science experiment for water to drink

37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy

We’ve curated a diverse selection of water related science experiments suitable for all ages, covering topics such as density, surface tension, water purification, and much more.

These hands-on, educational activities will not only deepen your understanding of water’s remarkable properties but also ignite a passion for scientific inquiry.

So, grab your lab coat and let’s dive into the fascinating world of water-based science experiments!

Water Science Experiments

1. walking water science experiment.

This experiment is a simple yet fascinating science experiment that involves observing the capillary action of water. Children can learn a lot from this experiment about the characteristics of water and the capillary action phenomenon. It is also a great approach to promote scientific curiosity and enthusiasm.

Learn more: Walking Water Science Experiment

2. Water Filtration Experiment

A water filtering experiment explains how to purify contaminated water using economical supplies. The experiment’s goal is to educate people about the procedure of water filtration, which is crucial in clearing water of impurities and contaminants so that it is safe to drink.

Learn more: Water Filtration Experiment

3. Water Cycle in a Bag

The water cycle in a bag experiment became to be an enjoyable and useful instructional exercise that helps students understand this idea. Participants in the experiment can observe the many water cycle processes by building a model of the water cycle within a Ziplock bag.

4. Cloud in a Jar

The rain cloud in a jar experiment is a popular instructional project that explains the water cycle and precipitation creation. This experiment is best done as a water experiment since it includes monitoring and understanding how water changes state from a gas (water vapor) to a liquid (rain) and back to a gas.

Learn more: Cloud in a Jar

5. The Rising Water

The rising water using a candle experiment is a wonderful way to teach both adults and children the fundamentals of physics while also giving them an exciting look at the properties of gases and how they interact with liquids.

6. Leak Proof Bag Science Experiment

In the experiment, a plastic bag will be filled with water, and after that, pencils will be inserted through the bag without causing it to leak.

The experiments explain how the plastic bag’s polymer chains stretch and form a barrier that keeps water from dripping through the holes the pencils have produced.

Learn more: Leak Proof Bag Science Experiment

7. Keep Paper Dry Under Water Science Experiment

The experiment is an enjoyable way for demonstrating air pressure and surface tension for both adults and children. It’s an entertaining and engaging technique to increase scientific curiosity and learn about scientific fundamentals.

Learn more: Keep Paper Dry Under Water Science Experiment

8. Frozen Water Science Experiment

The Frozen Water Science Experiment is a fun and engaging project that teaches about the qualities of water and how it behaves when frozen.

You can gain a better knowledge of the science behind the freezing process and investigate how different variables can affect the outcome by carrying out this experiment.

9. Make Ice Stalagmites

10. Bending of Light

A fascinating scientific activity that explores visual principles and how light behaves in different surfaces is the “bending of light” water experiment. This experiment has applications in physics, engineering, and technology in addition to being a fun and interesting method to learn about the characteristics of light.

11. Salt on a Stick

This experiment is an excellent way to catch interest, engage in practical learning, and gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of water and how they relate to other substances. So the “Salt on Stick” water experiment is definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity to try!

Learn More: Water Cycle Experiment Salt and Stick

12. Separating Mixture by Evaporation

This method has practical applications in fields like water processing and is employed in a wide range of scientific disciplines, from chemistry to environmental science.

You will better understand the principles determining the behavior of mixtures and the scientific procedures used to separate them by performing this experiment at home.

13. Dancing Spaghetti

Have you ever heard of the dancing spaghetti experiment? It’s a fascinating science experiment that combines simple materials to create a mesmerizing visual display.

The dancing spaghetti experiment is not only entertaining, but it also helps you understand the scientific concepts of chemical reactions, gas production, and acidity levels.

14. Magic Color Changing Potion

The magic color-changing potion experiment with water, vinegar, and baking soda must be tried since it’s an easy home-based scientific experiment that’s entertaining and educational.

This experiment is an excellent way to teach kids about chemical reactions and the characteristics of acids and bases while providing them an interesting and satisfying activity.

15. Traveling Water Experiment

In this experiment, you will use simple objects like straws or strings to make a path for water to pass between two or more containers.

Learn more: Rookie Parenting

16. Dry Erase and Water “Floating Ink” Experiment

The dry-erase and water “floating ink” experiment offers an interesting look at the characteristics of liquids and the laws of buoyancy while also being a great method to educate kids and adults to the fundamentals of science.

Learn more: Dry Erase and Water Floating Ink Experiment

17. Underwater Candle

In this experiment, we will investigate a connection between fire and water and learn about the remarkable factors of an underwater candle.

18. Static Electricity and Water

19. Tornado in a Glass

This captivating experiment will demonstrate how the forces of air and water can combine to create a miniature vortex, resembling a tornado.

Learn more: Tornado in a Glass

20. Make Underwater Magic Sand

Be ready to build a captivating underwater world with the magic sand experiment. This experiment will examine the fascinating characteristics of hydrophobic sand, sometimes referred to as magic sand.

21. Candy Science Experiment

Get ready to taste the rainbow and learn about the science behind it with the Skittles and water experiment! In this fun and colorful experiment, we will explore the concept of solubility and observe how it affects the diffusion of color.

Density Experiments

Density experiments are a useful and instructive approach to learn about the characteristics of matter and the fundamentals of science, and they can serve as a starting point for further exploration into the fascinating world of science.

Density experiments may be carried out with simple materials that can be found in most homes.

This experiment can be a great hands-on learning experience for kids and science lovers of all ages.

22. Super Cool Lava Lamp Experiment

The awesome lava lamp experiment is an entertaining and educational activity that illustrates the concepts of density and chemical reactions. With the help of common household items, this experiment involves making a handmade lava lamp.

Learn more: Lava Lamp Science Experiment

23. Denser Than you Think

Welcome to the fascinating world of density science! The amount of matter in a particular space or volume is known as density, and it is a fundamental concept in science that can be seen everywhere around us.

Understanding density can help us figure out why some objects float while others sink in water, or why certain compounds do not mix.

24. Egg Salt and Water

Learn about the characteristics of water, including its density and buoyancy, and how the addition of salt affects these characteristics through performing this experiment.

25. Hot Water and Cold-Water Density

In this experiment, hot and cold water are put into a container to see how they react to one other’s temperatures and how they interact.

Sound and Water Experiments

Have you ever wondered how sound travels through different mediums? Take a look at these interesting sound and water experiments and learn how sounds and water can affect each other.

26. Home Made Water Xylophone

You can do this simple scientific experiment at home using a few inexpensive ingredients to create a handmade water xylophone.

The experiment demonstrates the science of sound and vibration and demonstrates how changing water concentrations can result in a range of tones and pitches.

Learn more: Home Made Water Xylophone

27. Create Water Forms Using Sound!

A remarkable experiment that exhibits the ability of sound waves to influence and impact the physical world around us is the creation of water formations using sound.

In this experiment, sound waves are used to generate patterns and shapes, resulting in amazing, intricate designs that are fascinating to observe.

28. Sound Makes Water Come Alive 

These experiments consist of using sound waves to create water vibrations, which can result in a variety of dynamic and captivating phenomena.

29. Water Whistle

The water whistle experiment includes blowing air through a straw that is submerged in water to produce a whistle.

This experiment is an excellent way to learn about the characteristics of sound waves and how water can affect them.

Water Surface Tension Experiments

You can observe the effects of surface tension on the behavior of liquids by conducting a surface tension experiment.

By trying these experiments, you can gain a better understanding of the properties of liquids and their behavior and how surface tension affects their behavior.

30. Floating Paperclip

In this experiment, you will put a paper clip on the top of the water and observe it float because of the water’s surface tension.

31. Water Glass Surface Tension

Have you ever noticed how, on some surfaces, water drops may form perfect spheres? The surface tension, which is a characteristic of water and the cohesive force that holds a liquid’s molecules together at its surface, is to blame for this.

32. Camphor Powered Boat

The camphor-powered boat experiment is a fun and fascinating way to explore the principles of chemistry, physics, and fluid mechanics. In this experiment, a miniature boat is used to travel across the water’s surface using camphor tablets.

33. Pepper and Soap Experiment

The pepper in a cloud experiment is a simple and interesting activity that explains the concept of surface tension. This experiment includes adding pepper to a bowl of water and then pouring soap to the mixture, causing the pepper to move away from the soap.

Learn more: Pepper and Soap Experiment

Boiling Water Experiments

Experiments with boiling water are an engaging and informative way to learn about physics, chemistry, and water’s characteristics.

These investigations, which include examining how water behaves when it changes temperature and pressure, can shed light on a variety of scientific phenomena.

It’s important to take the proper safety measures when performing experiments with hot water. Boiling water can produce steam and hot particles that are dangerous to inhale in and can result in severe burns if it comes into contact with skin.

34. Make It Rain

This experiment can be accomplished using basic supplies that can be found in most homes, make it an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning for both kids and science lovers.

Learn more: Make it Rain

35. Fire Water Balloons

Learning about the fundamentals of thermodynamics, the behavior of gases, and the effects of heat on objects are all made possible by this experiment.

36. Boil Water with Ice

The Boiling Water with Ice experiment is an engaging and beneficial approach to learn about temperature and the behavior of water. It can also serve as an introduction for further discovery into the wonderful world of science.

37. Boil Water in a Paper Cup

The “boil water in a cup” experiment is an easier but powerful approach to illustrate the idea of heat transmission by conduction. This experiment is often used in science classes to teach students about thermal conductivity and the physics of heat transfer.

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30 Easy Water Experiments For Kids

Water experiments aren’t just for summer! Water is easy and budget-friendly for science learning with preschoolers, elementary-age kids, and even middle school science. Check out our list of our favorite science experiments with water and look for the free printable water themed science camp week guide!

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS WITH WATER

What do all these science experiments and STEM projects below have in common? They all use water!

These water experiments are perfect for at home and in the classroom with simple household items like salt. Also, check out our science experiments with baking soda.

Let’s dig in if you want to explore science with water as the main ingredient! While you’re at it, make sure to check out more kid-friendly science experiments.

Our science activities and experiments are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, and quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun!

USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to the test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should be used as a guide to help lead the process.

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation. To learn more about the scientific method and how to use it, click here.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos or do a more formal notebook entry with older kiddos!

Click here to get your 12 days of science challenge calendar!

WATER EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

Click on each link below to explore cool experiments with water! Here you will find easy water experiments for preschoolers through middleschoolers, including the water cycle.

This age group is beginning to learn about core concepts in chemistry , including states of matter, how different substances mix or interact, and the properties of different materials.

ICE IS NICE SCIENCE

Explore the solid form of water and ice. Look at three great ice experiments that highlight the scientific method perfectly!

BENDING WATER

Can you bend water? Yes, you can with static electricity. Grab a balloon and some water to set up this easy experiment.

CANDLE IN WATER EXPERIMENT

Can you make the water rise by burning a candle under a jar? Grab a few simple supplies and find out.

CELERY EXPERIMENT

Here’s a simple explanation of how osmosis works with celery and water and a fun science demonstration!

COFFEE FILTER FLOWERS

Water is the main ingredient in this gorgeous but super easy combined science and art activity. Make a bouquet of colorful, coffee-filter flowers and explore solubility too!

COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS

This engaging color-changing flower experiment explores the concept of capillary action as your flowers magically turn from white to green. Easy to set up and perfect for a group of kiddos to do at the same time or as an interesting water science fair project.

CRUSHED SODA CAN EXPERIMENT

What happens when you heat and cool water inside a soda can?

DISSOLVING CANDY

There are all kinds of fun things you can dissolve in water!

DRY-ERASE MARKER EXPERIMENT

Is it magic or is it science? Create a dry-erase drawing and watch it float in water.

FREEZING WATER EXPERIMENT

Will it freeze? What happens to the freezing point of water when you add salt? Check out this easy water experiment to find out.

GROW A RAINBOW

A fun and colorful experiment that uses a paper towel, markers and water to demonstrate the process of capillary action.

GUMMY BEAR OSMOSIS LAB

Learn about the process of osmosis when you try this easy gummy bear osmosis experiment. Watch your gummy bears grow as you investigate what liquid makes them grow the biggest.

HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT?

Explore buoyancy with this simple oil and water experiment.

HOW MANY DROPS OF WATER ON A PENNY?

All you need for this experiment are a few coins, an eyedropper or pipette, and water! How many drops fit on the surface of a penny? What else could you use? A bottle cap turned over, a flat LEGO piece, or another small, smooth surface! Take a guess at how many drops it will take and then test it out.

ICE FISHING

Did you know you can go fishing indoors with salt, string, and ice! Kids will have a blast!

ICE MELT ACTIVITIES

Playful hands on science and learning which is perfect for our preschoolers. Explore water science with one of these fun theme ice melt activities.

LEGO WATER EXPERIMENT

Build a dam from Lego bricks and explore the flow of water.

OCEAN CURRENTS

Build a simple model of the ocean currents with ice and water.

OCEAN LAYERS

Just like layers of the earth, the ocean has layers too! Have you ever wondered how you could see them without going scuba diving in the ocean? Explore the layers of the ocean with a liquid density tower experiment for kids. 

OIL AND WATER EXPERIMENT

Do the oil and water mix? Explore the densities of liquids with this simple oil and water experiment.

POTATO OSMOSIS LAB

Explore what happens to potato when you put them in concentration salt water and then pure water. Learn about osmosis when you try this fun potato osmosis experiment with the kids.

RAINBOW IN A JAR

Can you make a rainbow in a jar? This neat rainbow water experiment explores water density with just a few materials. Instead of salt we use sugar and food coloring to stack the colors of the rainbow.

PENNY BOAT CHALLENGE

Design a simple tin foil boat, and see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks in the water. How many pennies will it take to make your boat sink?

MAKE A PADDLE BOAT

Fill the kiddie pool or tun with water and make this DIY paddle boat for fun physics!

SALT LAVA LAMP EXPERIMENT

Explore what happens when you add salt to oil and water.

SALTWATER DENSITY EXPERIMENT

Can you make an egg float? Will different items sink in freshwater but float in saltwater? Compare saltwater to freshwater with a fun experiment with salt and water. Make your predictions and test your results.

SINK OR FLOAT EXPERIMENT

Check out what you have in the kitchen for an easy science experiment with water   with some very interesting results!

SKITTLES EXPERIMENT

A super simple water science experiment with everyone’s favorite candy! Did you know you can try it with M&Ms too? You can also you those red and white mints, old candy canes, and even jelly beans!

SOAP POWERED BOAT EXPERIMENT

Explore surface tension as kids observe firsthand how soap influences the movement of a small boat on the water’s surface.

SOLID LIQUID GAS EXPERIMENT

Learn about the properties of solids, liquids and gases with this simple water experiment. Have fun observing how water changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas.

STRAW BOATS

Design a boat made from nothing but straws and tape, and see how many items it can hold before it sinks in the water. Explore buoyancy while you test out your engineering skills.

TOOTHPICK STARS

Make a star out of broken toothpicks by only adding water. Learn about capillary action with a totally do-able water experiment.

WALKING WATER EXPERIMENT

Can water walk? Make a colorful rainbow with a little color theory mixed in too! This walking water experiment is super easy and fun to set up! Mason jars, plastic cups, or bowls will also work just fine for this experiment.

WATER CYCLE IN A BOTTLE

Make a discovery bottle all about the water cycle. One of the best water science activities is one where we can learn more about one of the most important and necessary cycles on Earth, the water cycle!

WATER CYCLE IN A BAG

The water cycle is important because it’s how water gets to all the plants, animals and even us!! Learn about the water cycle with this easy water cycle in a bag experiment.

WATER DISPLACEMENT EXPERIMENT

Add this simple water displacement experiment to your science lesson plans this season. Learn about water displacement and what it measures.

WATER EVAPORATION EXPERIMENT

Dive into the process of evaporation (a liquid changes to a gas) with this simple water evaporation experiment. Investigate how different factors like temperature, airflow, and surface area affect the evaporation rate.

WATER REFRACTION EXPERIMENT

Why do objects look different in water? A simple water experiment that shows how light bends or refracts as it moves through water.

WATER XYLOPHONE

A homemade water xylophone is perfect for exploring physics and sound science!

WATER ABSORBTION EXPERIMENT

This is a very simple and fun water experiment which is great for preschoolers. My son had a blast exploring what materials absorb water and what don’t.

WHAT DISSOLVES IN WATER

This is super simple chemistry using common items around the house to explore mixtures and discover which items dissolve in water !

Compare how fast different everyday items melt in the sun, including ice cubes. A fun experiment to do in the summer!

WATER WHEEL

Hop on this engineering project and design a water wheel that moves! Use our idea as a springboard to create your own or follow the step-by-step directions.

WATER CLOCK

Find out how to use water to tell the time with this water clock project .

Plan a Water Summer Science Camp

Grab this free guide and plan a day or two of water theme science camp activities . We have 12 free guides, each with a different theme! Use them all year long.

ALSO TRY THESE EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

• States of Matter Experiments
• Surface Tension of Water Experiments
• Chemistry Experiments
• Physics Experiments
• Fizzing Experiments
• Physical Changes
• All About Atoms

MORE HELPFUL SCIENCE RESOURCES

Science vocabulary.

It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get them started with a printable science vocabulary word list . You will want to incorporate these simple science terms into your next science lesson!

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST

Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Learn about the different types of scientists and what they do to increase their understanding of their specific areas of interest. Read What Is A Scientist

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Sometimes the best way to introduce science concepts is through a colorfully illustrated book with characters your kids can relate to! Check out this fantastic list of science books that are teacher approved and get ready to spark curiosity and exploration!

SCIENCE PRACTICES

A new approach to teaching science is called the Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more free**-**flowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers to questions. These skills are critical to developing future engineers, inventors, and scientists!

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

• 90+ classic science activities  with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information.  NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
• Best science practices posters  and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
• Be a Collector activities pack  introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
• Know the Words Science vocabulary pack  includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
• My science journal writing prompts  explore what it means to be a scientist!!
• Bonus STEAM Project Pack:  Art meets science with doable projects!
• Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
• Science Fair Project Pack with experiments to try!

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40 Simple Water Science Experiments for Kids

April 16, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

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Warmer weather means lots of water play and, for us, that means plenty of  simple water science experiments to try with the kids!

Since we’ve been homeschooling, I’ve learned that science doesn’t have to be a complicated subject to teach.

Many scientific concepts sound complicated (and really are amazingly intricate), but showing kids how they work doesn’t have to be complex.

Turns out that you can use a few household supplies and demonstrate how scientific principles work in a kid-friendly way!

And that’s why I’ve rounded up 40 easy water science experiments that would be great to share with kids – either indoors or outdoors!

Don’t miss our list of science experiments that you can do in just 15 minutes too!

1. Simple Light In Water Refraction Experiment – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Milk Jug Water Wheel Experiment – J Daniel 4’s Mom

3. Float Vs Sink Experiment – Teach Me Mommy

4. Leak-Proof Bag Science Experiment – Fun Learning for Kids

5. How to Make a Lava Lamp – Coffee Cups and Crayons

6. Measuring Water Beads – Blue Bear Wood

7. Water Balloon Parachute – Fantastic Fun and Learning

8. Food Coloring Fluid Mechanics Experiment – Mama Smiles

9. Measuring Buoyancy Experiment – KC Edventures

10. Color Mixing Experiment – Science Sparks

11. Tide Pool Science Experiment – Buggy and Buddy

12. Floating Peep Boats – Sixth Bloom

13. Traveling Water Experiment – The Wise Owl Factory

14. Simple Water Displacement Experiment – Life with Moore Babies

15. Ripple Water Experiment – J Daniel 4’s Mom

16. Why Does Water Rise STEM Experiment – STEAM Powered Family

17. Make a Rain Cloud In a Jar – Coffee Cups and Crayons

18. Water Xylophone Sound Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

19. Growing Mint in Water – Sloely

20. Sticky Ice Experiment – Capri Plus 3

See more of these awesome simple water science experiments on page 2!

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Make a water filter

This fun science experiment turns dirty water clean. (Kind of.)

How do you clean up dirty water?

Not with soap! You need a filter, a device that removes impurities, like dirt, from water. The filter you’ll make here—with the help of an adult—is a super strainer, and it’ll help you clean up your act.

Ask a grown-up to cut the bottle in half. Then flip the bottle's top half over and put it in the bottom, so the top looks like a funnel. You'll build your filter in the top part.

Place the coffee filter (or bandanna, sock, etc.) at the bottom of your filter.

Add cotton balls, charcoal, gravel, sand, and / or other materials in layers. You can use just one of them or all of them. Tip: Think about which order to add them. Bigger filter materials usually catch bigger impurities.

Write down which filter materials you used and in what order you layered them.

Stir your dirty water and measure out a cup of it.

Get your timer ready!

Pour a cup of dirty water into your filter. Start the timer as soon as you begin pouring.

Time how long it takes for all the water to go through the filter. Then write down how long it took.

Carefully scoop out the filter materials, one layer at a time. What did each layer take out of the water?

Experiment! Clean the bottle and try again. Put the filter materials in a different order each time, and time each experiment. What do you discover?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

The slower, the better! The longer it takes for water to move through a filter, the cleaner it gets. Water slips easily through the filter materials, but bigger gunk, like dirt, gets trapped. The filter materials usually get finer and finer, so they can catch whatever was missed earlier. Activated charcoal can be near the end of the water’s path, because it uses an electrical charge to grab particles too small for us to see.

Your filtered water is not clean enough to drink. But a plant will love it!

Photographs by Mark Thiessen / NG Staff: Adapted from the Nat Geo Kids book How Things Work , by T.J. Resler

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Clean Water Experiment for Kids

We have a camping trip planned in a few weeks. The other day we purchased some water filtration straws and things to clean the water where we are heading so that it is safe to drink. This resulted in a great discussion with my kids about clean water. This clean water experiment is a hands-on way to show children a little bit about how water can be filtered.

This water filtration experiment is also great opportunity to discuss how although we are lucky to live in a place where we have access to clean water; there are millions of people around the world that do not. Although this idea can be challenging for young kids, I truly believe that it is an important conversation to have.

After discussing how important it is to protect our water and work to keep it clean, I decided to extend the idea with this STEM clean water experiment. My kids loved trying different things to get their water as clear and clean as possible. It is also a great reminder of how fortunate we are that we can simply turn on a tap and have water that is safe to drink.

This experiment is a great activity to do after a hike or walk with your kids. You can collect a bit of water from a small pond or simply add some dirt and other materials to water from home. As long as it looks dirty then you can experiment and filter it to make it clean!

This and other clean water projects for students and kids are a great experiment to try around Earth Day or when learning about the environment.

When I did this experiment with my kids at home, and in a kindergarten classroom, I simply set out all of the materials and allowed children to experiment and use what they thought might work. They used trial and error to find the best materials to clean their water.

Water Filtration Experiment Materials

You don’t need a lot of materials for this experiment. Try to use things that you already have on hand. I used:

• Dirty Water (You can add dirt, stones, sand, oil, etc.)
• Coffee Filters
• Small, Medium and Large Gravel Stones
• Plastic Baggies
• Paper Towel
• Free Printable Activity Card

If you have other materials on hand that you think children may use to filter their water, then you can offer the materials to them.

You can also choose to give children the activity card to explain the STEM challenge. The activity card reads:

Clean Water Experiment Steps

I started by showing children a jug filled with dirty water. (I added dirt, oil and a bit of other debris from outside.) Then I challenged the kids to find a way to clean the water. Remind children that as clear and clean as the water may look at the end of this experiment, they cannot drink it!

I set all of the supplies out for them to choose what they wanted to build their filter with.

Children tried many different things and did a lot of trial and error. A few children used only the baggies and cut a small hole in the end to filter the water. They found that this only got some of the really large pieces out of the water.

These children tried again by adding stones and sand to their baggie. This extra layer of filtration helped and the water did run clearer.

Many children found success using the coffee filter. Securing it with an elastic on the cup, or simply holding it, and slowly pouring the water onto the filter resulted in fairly clear water.

Make sure to give children enough time to do this experiment. As my kids tested their filter, they altered it each time and tried different things. Many changed their filter by adding to it or taking parts away.

Clean Water Experiment Results

Many children found that by adding many different layers they were able to get their water the clearest.

A few children used most of the materials that I had made available. We put a hole in the bottom of their cup and used the cup as their filter. They started by putting a coffee filter in the bottom. In the coffee filter they added small gravel and then larger gravel stones on top.

Next, they placed several pieces of paper towel and then attached a nylon on the top. When the water was poured into this filter it ran through each of the layers and the water came out fairly clear.

Many children found that by changing their paper filters (paper towel and coffee filters) they were able to run their water through a second time and get it even cleaner.

One problem we ran into was that there was a bit of a dye on some of the gravel stones. Our water had a pink tint to it. To prevent this, we then rinsed all of the materials to get the color off before using them again.

I was really happy to see the children getting excited each time they ran the dirty water through their filter. They were very happy to see the water run through clearer each time.

Some children found that just the paper towel and coffee filter worked best. So they tried using several layers of just the towel and filter. Each time they ran their dirty water through their filter, they changed the coffee filter and paper towel. This resulted in the best filter.

Many children loved being able to look at the paper filters and see the dirt and debris that were caught by the filter.

This is a great hands-on experiment for children see how difficult it is to get water clean and clear.

Water Filtration Experiment Extension Ideas

An important part of this water filter experiment is also making sure that children realize that even though their water looks clean and clear, it is not safe to drink. Depending where you got your water, there are lots of tiny bits of bacteria and maybe even bugs, that we cannot see. When water is properly cleaned all of those extra things in the water, that can make us sick, are removed.

If you have a microscope, you could look at the dirty and clean water on a slide to compare. This would also be a great opportunity to show children the microscopic things in the water. Or you could compare the water you filtered with drinking water

It is interesting to note that we left some of the water over night and we noticed something in the morning. Even though the water looked clean, overnight some dirt and debris had settled to the bottom of the cup. Much of this debris found at the bottom of the cups was water that had been filtered several times.

Everyone worked really hard to clean their water. In the end, they realized how lucky they are to not have to worry about having clean water. My hope is that this experiment also creates some awareness that for many people, not having clean water, is a daily concern. It also reminds children to take care of our environment and take steps to keep our air and water clean.

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Water Lab – A STEM Experiment Exploring Safe Drinking Water

A safe drinking water lesson may not be high in importance for many, but safe water is a critical need for many people. My youngest son was born in a country where access to safe drinking water is a challenge. There is progress being made and I’m so happy to see positive changes not only in his homeland but for people in all corners of our Earth. Recently we were discussing water safety and I decided to make it into a hands on experience for the kids. Here is how we did our Water Lab and our safe drinking water lesson.

Water Lab for Kids – Testing Water Sources

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Our first step was to collect our water samples. I asked the boys where they would get their water from. They answered: the tap or bottled water.

We took some sterilized jars and collected our samples.

Next up I challenged them to think outside the box and imagine that we are out of water. The taps aren’t working and we have no bottled water, where could they go to get water. They answered our rain barrels. So we went outside and collected a sample from our rain barrels.

We also decided we could collect some water from our homemade rain gauge .

We discussed how there was only a limited amount of water in our rain barrels so eventually those would run dry, then where could they get water? They answered the lake in our neighbourhood. So off we went on a beautiful walk to collect a sample from the lake.

You can challenge your kids to think outside of the box about where they can collect their water samples. This is also a great time to discuss the Water Cycle .

I made up a quick worksheet to document our findings, then we started our examination of our water samples.

Our first step was to line up our samples and do a quick visual examination. The first thing we noticed was that our lake sample included a pet. We call them Lake Shrimp but their proper name is Copepods. They are fresh water crustaceans and super fast! It was so hard to snag a photo. The lake water also had lots of floaties in it and appeared a little yellow in colour.

The other three samples looked pretty much the same.

Using our awesome new test tubes and test tube stand , we transferred some of the water into test tubes and did another visual examination. Then we recorded the results.

Next we took some water test strips that we use to test our hot tub water and tested each of the samples.

We documented our results and it led into a great discussion about pH, hardness, and alkalinity . Our Basher Chemistry book came in really handy to answer all the boys questions.

We documented all of our results as we went. Our tap, bottled and rain water all had similar results, which frankly surprised me. I thought our rain water would not be quite as good as it came out, but perhaps that is a reflection of where we live? The lake water though, had a very high pH, hardness and alkalinity reading.

Next up we prepared some slides using our slide making kit . Then examined them under the microscope. My boys LOVE using the microscope and always get really excited when we pull it out. For younger kids getting a microscope that sends your images to a computer is fantastic! It also really helps with your lessons.

This is where things got really interesting. The tap and bottled water came up clean, but we did see a few little tiny black and green things in the rain water. So maybe it wasn’t so clean and safe!

Then things got really exciting with the lake water. It was filled with algae that appeared as segmented, green spirals plus round clear disc objects. We also saw a teeny tiny bug swimming around on our slide! It was really neat to see the cell structures of the algae and tied in nicely with some other science studies we have been doing into cells and building cell models .

At the end I asked the boys which water they would drink, both of the boys said either tap or bottled water. Then we chatted about the importance of filtering other sources of water and how something like our LifeStraw is so important to use if we ever do need to drink found water.

They also understand now why it is so important to help people everywhere in the world get access to clean, safe drinking water. A very successful and interesting lesson! Have you done a Water Lab?

More STEM and STEAM projects involving water

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Homemade Water Filter Experiment

July 6, 2019 By Emma Vanstone 11 Comments

Today we are looking at filtering and how it can be used to clean dirty water. This water filter science project is very simplified but gives kids a great overview of how water purification is carried out to give us lovely clean drinking water.

Do not drink the water in the activity

Water Filter Science Project

Filtering water – what you need.

Dirty water ( or mud and clean water )

Coffee filter/paper towel/muslin

An empty bottle or other containers

Filtering Water Experiment

The great thing about this experiment is that you can design it however you like.

We set up coffee filters containing sand, stones and then just plain filters.

We carefully poured the same amount of water through each filter and observed the results.

More ideas to try – Water Filter Science Project

Set up an experiment where the conditions are:

1 coffee filter

2 coffee filters

3 coffee filters

Is kitchen roll better than a coffee filter, would just a sieve work?

You could also work in stages, so try a colander, then a sieve and then a paper towel. Each stage should trap smaller and smaller particles.

How do filters work?

A filter is a porous material which a liquid can be passed though to separate the liquid from solids suspended in it.

More Filtering Investigations

Make a toy filter .

Try filtering potions using a sieve and colander.

Can you filter water using sand and stones ?

More Science for Kids

I’ve got a fun collection of water science experiments , including a water cycle activity, dissolving experiment, ice investigation and density trick!

Try one of our easy science experiments for kids to do at home ! We’ve got egg experiments, ice experiments, paper helicopters, STEM challenges and lots more science fun for kids of all ages!

Suitable for Key stage 2 Science

Properties and Changes of Materials

Use knowledge of solids, liquids and gases to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating.

Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

May 15, 2012 at 11:49 pm

This is such a neat experiment. I bet it would be fun to let the kids think of better ways to filter the water. It will definitely give them a better appreciation for our clean water!

May 18, 2012 at 8:22 pm

So simple, and yet so fun! A very good way to learn about filters and clean water. We will definitely have to try this one, thanks 🙂

May 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm

We did that once too and it’s amazing how much gets filtered out and how gross that water still is. I think yours was more easily visble, we have very clay like dirt, so it didn’t quite dissolve right. Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!

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Science project, how to make salt water drinkable.

Grade Level: 8th - 10th; Type: Physical Science

To find out whether ocean water can be made safe to drink.

The purpose of this experiment is find out if salt can be removed from ocean water so that it is safe to drink.

Research Questions:

• Why is salt water unsafe to drink.
• How much water does a person need to drink each day?
• Why do humans need water to survive?
• What processes are used to make non potable water safe for drinking?

Fresh water is the most important thing a person needs to survive. It is possible to go weeks without food but only a few days without water will kill most healthy people. Though the earth is covered by 70% water, only 3% of that water is fresh. Water shortages affect many communities each year and some scientists speculate that there could be serious worldwide water shortages if the climate changes significantly. Finding a way to make ocean water drinkable would ensure that humans have all the fresh water for drinking and agriculture that they need.

• A stove or a Bunsen burner
• A glass distilling flask
• A drinking glass
• A 4 quart sauce pan
• A large leaf from a non-toxic plant (banana, fig, or taro are good choices).

Ask your science teacher if you can borrow some of the science supplies you need for this experiment or if you can have access to the science lab. Alternatively, you could order supplies from a science catalogue. Many plant nurseries will have banana or taro plants and may be able to give you one of the leaves. You can also ask someone who works in a garden center which other leaves are from non-toxic plants.

Experimental Procedure :

• Collect about two liters of salt water from the ocean or you can make your own by adding 70 grams of table salt to 2 liters of fresh water.
• If you have collected water from the ocean, boil it for five minutes to kill the microscopic life in the water.
• Taste the salt water. It is not necessary to drink any of it. You may spit it out after tasting.
• Rate the saltiness of the water on a scale like the one below.
• Record observations on what the water smells like.
• Record observations on what the water looks like.
• Taste fresh water from a bottle. Rate the saltiness of the water.
• Place a quantity of the salt water in a glass distilling flask.
• Place a drinking glass in position to catch the distilled salt water as it cools.
• Boil the salt water until you have enough to taste.
• Taste the distilled salt water. It is not necessary to drink any of it. You may spit it out after tasting.
• Rate the saltiness of the water.
• Place a quantity of salt water into a 4 quart sauce pan.
• Hold the leaf above the sauce pan and angle it into a clean drinking glass.
• Boil the water, keeping the leaf above the steam and directing the droplets into the glass.

Terms/Concepts: Salinity; Distillation; Drinking water

References:

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72 Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand

Because science doesn’t have to be complicated.

If there is one thing that is guaranteed to get your students excited, it’s a good science experiment! While some experiments require expensive lab equipment or dangerous chemicals, there are plenty of cool projects you can do with regular household items. We’ve rounded up a big collection of easy science experiments that anybody can try, and kids are going to love them!

Easy Chemistry Science Experiments

Easy physics science experiments, easy biology and environmental science experiments, easy engineering experiments and stem challenges.

1. Taste the Rainbow

Teach your students about diffusion while creating a beautiful and tasty rainbow! Tip: Have extra Skittles on hand so your class can eat a few!

Learn more: Skittles Diffusion

2. Crystallize sweet treats

Crystal science experiments teach kids about supersaturated solutions. This one is easy to do at home, and the results are absolutely delicious!

Learn more: Candy Crystals

3. Make a volcano erupt

This classic experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid), which produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate.

Learn more: Best Volcano Experiments

4. Make elephant toothpaste

This fun project uses yeast and a hydrogen peroxide solution to create overflowing “elephant toothpaste.” Tip: Add an extra fun layer by having kids create toothpaste wrappers for plastic bottles.

5. Blow the biggest bubbles you can

Add a few simple ingredients to dish soap solution to create the largest bubbles you’ve ever seen! Kids learn about surface tension as they engineer these bubble-blowing wands.

Learn more: Giant Soap Bubbles

6. Demonstrate the “magic” leakproof bag

All you need is a zip-top plastic bag, sharp pencils, and water to blow your kids’ minds. Once they’re suitably impressed, teach them how the “trick” works by explaining the chemistry of polymers.

Learn more: Leakproof Bag

7. Use apple slices to learn about oxidation

Have students make predictions about what will happen to apple slices when immersed in different liquids, then put those predictions to the test. Have them record their observations.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation

8. Float a marker man

Their eyes will pop out of their heads when you “levitate” a stick figure right off the table! This experiment works due to the insolubility of dry-erase marker ink in water, combined with the lighter density of the ink.

Learn more: Floating Marker Man

9. Discover density with hot and cold water

There are a lot of easy science experiments you can do with density. This one is extremely simple, involving only hot and cold water and food coloring, but the visuals make it appealing and fun.

Learn more: Layered Water

10. Layer more liquids

This density demo is a little more complicated, but the effects are spectacular. Slowly layer liquids like honey, dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol in a glass. Kids will be amazed when the liquids float one on top of the other like magic (except it is really science).

Learn more: Layered Liquids

11. Grow a carbon sugar snake

Easy science experiments can still have impressive results! This eye-popping chemical reaction demonstration only requires simple supplies like sugar, baking soda, and sand.

Learn more: Carbon Sugar Snake

12. Mix up some slime

Tell kids you’re going to make slime at home, and watch their eyes light up! There are a variety of ways to make slime, so try a few different recipes to find the one you like best.

13. Make homemade bouncy balls

These homemade bouncy balls are easy to make since all you need is glue, food coloring, borax powder, cornstarch, and warm water. You’ll want to store them inside a container like a plastic egg because they will flatten out over time.

Learn more: Make Your Own Bouncy Balls

14. Create eggshell chalk

Eggshells contain calcium, the same material that makes chalk. Grind them up and mix them with flour, water, and food coloring to make your very own sidewalk chalk.

Learn more: Eggshell Chalk

15. Make naked eggs

This is so cool! Use vinegar to dissolve the calcium carbonate in an eggshell to discover the membrane underneath that holds the egg together. Then, use the “naked” egg for another easy science experiment that demonstrates osmosis .

Learn more: Naked Egg Experiment

16. Turn milk into plastic

This sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but don’t be afraid to give it a try. Use simple kitchen supplies to create plastic polymers from plain old milk. Sculpt them into cool shapes when you’re done!

17. Test pH using cabbage

Teach kids about acids and bases without needing pH test strips! Simply boil some red cabbage and use the resulting water to test various substances—acids turn red and bases turn green.

Learn more: Cabbage pH

18. Clean some old coins

Use common household items to make old oxidized coins clean and shiny again in this simple chemistry experiment. Ask kids to predict (hypothesize) which will work best, then expand the learning by doing some research to explain the results.

Learn more: Cleaning Coins

19. Pull an egg into a bottle

This classic easy science experiment never fails to delight. Use the power of air pressure to suck a hard-boiled egg into a jar, no hands required.

Learn more: Egg in a Bottle

20. Blow up a balloon (without blowing)

Chances are good you probably did easy science experiments like this when you were in school. The baking soda and vinegar balloon experiment demonstrates the reactions between acids and bases when you fill a bottle with vinegar and a balloon with baking soda.

21 Assemble a DIY lava lamp

This 1970s trend is back—as an easy science experiment! This activity combines acid-base reactions with density for a totally groovy result.

22. Explore how sugary drinks affect teeth

The calcium content of eggshells makes them a great stand-in for teeth. Use eggs to explore how soda and juice can stain teeth and wear down the enamel. Expand your learning by trying different toothpaste-and-toothbrush combinations to see how effective they are.

Learn more: Sugar and Teeth Experiment

23. Mummify a hot dog

If your kids are fascinated by the Egyptians, they’ll love learning to mummify a hot dog! No need for canopic jars , just grab some baking soda and get started.

24. Extinguish flames with carbon dioxide

This is a fiery twist on acid-base experiments. Light a candle and talk about what fire needs in order to survive. Then, create an acid-base reaction and “pour” the carbon dioxide to extinguish the flame. The CO2 gas acts like a liquid, suffocating the fire.

25. Send secret messages with invisible ink

Turn your kids into secret agents! Write messages with a paintbrush dipped in lemon juice, then hold the paper over a heat source and watch the invisible become visible as oxidation goes to work.

Learn more: Invisible Ink

26. Create dancing popcorn

This is a fun version of the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment, perfect for the younger crowd. The bubbly mixture causes popcorn to dance around in the water.

27. Shoot a soda geyser sky-high

You’ve always wondered if this really works, so it’s time to find out for yourself! Kids will marvel at the chemical reaction that sends diet soda shooting high in the air when Mentos are added.

Learn more: Soda Explosion

28. Send a teabag flying

Hot air rises, and this experiment can prove it! You’ll want to supervise kids with fire, of course. For more safety, try this one outside.

Learn more: Flying Tea Bags

29. Create magic milk

This fun and easy science experiment demonstrates principles related to surface tension, molecular interactions, and fluid dynamics.

Learn more: Magic Milk Experiment

30. Watch the water rise

Learn about Charles’s Law with this simple experiment. As the candle burns, using up oxygen and heating the air in the glass, the water rises as if by magic.

Learn more: Rising Water

31. Learn about capillary action

Kids will be amazed as they watch the colored water move from glass to glass, and you’ll love the easy and inexpensive setup. Gather some water, paper towels, and food coloring to teach the scientific magic of capillary action.

Learn more: Capillary Action

32. Give a balloon a beard

Equally educational and fun, this experiment will teach kids about static electricity using everyday materials. Kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of creating beards on their balloon person!

Learn more: Static Electricity

33. Find your way with a DIY compass

Here’s an old classic that never fails to impress. Magnetize a needle, float it on the water’s surface, and it will always point north.

Learn more: DIY Compass

34. Crush a can using air pressure

Sure, it’s easy to crush a soda can with your bare hands, but what if you could do it without touching it at all? That’s the power of air pressure!

35. Tell time using the sun

While people use clocks or even phones to tell time today, there was a time when a sundial was the best means to do that. Kids will certainly get a kick out of creating their own sundials using everyday materials like cardboard and pencils.

Learn more: Make Your Own Sundial

36. Launch a balloon rocket

Grab balloons, string, straws, and tape, and launch rockets to learn about the laws of motion.

37. Make sparks with steel wool

All you need is steel wool and a 9-volt battery to perform this science demo that’s bound to make their eyes light up! Kids learn about chain reactions, chemical changes, and more.

Learn more: Steel Wool Electricity

38. Levitate a Ping-Pong ball

Kids will get a kick out of this experiment, which is really all about Bernoulli’s principle. You only need plastic bottles, bendy straws, and Ping-Pong balls to make the science magic happen.

39. Whip up a tornado in a bottle

There are plenty of versions of this classic experiment out there, but we love this one because it sparkles! Kids learn about a vortex and what it takes to create one.

Learn more: Tornado in a Bottle

40. Monitor air pressure with a DIY barometer

This simple but effective DIY science project teaches kids about air pressure and meteorology. They’ll have fun tracking and predicting the weather with their very own barometer.

Learn more: DIY Barometer

41. Peer through an ice magnifying glass

Students will certainly get a thrill out of seeing how an everyday object like a piece of ice can be used as a magnifying glass. Be sure to use purified or distilled water since tap water will have impurities in it that will cause distortion.

Learn more: Ice Magnifying Glass

42. String up some sticky ice

Can you lift an ice cube using just a piece of string? This quick experiment teaches you how. Use a little salt to melt the ice and then refreeze the ice with the string attached.

Learn more: Sticky Ice

43. “Flip” a drawing with water

Light refraction causes some really cool effects, and there are multiple easy science experiments you can do with it. This one uses refraction to “flip” a drawing; you can also try the famous “disappearing penny” trick .

Learn more: Light Refraction With Water

44. Color some flowers

We love how simple this project is to re-create since all you’ll need are some white carnations, food coloring, glasses, and water. The end result is just so beautiful!

45. Use glitter to fight germs

Everyone knows that glitter is just like germs—it gets everywhere and is so hard to get rid of! Use that to your advantage and show kids how soap fights glitter and germs.

Learn more: Glitter Germs

46. Re-create the water cycle in a bag

You can do so many easy science experiments with a simple zip-top bag. Fill one partway with water and set it on a sunny windowsill to see how the water evaporates up and eventually “rains” down.

Learn more: Water Cycle

47. Learn about plant transpiration

Your backyard is a terrific place for easy science experiments. Grab a plastic bag and rubber band to learn how plants get rid of excess water they don’t need, a process known as transpiration.

Learn more: Plant Transpiration

48. Clean up an oil spill

Before conducting this experiment, teach your students about engineers who solve environmental problems like oil spills. Then, have your students use provided materials to clean the oil spill from their oceans.

Learn more: Oil Spill

49. Construct a pair of model lungs

Kids get a better understanding of the respiratory system when they build model lungs using a plastic water bottle and some balloons. You can modify the experiment to demonstrate the effects of smoking too.

Learn more: Model Lungs

50. Experiment with limestone rocks

Kids  love to collect rocks, and there are plenty of easy science experiments you can do with them. In this one, pour vinegar over a rock to see if it bubbles. If it does, you’ve found limestone!

Learn more: Limestone Experiments

51. Turn a bottle into a rain gauge

All you need is a plastic bottle, a ruler, and a permanent marker to make your own rain gauge. Monitor your measurements and see how they stack up against meteorology reports in your area.

Learn more: DIY Rain Gauge

52. Build up towel mountains

This clever demonstration helps kids understand how some landforms are created. Use layers of towels to represent rock layers and boxes for continents. Then pu-u-u-sh and see what happens!

Learn more: Towel Mountains

53. Take a play dough core sample

Learn about the layers of the earth by building them out of Play-Doh, then take a core sample with a straw. ( Love Play-Doh? Get more learning ideas here. )

Learn more: Play Dough Core Sampling

54. Project the stars on your ceiling

Use the video lesson in the link below to learn why stars are only visible at night. Then create a DIY star projector to explore the concept hands-on.

Learn more: DIY Star Projector

55. Make it rain

Use shaving cream and food coloring to simulate clouds and rain. This is an easy science experiment little ones will beg to do over and over.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain

56. Blow up your fingerprint

This is such a cool (and easy!) way to look at fingerprint patterns. Inflate a balloon a bit, use some ink to put a fingerprint on it, then blow it up big to see your fingerprint in detail.

57. Snack on a DNA model

Twizzlers, gumdrops, and a few toothpicks are all you need to make this super-fun (and yummy!) DNA model.

Learn more: Edible DNA Model

58. Dissect a flower

Take a nature walk and find a flower or two. Then bring them home and take them apart to discover all the different parts of flowers.

59. Craft smartphone speakers

No Bluetooth speaker? No problem! Put together your own from paper cups and toilet paper tubes.

Learn more: Smartphone Speakers

60. Race a balloon-powered car

Kids will be amazed when they learn they can put together this awesome racer using cardboard and bottle-cap wheels. The balloon-powered “engine” is so much fun too.

Learn more: Balloon-Powered Car

61. Build a Ferris wheel

You’ve probably ridden on a Ferris wheel, but can you build one? Stock up on wood craft sticks and find out! Play around with different designs to see which one works best.

Learn more: Craft Stick Ferris Wheel

62. Design a phone stand

There are lots of ways to craft a DIY phone stand, which makes this a perfect creative-thinking STEM challenge.

63. Conduct an egg drop

Put all their engineering skills to the test with an egg drop! Challenge kids to build a container from stuff they find around the house that will protect an egg from a long fall (this is especially fun to do from upper-story windows).

Learn more: Egg Drop Challenge Ideas

64. Engineer a drinking-straw roller coaster

STEM challenges are always a hit with kids. We love this one, which only requires basic supplies like drinking straws.

Learn more: Straw Roller Coaster

65. Build a solar oven

Explore the power of the sun when you build your own solar ovens and use them to cook some yummy treats. This experiment takes a little more time and effort, but the results are always impressive. The link below has complete instructions.

Learn more: Solar Oven

66. Build a Da Vinci bridge

There are plenty of bridge-building experiments out there, but this one is unique. It’s inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s 500-year-old self-supporting wooden bridge. Learn how to build it at the link, and expand your learning by exploring more about Da Vinci himself.

Learn more: Da Vinci Bridge

67. Step through an index card

This is one easy science experiment that never fails to astonish. With carefully placed scissor cuts on an index card, you can make a loop large enough to fit a (small) human body through! Kids will be wowed as they learn about surface area.

68. Stand on a pile of paper cups

Combine physics and engineering and challenge kids to create a paper cup structure that can support their weight. This is a cool project for aspiring architects.

Learn more: Paper Cup Stack

69. Test out parachutes

Gather a variety of materials (try tissues, handkerchiefs, plastic bags, etc.) and see which ones make the best parachutes. You can also find out how they’re affected by windy days or find out which ones work in the rain.

Learn more: Parachute Drop

70. Recycle newspapers into an engineering challenge

It’s amazing how a stack of newspapers can spark such creative engineering. Challenge kids to build a tower, support a book, or even build a chair using only newspaper and tape!

Learn more: Newspaper STEM Challenge

71. Use rubber bands to sound out acoustics

Explore the ways that sound waves are affected by what’s around them using a simple rubber band “guitar.” (Kids absolutely love playing with these!)

Learn more: Rubber Band Guitar

72. Assemble a better umbrella

Challenge students to engineer the best possible umbrella from various household supplies. Encourage them to plan, draw blueprints, and test their creations using the scientific method.

Learn more: Umbrella STEM Challenge

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Science in School

What are you drinking tap water versus bottled water teach article.

Author(s): Daniela Bergamotti, Paola Semeghini

Which is better: tap or bottled water? Try these activities based on simple analyses, a debate, and a blind tasting to learn about drinking water and encourage sustainable habits.

Water management is crucial to sustainable development, because clean freshwater is essential to human health and well-being. Many prefer bottled water over tap water, but this has a high environmental impact in terms of waste production and pollutants. Many beliefs are related to preconceived ideas rather than to actual experiences or product characteristics: in most EU countries, tap water is controlled, safe to drink, and usually tastes good.

These activities aim to determine students’ views on the topic and influence changes in water consumption and perception. They will increase their knowledge and trust of distributed drinking water and consider the overconsumption of plastic bottled water.

Curriculum links

• chemistry topics: pH, acids and basis (Lewis theory), group 2 metal ions, complexation reactions, solution preparation and concentration, titration technique and principle of the method, pH indicators;
• earth sciences: composition of limestone sedimentary rocks;
• biology: water as a source of mineral salts, physiological effects, osmotic pressure in cells.

We devised the following activities for students aged 16–19. They are also suitable for ages 14–16 if there is less emphasis on titration methods and chemical reactions.

Activity 1: Introduction to drinking water

Firstly, students are given some background information on types of drinking water and invited to do some research on the drinking water in their area.

This activity involves 1 hour of introduction and 2 hours of homework.

• Introduction on water management ( Drinking water infosheet )
• Internet access for research
• Information on/plan of the local water system and water quality (guided visits to water plants are strongly recommended to acquire on-site knowledge of distributed water)
• To-do list ( Local water task sheet )
• Presentation evaluation rubric
• After an introduction on water management and uses (1 h), the students are divided, depending on where they live, into groups of two to four.
• Based on water certificates of analysis (available from the local water utility website) and school science texts, they should prepare a short PowerPoint presentation, following the to-do list on the Local water task sheet . This should include a plan of the area, with a description of the water origin (spring, ground water, or surface water) and its path from source to tap.
• A comparison of the hardness values in different areas influenced by geological features can be made, if applicable.
• The students should assess the values indicated on a water certificate of analysis (e.g., pH, nitrogen content, hardness, etc.) and describe the possible health risks associated with noncompliance.
• The presentations can be marked based on the presentation evaluation rubric .

Activity 2: A debate on tap water versus bottled water

To explore different types of drinking waters and the consequences of our consumption habits, students conduct research and then run a class debate on tap water versus bottled water.

As an alternative, the debate can be left until after Activities 3 and 4, as a consolidating activity at the end.

This activity takes about 3 hours: 1 hour of introduction and research, 1 hour to prepare arguments, and 1 hour for the debate.

• Materials from reliable resources
• Parameters for discussion and debate rules ( Debate task sheet )
• Debate evaluation rubric
• 1 projector or digital board
• Students should be provided with articles and web materials from official sites or publications (e.g., WHO guidelines, Ministry of Health guidelines, data published on the local water company’s website, medical and research associations, articles on environmental issues) that they can integrate with other sources considered to be reliable. See the supporting material for suggested parameters to consider.
• The class is divided into two teams (chosen at random), each supporting one of the motions (tap water or bottled water). Each student should take one parameter (see the Debate task sheet ; make sure all are covered), examine the sources, do their own research, and prepare two sentences to argue their case and one sentence to argue against possible points made by the opposition.
• In the classroom, each team should prepare a list of arguments and counterarguments to ensure that all participants can provide a contribution to the discussion.
• Before the debate, the teacher checks that every argument is based on reliable sources and includes significant and well-documented data or scientific information.
• In the debate, the sides speak in turn. All participants must make a statement. Each speaker has a specified amount of time to speak (approx. 2 minutes) and present arguments and counterarguments (e.g., tap water can taste (smell) like chlorine – to remove chlorine, place a jug of water in the fridge for a few hours before drinking it).

The argumentation skills of each participant, in terms of presentation and content, can be evaluated using the debate evaluation rubric .

After the debate, the class can discuss what they’ve learned. Invite students to share things they didn’t know before or found surprising. Will this affect their drinking habits?

Activity 3: Determination of total hardness in water

Students can analyze their home/school tap water or marketed bottled waters.

For tap water, they should compare the analytical results with the certificates of analysis provided by the local water company; for bottled water, they should compare them with those shown on the labels.

The determination of the total hardness in water is made by titration with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), which forms colourless stable complexes with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions at pH = 9–10. These ions are naturally present in water due to minerals that dissolve as water passes through soil and rocks.

To maintain the pH of the solution at 9–10, a buffer solution (NH 4 Cl + NH 4 OH) is used. The indicator Eriochrome Black T (EBT) changes colour when these two ions are completely complexed by EDTA.

In addition to the hardness test described here, other tests can be proposed, depending on time and instrument availability, such as:

• calcium and magnesium ion concentrations (atomic absorption)
• calcium salts (flame test)
• bicarbonate concentration (water alkalinity titration)
• microbial analysis of total coliforms (faecal contaminants – reference value: 0 colony forming units (CFU) per ml)

This activity takes about 2 hours. Time is also needed for preparing solutions and equipment (1 h; this can be done by the teacher or technician).

Safety notes

Wear lab coat and gloves

Materials (per group)

• 50 ml burette (+ support)
• 100 ml graduated cylinder
• 250 ml conical flask
• 100 ml beaker
• Glass funnel
• 0.01 M sodium EDTA solution
• Stainless-steel spatula
• Buffer solution, pH 10 (NH 4 Cl + NH 4 OH)
• The provided Water-hardness scale
• Split students into groups of two to four. Assign each group a water sample (tap, distilled, filtered, bottled).
• Fill the burette with 0.01 M EDTA sodium solution (titrant).
• Measure 100 ml of water (sample) into a 250 ml conical flask.
• Add a small amount (a few crystals) of EBT powder (indicator): the solution in the conical flask will turn a rose–violet colour.
• Titrate with sodium EDTA solution until the colour changes to light blue without violet shades.

• Measure the volume of titrant added and take note of it.
• Repeat at least three times and calculate the average volume of titrant.
• What do you observe when the indicator is added to the water + buffer solution?
• What do you observe when a small amount of EDTA is added to the solution? (The colour does not change; it forms colourless stable complexes with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions, which are naturally present in water.)
• Why does the solution turn blue when an extra volume of EDTA is added? (Because all Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions have been complexed by EDTA.)
• Calculate the total hardness in French degrees (F°; not to be confused with degrees Fahrenheit!) as mg/l of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) according to the following formula:

1 ml sodium EDTA solution (0.01 M) = 1F° = 10 mg/l CaCO 3

• Classify water as very hard, hard, moderately hard, medium, soft, or very soft: values can change according to local laws, but should be between 10 and 50F°.
• Compare the value with that shown on the label (bottled water) or certificate of analysis from the local water company (tap water).

Units of water hardness

There are a number of different common official measurement units for hardness: [ 1 ]

– Parts per million (ppm) is usually defined as 1 mg/l CaCO 3 . It is equivalent to mg/l without a specified chemical compound.

– French degree (°F or f): 10 ppm or mg/l CaCO 3 . Lowercase f is often used to prevent confusion with degrees Fahrenheit.

– Degree of general hardness (dGH) or German degree (°dH, deutsche Härte): 10 mg/l CaO, equivalent to 17.85 ppm or mg/L CaCO 3 .

– Clark degree (°Clark) or English degrees (°e or e): one grain (64.8 mg) of CaCO 3 per imperial gallon (4.54609 litres) of water, equivalent to 14.254 ppm or mg/l CaCO 3 .

– US degree (gr/gal): a grain CaCO 3 /gal (US gallon = 3.78541 litres), equivalent to 17.118 ppm or mg/L CaCO 3 .

• Does your result match with theoretical values?
• If not, what could be the reasons (e.g., old or ill-maintained pipes, presence of a water softener)?
• If yes, could you form a hypothesis about the origin of water under survey (bottled or distributed water, surface or groundwater, geological characteristics of the catchment area)?
• How do you measure hardness in French degrees? (By measuring the volume in ml of EDTA added under the method conditions.)
• How do you measure hardness in mg/l expressed as CaCO 3 ? (By multiplying the value in French degrees by 10.)

Activity 4: Blind tasting of water

Research shows that tap water is just as safe as bottled water and is often not significantly different in taste. Tap water is generally a better option, since it has a much lower environmental impact and costs considerably less.

This activity is useful to work out common perceptions around the topic and discuss water-drinking habits. The duration depends on the number of participants in the blind-tasting session (at least 50 are required for statistically significant results).

Bottled waters should be selected to include a highly advertised luxury brand, to show how price and advertising do not have a significant impact on taste preferences.

If the tap water is very hard and/or does not taste so good, it can be replaced with filtered tap water.

• 3 glass bottles/jugs
• Paper or compostable coffee cups
• 2 types of bottled water (hardness: 4–8 °F and 20–25 °F)
• Paper for labelling each bottle/jug
• Blind-tasting questionnaire
• Encourage the students to come up with their own questions for the questionnaire. The provided questionnaire can be used as a template.
• Fill up the bottles: each bottle should be filled with a different type of water.
• Line up the bottles and arrange the cups on a table.
• Place a numbered/coloured slip of paper next to each bottle.
• Have someone who is not participating in the test pour the different types of water into three separate cups for each participant. Ideally the cups should be labelled with the same number/colour as the corresponding bottle.
• The participants should take a sip from each cup and fill in the questionnaire to express their perceptions of the three waters included in the taste test, answering the following possible questions: What type of water do you think it is? How would you describe its taste? Do you like it? Can you taste any flavourings? What was your favourite water? Why?

The tasting results can be statistically processed (e.g., test results in terms of number of voters, % assigned to each type of water (pie chart), and choice motivations) and collected in a poster or digital presentation.

They can be shared and made public through the school website, social media, and/or a poster exhibition encouraging the benefits of sustainable drinking habits.

In many blind taste tests, participants find bottled water to be indistinguishable from tap water, and tap water is often the favourite one, showing that many beliefs are related to preconceived ideas rather than to actual experiences or product characteristics.

The MULTIPLIERS project

This teaching and learning activity was developed as part of the MULTIPLIERS Horizon 2020 project by Iren, an Italian multiutility company and one of the MULTIPLIERS partners, through its educational department Eduiren and in cooperation with the Pascal upper secondary school in Reggio Emilia.

MULTIPLIERS promotes open schooling across Europe to make science more meaningful and directly relevant to real-world challenges. By connecting students with universities, informal education providers, museums, local associations, industry, civil society, policymakers, media, and other actors in authentic learning settings, the project promotes competence development in socioscientific issues that have a direct impact at the local level and beyond. The ultimate goal is to foster social transformation by enabling students to act as “knowledge multipliers”, sharing their learnings and findings with their wider communities.

MULTIPLIERS has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101006255.

Learn more about the project: https://multipliers-project.org/

[1] The Wikipedia entry on how to measure hard water: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water#Measurement

• Learn how to spot pseudoscientific fake news in the media: Domenici V (2022) Fake news in chemistry and how to deal with it . Science in School 59 .
• Read about the impacts of meat consumption and the development of lab-grown substitutes: Noble M (2023) From Petri dish to plate: the journey of cultivated meat . Science in School 63 .
• Read an article about the environmental effects of food packaging: Barlow C (2022) Plastic food packaging: simply awful, or is it more complicated? Science in School 56 .
• Explore the water footprints of the foods we eat: Kelly S (2020) Do you know your water footprint? Science in School 50 .
• Teach about freshwater with these low-cost experiments: Realdon G et al. (2021) Watery world – hands-on experiments from Earthlearningidea . Science in School 54 .
• Investigate the properties of so-called superfoods: Frerichs N, Ahmad S (2020) Are ‘superfoods’ really so super? Science in School 49 : 38–42.
• Teach about water quality and analysis: Al-Benna S (2014) Become a water quality analyst . Science in School 29 : 35–40.

Cutting-edge science: related EIROforum research

Seed extracts from the Moringa tree have been used for centuries to help purify water in regions where clean water is not available. Researchers at the Institut Laue–Langevin ( ILL ) and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility ( ESRF ) have used neutrons and X-rays, respectively, to identify and characterize key proteins underlying the unique water purification properties of Moringa seeds. This information may allow better use of this abundant resource for sustainable water purification.

Paola Semeghini graduated with a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Modena University and worked for several years in the pharmaceutical industry. Since 2011, Paola has been a chemistry and scientific laboratory teacher at IIS Pascal, an applied science upper secondary school in Reggio Emilia, Italy, focusing on competence-based education and experiential learning.

Daniela Bergamotti manages the educational activities and projects promoted by Iren, a multiutility company operating in the waste, water, and energy sectors, in the Italian region of Liguria. Eduiren, the company’s educational division, is committed to building relationships with schools and communities, using a creative and inclusive approach to spread a culture of sustainability and achieve concrete changes.

Full link for United Nations statement: https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm7eEuP6SgAMViX5MCh1XWQNZEAAYBCAAEgKFR_D_BwE 

The United Nations Environment Programme (www.unep.org) highlights the severe environmental, social, economic and health consequences of our addiction to single-use plastic products. Hence, this article, encouraging teachers to get their students to think about the pros and cons of using bottled water versus tap water is very timely. The article is also very balanced with opportunities to consider when bottled water may be essential.

Within the article there are different activities that teachers could adapt for different classes, including using internet research and the generously provided material provided with the article to understand the processes used to deliver clean tap water, an organised debate, a titration to determine water hardness and organising a blind water tasting test. Some of the ideas could also be used with a science club or to provide inspiration for individual or team science projects.

This article has many curriculum and cross-curricular links.

Curriculum topics include: critical analysis of data; fair testing; practical analysis skills; practical titration skills; practical titration skills; pH and pH indicators, acids and bases; metal ions; chemistry of limestone;

Cross-curricular links include:

Geography – availability of clean drinking water in different countries; the geography of rivers and the ‘rivalry’ for river water.

Earth Sciences – limestone sedimentary rocks;

Biology – biological uses of water; osmosis, water as a solvent e.g. for mineral ions

Suggested discussion questions:

• Is bottled water better than tap water?
• Why is ‘clean freshwater essential to human health and well-being’?
• What is the difference between ‘ground water’ and ‘surface water’?
• Why is bottled water seen by many as preferable to tap water?
• What are the main steps in water treatment before water arrives at your tap?
• What are the important considerations in carrying out a blind tasting of different waters?

Sue Howarth, UK

Supporting materials

Drinking water infosheet

Presentation evaluation rubric (PDF)

Presentation evaluation rubric (doc)

Local water task sheet

Debate evaluation rubric (PDF)

Debate evaluation rubric (doc)

Debate task sheet

Water hardness scale

Blind tasting questionnaire

Download this article as a PDF

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