Kids get fascinated with the simplest things. They love magic and discovery, which is why it’s always fun to do science experiments with them. So how about a science experiment which ends with a little art?
For our art and science combo, my co-teacher and I decided to let them have some fun with milk and food coloring.
What You Will Need:
- Milk
- Big and shallow container
- Food coloring (more colors, more fun)
- Q-tips
- Copy Paper
- Liquid dish washing soap
How to do it:
1. Pour enough milk in the container, just enough to cover the entire bottom
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2. Place at least a drop per color of food coloring
3. Soak the tip of the Q-tip in the dish washing liquid and use it like a magic wand to make the colors disperse. You may also opt to directly place 1 drop a time of the dish washing liquid into the milk.
4. Watch the colors start to spread and move around on its own.
A simplified explanation from nipissingu.au explains, “The dish soap does not mix with the milk. Instead it floats on top and spreads over the surface. As it spreads, it grabs the food colouring. Soap is a “degreaser” so the molecules in it are attacking the fat in the milk, causing motion which creates the swirling of the colours. Where the colours meet, they combine and form new colours.”
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5. Grab some paper and carefully put it on top
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6. Peel and reveal
My favorite thing about this activity was how in awe the children were as colors seem to keep “running away” (their words) from the Q-tips. We even pretended that they had magical powers to make the colors spin.
Have you tried this experiment? Do share how it went for you in the comments below! Happy painting!
For more fun and creative activities,
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