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This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
Design and build balloon-powered LEGO cars that will blast off with the help of the air from the balloons! There are unlimited ways to build the cars and your kids will love racing them to see which one will go farther!
We just moved, so most of our items are all in boxes, including my kids' toys.

I had strategically put some toys aside so that my kids could have something to play with at the new house. One of them being LEGOs!

And I am so glad I did that. You can do so much with LEGOs, including designing a balloon-powered LEGO car and a LEGO zip line for the minifigures!

This balloon LEGO car activity is easy and simple, and it's a fun time for the entire family! Even though my daughter is only 3 so playing with LEGOs is not really her thing yet, she still had a great time watching the cars go and being the judge of which car went the farthest.

HERE ... WE ... GO!

How to Make LEGO Balloon-Powered Cars

Materials:

Instructions:

1. Have your child create and build his/her own LEGO car.

2. Show your child how you can build a hole to stick the balloon through.

3. Blow up the balloon and hold the end shut while you place the cars on the ground.

4. Let the LEGO cars go and see how far the car can travel!

5. Measure how far the car went and record the distance in the free balloon-powered LEGO cars worksheet under "Car 1".

6. Blow up the balloon and see how far the car can travel this time.

7. Record the result under "Distance 2" in the worksheet.

8. Make the necessary improvements and repeat steps #4-#7 with "Car 2".

9. Tweak your LEGO car one more time and repeat steps #4-#7 with "Car 3".

10. Determine which car has the best design and why and record your observation and reflection on the free balloon-powered LEGO cars worksheet.

My son actually didn't need much direction from me. He built his car really quickly and just needed me to show him how to make a hole for the balloon. Mommy was proud.

The LEGO car has a simple design, but there is no need for more. In fact, if you build too fancy of a car, the weight of the LEGO bricks might impede the car from going far.

We tested our designs before racing our cars. To my surprise, my son's LEGO car had no issues with the air from the balloon pushing it forward. My car, on the other hand, kept flipping over instead of staying upright on its wheels.

The reason that the balloon was able to propel my son's car without any issues is that my son's car was low, flat, and long. Meanwhile, my car was tall and short. Think of a race car versus an SUV. So when we apply force to the car with the air from the balloon, the air knocked my car over instead of pushing it forward.

Another design issue we noticed was that if the hole where the balloon went was too big, the balloon would fall out or change directions. To make the car go straight, we made the hole smaller. Here is a picture of what we ended up with:

I changed my design to imitate my son's LEGO car and we were ready to go.

RACE TIME!

The Science Behind Balloon-Powered LEGO Cars

While you can do this activity just for fun, there is an opportunity to teach your child the physics of force and motion!

Newton's first law states that "every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force."

Show your child how the LEGO car by itself will not do anything. It's not until you release the air from the balloon and apply external force on the car that it starts to move.

Here are some experiments you can do with your child:

Blow up the balloon bigger. Does the car go faster? Farther?

Add some more LEGO bricks to the car. How does the extra weight impact how far the car can travel?

Try racing the cars on a different surface (i.e. carpet vs. wood floor).

Place the balloon higher up or lower down on the LEGO car. How does the placement of the balloon impact how the car moves?

Final Thoughts on the Balloon LEGO Car Activity

If your kid is not into LEGO yet, this is a great activity to get him/her interested. You can do this over and over again with different car designs. Let your kid's imagination run wild when building the cars and take lots of pictures to document his/her creativity. You can even try different types of balloons!

This balloon-powered LEGO car activity is also awesome for playdates. I bet the kids would have a blast racing their cars with their friends!

This balloon-powered LEGO car activity is part of the 30-day LEGO STEM challenge. Download the free LEGO challenge calendar for a month of LEGO STEM fun.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Free Printable 30-Day LEGO STEM Challenge Calendar
Want this activity in an easy-to-print file? I have compiled 5 super fun LEGO STEM activities for kids in a printable PDF.

Each activity includes a list of supplies, step-by-step directions, an explanation of the science behind the activity, and different extensions based on the science concepts.

The ebook includes:

Balloon-Powered LEGO Cars

LEGO Zip Line

Penny LEGO Boat Challenge

LEGO Volcano

LEGO Plinko Board

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How to Build Balloon-Powered LEGO Cars | Mombrite

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This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details. Design and build balloon-powered LEGO cars that will blast off with the help of the air from the balloons!

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Science Experiments at Home

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Searching for kid-friendly science experiments to do at home? Whether you're prepping for a fifth-grade science fair or want something fun to do with preschoolers, these cool science experiments for kids are super easy and a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Parents may end up learning a new thing or two, too!

Children are born scientists. They're always experimenting with something, whether they're throwing a plate of spaghetti on the wall, blowing bubbles in the bathwater, or stacking blocks into an intricate tower only to destroy it in one big swipe. Happily, you can do some pretty mind-blowing, hands-on science experiments at home using stuff you probably have lying around the house.

Want even more science experiments for kids like this? Check out our list of 25 Preschool Science Experiments, and more, in our Guide to Science Experiments for Kids, which is packed with fun STEM activities.

Popular KiwiCo, Green Kid Crafts, and Mel Chemistry subscription boxes send age-appropriate projects every month, so you never run out of science experiments you can do at home.

Coolest Science Experiments for Kids at Home

1. Make rock candy

Learn about the crystallization process by learning how to make rock candy in a glass.

2. Make a lava lamp

Make a lava lamp by pouring vegetable oil into water and then adding an Alka-Seltzer tablet to make the blob of oil move.

3. Make homemade slime

Borax plus glue equals homemade slime.

4. Frozen bubbles

Blow bubbles outside when temperatures dip to the single digits and watch them freeze.

5. Invisible Ink

Use lemon juice to make invisible ink that can only be seen when held up to a heat source.

6. Walking rainbows

Use food coloring and water to make a walking rainbow and explore how combining primary colors makes secondary colors.

7. Paper towel art/magic

This paper towel art magic trick, which also involves science for an added bonus. Permanent and washable markers make art and teach about solubility at the same time.
RELATED: 1000s of Boredom Busters for Kids
8. Pepper and soap experiment

Dish soap, pepper, a toothpick, and a little bit of water are all kids need to feel like science wizards. Watch a little drop of soap chase pepper away in the pepper and soap experiment.

9. Balloon carbon dioxide experiment

Create carbon dioxide and hang on while you use it to fill up a balloon.

10. Skittles science experiment

Learn about a phenomenon called water stratification, using Skittles as the subject matter. Perfect for after Halloween!

Fun Science Experiments Using Household Staples

11. Marshmallow catapult

Build a marshmallow catapult out of a plastic spoon, rubber bands, and Popsicle sticks.

12. Make a parachute for toys

Use a plastic bag and cup to build a parachute for a light toy.

13. Dye flowers with food coloring

Place white flowers in colored water and watch how they soak up the hues.

RELATED: 50 Magna-Tiles Games and Building Ideas for Kids

14. Baking soda lemon juice experiment

Create a colorful and fizzy reaction by adding a drop of food coloring and a little baking soda to a sliced lemon.

15. Make homemade butter

Make your own butter by shaking a jar of heavy cream.

16. Homemade ice cream in a bag

Make homemade ice cream in a bag: shake salt, ice, cream, and sugar vigorously until the consistency is right, then enjoy.

17. Do oil and water mix?

Plop oil into water to see that they really don't mix; try it with a variety of liquids to make a rainbow of stripes.

RELATED: 25 Exercise Games to Do with Kids Indoors

18. Egg in a bottle experiment

Force an egg to fit into a bottle by creating a suction using heat.

19. Floating eggs

Change how an egg floats or sinks in a glass by adding salt to the water.

20. Turn milk into plastic

Turn milk into a material that acts like plastic using white vinegar.

21. Thriving yeast experiment

Mix a batch of bread dough and separate it into several different bowls; place them in different places (outside, inside, in the dark, in the light) to see which environment yeast thrives in.

22. How does mold grow?

Grow mold on bread by putting slices in different environments (in a bag in the dark, in a bag in the sunlight, out in the open, in the refrigerator); see which one gets moldy first.

23. The taste-smell connection

Have your kids close their eyes and hold their noses and see if they can still identify foods by taste.

24. Make easy homemade cheese
RELATED: 75 Indoor Activities for Kids for Rainy Days
Dabble in some kitchen science while making this yummy ricotta cheese.

25. Make an eggshell disappear

Your egg will be so embarrassed when you leave it naked! Dissolve the shell right off an egg by simply placing it in a cup of vinegar.

26. Make a taste bud map

Map taste buds by dipping Q-tips into different flavors and placing them on different areas of your tongue.

27. Find the fatty food with a simple trick

Explore the fat content of different foods by wiping them on a brown paper bag; fatty foods leave behind a greasy spot, while fruits and vegetables leave no trace at all.

Slime, Putty, and Oobleck Science Experiments for Kids

28. Silly putty recipe

You will be squeaky clean after creating this satisfying non-sticky putty by simply combining cornstarch and dish soap.

29. Easy Oobleck recipe

Whip up some Oobleck, a fascinating non-Newtonian fluid that can act like a solid or a liquid depending on certain conditions.

30. Ivory soap in microwave

Microwave Ivory soap (or any soap that floats) to create a bizarre puffy soufflé.

Outdoor and Nature Science Experiments

31. Grow beans

Grow a bean in a clear cup to watch the roots grow down and the stem grow up.

32. Make a duck call/whistle from a straw

Craft a duck call by cutting the ends of a straw into a point, then blow.

33. Musical bottles

Set up a row of bottles with varying amounts of liquid and then blow across the openings to hear the different tones.

34. How to make a sundial

Make a sundial by placing a stick in a vertical position and a circle of rocks around it marking each hour.

35. Cut ice cubes like magic

Cut ice in half using a fishing wire-the pressure melts the ice faster than the air.

36. Make a rainbow

Make a rainbow by holding a glass of water up to the sunlight with a sheet of paper behind it to catch the colors.

37. Tornado in a bottle

Create a tornado in a bottle by taping two plastic bottles together neck to neck-one filled, the other empty-and swirling it quickly.

38. How to make a solar oven

S'more science, please! Harness the power of the sun and turn a pizza box into a solar oven and roast some delicious treats for the whole family.

Science Experiments for Kids that Fizz, Bubble, and Foam

39. Baking soda volcano science project

Mix baking soda, vinegar, and glitter for a sparkly volcano.

40. Diet Coke and Mentos

Mix Diet Coke and Mentos and stand back to watch the explosion. (Really! Stand back.)

41. Pop Rocks and soda

Drop Pop Rocks into a bottle of soda and then place a balloon onto the opening to watch it inflate.

42. What will shine a penny?

Discover how to keep your pennies shiny by experimenting with different cleaning solutions.

43. How to make elephant toothpaste

Make " elephant toothpaste" (a.k.a. an impressive large foam) out of soap, yeast, and hydrogen peroxide. For the holidays, turn it into " reindeer toothpaste."

44. Glitter germ experiment

This glitter does more than shine, it sparks a scientific experiment to see how far germs can spread.

45. Dancing popcorn experiment

Baking soda and vinegar react to make popcorn kernels hop around a jar of water.

46. Fizzy chalk fireworks with sidewalk chalk

This STEM activity adds some sizzle to your summertime sidewalk chalk using just a few basic ingredients: baking soda, cornstarch, food coloring, and vinegar.

Physics and Physical Science Experiments for Kids

47. Milk and food coloring experiment

Learn about surface tension by dropping food coloring into milk and watch as the colors move when you add some soap.

48. Rube Goldberg machine for kids

Make a Rube Goldberg machine featuring a series of moving pieces that affect one another: marbles, dominoes, books, and most any surface.

49. Balloon rocket car

Build a rocket balloon car using a Styrofoam tray, a balloon, and a straw; watch how air pressure moves it across the table.

50. Dominant eye / dominant hand

Looking for hands-on science experiments? Ask your kids to do simple tasks with their hands, feet, and eyes (like grab a ball, stand on one foot, or wink) to see which side is dominant.

51. Reaction time test

Test your reaction time by having a friend drop a ruler between two almost closed fingers. See how fast you can grab it.

52. Soap boats

Explore the scientific concept of density while taking a bath. Ivory soap boats do more than just float, they demonstrate density.

RELATED: 40 Snow Day Boredom Busters for Kids

53. Paper cup tower activity

Engineer a tall tower using red party cups and sheets of paper. How high can you go?

54. Best paper airplane design

Fold a paper airplane and then bend a corner to see how that changes its flight path.

55. Blind spots

Find your blind spot by moving a card with a speck on it until you can no longer see the spot.

56. Build a miniature windmill

Build a miniature windmill using a few simple objects. Watch it spin faster or slower based on the direction of the "blades."

57. Simple energy transfer experiment

Bounce a ball on top of another to watch how the energy transfers to the top ball and leaves the bottom one "dead."

58. Easy centripetal force experiment

Demonstrate centripetal force by spinning a bucket of water on a rope in a vertical circle.

More Easy Science Experiments for Kids

59. Egg drop project

Build a container for an egg that protects it from breaking and then test it out by dropping it from on high.

60. How to make a bouncy ball

Fashion your own bouncy balls with this recipe to see how various shapes bounce differently.

61. Balloon speakers

Use a balloon to amplify sound by holding it to your ear.

62. Shaving cream cloud experiment

Budding meteorologists can create shaving cream storm clouds and Technicolor raindrops.

63. Balloon static electricity

Make static electricity by rubbing balloons on clothing or shuffling on the carpet with socks, then zap someone with a quick touch.

64. Gummy bear science experiment

These gummies won't be so yummy in your tummy, but you can watch gummy bears grow by placing them in water, salt water, and vinegar.

65. Make a periscope

Build your own periscope using a milk container and carefully angled mirrors that allow you to see things above or behind you.

66. Fingerprint science experiment

Be a DIY spy with this fun fingerprint experiment. Collect fingerprints using one of these methods, and then dive a little deeper with a forensic study of fingerprint patterns.
This article may contain some affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you make a purchase. There is no extra cost to the reader. We only recommend products and services that we have personally used or have thoroughly researched. This article was first published in 2014, but it has since been updated. Additional reporting and photos by Ally Noel except where noted.
67. Expanding ice experiment

Fill a plastic bottle to the brim with water and put it in the freezer; in a few hours, the bottle will crack because ice expands.

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67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home

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Searching for kid-friendly science experiments? These easy science experiments use household products, food, and other items you probably have on hand.

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All day schedule of reading activities

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If you're like most parents out there right now, you're probably searching for ways to keep your kids busy but still learning.

One of the great things that is happening right now is that there are authors and illustrators that are on Facebook, YouTube and other sites for virtual story time. Add this to the education companies offering free online subscriptions and your kids will be busy for weeks.

This is a great way to have an author read to your kids and have them be exposed to different books and authors they might not have otherwise.

Here's the entire Authors & Illustrators that are doing online Story Time
All times are in Central Daylight Time (CDT)
If you're not able to make it at these set times, there are plenty of sites that offer read alouds, videos from authors and illustrators, e-books, audiobooks and more. The big plus with these sites is that they are available anytime!
Storyline Online Kate Messner's List of Resources Pernille Ripp's List of Resources Book Riot recommended videos Emily Arrow International Children's Digital Library (books in various languages)
Epic! (You'll get a 30 day trial and then it's $7.99/mo)

Vooks (You'll get a 30 day trial and then 4.99/mo)

Don't forget to check out your local library! Even though they may be closed, you can probably check out e-books and digital audiobooks using the Overdrive or Libby apps.

Podcasts for Kids

Since we're stuck inside and can't go on any real field trips, how about taking a virtual field trip? These places will keep your kids entertained and keep them learning.

Virtual Field Trips

Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari (Weekdays @ 2pm on Facebook Live)
15 Virtual Field Trips for Kids of All Ages 19 Immersive Museum Exhibits You Can Visit from Your Couch Smithsonian National Zoo Cams
News & Digital Magazines for Kids
National Geographic Kids
Your Kids Can Learn Spanish
The Spanish Experiment Salsa (series from Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Even MORE Free Educational Resources
Scholastic Learn At Home Educational Sites, Games, Tools, Apps SLJ & Joyce Valenza's list of resources SLJ Roundup of Resources Learning at Home Wakelet compiled by Tracy Brawner Smithsonian Kids
RELATED STUCK AT HOME POSTS:

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Here's the Entire List of Authors and Illustrators That are Doing Online Story Time

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If you're like most parents out there right now, you're probably searching for ways to keep your kids busy but still learning. One of the great things that is happening right now is that there are authors and illustrators that are on Facebook, YouTube and other sites for virtual story time .

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Over 60 games to maintain skills

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Learning at home with National Geographic

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While you're at home, Nat Geo has resources so you can continue learning about the world.

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The Smithsonian Learning Lab Is Offering Free K-12 Activities and Games

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The Smithsonian Learning Lab may be closed right now, but they are offering a number of fun learning games and activities online.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Education Programs

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Tide pool scientist (Grades PreK-2nd)

Learn about the rocky shore and some of the animals who live there. Create a tide pool in your home, explore it, and discuss how to care for this ocean home with your loved ones. Designed for PreK to 2nd graders to do with support from a caregiver.

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Learn about the rocky shore and some of the animals who live there. Create a tide pool in your home, explore your tide pool with some science tools and discuss how to care for this ocean home with your loved ones. This course is designed for PreK through 2nd graders to complete with the support of a caregiver.

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Free online activities.

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During this unprecedented time, MCOE would like to provide access to resources within the Portal that MCOE EdTech has purchased. Please click on the "Free Access" icon to be redirected to those resources.

Email us at media@mcoe.org with any questions or Portal problems. We will be closed March 23 to April 3, but we will check our emails periodically.

Welcome to the Merced County Office of Education, Educational Technology Center's Portal page. The Portal serves to support the enrichment and education of students in Merced County through digital learning. Log in and start using our extensive collection of reputable resources.

Please log in using your school Google account to access resources.

Don't have a school Google account?
Contact us for access and use the login below.

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MCOE Portal - MCOE Portal - Learning Beyond the Classroom

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Email us at media@mcoe.org with any questions or Portal problems. We will be closed March 23 to April 3, but we will check our emails periodically. Welcome to the Merced County Office of Education, Educational Technology Center's Portal page. The Portal serves to support the enrichment and education of students in Merced County through digital learning.

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Virtual Tours hosted by State California Parks

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Virtual Tours hosted by State California Parks

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Learn more about our California's network of 124 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) through these project based learning units. As students work collaboratively to solve a real world problem, students work on critical success skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.