Sometimes it is the simple things that keep them entertained (and learning) the longest. (Try using the colander and pipe cleaners for toddlers.)
This week we had fun exploring simple chemical reactions. You guessed it, this momma brought out the vinegar and baking soda! (For more simple kitchen science, try making Oobleck.)
Vinegar and Baking Soda Experiment
To contain the mess I sprinkled the baking soda in a cake pan first. I let the kids touch it and play with it a bit before I brought out the second ingredient.
Then I brought out small container of vinegar. I didn’t tell them right away what it was. Instead I let them smell it; I loved my son’s wrinkled nose reaction!
I asked them what they thought would happen if we mixed the two ingredients, and then we started our experiment.
They had fun watching the bubbles that happened with each new drop from their eye droppers.
Once all the baking soda had been thoroughly soaked in vinegar I cleaned up the pan and we tried the same thing with flour and sugar. (They REALLY liked touching, and tasting, the sugar….) Of course, there was no bubbling with either of these.
My son was begging me for more bubbles…so I washed the pan and this time added a little food coloring to our vinegar.
By adding different food coloring to separate containers of vinegar, they were able to not only watch the bubbles, but also see what happened as different colors mixed together.
It was fun to hear my youngest ask to do it “Again!” over and over.
I will say that after each pan, my daughter was very hands on. (Read that as hands in the goop…) I’m pretty sure I know which experiment we are going to try this week…something hands on and messy!
You’ll also like these kids science experiments:
- Make a Rubber Egg
- Ivory Soap Explosion
- Melt the Frozen Heart — Perfect for Valentine’s Day and Frozen Fans
GK Adams says
Sounds like this kiddos had fun! I always remember the one I did as a kid…really quite simple…you get a glass of water, sprinkle pepper on the top, put dish washing soap (something like Dawn) on your finger and dip your finger in the water. The pepper floating on top of the water moves away from your fingers and clings to the side of the cup. Kind of silly really, but I just remember as a kid how fascinated I was. Great post!
OneMommy says
I have never heard of that! We are going to have to try that one! I can just tell my daughter will have fun shaking the pepper… 🙂
Ginny Marie says
How fun! I love the eye dropper idea. I think I might have a couple left over from when the kids were babies.
I’ve made Jello play dough with the kids, and also green slime. 😉
Thanks for joining my Monday blog hop again!
OneMommy says
That’s where these were from! One is an old Tylenol syringe, the other a medicine dropper from one of the little health care kits. 🙂
Jello play dough sounds interesting! My daughter keeps asking for slime… We are making something similar this week.
Chris Carter says
You are such an AWESOME teacher!! Your kids are blessed by you! 🙂 Fun experiments for sure!!
OneMommy says
Thank you, so much, for your kind words! I hope they remember some of the fun things we do as they get older!
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
Love this! Simple, educational and fun – always the best combination.
OneMommy says
Yes, that is always a good combination!
JDaniel4's Mom says
We are so going to try this. JDaniel would love it.
OneMommy says
I am sure he would love it! 🙂 Definitely add the food coloring….makes it tons of more fun!