The December plan
Christmas Science Experiments for Kids
24 easy, flame-free experiments, one for every day from December 1 to Christmas Eve. Each one comes with a cozy story about Theo the Science Elf and his little sister Tilda, and uses things you already have in your kitchen.
- Ages 3–9
- Kitchen materials
- No printer needed
- Made by a physicist
The short answer
- The easiest Christmas science experiments for children aged 3 to 9 use things from your kitchen: milk and dish soap, cornstarch, baking soda and vinegar, candy, balloons, cups and jars.
- Do one small experiment a day from December 1 to 24, always together with a grown-up. All 24 experiments in the plan below are flame-free.
- Each day has a short read-aloud story, one experiment, and a few questions to talk about what happened.
- The first 5 days are free, and each has its own page: Milk Fireworks, Magic Snow, Lava Lamp, Candy Rainbow and Foam Mountain.
Made with love for
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Homeschoolers
- Preschool teachers
- Kindergarten teachers
- Early elementary teachers
24 days, 24 little experiments
Tap a door to meet Theo and Tilda, tap again to see Janka’s real photo of the experiment, and once more to close it. Days 1 to 5 are free, with a full page each.
FREEDEC1Milk FireworksGratitudeDecember 1 · Flame-freeMilk FireworksWatch one drop of soap send colors racing across milk.Surface tension · Mixing and dissolvingFull experiment, free
FREEDEC2Magic SnowPatienceDecember 2 · Flame-freeMagic SnowDiscover a goo that flows like a liquid but pushes back like a solid.Amazing materials · Forces and motionFull experiment, free
FREEDEC3Lava LampEmpathyDecember 3 · Flame-freeLava LampWatch gas bubbles lift colored blobs up through oil.Density and floating · Chemical reactionsFull experiment, free
FREEDEC4Candy RainbowAcceptance
December 4 · Flame-freeCandy RainbowWatch candy colors dissolve and spread into a star.Mixing and dissolving · Density and floatingFull experiment, free
FREEDEC5Foam MountainTeamwork
December 5 · Flame-freeFoam MountainWatch baking soda and vinegar build a mountain of foam.Chemical reactions · Acids and basesFull experiment, free
DEC6Giant Gummy BearPatience
December 6 · Flame-freeGiant Gummy BearWatch a gummy bear soak up water and grow overnight.Mixing and dissolving · Water on the moveIn the book
DEC7Pepper SkatersEmpathy
December 7 · Flame-freePepper SkatersSee soap make pepper flakes zoom away across the water.Surface tensionIn the book
DEC8Fizzing MustardGenerosity
December 8 · Flame-freeFizzing MustardDiscover why mustard fizzes when it meets baking soda.Chemical reactions · Acids and basesIn the book
DEC9Static BalloonHelpfulness
December 9 · Flame-freeStatic BalloonDiscover how a rubbed balloon can make paper bits jump.ElectricityIn the book
DEC10Floating EggPerseverance
December 10 · Flame-freeFloating EggMake an egg float using nothing but salt water.Density and floatingIn the book
DEC11Oil DropletsCooperation
December 11 · Flame-freeOil DropletsSee why drops of color stay round and won’t mix with oil.Density and floating · Surface tensionIn the book
DEC12Cola GeyserPerseverance
December 12 · Flame-freeCola GeyserSee how bubbles of gas can blast cola high into the air.Air and gases · Mixing and dissolvingIn the book
DEC13Cabbage ColorsLearning from Mistakes
December 13 · A grown-up helpsCabbage ColorsTurn cabbage juice pink or blue to spot acids and bases.Acids and basesIn the book
DEC14Self-Filling BalloonTeamwork
December 14 · Flame-freeSelf-Filling BalloonSee how a fizzy reaction can blow up a balloon with no puffing.Chemical reactions · Air and gasesIn the book
DEC15Melting RaceHonesty
December 15 · Flame-freeMelting RaceFind out where ice melts faster: in plain or salty water.Melting and freezing · Density and floatingIn the book
DEC16Liquid TowerLearning from Mistakes
December 16 · Flame-freeLiquid TowerStack honey, soap, milk, and oil into four colorful layers.Density and floatingIn the book
DEC17Pink Snow CloudForgiveness
December 17 · Flame-freePink Snow CloudSee how egg white turns fizzing bubbles into a fluffy foam cloud.Chemical reactions · Acids and basesIn the book
DEC18Unpoppable BalloonCourage
December 18 · A grown-up helpsUnpoppable BalloonFind out how tape can stop a balloon from popping.Amazing materials · Air and gasesIn the book
DEC19Bubble SnakeHelpfulness
December 19 · A grown-up helpsBubble SnakeBlow a long snake of foam using a sock and a bottle.Surface tension · Air and gasesIn the book
DEC20Cabbage FlowersEmpathy
December 20 · A grown-up helpsCabbage FlowersDiscover how leaves drink colored water up through their veins.Water on the moveIn the book
DEC21Fizzy LemonsAcceptance
December 21 · A grown-up helpsFizzy LemonsDiscover how lemon juice and baking soda make colorful fizz.Acids and bases · Chemical reactionsIn the book
DEC22Marbled SwirlsLearning from Mistakes
December 22 · Flame-freeMarbled SwirlsSee a dab of soap send colors racing into marbled swirls.Surface tensionIn the book
DEC23Balloon FountainHelpfulness
December 23 · A grown-up helpsBalloon FountainSee how a balloon’s squeeze can push water up and out.Air and gases · Water on the moveIn the book
DEC24Golden SnowfallGratitude
December 24 · Flame-freeGolden SnowfallSee how tiny specks make a hidden beam of light glow gold.Light and colorIn the book
All 24 days, plus 27 more adventures for snowy January days.
Light up a bauble for every adventure
A glowing two-page map waits at the start of the book. Each finished adventure lights up one bauble: 51 stops all the way to Christmas and beyond.
- 1Read the storyTheo the Science Elf and his little sister Tilda face a real-life problem and a big feeling. Just a few minutes to read aloud.
- 2Do the experimentEveryday kitchen materials, clear numbered steps, and a “What’s happening?” box that explains the science in kid-friendly words.
- 3Talk about itReady-made questions link the story’s value to your child’s own life. Then try the mini mission for the week.
- 4Stamp the mapEach finished adventure lights up a bauble on the two-page adventure map: 51 glowing stops all the way to Christmas!
Flip through the real book
Turn the pages of the real book: Janka’s letters, the contents, the December plan, three full adventures, the real photos and the certificate. Click a page or swipe to turn it.
A 26-page peek into the 129-page book · A4 and US Letter
Swipe to flip through · tap a page to see it big
That was 26 pages. The other 103 are just as cozy.
14 science topics, one cozy December
Every experiment answers a real question about the world, in words a 3-year-old can follow and a 9-year-old can explain back. The numbers on the chips are December days.
Chemical reactionsWhen two things mix and something brand-new is made.
15 experiments in the book- 8Fizzing Mustard
- 14Self-Filling Balloon
- 21Fizzy Lemons
Acids and basesSour acids meet baking soda: they fizz, foam, and change colors.
7 experiments in the book- 8Fizzing Mustard
- 13Cabbage Colors
- 21Fizzy Lemons
Air and gasesAir is real stuff: it pushes, fills, and lifts.
14 experiments in the book- 12Cola Geyser
- 18Unpoppable Balloon
- 19Bubble Snake
Density and floatingWhy some things float while others sink.
8 experiments in the book- 4Candy Rainbow
- 15Melting Race
- 10Floating Egg
Surface tensionWater’s stretchy skin and how soap breaks it.
6 experiments in the book- 19Bubble Snake
- 1Milk Fireworks
- 11Oil Droplets
Mixing and dissolvingWhat disappears in water, and what never will.
6 experiments in the book- 12Cola Geyser
- 4Candy Rainbow
- 1Milk Fireworks
- Melting and freezing
Ice, water, and vapor: matter changing state.
5 experiments in the book- 15Melting Race
Heat and temperatureWhat warmth does to air, water, and treats.
8 experiments in the book
Fire and safe burningWhat a flame needs, and how to keep it safe.
11 experiments in the book
ElectricityInvisible charges that make things jump, and currents that make wires glow.
2 experiments in the book- 9Static Balloon
- Light and color
Color mixing, glowing colors, and hidden pigments.
3 experiments in the book- 24Golden Snowfall
- Water on the move
How water climbs, walks, and travels.
4 experiments in the book- 6Giant Gummy Bear
- 20Cabbage Flowers
- 23Balloon Fountain
Forces and motionPushes, pulls, and rockets on the move.
4 experiments in the book- 2Magic Snow
- Amazing materials
Bouncy, gooey, stretchy: how materials behave.
3 experiments in the book- 18Unpoppable Balloon
- 2Magic Snow
Meet five topics this week, freeSurface tension, chemical reactions, density, mixing and dissolving and amazing materials are all in the free 5 days.
Get the free 5 days ›
What do you need for Christmas science?
Mostly things you already have. We counted every item in the 24 December experiments, so you can see what you’ll reach for most often.
No lab needed. 36 of the 51 experiments in the book need nothing but everyday kitchen and household items, not even a candle or a match.
- Cups, plates and bowls16 of 24 days
- Water13 of 24 days
- Food coloring11 of 24 days
- Clear glasses and jars9 of 24 days
- Dish soap6 of 24 days
- Baking soda6 of 24 days
- Safety goggles6 of 24 days
- Vinegar4 of 24 days
- Balloons4 of 24 days
- Cotton swabs4 of 24 days
- Cooking oil3 of 24 days
- Milk3 of 24 days
- Salt3 of 24 days
- Candy3 of 24 days
- Lemon juice2 of 24 days
- Cornstarch1 of 24 days
Is it safe for little scientists?
Yes. Every adventure was designed for small hands, busy kitchens, and preschool tables.
36 of the 51 experiments need nothing but everyday kitchen and household items. Not even a candle or a match.
Every step that needs a grown-up is clearly marked, so you always know when to take over.
A Safety First page and safety notes on every experiment, written in plain, friendly words.
Designed and tested by a physicist who has run many science shows for children.
Want to see how it works in your own kitchen?
Can teachers use the plan in class?
Yes. It’s made for preschool, kindergarten and early elementary groups too. Read the story at circle time, let the children predict what will happen, then do the experiment together.
- Every adventure says what children will learn
- Science words and value talk questions for each day
- One purchase covers one teacher with their own group or class
- A note for families, so children can continue at home
A physicist who tested every experiment
Janka Sára Molnár is a physicist and award-winning science communicator from Hungary. She started building particle detectors at 15, and for more than ten years she has been bringing science to children, families and teachers. She tested every experiment in the book in her own lab, and the photos are her real results.
How much does it cost? Less than a hot cocoa.
Launch prices until December 24. Your files are ready the moment you check out.
The Book
129 printable pages
less than 50¢ a day in December
Get the book- 51 stories and 51 experiments
- 24-day December plan
- Story words and science words
- Stampable two-page adventure map
- Contents, learning index, and certificate
Book + Activity Pack
Everything in the book, plus 60+ pages of FUN
less than 60¢ a day in December
Get the bundle- The complete book
- Coloring pages, mazes, and word games
- Puppets, ornaments, and bookmarks
- Kindness advent calendar
- Word cards and value talk cards
One price for everyone. A parent can print it for Advent at home, and a preschool teacher can bring it to her group. One purchase covers one family, or one teacher with their own group or class.
Prices in US dollars. Any sales tax or VAT is calculated at checkout.
Can we try it first?
Of course! The first 5 days of the December plan are yours for free. Try them at home or with your group, and see if your little scientist asks for Day 6.
- 5 cozy stories
- 5 kitchen experiments
- 5 activity pages
- A note from Janka
- A cover with your name and the 5 experiments
Where should we send your 5 free days?
We never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime with one click.
Questions grown-ups ask first
Everything parents and teachers ask before they start December. Tap a question to open it.
Write to Janka. She reads every email herself.
molnar.janka.sara@funtasztikus-tudomany.huWhat is the easiest Christmas science experiment for a 3-year-old?
Milk Fireworks, Day 1 of the plan. Pour a little milk into a plate, add a few drops of food coloring, then touch the middle with a cotton swab dipped in dish soap. The colors swirl away from the soap, because the soap weakens the milk’s surface tension.
Do I need a printer?
No. Every story and experiment can be read on a tablet, phone or computer. Many families print only the adventure map, the activity pages and the certificate.
Is there a free version?
Yes. The first 5 days of the December plan are free as a 25-page sampler: Milk Fireworks, Magic Snow, the Lava Lamp, the Candy Rainbow and the Foam Mountain. Each one also has its own page on this site.
We are starting late. Does that matter?
Not at all. Begin with Day 1 anyway, or jump to today’s date. Both work, and the other 27 adventures in the book are for January, weekends and school breaks.
What do children learn from Christmas science experiments?
Every experiment answers a real question about the world, in words a 3-year-old can follow and a 9-year-old can explain back. Across the book children meet 14 science topics, from surface tension to static electricity, plus 14 values like patience and kindness.
Are the experiments safe for preschoolers?
Yes, when a grown-up stays close the whole time. All 24 December experiments are flame-free, every step that only a grown-up may do is clearly marked, and a Safety First page comes before the first experiment.
How much does the full book cost?
The book is $11.99 until December 24, then $14.99. The book with the 68-page Activity Pack is $13.99 until December 24, then $17.99. It is an instant PDF download.