Science is fun.

Never let boring classes and homework and periodic tables make your child think otherwise. One of the best ways to get your child enthusiastic about science is to get them to do hands-on experiments while explaining the laws and theory behind the reactions, to ensure they learn something in the process.

Here are five simple and interesting science experiments you can try with your kids at home. They’re easy to do and highly enjoyable!

1.    Make a parachute.

All you need is a non-porous plastic bag. Now, let your child look around for heavy objects and then tie it at the bottom of the bag. From a high window, or balcony, or terrace, let them drop down the parachute. Watch it go - the most appropriately chosen weight would give the best results.

Use this experiment to teach your kids about gravity and weights. What causes an object to be more likely to fall faster, how does the surface area of the object affect it? You can drop two parachutes at the same time, and race to see which one falls fastest. Just make sure no one down there gets hurt!

2.    The classic baking soda and vinegar volcano.

Everyone has got to have made this volcano at some point in their school lives. Some vinegar in a bottle, and then add some baking soda - then watch it overflow. Cover up the bottle with some POP or mud or something to make it look like a mountain, and add some red colour in the vinegar maybe to make it look like lava. A time tested form of learning and entertainment, this has got to make your kids enthusiastic about chemistry.

3.    Make a rainbow.

Colours and immediate reactions are always exciting. Take a clear glass of water, and place it anywhere near sunlight. Place the glass above a plain white sheet of paper, and watch the sunlight refract and form a rainbow on the paper.

An excellent lesson to teach kids about light, its properties, and rules. Show them how different colours have different angles at which they bend, resulting in the rainbow!

4.    The floating egg.

This is fascinating to watch. Pour some water into a glass until it is halfway full. Then stir in a lot of salt and mix it well. Next, pour in some normal tap water carefully on top of the solution, without disturbing the saltwater mixture. Now, slowly lower the egg and watch the magic - because salt water is denser than the tap water, the egg will float midway in the glass.

An excellent way to teach kids how lighter objects float while denser ones sink.

5.    A balloon that doesn’t pop.

Blow up a balloon, and tie it at the end like usual. Now, take some normal tape and stick a small ‘X’ on the balloon with it. Take a pin and pierce the balloon with it right on the ‘X’ and see what happens. The balloon doesn’t pop!

This is because the process of the balloon ‘popping’ actually involves the tense surface being torn quickly - but the tape stuck over there prevents that, making the deflating process way slower.

Grab a few white coats, some goggles, and set about doing some of these science experiments with your kids and have fun!