A free printable checklist of 15 science experiments kids ages 5 to 11 can run in the backyard, covering water and weather, plants and soil, and animals and bugs. Every experiment uses what you already have: water, dirt, jars, and sunlight. No lab coat, no kit.
Put together by Amelie, B.Ed, M.Ed, former classroom teacher · Updated June 2026
Anywhere Learning
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Nature & Outdoor
15 ideas · 3 themes
Backyard Science Checklist: 15 Experiments
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Free printable checklist
Download and print this list to pin on the fridge, toss in your bag, or keep on the counter. Pick whichever version works best for your printer. Instant download. No email required.
These are hands-on science experiments you do alongside your kids, not demos they watch. Set up the materials together, ask what they think will happen before you start, and let them get it wrong. The mess and the surprise are where the learning lives. Work through one experiment at a time and let the questions pile up.
Go deeper
This checklist is the quick version. For the why behind each idea, parent tips, and the full walkthrough, read Backyard Science Experiments: 15 No-Prep Ideas Kids Can Do Today.
These ideas are a great starting point. The membership gives you fully guided activities with step-by-step instructions, three skill levels, and parent tips for every single one.
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