Some of the most ordinary, everyday items do not need magic wands to be transformed into fun. Here are some amazing science activities with paper for kids. Abracadabra is purely optional.
Kids discover all on their own that a piece of paper held flat and dropped will sort of float down to the floor. For some reason, this needs to be tested over and over, but that is proof how kids are natural and constant scientists.
Adults can take another piece of paper and crumple it up into a ball and ask kids what will happen when they drop it. What would the paper ball do if it’s opened up and smoothed out? Will it float down or drop? Kids of course need a different paper so they can crumple it. Will the crumpled paper that’s smoothed out float again?
Fold and cut paper into a snowflake and try that too. Make sure there’s lots of scrap paper handy for this science fun. One thing about paper snowflakes, they do not melt no matter the temperature outside. It’s always exciting to see how a few holes can change an ordinary piece of paper.
Another fun thing to do with paper is to fold it into a paper airplane. There are step-by-step instructions and photos in this post on paper airplane fun. When doing this outside, it’s okay if it’s windy.
For kids that are really interested, check out some different designs of paper airplanes. They can create three or four versions and try for themselves which ones fly better.
Paper that is wet is not the same as paper that is dry. In a pan, bowl, or other container of water, kids can see what happens to a big piece of paper. Will it float or does it sink? How about if a piece of paper is torn into little bits before it’s put into water? What about a ball?
Kids will think of their own science activities with paper and come up with questions. We don’t have to know all the answers for them, just encourage them to keep exploring and discovering. What does your young scientist like to do with paper?
Take a photo of paper fun at your house and comment on Facebook.