Messy Science Experiments

There’s one thing children love — messy games. And Florida’s year-round warmth is the perfect chance to turn their love for messy things into a love for science experiments and craft projects! Orange County private schools know that hands-on experimentation can be exactly what children need to retain concepts and embrace their creativity.Scented And Sensory Fizzy RainbowsBaking soda reactions are fun, but you can take it up a notch by adding in some color and scents! You can make scented ice cubes in every color of the rainbow by mixing ¾ cup baking soda and 2 tablespoons Jell-O powder in a bowl. Then, add ¼ cup water and a few drops of food coloring. The mixture will feel pasty. You and your child can scoop it into ice cube trays, and leave them in the freezer until frozen. After they’re frozen, remove the colorful ice cubes from the tray, fill eye droppers with vinegar, and let your children squeeze the vinegar onto the ice cubes as they watch the chemical reaction!Colorful IceTake several bowls of different sizes, fill them with water, and let them freeze overnight. In the morning, set the bowls in a baking tray with raised sides. Then, let your children sprinkle a little bit of table salt onto the ice. Make sure not to use too much salt — you don’t want the ice to melt too fast. Once you see the ice starting to melt, get out some food coloring to squeeze onto the ice with a dropper. Your children will be able to get a better view of the crevices forming in the ice.Foam Soap PaintingSquirt a few tablespoons of dish soap into a bowl and fill it with water, then mix it together using a whisk or rotary beater! Your child can also blow bubbles into the mixture with a straw. After plenty of bubbles are present, use an eye dropper or turkey baster to squirt your liquid watercolors over them. Continue to blow bubbles into the bowl while mixing and adding color, and watch as soap foam spills out of the bowl and settles on top of the water as bubbles pop. Take a piece of watercolor paper, place it over the soap foam, and hold it there for a few seconds. Then lift it straight up, and let it dry completely. Repeat over and over again to create new colors, prints, and patterns!For more than 50 years, Orange County private schools have been helping children grow to their fullest potential and become leaders within their communities. We offer unique and dynamic learning environments that engage students and encourage them to become confident and responsible adults. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us today.