Category: Kids

Science is such a great subject because it allows you to mix substances and create  simple and fun experiments.

My son and I did four experiments using ingredients from the kitchen. We enjoyed the process of gathering tools, reading instructions, mixing substances, and observing the outcome.

Join us in doing the experiments below!

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Let’s Get Started!

Milk Rainbow

Ingredients:

• Sturdy Paper Plate
• Milk
• Food coloring
• Dish soap
• Cotton Swab

Method:

1. Pour enough milk onto the plate to cover the surface.
2. Drop food coloring into the center of the milk.
3. Dip a cotton swab into dish soap and then touch the tip into the center of the food coloring.
4. Watch what happens.
5. You should see the colors move when the cotton swap touch the milk.

Why it Works?

• The dish soap does not mix with the milk.
• Instead, the dish soap floats on top and spreads.
• As the dish soap spreads, it grabs the food coloring.
• Soap attacks grease so its molecules go for the fat in the milk.
• This causes movement and the colors to swirl around.

 

Bubble Worms:

Ingredients:

• Empty plastic water bottle
• Scissors
• An old sock
• An aluminum / plastic container
• Spoon
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup dish soap

Method:

1. Use scissors to cut the bottom off the water bottle.
2. Place the elastic part of the sock over the bottom of the water bottle.
3. Mix the water and dish soap in a container with a spoon.
4. Dip the sock end of the bottle into the soapy mixture.
5. Blow on the mouth of the bottle to create a long bubble worm.
   • Adults and older child should blow on the mouth.
   • I let my son blow ONCE just to experience it.
   • Sometimes small children will inhale on the mouth of the bottle instead of blowing out.
   • Let young children grab the bubbles at the bottom as you are blowing the mouth of the bottle.

Why it Works?

• Water and soap are the basic ingredients for bubbles.
• Bubbles are formed because of the air in them.
• The surface of the sock on the water bottle has tiny holes.
• Each of the holes are acting as individual bubble blowers.
• Each hole is taking a bit of air in a layer of soap.
• This combines to create the Bubble Worm.

 

Corn Starch Slime:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Corn Starch
• 1/2 cup Water
• Bowl
• Washable paint or food coloring (I prefer paint because it washes off easily).

Method:

1. Dump corn starch in a bowl.
2. Add water to the bowl
3. Keep adding corn starch or water until it reaches the consistency you like.
4. Add washable paint to mixture to make it colorful.

Why it Works?

•  The grains of the cornstarch are NOT dissolved in the water.
• The cornstarch grains are suspended and spread out in the water.
• The cornstarch grains can hold its position in water when pressure is applied.

 

Sparkle Explosion:

Ingredients:

• Vase or Cup
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Food Coloring
• Glitter
• Pan

Method:

1. Place 2-3 Tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom of the vase or cup.
2. Put the vase or cup in the pan.
3. Add 6-7 drops of food coloring and 1-2 teaspoons of glitter
4. Pour in the 1/2 cup of vinegar.
5. Watch for the sparkles.

Why it Works?

• Baking Soda is a base and Vinegar is an acid.
• When Baking Soda and Vinegar mix, the hydrogen ions in the vinegar react with the sodium and bicarbonate ions in the baking soda.
• This mix is the result of two new substances called carbonic acid and sodium acetate.
• There is a second reaction called decomposition reaction.
• Decomposition reaction is when carbonic acid is formed.
• The carbonic acid is decompose into water and carbon dioxide gas which causes the bubbling action.

Happy Experimenting!