🧪 Family Project: DIY Natural Products Lab — Learning Through Nature, Chemistry, and Care
In our homeschool, one of the most fun, fragrant, and fulfilling family projects we do together is running our very own DIY Natural Products Lab.
From herbal tooth powders to homemade lotion bars, body butters, and natural cleaning sprays — this hands-on project blends science, wellness, creativity, and life skills. It’s messy. It’s magical. And it smells amazing.
If your kids love mixing, measuring, or playing “scientist,” this is the perfect way to turn everyday items into learning experiences.
🌿 Why We Love This Project
Making natural products at home teaches our children:
🌱 What’s in the products we use on our bodies
🔬 How ingredients interact (chemistry!)
💚 Sustainable and zero-waste living
🧠 Decision-making and problem-solving
👐 The joy of creating useful things with our own hands
Plus, it opens the door to discussions about health, herbs, nature, entrepreneurship, and taking care of ourselves with intention.
🧴 Easy DIY Natural Products to Make as a Family
Here are some beginner-friendly (and family-approved) products to start with:
🧼 1. Herbal Tooth Powder
Ingredients: Bentonite clay, baking soda, ground herbs (like mint, clove, cinnamon), and a few drops of essential oil.
Learn: Natural oral health, earth minerals, pH balance
✨ 2. Whipped Body Butter
Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, essential oils
Kids love whipping it until fluffy! Great for learning about emulsification.
🧽 3. All-Purpose Citrus Cleaning Spray
Ingredients: Vinegar, citrus peels, water, optional essential oils
Teaches natural disinfectants and how to reuse food scraps.
💄 4. DIY Lip Balm
Ingredients: Beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, a drop of beetroot powder or cocoa for color
Let kids create custom scents and labels.
🧼 5. Bath Bombs or Herbal Soaking Salts
A fun science experiment with citric acid + baking soda!
Learn about reactions while making something relaxing.
📚 The Learning Behind the Project
This project touches so many subjects in an organic, sensory-rich way:
Science: Mixtures, reactions, melting points, emulsifiers
Math: Measuring, converting units, doubling/tripling recipes
Reading/Writing: Reading labels, researching herbs, writing recipes
Health: Learning about skin, body care, and clean ingredients
Entrepreneurship: Design labels, calculate pricing, or run a pretend shop
🧠 Tips to Make It Even MORE Fun
Make lab coats out of old button-up shirts
Turn your kitchen into a “lab” with labeled stations
Create a DIY Natural Products Journal to track what you make and what works
Let kids name each product and design their own labels
Use your creations for holiday gifts, care packages, or homeschool market days
💬 Why This Project Matters to Us
Every time we stir a balm, grind herbs, or whip up a body butter, we’re not just making a product — we’re making memories.
Our kids learn that they can care for themselves naturally, think critically about what they consume, and create solutions with simple tools. That’s a powerful kind of education!