A series of videos demonstrating various simple, fun practicals and demonstrations that you can use to teach changing materials.

Each video shows how to carry out the demonstration and explains the science behind it. You don’t need any specialist equipment – all of the demonstrations use things you can buy in a supermarket. 

Bath bomb demonstration video

Investigate this topic with your learners

Use this demonstration as part of a class investigation on fizzy irreversible changes and bath bombs, with accompanying classroom slides and teacher notes.

Make a bath bomb with your primary students to investigate gases, and changing materials.

Carbon from a candle demonstration video

Collect carbon soot from a candle to investigate changing materials with your primary students.

Fire extinguisher demonstration video

Investigate this topic with your learners

Use this demonstration as part of a class investigation on irreversible changes and the ‘fire extinguisher’, with accompanying classroom slides and teacher notes.

Put out a fire with a jug of carbon dioxide to demonstrate changing materials, irreversible reactions, and gases to primary students.

Freaky hand demonstration video

Investigate this topic with your learners

Use this demonstration as part of a class investigation on irreversible changes and the ‘freaky hand’, with accompanying classroom slides and teacher notes.

Make a freaky inflatable hand to demonstrate irreversible reactions to primary students.

Lava lamp demonstration video

Investigate this topic with your learners

Use this demonstration as part of a class investigation on liquids, gases and the ‘lava lamp’, with accompanying classroom slides and teacher notes.

Make a lava lamp to explore mixing liquids and more concepts in primary science.

Intriguing ice demonstration video

Investigate this topic with your learners

Use this demonstration as part of a class investigation on freezing and ‘intriguing ice’, with accompanying classroom slides and teacher notes.

Freeze different liquids to demonstrate the effects with your primary students.

Particle disco demonstration video

Demonstrate the movement of particles, and Brownian Motion, with this primary science demonstration.

Different dissolving demonstration video

Dissolve polystyrene cups to demonstrate a different type of dissolving to primary students. This demonstration uses nail polish remover please handle this with great care and follow the safety guidance on the packaging.

 

Additional information

From the Catalyst Primary Science series. Presenters: Sue Halliday & Lorelly Wilson.

For more information, you can watch our introduction to the video series. Or you can watch Alan Heaton introduce the background to series, and thank the presenters.

Primary science video demonstrations