Stuck on what to do for your eight year old’s party? Eight is a brilliant age for a science party. At this age, children are naturally curious, love discovering how things work and are ready to get hands-on and stuck-in with experiments. We believe the best science parties are all about getting the children involved. Here are some of the best science party ideas to help turn your child’s birthday into an unforgettable scientific adventure.

Children shouldn’t just sit and watch a science demonstration, they should be making, predicting, and experimenting. From bubbling reactions to making your own slime, here are some of our best party ideas to help you turn your child’s birthday into an unforgettable scientific adventure.

 

1. Fizz, Foam and Fun!

 

If there’s one thing guaranteed to get a room full of eight-year-olds excited, it’s an experiment that fizzes, bubbles or foams.

Simple chemical reactions can introduce children to some fascinating science while still creating an exciting and memorable experience.

Children can investigate what happens when different materials are combined and participate in their own testing and predicting.

You could explore gases, acids and bases, changes of state, reaction rates. The best experiments for WOW factor would be the Elephant’s Toothpaste or baking powder and vinegar volcanoes, Coke and Mentos geyser (see our blog for the best Coke & Mentos tips here), and bubbly lava lamps using effervescent tablets.

 

Check out our blog here on how to make a lava lamp and this blog teaches you how to make “fireworks in a jar” experiment.

We also host Crazy Chemistry themed science parties which is our most popular party choice. So if you’d rather leave the ingredients and mess to us, feel free to get in contact!

 

2. Slime Science

Of course, you can’t talk about science party ideas for 8 year olds without mentioning slime!

Slime is a huge favourite because it’s colourful, messy and wonderfully satisfying to play with. There’s also some great science hiding inside it. Children can explore how the ingredients of slime interact and discover how altering a mixture can change its properties.

Slime can be a fantastic addition to a science birthday party, particularly because children can create something themselves and take their scientific creation home. Just try to avoid any slime near your hair! 

We have a wonderful blog here which tells you all the instructions for the perfect slime. You can also get creative by adding sequins and glitter to your slime. If your child has a birthday that falls around Halloween, spooky fluorescent slime is especially fun to create. 

Our online shop offers slime kits put together by our team to ensure you can create the best slime with your children without the hassle and stress of finding and buying the right ingredients – the activator you choose makes all the difference. You can have a browse here.

 

3. Wildlife Science

Got an animal or nature lover? A wildlife or animal-themed science birthday party can be a brilliant way to explore the science of the natural world. Encourage your children to ask (and answer): 

How do certain animals camouflage themselves?

How do insects communicate?

How do animals survive in extreme environments?

Why do some animals have such unusual adaptations?

Then get outside and explore the wonders of the natural world. Magnifying glasses, friendly bug catchers, binoculars, pocket microscopes are all things that would help a child engage in a wildlife themed science party. Perhaps you could put together an explorers kit and bring a journal to document your findings!

From looking at habitats and animals up close, there are great opportunities to turn children’s fascination with animals into hands-on science. Just remember to be respectful of nature and follow the leave no trace principles.

Our shop also sells owl pellets for dissection for those who want to explore wildlife and nature science at home. 

 

4. Discover the Science of Light

Light is another fantastic theme for a children’s science party; it can feel so magical while being all about science. Children can investigate colour, shadows, reflections and optical illusions while discovering the science behind what they see.

There are plenty of light-focused experiments to try at home for your 8-year-old’s science party, here’s an easy light refraction one to try:

DIY Rainbow Maker

What you need: A shallow tray or bowl of water, a small mirror, and sunshine!

How to do it: Place the mirror into the tray at an angle under the water. Angle the mirror towards the sunlight (you can be outdoors or indoors) to shine a bright beam of sunlight onto the submerged part of the mirror. Hold a white piece of paper in front of the reflection to catch the rainbow. Its takes a little fiddling to get the angle just right, but when it does the rainbow is spectacular!

 

Why it works: Water and mirror splits white sunlight (called refraction) into its individual wavelengths of colour, shown as a bright rainbow!

Get creative and try some of our other light experiments such as the Orbeez Magic or our Glow-in-the-Dark Orbeez

 

5. Bath Bomb Science

Do you have an 8-year-old that loves pretty colours and a bit of a pamper? Making bath bombs might be the perfect choice for a fun, crafty science party for your child. 

You can easily make bath bombs at home, you just need citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, food colouring, and essential oils. You can follow our tutorial here. Children can choose their own scent, colours and shape, and have a relaxing experience while still learning all about science. 

Of course at the end each child has a bath bomb of their own creation they can take home and use! This party idea is great for those that enjoy a cosy, calm activity for their birthday.

Our online shop stocks bath bomb kits for those looking to make easy, hassle-free bath bombs!

 

Planning a Science Birthday Party for your 8 year old in Devon, Dorset, Cornwall or Somerset?

If you’re searching for a science party in Devon, Dorset, Cornwall or Somerset, choosing a science party with us at Devon Science can make planning your child’s birthday much easier. We can bring the science to you, in your home or chosen party venue. 

Ready to give your child a birthday party they’ll never forget? Devon Science brings exciting, hands-on science birthday parties for children, packed with fun science experiments, creations to take home, fabulous entertainment, and plenty of WOW moments. Every guest becomes a scientist! Leave the mess to us. 

Get in touch here to find out more about our science parties and check availability for your child’s birthday.

 

Happy Science-party-ing

Sophie

Blogger at Devon Science