Easter is nearly here. Two weeks off, a house full of eggs and chocolate, and children who will eventually run out of things to watch. Easter is actually a reasonable time to do some science.

These five activities work just as well at a kitchen table as they do in a classroom. If you are a teacher looking for something to share with families to do at home, or a parent who wants to keep things interesting without a trip to the shops, this list is worth bookmarking.

Everything here uses things you are likely to already have at home. None of it requires specialist equipment, and all of it has genuine science behind it.

1. The Naked Egg

What you need: A raw egg, a jar, white vinegar.

What to do: Place a raw egg in a jar and cover it completely with white vinegar. Leave it for 48 hours. When you come back, the shell will have dissolved, leaving a rubbery, semi-translucent egg that you can hold in your hand.

The science: Eggshells are made of calcium carbonate. Vinegar is a mild acid (acetic acid). When the two meet, a chemical reaction takes place — the calcium carbonate breaks down, releasing carbon dioxide (you will see the bubbles forming on the shell almost immediately) and leaving behind a soft, flexible membrane.

This is a good entry point into chemical change: something irreversible has happened. You cannot get the shell back. It is also worth asking children what they notice about the egg after 48 hours — it is larger than it was, because water from the vinegar passes through the membrane by osmosis.

2. How Strong Is an Egg?

What you need: Raw eggs (in their shells), a flat board or heavy book, more books or weights.

What to do: Place an egg on a flat surface and balance a board on top of it. Then carefully add books or weights one at a time. Children will predict it will crack almost immediately. It will not.

The science: The dome and arch shape of an egg distributes force evenly across its surface rather than concentrating it at a single point. This is the same principle used in Roman arches, brick bridges, and modern stadium roofs. An intact egg can support a surprising amount of weight before it fails — and when it does fail, it tends to crack suddenly rather than gradually.

Worth pairing with a discussion of natural structures and human engineering. Why do we build domed roofs? Why are tunnels curved rather than square?

3. The Chocolate Melt Race

What you need: Squares of the same chocolate bar, a timer, different locations.

What to do: Give children equal-sized squares of chocolate and ask them to test which conditions melt it fastest: holding it in a warm hand, placing it near a radiator, leaving it on a sunny windowsill, putting it in a pocket. Keep one square as a control in a cool, still location. Time how long each takes to melt noticeably.

The science: Chocolate melts at a relatively low temperature — around 34°C — which is just below body temperature. This makes it unusually good for investigating heat transfer in a classroom setting: the melting point is reachable with everyday heat sources, and children can observe the state change directly.

This activity works well as a fair testing exercise. Variables to control: same size pieces, same starting temperature, same type of chocolate. Variable to change: location/heat source. This framing matters as much as the result.

4. Natural Easter Egg Dyeing

What you need: Hard-boiled eggs, and any of the following: onion skins (yellow/orange), red cabbage (blue/purple), turmeric (yellow), beetroot (pink/red), spinach (green). A pan, water, and a few minutes of simmering time.

What to do: Simmer each natural material in water for about 20 minutes, strain the liquid, and place a hard-boiled egg in each coloured bath for at least an hour (longer gives more intense colour). The eggs take on the pigment from each plant material.

The science: Plants produce pigments for a range of reasons: attracting pollinators, warning off predators, protecting cells from UV damage, and regulating chemical processes. The colours that transfer to the eggs come from these pigments — and they vary considerably depending on the pH of the water. Red cabbage juice is a natural pH indicator and shifts colour noticeably if you add a drop of vinegar (acid) or bicarbonate of soda (alkaline).

This last point gives you a useful extension activity if you want to push the chemistry further.

5. Go on a Flowers and Blossom Walk

What to do: Print the spotter sheet and head outside. Work through the sheet identifying spring flowers and blossoms you can find — cherry, apple, blackthorn, hawthorn, and common wildflowers depending on what is growing nearby. You can record what you find and where. Take photos on an ipad or phone to study later.

The science: This is a straightforward observation and classification activity, but there is genuine scientific thinking to prompt here. Why do trees blossom in spring? What is blossom for? (Pollination, and the production of fruit later in the year.) Why do different trees blossom at different times? What insects were visiting the flowers, and why?

It also gives a natural opening into habitats and seasonal change: what does the same tree look like in winter, and what has changed? For older children, you could even introduce the idea of phenology — the study of seasonal biological events — and why scientists track when trees blossom from year to year.

Download the Blossom and Flowers Spotters Sheet here.

There are other spring activities to try too. Visit TreeToolsForSchools for more.

Let me know which activities are your favourite in the comments!