Science at Home with the Family
Science isn't just for school!
Science is the process of learning about the world around you & how it works.
Family Science, Math & Engineering Activities + Games from CRS
Family Science Activities from CRS Dozens of fun science, engineering and math activities and games, with full instructions, background Information, using simple materials from around the house. Free activity packs to download and explore. From Ooze to Aluminum Boats, and much more, embark on simple explorations and games for the whole family right at your kitchen table.
Additional Resources
for Parents
for Parents
- Teaching Science at Home: A Survival Guide for Parents - A video from BozemanScience
- Science is a Family Affair - Techbridge in Oakland created this guide to help parents support science learning at home. Also available in Spanish and Chinese.
- The National PTA has put together an Experiment and Family Guide of different science activities
Science Videos
Produced by CRS
Produced by CRS
Even though our amazing BASIS (Bay Area Scientists in Schools) teams are not able to visit classrooms (or their labs at UC Berkeley!) right now, many of them are working on Science@Home videos or Zoom versions of their lessons so they can continue to share science explorations with your students.
Kitchen Science Video with Jade Fostvedt
- Scientist Jade usually brings a team of chemists to 2nd grade classes to explore CheMystery Liquids.
Find this and more videos including some in Spanish on our CRS Science Videos web page.
Science Websites for
Kids and Families (1/2)
Kids and Families (1/2)
- Science Mom - This Facebook Site is doing daily (M-F during “social distancing”) live videos, including having printable worksheets. They are great!
- PBS SciGirls & SciGirls en Espanol - Many shows are translated and have Spanish resources with them.
- Harry Potter at Home - JK Rowling has opened up licenses for read-a-loud, audio books, online readers and more. Find activities to do at home.
- Science News for Kids - Articles written for students on current topics in the news. Science News for Kids by Society for Science & the Public as a youth edition and companion to the Society’s Science News magazine.
- BBC Science Clips - A great array of online animated science activities for kids sorted by age and topic.
- Smithsonian Kids - From Art to Zoo, the Smithsonian has something to interest kids and students of all ages.
- E-bug - This organization hosts its pages for teaching about microbes and antibiotics. This specific page is for projects you can do at home.
- Notable Children’s Digital Media Committee - Index of hundreds of links to websites for kids from the American Library Association.
- Rader’s Network of Science and Math Sites:
Science Websites for
Kids and Families (2/2)
Kids and Families (2/2)
- Ology - American Museum of Natural History’s science website for kids. Find hands-on activities, games, and scientist interviews.
- Lawrence Hall of Science - Collection of Science Apps and Activities
- Woods Hole Sea Grant has put together a page of suggested educational resources for use during school closure. It has sections on:
- Live Webinars and Streaming
- Recorded Webinars and Video
- Things to do with the family outside
- Games and Activities for Kids
- Learn in Color - 75+ Entertaining and Educational Activities for When You’re Stuck Indoors
- The Science Penguin - 15 free activities to do at home. Includes science scavenger hunts and at home activities
- North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) - Their Parent Survival Series includes videos and activity ideas. They plan on adding something weekly.
- NASA - STEM at home for Students Grade K-4
- National Oceanica and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Resources for families to keep up with science learning at home.
- Puffin Books - Authors are doing video read-a-louds or their books for children. There are quite a few science related books being presented.
- KidsGardening.org has put together a Gardening at Home page with lots of great activities kids can do at home.
- Bring the Bay Area Discovery Museum to You – This page has videos on how to do and create projects at home.
- PEAK@Home is a no-cost resource for students that can easily be completed at home individually or with an adult. Explore over 25 hands-on and standards-aligned lessons that focus on energy, water, waste, and climate.
YouTube
Channels
Channels
- Crash Course Kids - This bi-weekly show from the producers of Crash Course is all about grade school science. Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much much more with host Sabrina Cruz. Every Tuesday and Thursday for new uploads.
- Physics Girl
- Veritasium
- Minute Physics
- Minute Earth
- Periodic Videos
- AsapScience
- SciShow
- Numberphile
- SmarterEveryDay
- Storytime Online is a YouTube Channel where celebrities read children's books
- Get access to an entire library of STEM Hero webinars through the PEAK YouTube channel!
Virtual Tours
- Virtual Museum Tours - mostly art museums but some science museums as well - Google Art & Culture
- Explore National Parks - Google Art & Culture
- Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links
Science Blogs
- Growing with Science
- Science Sparks - Making Science Fun for Kids
- Science with Me!
Activity Books
- ColorMePhD a coloring book of science and engineering research was developed by one of our (now former) BASIS scientists, Dr. Julie Rorrer. Print out these great science based color pages and supporting information.
- Family Science - (for purchase) A book designed specifically for families to enjoy doing science experiments at home.
- Janice VanCleave - (for purchase from your favorite book store) has a series of books filled with science experiments to do at home. Chemistry for Every Kid, etc.