Super Fun Science Experiments for a Healthy Planet

Science experiments are a wonderful way to learn about the environment. They teach us important lessons about sustainability and how to be eco-friendly. The best part is that you don’t even need a science lab or any special equipment to do fun experiments at home. Here are some environmental science experiments that use supplies you already have at home. 

What is the best way to clean up an oil spill in the ocean? What impact does an oil spill have on plants and animals? Learn more by trying to clean up your own “oil spill” with this easy, hands-on activity.

This easy science experiment uses dish soap to show the process of “emulsification.” This is when two liquids that normally separate mix together. The purpose of this experiment is to show why you need an emulsifying agent to remove oil from a bird’s feathers (or our oceans). 

Here’s what you’ll need:

Here’s what you’ll do (and learn):

Fill your plastic bottle about halfway with water. Next, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and watch what happens to the water. What do you notice?

Water is denser than oil, which causes the two liquids to separate and the oil to rise to the top. Now, add a few drops of natural food coloring and watch what happens. Take notes on your observations. 

Now, add 2 tablespoons of dish soap. This will act as an emulsifier by breaking down the oil and allowing it to mix with the water. Do you see how the food coloring tints the water to be the same color? What do you notice about the oil this time?

That’s right! The oil no longer rises to the top. This means that the dish soap did its job as an emulsifying agent, allowing the water and oil to mix together. When this happens, the oil is broken up into smaller droplets, making it easier to move. 

When an oil spill occurs in the ocean, response teams use a similar approach for cleaning it up. Oftentimes, a small boat or plane is used to release chemical dispersants into the water that act as emulsifying agents. Much like the dish soap in this experiment, these chemicals break down the oil into smaller and less harmful compounds. Micro-organisms in the water then eat them and break them down into even less harmful compounds. 

Look around you. Do you “see” the air surrounding you? No, right? We don’t typically see “air,” so it’s easy to assume that our air is clean. But is it? In this experiment, we’ll find out just what is in the air we breathe.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Here’s what you’ll do:

As you can see, air may be “invisible” but it’s not empty. Even the air we breathe inside contains particles that can harm us. Can you think of any ways to cut down the pollution inside your home?

Dream of being a meteorologist when you grow up? Now’s your chance to practice! (Even if you have different career aspirations, this is still fun!)

Here’s what you’ll need:

Here’s what you’ll do:

Now you can accurately measure how much rain has fallen after every shower! 

Seems like everyone’s talking about global warming these days, but do you understand how it works? A great way to grasp its principles is to think about what the sun does to the inside of a car parked in the sun:

On a much larger scale, the same thing is happening to the earth: 

What does pollution have to do with it? In all, 30 greenhouse gases have been discovered to date, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor, methane and ozone. But lately, new gases are being added to the mix: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These are the harmful gases produced by cars and factories, and humans are responsible! 

Need to see it in action to really get it? No problem. Here’s a simple greenhouse experiment you can try at home.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Here’s what you’ll do:

Congratulations! You just created “global” warming in a bowl!  

NOTE: Be careful, it can get rather hot. Keep a close eye on the temperature reading so the thermometer doesn’t pop its top.