; Thomson discovering the electron; Moseley and his Law of Atomic Numbers; Lawrence and the construction of the cyclotron; and more. Probably the most dramatic chapter in the book, the account of the development of nuclear fission, ends the story of chemistry at its most monumental achievement.

Image for The Chemistry of Cola

The Chemistry of Cola

You’ll be amazed at all you can learn from this favorite drink – what’s in it, why it fizzes, what you can do with it, the containers it’s in, and more!

Image for Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

Image for 52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

If you want your child to be able to explore and complete some simple chemistry experiments without running around grabbing all the items an all in on kit is just the thing to add to your chemistry studies.

Image for The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Image for Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

 Chemistry EditionChemistry Fluxx is the perfect compound of chance, skill and strategy-use atoms and laboratory tools to match the current goal of the game and win! The rules are always changing in Fluxx. The Keepers, Goals, Rules and Action cards determine how the game will be played.

Image for Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:

  • Purify alcohol by distillation
  • Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis
  • Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself
  • Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances
  • Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper
  • Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons
  • and much more
Image for The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

Written for lay readers, provides an introduction to the principles of chemistry and includes quotations from popular literature to show how chemistry and everyday life intertwine.

Image for The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

If you have ever suspected that "heavy water" is the title of a bootleg Pink Floyd album, believed that surface tension is an anxiety disorder, or imagined that a noble gas is the result of a heavy meal at Buckingham Palace, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry to set you on the road to chemical literacy.

You don't need to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry explains them all: the history and basics of chemistry, atomic theory, combustion, solubility, reaction stoichiometry, the mole, entropy, and much more—all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Chemistry will never be the same!

Image for Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

AIR IS NOT OXYGEN is a fun way to brush up on essential science concepts you missed in school. (Admit it. You probably thought you had better things to do than study!) Clear, short chapters focus on mastering key concepts instead of memorizing facts. Dozens of optional hands-on activities make science come alive! In a style described as “Dave Barry meets Bill Nye with a touch of the Mythbusters,” award-winning author, Bill Morelan, debunks common misconceptions about basic science. Reflecting both the National Science Content Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN covers Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Science Methods.A fun, informative read, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN helps fill the gaps in your science education. (Never be humiliated by science geeks again!) Perfect for sharing, or as a handy basic reference tool. Makes a great book for kids, too.

Best of all, the ingredients are already in your kitchen, so nothing stops you from starting your first experiment today.

Below I have links to 10 simple experiments you can try today. And take a deeper dive into the coolest one: turning milk into moldable plastic.

 EASY CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENTS TO DO AT HOME

Gather up your baking soda, yeast, watercolors, vinegar, and other basic items and get ready to amaze your kids with your scientific genius.

Look at the science fun I have found for you below.

  1. Try these Gummy Juice Noodles: Food Chemistry Experiment for Kids.
  2. 2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages
  3. Watch a Baking Soda Growing Tree form overnight.
  4. 10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment |Free Printable
  5. Make a Simple Chemistry Hatching Dino Egg for the dino lover.
  6. Learn How to Make Elephant Toothpaste | Fun Chemistry Activities & Printable
  7. Medieval Chemistry and Homeschool History – Fun Hands-On Activity
  8. Simple Chemical Reaction Experiment – Steel wool and vinegar reaction is great for preschool through early elementary.
  9. How to Make Elephant Toothpaste | Fun Chemistry Activities & Printable
  10. Enjoy edible Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet – Go Science Girls.
Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

 
Even though these experiments use safe household products, this is a great time to introduce lab safety and encourage your child to use proper equipment like gloves and safety goggles.

TURNING MILK INTO MOLDABLE PLASTIC EXPERIMENT

This is the star of the show today; I am giving you the simple breakdown for this one.  With just two ingredients, you can watch milk transform from a liquid into a moldable, rubbery solid, essentially homemade bioplastic.

First, talk about the chemistry behind it with your learner. 

Milk contains a protein called casein, which normally stays suspended in the liquid because of its electrical charge and the milk’s pH balance.

Vinegar is acetic acid, and adding it lowers the pH of the milk.  

That change causes the casein proteins to lose their charge and clump together in a process called curdling or denaturation.

In fact, casein plastic (sometimes called “Galalith”) was actually used commercially in the early 1900s to make buttons, jewelry, and pen casings before synthetic plastics took over-amazing!

You will need:

  • 1 cup of milk (whole milk works best)
  • 4 tablespoons of white vinegar
  • A saucepan
  • A strainer or cheesecloth
  • A bowl of cold water
  • Cookie cutters or molds
  • Paper towels
Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it’s warm but not boiling (small bubbles forming at the edges are your cue).

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar.

The solid curds you’re left with are almost pure casein, and this protein has a naturally plastic-like structure.

MILK AND VINEGAR PLASTIC (CASEIN PLASTIC)

Watch closely; within seconds, you’ll see white clumps (curds) separate from a yellowish liquid (whey). This is the reaction in action.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Let it sit for a minute, then pour the mixture through a strainer to separate the curds from the liquid.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

I will say this batch doesn’t make much, so if you have more than one kid or want to create a larger plastic shape, you will want to double or triple the recipe to be sure you have plenty.

Rinse the curds gently under cold water, then press out excess moisture with paper towels.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

While it’s still warm and pliable, knead the curds like dough or press flat for the cookie cutter.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Press them into a mold, shape them by hand, or flatten out and cut them with a cookie cutter.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Let your creation air-dry for 24–48 hours.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

As it dries, it hardens into a solid, plastic-like material.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: chemistry, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

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