On your mark, get set, pour! Your first grader has probably already noticed that some liquids, such as pancake syrup, pour slower than liquids like water. While this topic is always fun (and a little sticky) to explore in the kitchen or at mealtimes, it's good first grade science, too. In fact, a common core topic in early elementary school science is the difference between solid and liquid states of matter. And you don't need any fancy lab equipment to learn about it. Use the activity below to help your budding scientist become familiar with the properties of liquids and solids.

Yeast are one-celled fungi that multiply by "budding". They multiply quickly, and as they grow they produce carbon dioxide. Because of this special attribute, yeast is very important in baking and fermenting-we wouldn't have bread without it! In this simple experiment, you'll get to know this fascinating micro-organism, learning what it likes to eat and just how gassy it can get.

We all know that the Moon has different phases, but if you thought these phases had something to do with the shadow of the Earth (like many people think), you'd be wrong. Try this activity to see how the Moon's phases really work:

"Here's an experiment using simple household stuff to replicate discoveries that were first made centuries ago by the great Italian scientist, Allessandro Volta (if the last name "sparks" a memory of a certain electrical term, you're right!). This is a great way to get even the most reluctant of scientists excited about electricity science! Don't worry-there are no explosions in this experiment; but you can expect some delightfully "shocking" results."

Density - or mass per volume - of a liquid is an important scientific concept that can be viewed with the naked eye. We see it all the time with oil and water. Oil has a different density than water so the two liquids do not mix. In this experiment your child will look at a number of liquids with different densities and compare them all to water. She'll build her science skills and learn one of the most fundamental scientific concepts she'll use for years to come.

When it comes to kids and bugs, there's some kind of magnetic attraction. While they may seem ho-hum to adults, for example, pill bugs have a way of curling and uncurling that can keep a kid mesmerized; while a ladybug can charm a whole crowd.

Here's a great idea for recycling those 2-liter soda bottles. Create a mini plant habitat with your kids and learn what it takes to make an ecosystem work. Explain to your children that they'll be providing the water and sun for the little world they're making-its survival is in their hands! Don't be surprised if feelings of eco-responsibility start sprouting right before your eyes.

It's one thing to learn that cave formations are created when dissolved minerals are deposited as water evaporates, but your budding earth scientist can do it herself. Encourage your child's interest in the world around her with this hands-on activity.

Your first grader probably doesn't know that before we had watches and clocks, people used shadows to tell time! These "shadow clocks" were called sundials, and used the measurement of the shadows to tell what time it was. Introduce your child to the science of sundials by making your own shadow clock. It's a fun way to play with shadows, and will help improve her time-telling skills, too!

Here's a simple experiment you can do in your own home, to help your second-grader understand how temperature can affect states of matter. Your child will have a more solid understanding of these important scientific concepts after she does this experiment in a baggie! Not to mention, this activity ends with a refreshing treat and is perfect for those warm summer days.

Science is fun for kids of all ages. Experiments that dazzle, models that demonstrate, and activities that fascinate are fun for children to watch and participate in. But scientific explanations are often difficult for early elementary students to grasp. By third grade, students are familiar with the scientific process, and are ready to learn the "why" behind science. Here's a quick and easy science experiment that helps to add a visual element to the science of sound. What causes sound? In this activity, your third grader will find the answer. He'll see it for himself!

Next time you bake a cake, consider this. The cake dough is not really a cake, but when it's heated in the oven, a chemical reaction occurs and new bonds are formed. How does heat change things? When it comes to heat changing a chemical reaction, there are two types. One is "exothermic," a reaction that produces heat, and the other is "endothermic," a reaction that takes heat in. When you make a cake, you a producing an endothermic chemical reaction which changes batter to baked!

Take a break from the flash cards and try practicing multiplication facts with this fun board game! You will need two dice, a game board print-out, and place markers. It's a simple way to reach an important goal. Help your third grader gain more confidence working with his times tables as you race to make your way around the school yard in this exciting activity.

If you have a child who is balking at fractions, a game of Common Denominator War can help! Finding the least common denominator (LCD) of two fractions is one of the basic skills needed to work with fractions. You can find the common denominator of two fractions by finding the smallest number that is a multiple of both of them (lowest common multiple). This activity will give children plenty of practice in figuring out the lowest common multiple of two numbers.

"In first grade, students are developing their graphing skills. They're learning how to record, organize, and show data. Of course, all of that can get a little dry. To spice it up, form your own Olympics committee and host The Games, right in your own backyard! Appoint your child statistician, and collecting data and showing the results on a graph will be serious fun! Let the games begin!"

When you don't want to wear rented shoes at the bowling alley, try whipping up this homemade water bottle bowling set! Help your first grader improve his math skills while having hours of fun at the same time. Play this on a family game night, a rainy day, or at a party and it's sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. This game is great for all ages!

There's power in positive numbers, but negative numbers are equally important! Practice adding positive and negative numbers using a card game and you'll master this tricky concept in no time. Work together with your child, or play competitively, as you gauge his level of understanding. You'll see your child's confidence grow as his speed increases.