6 - 15 March 2026 is British Science Week.
Each year, British Science Week creates a nationwide celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths for people of all ages with thousands of events and activities taking place across the length and breadth of the country.
The theme for 2025 was Change and Adapt! The theme for 2026 is What's Your Question!
You will need:
Milk (whole milk is best)
Food Colouring. The more colours the better
Dish Soap
Shallow Dish or Bowl
Method:
Step 1: Pour some milk into a shallow dish or bowl until the milk covers the bottom
Step 2 - Add some drops of food colouring on the milk. You can use a variety of colours, just be sure to add 3-4 drops of each colour.
Step 3 - Add a drop of dish soap into the centre of the milk. Watch in amazement as the colours dance across the surface of the milk.
Materials:
Water
Sterident tablets (from pharmacy for false teeth)
Small pots with a lid that can pop e.g. old film canister or kinder egg/ sterident tube
(Vinegar and Bicarbonate of soda can also be used)
Method:
Vary to the quantities of water and tablets to make your rocket pop in 5 seconds.
Think of other variables that could be altered:
· Crush/ break up the tablet
· Hot water/ cold water
· Amount of water
· Number of tablets
Be careful the lid doesn’t hit you in your eyes.
You will need:
A piece of lightweight material (bin bag, plastic shopping bag, tissue paper or newspaper)
String (4 lengths)
Object to attach (blue tack, plasticine, or a small toy)
Safety: Think about the tools you are using (scissors are sharp) and when you are ready your test site, is it safe to drop it from a height there?
Method:
Open and cut your bag into a square and measure the sides. If you use tissue or newspaper, put some Sellotape over each corner. This will prevent it from tearing when the string is placed through it
Tie the string around the corner or for paper make a small hole in each corner so that you can thread the string through. Once threaded tie the string so that it will stay tied to the tissue paper. Do this for all four corners.
Take the end of each piece of string and tie a small knot so that they stay together.
Shape your blue tack/plasticine around the small knot and make sure that it is in place firmly or tie the strings to your small toy.
Choose a safe place to test your parachute, make sure you hold the canopy open at the start of each drop.
Materials
Half a lemon
Water
Spoon
Bowl
Cotton bud
White paper
Heat source- Lamp or other light bulb/ tea light candle/oven/hotplate
Method:
1. Squeeze some lemon juice into the bowl and add a few drops of water.
2. Mix the water and lemon juice with the spoon.
3. Dip the cotton bud into the mixture and write a message onto the white paper.
4. Wait for the juice to dry so it becomes completely invisible.
5. When you are ready to read your secret message or show it to someone else, heat the paper by putting it on the oven or on a hotplate.
Be careful not to set the paper alight.
If you have enjoyed these why not visit the website and find out more about British Science week.
https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/activity-packs/
