30 min
Paper Aeroplane Testing Lab
Three designs, one tape measure, and an argument about which flies furthest.
🧊
Frozen Treasure Excavation
Freeze small toys in a tub of water and let them dig them out.
Set it up the night before, and you have a long, absorbing activity ready for a difficult afternoon.
Ce qu’il vous faut
- small plastic toys
- plastic tub
- water
- warm water in a jug
- a blunt spoon
- salt
Comment faire
- The night before, put small toys in a plastic tub, cover with water and freeze.
- Turn the block out into a tray or a washing-up bowl.
- Give them a jug of warm water, a little salt and a blunt spoon.
- Let them work out which method frees the toys fastest.
- Talk about why the salt and warm water speed things up.
Pourquoi c’est bon pour eux
This is a genuine experiment with a visible result, and children stay with it far longer than a craft because they have a clear goal. Comparing salt against warm water is a first, informal test of two variables.
Adapter selon l’âge
3 to 4 yearsFreeze a shallow tray rather than a block so the toys appear quickly.
7 to 10 yearsGive them three methods and ask them to time each one and report which won.
Sécurité
No sharp tools. Warm water only, never hot. Supervise around standing water.
Astuce rangement
Do it in the bath or outside and the melt water handles itself.
Dans le même esprit
35 min
Build a Lolly Stick Catapult
Seven lolly sticks, two elastic bands, and a pom-pom that goes further than expected.
45 min
Cardboard Marble Run
Kitchen roll tubes taped to a wall, and a marble that keeps falling out.
25 min
Tallest Straw Tower
Twenty straws, some tape, and one rule: it has to stand on its own.
30 min
Balloon Rocket on a String
A straw, a string across the room, and a balloon that fires along it.
60 min
One Box, Anything
A big box, some tape, and no instructions whatsoever.