Super Cool Science Hacks for Kids
Mind-blowing fun at home – for kids and grown-ups alike!
Are your kids bored of macaroni crafts and playdough? Nothing beats the ‘magic’ of science experiments. It’s also priceless to see your child’s surprised and excited face. So, we found 8 Super Cool Science Hacks to more than amaze budding scientists. They’re safe but should always be done with adult supervision. Enjoy!
1. Elsa’s magic ice:
What you’ll need:
- 2 x 500 ml plastic bottles
- A bowl of ice chips
- Water
Place two bottles of water in the freezer, (flat) making sure they don’t touch anything else – any jolts can start the crystallisation process. Set a timer for 2 hours and 15 minutes. It could take longer so test a few.
Once supercooled (NOTE: not frozen), carefully remove from the freezer; don’t even flip it right-side up until it’s out. Gently, open the cap. Tilt over a cup and slowly pour the water into the cup. Then place your finger in a small dish of crushed iced so that it sticks to your finger. Gently touch the surface of the water and watch your child’s magical powers in action!
Want to build a snowman? Look here:
How it works: It’s called supercooling, where a liquid is below its natural freezing point, but remains in its liquid state. Then all you need is a catalyst (a small piece of ice) to start a chain reaction.
2. Move water with your mind
What you’ll need:
- A balloon
- A tap
Blow up a balloon and rub on your hair. Open the tap slightly, just a trickle, and hold the balloon next to it. The water will move away as if you’re a Hogwarts wizard!
How it works: The static electricity created by rubbing the balloon reacts with the charges in the water.
3. Milk art fireworks!
What you’ll need:
- A bowl
- ½ cup of milk
- Dishwashing liquid
- Cotton bud
- Food colouring, different colours
- Pepper (optional)
Pour milk into the bowl and add a drop of each food colouring. Dip an earbud into dishwashing liquid and touch the food colouring. Look at the magical fireworks!
How it works: Milk has fat in it. Dishwashing liquids break the bonds in fats. When you add the dish soap, the fat separates and moves, making your magical fireworks!
4. Rainbow paper art
- What you’ll need:
- Paper towel
- Kokis/markers
- Pencil
- Pair of scissors
- 2 cups of water
Draw a rainbow shape on a piece of paper towel and cut it out. Colour only the ends in the colours of the rainbow. Fill two glasses with water (halfway) and dip the ends of the rainbow into it. Wait for the magic to happen!
How it works: Because the paper towel is super absorbent, the water moves up the rainbow. It lifts the ink molecules from the markers along with it.
5. Magic dancing man
What you’ll need:
- A glass bowl
- Water
- A whiteboard marker
Draw a stick figure inside the bowl. Slowly pour water into it to lift up the drawing. Swirl the water around to make the picture dance.
How it works: The marker leaves behind a mixture of pigments and alcohol. The alcohol dissolves and the pigments are left behind as a solid. Glass is so smooth that the solid slides right off!
6. A super cool lava lamp
What you’ll need:
- Oil
- Water
- Food colouring
- A tall glass
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
Add 3 tbsp of baking soda to a glass. Fill the glass with oil, halfway. Do not mix. In a small container, mix a ¼ cup vinegar with a few drops of food colouring. Slowly add the vinegar mixture to the oil and watch the magic happen. You can also turn off the light and use a torch to light up your glass.
How it works: Vinegar is denser than vegetable oil, that’s why it sinks to the bottom. Once the vinegar touches the bottom, it reacts with the baking soda. This chemical reaction creates the colourful bubbles.
7. Invisible ink for Secret Santa letters
What you’ll need:
- Grape juice
- Baking soda
- Paper
- A bowl
- Cotton buds
- A paint brush or sponge
Add a ¾ cup of baking soda and a ¼ cup of water to a bowl and mix. Write your secret message on the paper using a cotton bud dipped in the mixture. Then ask your brother or sister to dip a paint brush into the grape juice and ‘paint’ over it to read your secret message.
How it works: Baking soda is an alkaline and reacts with the acidity in the juice to reveal your message!
8. Your very own hovercraft
What you’ll need:
- A balloon
- An old CD
- A bottle cap
- Super glue
Ask your mom or dad to pierce a hole in the bottle cap and glue it to the CD. Blow up your balloon and twist the end so that you can easily place it over the bottle cap. Let go!
How it works: The air in the balloon greatly reduces the friction of the CD on the table. Make a fun game of it and play air hockey on the dinner table!
Isn’t science cool? We hope you had so much fun trying our experiments. The best little scientists use water wisely, so recycle clean water by using it for your plants, bath time or a bird feeder.
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