Science is one of the most exciting subjects for young children, and even more fun when it's right in front of them. Simple experiments at home are among the best ways for class 3 students to understand the topics in the class 3 science book.
Best of all, no laboratory or expensive equipment is required. All experiments in this blog utilize simple items which are available at home. These can be done by parents with children, and by teachers as class 3 learning activities in school.
Why Science Experiments Help Class 3 Children
Young children learn best through visual, tactile and practical experiences. It's good to read about plants growing in a class 3 science book, but it's better to watch a bean seed grow in a jar and learn the same lesson that the child will never forget.
Science activities for children also foster curiosity, observation and questioning. These are skills that will help children in all areas — not just science. Many teachers believe that children who perform experiments in primary school have better problem-solving skills when they get older.
The experiments mentioned in this list are all related to the science book of class 3rd CBSE. This way, children are also better prepared for school exams when they do these activities at home.
All 10 Experiments at a Glance
Below is a summary of all the ten easy science experiments for students. They are all made of safe, everyday materials.
|
No. |
Experiment Name |
Materials Needed |
Science Concept |
|
1 |
Volcano with Baking Soda |
Baking soda, vinegar, clay or bottle |
Chemical reaction, gas formation |
|
2 |
Rainbow in a Glass |
Sugar, water, food colours, glass |
Density of liquids |
|
3 |
Bean Seed Germination |
Bean seeds, cotton, water, jar |
Plant growth, life cycle |
|
4 |
Floating and Sinking |
Bowl of water, household objects |
Density, buoyancy |
|
5 |
Magic Milk Colours |
Milk, dish soap, food colours, plate |
Surface tension |
|
6 |
Paper Bridge Strength Test |
Paper sheets, coins, two books |
Force, structure, engineering |
|
7 |
Shadow Tracing |
Torch, objects, paper, pencil |
Light, shadow, direction of source |
|
8 |
Magnetic Attraction Test |
Magnet, various objects at home |
Magnetism, materials |
|
9 |
Evaporation Observation |
Two plates, water, sunlight |
Water cycle, evaporation |
|
10 |
Air Takes Up Space |
Balloon, empty bottle, water tub |
Properties of air |
Experiments 1 to 4: Step by Step
1. Volcano with Baking Soda
Place baking soda in a small clay mound or empty bottle. Pour in a few drops of red food colour and then slowly pour in vinegar. Observe a fizzy eruption. This is an experiment to demonstrate to children that two substances can react with each other to form a gas, in this case, carbon dioxide. This is one of the most popular easy science experiments for students because it is so dramatic and yet is completely safe.
2. Rainbow in a Glass
Add various amounts of sugar to four glasses of water: 1 teaspoon to the first glass, 2 teaspoons to the second glass, 3 teaspoons to the third glass, and 4 teaspoons to the fourth glass. Place a different food colour in each glass. Carefully pour them into one tall glass, beginning with the most sugary. The colours will be layered as the more sugar in the liquid makes it heavier. This is an awesome science activity for kids that helps them to learn the concept of density in a very visual way.
3. Bean Seed Germination
Put a damp cotton ball in a glass and press a bean seed against the glass to see it from the outside. Maintain moist cotton and leave the jar by a window. The seed will germinate over the next few days. Children can draw what they observe each day. This experiment is directly related to the plants chapter of the CBSE Class 3 science book and helps to make the concept of germination very clear.
4. Floating and Sinking
Place water in a large bowl. Gather objects around the house: a coin, a plastic lid, a pencil, stone, leaf. Have the child predict which will float and which will sink and then try each one. Write the answers in a basic table. It is a wonderful class 3 learning activity, as it helps children to make predictions, observe the results and think about why objects behave differently in water.
Experiments 5 to 8: Step by Step
5. Magic Milk Colours
Place some whole milk on a flat surface. Place 3 or 4 drops of various food colours in various places on the milk. Then take a cotton bud, dip it in dish soap and touch it to the middle of the plate. Observe the colours swirling and moving. The soap disrupts the milk's surface tension, causing the colours to rush outwards. One of the most pretty science activities for children and always gets a big response from young children.
6. Paper Bridge Strength Test
Put two thick books on a table, leaving a space between them. Place one piece of paper over the space to create a bridge. Experiment with putting coins on the bridge, one at a time, until it breaks. Then, fold the same paper into a fan or accordion shape and repeat. There are many more coins in the folded piece of paper. This experiment is a good introduction to the concepts of structure, force and the influence of shape on strength, which is a subject that is closely related to science experiments for children about materials and their properties.
7. Shadow Tracing
Put an object on a piece of paper in a sunny outside location or indoors using a torch. Draw the shadow using a pencil. Move the light source or wait an hour and trace the shadow again. Compare the two shapes. This is a simple experiment to teach the children about light, shadows and the direction of light and how it affects the size and shape of shadow. It is a good link with the light chapter from class 3 science book.
8. Magnetic Attraction Test
Provide the child with a magnet and have him/her explore the house and test various objects to see if they are magnetic or not (spoons, paper clips, plastic toys, coins, rubber bands, aluminium foil). Write down which ones stick and which ones don't. Divide the objects into 2 groups: magnetic and non-magnetic. This is one of the most useful class 3 learning activities as it is directly related with the materials chapter of the CBSE Class 3 science book.
Experiments 9 and 10: Step by Step
9. Evaporation Observation
Fill two equal plates with the same amount of water. Place one in direct sunlight and one in the shade. Wait 2-3 hours and then check both plates. The one in the sun will have a lot less water. In this experiment, children learn about evaporation and it is linked directly with the topic of water cycle in class 3 science book. Have the child tell you where the water went, which results in a great discussion about the water cycle.
10. Air Takes Up Space
Inflate a balloon into a plastic bottle that is empty. Inflate an empty balloon into an empty plastic bottle with the mouth of the balloon stretched over the mouth of the plastic bottle. Attempt to blow up the balloon while it is in the bottle. It will be very difficult as the air is already inside the bottle and has nowhere to go. In this experiment, children learn that air is real it has a place to occupy. This is related to the air and weather chapter of the Class 3 science book of CBSE.
How These Experiments Link to the CBSE Class 3 Science Book
A lot of these experiments are directly related to the topics which are discussed in the CBSE Class 3 science book. These can be done at home and will help children get a real-world understanding of what they are reading in class.
|
Experiment |
Class 3 Science Topic |
Connected to CBSE Class 3 Science Book |
|
Bean Seed Germination |
Plants — growth and life cycle |
Yes — Plants Around Us chapter |
|
Floating and Sinking |
Water — properties and uses |
Yes — Water chapter |
|
Shadow Tracing |
Light and shadows |
Yes — Light chapter |
|
Magnetic Attraction Test |
Materials — magnetic and non-magnetic |
Yes — Materials chapter |
|
Evaporation Observation |
Water cycle, weather |
Yes — Water and Weather chapter |
Tips for Parents and Teachers
Always allow the child to do the science activities for kids themselves; never do them for the child. Make predictions such as: What do you predict will occur? What do you suppose caused that to be the case? This does not only promote watching, it promotes thinking.
Have a simple science notebook in which the child can draw what he/she observes and write one or two sentences about what he/she learned. This habit is able to be linked to the children's practice in the class 3 science book and at the same time practises writing skills.
Safety always comes first. All the experiments in this list are safe for children, but an adult should always be nearby — especially for experiments involving water or liquids.
Conclusion
Science doesn't need to be done in a classroom. Class 3 children can enjoy science at home with just a few simple materials and some curiosity. These simple science experiments for class 3 students will help them learn science in a fun, memorable and meaningful way, which will be very useful for the topics they are learning in their class 3 science book and CBSE class 3 science book.
These 10 experiments make an excellent starting point for parents seeking weekend activities and teachers seeking class 3 learning activities. Choose one today, experiment with your child and see their eyes sparkle when science comes alive.
Check Out Other CBSE Books:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all 10 experiments are safe and out of the home. No heat, sharp objects or harmful chemicals are used. However, supervision is recommended for younger children and should be done by an adult.
Yes. The experiments like the floating and sinking, shadow tracing, magnetic test and germination of seeds are directly related to the chapters in the cbse class 3 science book. They are helpful for children to learn at home and will help them to better understand what they are learning at school.
Most experiments require 15-30 minutes. The seed germination experiment requires a few days of observation, while the set up only requires 5 minutes. All others may be performed in a single session.
Absolutely. Most of these experiments may be used as a demonstration or group activity for the classroom. They need very little equipment and no special laboratory tools and are ideal for primary schools.
Do experiments that seem fun — such as the volcano or magic milk. When a child observes something unusual, he or she will ask "why. Let that curiosity be your guide in simplifying the concept. Linking experiments to topics in the class 3 science book also demonstrates to children that science is not limited to the school environment, but is occurring around them.
