We got so excited after our talks with Dr. Lindsey Hiebert of Northern Arizona University about how fun and relevant speech therapy science experiments are that we decided to poll SLPs and find their best-of and most exciting speech therapy science experiments that they have to share. Using science gives us an immediate way to problem solve, infer, describe, learn new vocabulary, and be spot-on with what is needed in the classroom.
Then there is the personal side of it. Creating speech therapy science experiments is messy, loud, funny, memorable, and totally motivates any child to come to your sessions. A bunch of ideas on this list I had never heard of so thank you to everyone who contributed ideas. We also shared the links that were shared with us to highlight the good work done by SLPs to share their successes around the internet.
Get Ready for Take Off! Speech Therapy Science Experiments You Have to Try
1. Oobleck Exploration
Creating oobleck—a non-Newtonian fluid made from cornstarch and water—provides a tactile experience that encourages descriptive language and articulation practice. Discussing its unique properties can prompt conversations about texture and states of matter.
2. Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
This classic experiment involves combining baking soda and vinegar to simulate a volcanic eruption. It’s an excellent opportunity to teach sequencing, cause-and-effect relationships, and introduce scientific vocabulary. Visuals and worksheets to accompany this activity are available from Panda Speech.
3. Dancing Raisins
Placing raisins in carbonated soda causes them to rise and fall, demonstrating principles of buoyancy and gas. This simple speech therapy science experiment can stimulate discussions about observation and prediction, enhancing inferencing skills. Here are some key points to the experiment:
- Bubbles actually adhere to surfaces: Raisins have a rough to texture which provides numerous nucleation sites for the carbon dioxide bubbles to cling to.
- Volume increase due to a change in density: When bubbles accumulate on the raisins, they effectively increase its volume without significantly adding mass. This means they become less dense than the liquid surrounding them and they float.
- Buoyancy: The buoyant force exerted by the bubbles lifts the raisin upwards.
4. Slime Creation
Making slime by mixing glue, baking soda, and contact solution engages students in following multi-step directions and using measurement vocabulary. The process encourages expressive language as students describe the texture and actions involved.
5. Balloon Rockets
Attaching a balloon to a string and releasing the air propels the balloon forward, demonstrating basic physics concepts. This activity can be used to practice prediction, sequencing, and cause and effect. A Perfect Blend Teaching discusses how this experiment can be utilized in speech therapy to facilitate language opportunities.
6. Elephant Toothpaste
This experiment involves a rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, creating a foamy substance. It’s visually stimulating and can be used to elicit descriptive language and sequential storytelling. The “elephant toothpaste” experiment produces a large, foamy eruption by rapidly decomposing hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst, such as yeast or potassium iodide. The reaction releases oxygen gas, which becomes trapped in dish soap, creating a thick, bubbly foam that bursts upward, resembling toothpaste squeezed from a giant tube. This popular demonstration highlights chemical reactions and the role of catalysts in a visually exciting way.
How to Make Elephant Toothpaste:
Materials Needed:
- 1 empty plastic bottle (16 oz or larger)
- 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide (3% for a safe version, or 6-12% for a larger reaction)
- 1 packet of active dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons warm water
- Dish soap
- Food coloring (optional)
- Safety goggles and gloves (especially with higher concentrations of peroxide)
- A tray or large pan (to catch the foam)
Steps:
- Prepare the Bottle: Place the plastic bottle on a tray to catch the foam overflow.
- Add Hydrogen Peroxide: Carefully pour 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle.
- Mix Dish Soap and Food Coloring: Add a generous squirt of dish soap to the bottle, and swirl gently to mix. Add a few drops of food coloring for a colorful eruption.
- Activate the Yeast: In a small cup, mix the yeast with 3 tablespoons of warm water. Stir for about 30 seconds until dissolved.
- Start the Reaction: Quickly pour the yeast mixture into the bottle and step back. The reaction will create a thick, bubbly foam that erupts from the bottle.
How It Works:
The yeast acts as a catalyst, speeding up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. The dish soap traps the oxygen bubbles, creating a thick foam that resembles toothpaste squeezed from a giant tube.
This speech therapy science experiment is a fun and visually exciting way to teach about chemical reactions, catalysts, and states of matter.
7. Rainbow Milk Experiment
The “rainbow milk experiment” is a simple, engaging science activity that involves adding drops of food coloring to a plate of milk. When a small amount of dish soap touches the milk, the colors swirl in a rainbow-like pattern. This captivating effect occurs because the soap disrupts the milk’s surface tension and interacts with its fat molecules, demonstrating how soap breaks down fat. This visual spectacle can prompt discussions about color mixing, observation skills, and following directions.
8. Static Electricity Exploration
Rubbing a balloon on different materials to observe static electricity effects can lead to conversations about electricity, materials, and cause-and-effect relationships. This hands-on activity encourages curiosity and descriptive language.
9. Sink or Float
Predicting and testing which objects sink or float in water helps develop reasoning and hypothesis skills. Discussing the outcomes enhances vocabulary related to density and buoyancy.
Objects for a Sink or Float Experiment:
- Coins (pennies, quarters)
- Plastic bottle caps
- Small rubber balls
- Toy blocks (wooden or plastic)
- Corks
- Sponges
- Paper clips
- Marbles
- Aluminum foil (shaped into a ball or boat)
- Shells
- Small plastic figurines
- Pebbles or small rocks
- Plastic spoons
- Key rings
- Apples or oranges (with and without peel)
Using a variety of objects with different shapes, sizes, and materials helps students observe and discuss why some items sink while others float, promoting descriptive language and scientific reasoning during the experiment.
10. Homemade Play Dough
Mixing flour, salt, water, and food coloring to create play dough provides a sensory-rich experience. This activity supports language development through following instructions, discussing textures, and imaginative play.
Ways to Use Homemade Playdough:
- Shape Creations: Build animals, letters, or shapes to practice vocabulary and fine motor skills.
- Imprint Games: Press objects like leaves, coins, or shells into the dough for sensory exploration and descriptive language practice.
- Story Scenes: Create characters and settings, then act out stories to promote narrative skills.
- Letter Stamping: Use alphabet stamps to form words and practice spelling or sight words.
- Playdough Mats: Follow themed activity mats (e.g., counting mats or shape tracing) to develop language and math concepts.
- Role-Play Activities: Make pretend foods like cookies or pizzas for imaginative play and conversation practice.
- Sensory Vocabulary: Encourage students to describe the dough’s texture, smell, and color to develop descriptive language.
- Counting Games: Roll small balls of dough and count them to practice numbers and math terms.
- Emotion Faces: Shape faces expressing different emotions to support social-emotional learning and vocabulary.
- Building Structures: Use dough with items like toothpicks or straws to create towers or bridges, fostering problem-solving and teamwork.
The Science Behind the Science
Yes, these speech therapy science experiments are fun but there is good research to back up their effectiveness. Studies have explored the integration of science activities in special education. For instance, research by K. Fisher examines the relationship between extracurricular STEM activities and performance on science assessments, highlighting the benefits of hands-on learning experiences for students with diverse needs.
The importance of extracurricular STEM activities for students with disabilities
By thoughtfully selecting and adapting science experiments, speech-language pathologists can create dynamic and effective therapy sessions that foster both communication skills and scientific curiosity.
Want to learn more about the research behind using speech therapy science experiments and how to make it a continuous part of each semester?
Join Dr. Lindsey Hiebert of Northern Arizona University as she shares the benefits of using science curriculum for language intervention with bilingual children to improve communication and meet classroom goals.
Combining Science Activities with Language Intervention for Children With DLD
