July 10, 2020
Playing and experimenting are always good opportunities to learn too! We have selected some examples of how to learn while having fun and making a mess.
1. Make quicksand
Also known as a non-Newtonian liquid, this is a very simple experiment that can work on many different scales – you can do it inside a cereal jar, or inside a basin. The trick is this: when you slowly put your fingers (or any object) in the liquid, you sink to the bottom of the jar. But if you tap your fingers really fast on the surface, it becomes hard, like a floor.
A very simple experiment that raises many questions in children, as well as providing a different sensory experience.
Ingredients:
Cornstarch
Water
Food coloring (optional)
How to make:
Since the experiment can be carried out on different scales – from a bucket to a glass –, it is recommended to maintain the ratio of 2 glasses of water to 1 cup of cornstarch.
If you like, add a few drops of food coloring to make the liquid colorful, providing even more fun.
This video helps you visualize the experience:
2. Make colorful flowers
There are two ways to do this experiment.
The first is to place flowers – white or light-colored – individually in vases with aniline mixed with water. The flower draws water from the vase to survive, and when the water is colored, the flower absorbs the color into its petals. The result of this type of experiment is to color a white flower blue, purple, pink, orange, or any other color.
The second method involves placing a flower, with its stem divided, in several vases filled with water dyed in different colors. Since it requires the use of a craft knife, this second technique requires the presence of an adult. The end result is a rainbow flower.
Ingredients:
White flowers
Water
Vases (can be glass or disposable cups, empty jelly jars, etc.)
Aniline or food coloring – the greater the amount of color used in the water, the stronger the color will be on the flower petals
Utility knife
How to make:
Option 1:
Fill the vase with water, mix it with the dye, and place the white flower inside, as shown in the figure to the side. Wait 24 hours and that's it!
Option 2:
Fill some vases with water in different colors – the more different colors, the stronger the rainbow effect will be, but you can choose different color palettes.
Divide the stem into parts. Each pot should have a part of the stem, so we don't recommend too many pots because the more you have, the harder it will be to divide the stem. Use a knife or utility knife to make a lengthwise cut of up to 15 centimeters long from the bottom of the stem to the top.
During the 24 hours required for the flower to absorb the colors, it is important to keep the flower balanced between the vases. If this is difficult, use barbecue skewers to help it stay upright.
It's a bit of work, but the result is quite rewarding.
photos: hyperscience.com
3. Plant a bean
This experiment is already a classic. It is often even an activity proposed by the school itself – placing a bean on damp cotton wool inside a plastic cup and watching it grow. We suggest that this experiment be done with a jam jar – or any other reused glass jar – so that it is possible to see the germination in its entirety. This experiment takes more time and patience, but it is a very beautiful and timely way to observe the growth of a plant. Observing the germination of life is an important learning experience, and this activity can generate interest and curiosity about plants and different ways of life two human beings!
foto: My first nature book
Ingredients:
Glass jar
A bean
Cotton
How to make:
Dampen the cotton with water.
Fill the jar with damp cotton.
Place the beans in the cotton on the side of the glass, as shown in the photo to the side.
Don't let the cotton dry out – once a day (or when necessary) add water little by little, to keep the cotton moist at all times.
In about 3 days, the root will start to appear on the beans.
When the beans grow more than 20 centimeters, remove them from the jar and plant them in a pot of soil.
4. Make a nature museum
Cataloging elements of nature is a very scientific task. After all, science is knowledge, and organizing the elements you know is a very efficient way of organizing your own knowledge about them.
The first museums, known as “Cabinets of Curiosity,” worked something like this: some scientifically minded people collected rocks, shells, fossils, and plants, organized them in their homes, and scheduled visits so that other people could see these wonders of nature. Try creating a natural history museum with your child and offer guided tours to your family members!
foto: Mom’s crafty space
Ingredients:
Postcard
Scissors + glue or tape
Cotton
Elements of nature (stones, shells, seeds, branches…)
How to make:
Take a shoe box or assemble a cardboard or card box and make square dividers out of the card, dividing the space of the box equally. Inside each square, put cotton and a label. Then, organize what you find inside each square and identify each item on the label.
5. Make a volcano erupt
Volcanoes are a fascinating geological phenomenon. Their eruptions, filled with lava and smoke, spark the imagination and curiosity of many children and adults alike. You can conduct an experiment that simulates an exploding volcano using vinegar and baking soda – guaranteed to be messy, and a great opportunity to talk about chemistry and how the interaction of certain elements can completely transform them, resulting in explosions!
foto: Marilyn Nieves, Getty Images
Ingredients:
Modeling clay or papier-mâché
PET bottle
Warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
6 drops of detergent
Red food coloring (optional)
How to make:
Cut the nozzle off the PET bottle. Using it as a base, fill it halfway with warm water and mix in the detergent, baking soda and food coloring. Around the bottle, make a conical model of the volcano. We recommend doing this with clay or papier-mâché. When everything is ready, just pour a little vinegar into the mouth of the volcano so that the “lava” starts to gush out!
Tip: To minimize mess, place the volcano inside a container such as a cardboard box or Tupperware.
Extra experiment: See here how to make a terrarium , a garden with a rich ecosystem that exists entirely inside a glass jar!