It’s time to do some science. Grab your lab coat (or kitchen apron)! These activities are ideal for encouraging children to follow their curiosity and explore the world around them through science.
From fun videos to DYI experiments, there’s always something to expand their growing minds, whether it’s hands-on or relaxing on the sofa with captivating science shows.
Chemical wonders
Don’t worry, these aren’t the fires and explosions you’re used to seeing in our Theatre. Instead, you can introduce children to the ‘magic’ of chemistry with lots of safe experiments that won’t require turning the fire alarm off, from colour-changing water to bouncy eggs.
Try this colour-changing water — you'll only need a red cabbage and a lemon.
Fantastic physics
These experiments will teach young ones about sound, light and energy through age-appropriate fun activities. With simple items you may already have in your cupboard (like spaghetti and marshmallows), they’ll discover a world of exciting, invisible forces.
Become engineers for the day by building structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows, and investigating the properties of materials.
Marvellous maths
We have been running extracurricular Ri Masterclass workshops for schools for over 40 years, enabling students to explore mathematics and computer science outside of the classroom with hands-on workshops.
Our Ri Masterclass team has created a range of free off-the-shelf resources for teachers and parents to run their own workshops at home, covering exciting topics like unusual shapes, special numbers and patterns found in nature.
Brilliant brain experiments
Is there anything quite as fascinating as the human brain, particularly the developing one of a child? We’ve put together a range of activities to explore optical illusions, memory and emotions.
Experiment with your perception of distance and size by making the amazing Ames room illusion.
CHRISTMAS LECTURES aren’t just for Christmas
The CHRISTMAS LECTURES are probably what the Ri is best-known for. And why wouldn’t they be? First broadcast on BBC TV in 1936, we’ve brought science to the small screen for generations of young people (and adults).
You can now dive into dozens of hours of lectures in our archive. What will it be? David Attenborough’s 1973 series about animals, or perhaps Hannah Fry’s 2019 lectures about luck, maths and probability?
Fancy a day out? Join us in person
We have a host of family-friendly shows and workshops lined up for April and the Easter school break, and we look forward to welcoming your family at the Royal Institution!
