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21 Super Cool Things Kids Can Make With Liquid Soap

Published Mar 01, 2024

Let’s make fun things with soap! While working with my kids on science projects and activities at home, I realized how many of these things use liquid soap as an ingredient. Kids of all ages will love creating things with this common household item, soap. Use these fun soap activities, crafts and experiments at home or in the classroom.

Things To Make With Liquid Soap

It’s funny that you can use something for one purpose so many times and not think about all the other ways it can be used! Turns out, there are many cool things to make with liquid soap.

Liquid Soap as a Craft Supply…

This made me scour the internet for fun soap ideas and cool things to make with soap and I was not disappointed! There are so many cool soap projects, experiments, sensory play, and even crafts to make.

I was so excited about these soap crafts, that I put together a huge list of fun things to make using liquid soap – both hand soap and dish soap ideas are included.

Soap Experiments for Kids

1. color changing soap experiment.

Watching the milk fat react to the colors in this science project will mesmerize your kiddos.

2. Dish Soap Slime Recipe

Make dish soap silly putty with just two ingredients, with this idea from Smart School House . This is so much fun!

3. How To Make Soap Foam

No child can resist the inviting textures and rich colors of these rainbow soap foam bubbles , from Fun at Home With Kids .

4. Elephant Toothpaste Science Project

Have you ever made elephant toothpaste ? This is science experiment, from Come Together Kids , is so cool!

5. Soap Snow Globe

Make your very own personalized snow globe , from DIY Projects ! This is great for the holidays or would be great to give as a gift.

6. Liquid Soap Surface Tension Experiments

Explore surface tension with this fun science activity for kids. Use different toys and items you have around the house!

7. Soap Foam Art

Use soap bubbles to make art ! This project from Fireflies and Mud Pies is as gorgeous as it is fun.

8. DIY Shower Jelly

While a grown-up will need to make this one, kids will have a blast with  Rookie Mag ‘s DIY Shower Jelly !

9. Slime With Dish Soap And Cornstarch

This cornstarch dough , from Little Bins for Little Hands , l ooks so pretty, and feels so incredible in little hands.

10. Unpoppable Bubbles

How cool are these bouncing bubbles ! These unpoppable bubbles are better than the ones you’ve seen in those infomercials.

Soap Crafts & Soap Activities for kids

11. Make Kinetic Sand With Soap

Did you know you could make your own kinetic sand at home? Here’s how! It’s so easy to make and so much fun to play with.

12. Toddler Shaking Bottle With Liquid Soap

These shaking bottles for little ones are so much fun and can be made in so many ways! Plus, these discovery bottles would make great calming bottles as well.

13. Dish Soap Science Fair Projects

Use liquid soap and a few other ingredients you have in your kitchen to make this fun rainbow in a jar , from Playdough to Plato .

14. Liquid Dish Soap Window Cling

Make fun window clings to decorate your home for the holidays, with this idea from The Artful Parent.

15. Soapy Squishy Marble Maze

This squishy marble maze , from Therapy Fun Zone , is a s uper clever sensory activity. 

16. Soap Paint Recipe

Make your own bath tub paints for lots of bath time fun! Who knew the bathtub would make the best canvas?

17. Paintable Chalk Made With Dish Soap

Wanting to spend more time outside? You can make paintable chalk with this fun DIY recipe.

18. Funny Soap Dispenser Craft

Put your kids in the soap bottle with this cool craft from Come Together Kids ! Kids will love washing their hands with this.

19. Soap Tornado In A Jar

Mom Insane Fit’s   tornado in a bottle is one of kids’ most favorite science experiments!

20. Soap Sensory Bottle

Make a suspended beads calming bottle  for a fun and soothing activity for kids. from Fun at Home With Kids .

21. How To Make Huge Bubbles

Looking for a soap activity that will bring you right back to your own childhood? Try The Nerd’s Wife ‘s Easy Gigantic Bubbles for fun outside play the whole family will enjoy!

22. Make Handwashing More Fun with This Silly Soap

I love this fun kids liquid soap idea to make handwashing more fun – adding bright colorful pom poms!

23. Make LEGO liquid Soap

LEGO soap is way more fun than regular soap. Take a survey at your house!

24. Mesmerizing Soap and Oil Art

This really cool art made with soap is a little hypnotic and makes for a lovely way to relax while watching it.

More Soap Fun from Kids Activities Blog

• Make Halloween soap with a spider inside…boo! What creepy bug soap !
• We love the erupting soap in the microwave science experiment …so fun.
• Homemade Spiderman soap is a fun soap craft.
• Make homemade 3D soap into these cute flamingos.
• Make soap with fossils inside!
• Homemade rosemary soap is one of my favorites to give as a gift.
• Avengers soap is awesome .
• Soap with a toy inside is a really fun surprise.
• Make homemade soap crayons !
• How to make hand sanitizer is really easy & fun.

What is your favorite thing to make with soap? Which of these fun liquid soap crafts are you going to do first?

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3 Dish Soap Science Tricks You Can DO Right Now!

We all want fun stuff to do with our kids – but many times the kids activities we find are too complicated and require way too much work. Not these!

Using dish soap and a few common kitchen ingredients, you can create amazing dish soap science projects  that your kids will talk about for days to come.

I want to be a fun mom.  Don’t you?

However, I must admit that I get a tad overwhelmed.  Many kid activities also come with a huge list of needed supplies.

Go out and buy this obscure glue from a craft store across town.  Get this size (and only this size) of plastic baggies – and then of course your local grocery store is out of everything you need.

Let’s stop the madness!!

Here are three activities that you already have the supplies for:

No, really.

• Pepper Magic

Colored Milk Art

• Dish soap silly putty

Not only can you pull these items together in five minutes flat, but they will also amaze your kiddos.  And when you’re ready, I have 15 Very Simple Science Experiments You Can Do With Your Kids here.

Dish Soap Science: Pepper Magic

On our recent Disney cruise , one of our waiters amused my kids with this trick at dinner one night.

All you need is:

So easy, yes?

First, fill a shallow plate with water and sprinkle pepper on the surface.  Ask your child to stick his finger right in the center.

Nothing will happen.

Now, you act surprised and tell him, “Here, let me see your hand.”  (secretly squeeze a little dish soap on your own fingers before)

“I forgot to give your hand a little bit of magic.”

Massage his fingertips with your own.

“Now, try.”

He will stick his finger in the water again.  This time, his finger will repel the tiny pepper granules causing them to scurry to the edge of the plate.

For this experiment, you’ll need:

• food coloring
• a cotton swab

For another magical experience, fill a shallow plate with milk.  Squeeze food coloring in the middle of the plate on the milk’s surface.

Dab a cotton swab with dish soap and stick in the center of the food coloring.

Sit back and watch the color show!

Dish Soap Silly Putty

When you are all done with the magic, keep that dish soap handy and create a putty for your kids to play with on their own.  All you need is:

• corn starch

I found this activity originally on Smart Schoolhouse .  You will love how easy it is!

Simply mix together 2 tbs corn starch and 1.5 tablespoons dish soap.  Stir for about 10 seconds.  Pick up the clay and mix in your hands a little more.

And you’re done.  Seriously, that’s it!

What fun will you create tonight?

How can I have more fun, quality time with my family?

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Magic Milk Science Experiment

How do you make magic milk or color changing rainbow milk? Let us show you how easy and fun simple science experiments can be! The chemical reaction in this magic milk experiment is fun to watch and makes for great hands-on learning. The perfect kitchen science as you already have all the items for it in your kitchen. Setting up science experiments at home is easier than you think.

WHAT IS MAGIC MILK?

We love super simple science experiments that you can pull out on a rainy afternoon (or in any weather). This magic milk experiment has to be one of our favorites and definitely for science experiments with milk!

Kids are naturally curious, and sharing fun, simple science activities at home or in the classroom is just another way to get kids to learn. We love to keep our science playful too! No two magic milk experiments will ever be the same!

Click here to get your free printable science guide!

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If you want to make this truly a science experiment or even a milk science fair project using the scientific method , you need to change one variable . You could repeat the experiment with different types of milk, such as skim milk, and observe the changes. Learn more about the scientific method for kids here .

• Full Fat Milk
• Liquid Food Coloring
• Dawn Dish Soap
• Cotton Swabs

NOTE: There are so many fat percentages available that the milk used is a fantastic variable to consider! Low-Fat Milk, Skim Milk, 1%, 2%, Half and Half, Cream, Heavy Whipping Cream…

MAGIC MILK INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Start pouring your whole milk into a shallow dish or flat bottom surface. You don’t need a lot of milk, just enough to cover the bottom and then some.

If you have leftover milk, try our milk and vinegar plastic experim ent !

STEP 2: Next, you want to fill the top of the milk with drops of food coloring! Use as many different colors as you like.

TIP: Use a variety of colors or give your magic milk experiment a theme for the season or holiday!

STEP 3: Pour a small amount of dish soap into a separate bowl, and touch your cotton swab tip to the dish soap to coat it. Bring it over to your milk dish and gently touch the surface of the milk with the soapy cotton swab!

TIP: Try a cotton swab without dish soap first and see what happens. Talk about what is observed, then try the dish soap-soaked cotton swab and check out the difference. This is a great way to add more scientific thinking to the activity.

What happens? Make sure to read about how the magic milk experiment works below!

Remember, each time you try this magic milk experiment, it will look slightly different. It’s a fun fireworks science activity for the 4th of July or New Year!

Also, check out: Fireworks In A Jar Experiment

HOW DOES THE MAGIC MILK EXPERIMENT WORK?

Milk is made up of minerals, proteins, and fats. Proteins and fats are susceptible to changes. When dish soap is added to the milk, the soap molecules run around and try to attach to the fat molecules in the milk.

However, you wouldn’t see this change happen without the food coloring! The food coloring looks like fireworks because it’s getting bumped around , a color explosion.

The soap lowers the surface tension of the milk. When the soap molecules head for the fats, they form spherical micelles. This causes movement and creates cool bursts and swirls of color. After all the fat molecules have been found and equilibrium has been reached, there is no more movement. Are there any more hiding?

Try another cotton swab dipped in soap! 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What did you notice before and after?
• What happened when you put the cotton swab in the milk?
• Why do you think that happened?
• Why do you think the colors stopped moving?
• What else did you observe?

MORE FUN COLOR-CHANGING MILK EXPERIMENTS

Magic milk experiments are super easy to create themes with for different holidays! Kids love mixing in a favorite holiday with science. I know this from experience!

• Lucky Magic Milk
• Cupid’s Magic Milk
• Frosty’s Magic Milk
• Santa’s Magic Milk

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS TO TRY

Love seeing chemical reactions? Check out our list of chemistry experiments for kids .

• Skittles Experiment
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano
• Lava Lamp Experiment
• Growing Borax Crystals
• Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
• Pop Rocks and Soda
• Magic Milk Experiment
• Egg In Vinegar Experiment

Printable Science Projects Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!

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17 Comments

This activity is a staple in my house! 🙂 I wanted to say that, even though you say it’s great for little kids, my older kids (6 and ELEVEN) still love this, too!!! I’m not kidding- my eleven year old son asked to do magic milk last month. 🙂 Great fun!

This looks like a terrific idea to do with my kindergarten class! However, is there a possible substitute I can use for the milk?

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Interesting and funny experiments. I like fireworks activity. A ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments.

My son suggested swapping out the soap for sanitizer and it is awesome. The color just explodes!

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The experiment was fun. We read the explanation about the soap attaching to the fat molecules. We tried it with fat free milk and the same result occurred. Why?

I things with my 4 year old grandson, and this was amazing, we did over and over and when his mom came home from work, he had to show her. Thank you so much for sharing, as on a limited income your free things help me help him learn. Sincerely, it was fun looking forward to the next experiment.

Awesome! So glad to hear he loved it that much!

Comments are closed.

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Science Fun

Super Bubble Solution Cool Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to make a cool super bubble solution to explore and investigate. 

• Distilled water
• Light corn syrup
• Empty container with lid
• Liquid dish soap (Do not use any “Ultra” branded liquid soaps)
• Measuring cups

Instructions:

• Put six cups of water into the container.
• Slowly stir one cup of liquid dish soap into the water. Do so in a way that does not cause bubbles or foam to form.
• Add ¼ cup of light corn syrup to the soap and water solution. Stir the solution until it is mixed thoroughly, again making sure not to make any bubbles.
• Allow the solution to sit overnight.
• Dip a bubble wand or straw into the solution and create a bubble.

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How it Works:

A bubble pops when the water evaporates. The corn syrup will thicken the water and slow down the evaporation process. This is why the super bubble solution will allow the bubble to last longer. 

Make This A Science Project:

Try different brands of liquid dish soap. Try making a sugar solution and using it instead of corn syrup. Try using pancake syrup. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Next experiment.

Color explosion

Chemistry doesn't have to be boring—especially when you can get a cool art project out of it. 

Check out what happens when milk, food coloring, and dish soap create a cool chemical reaction with this experiment from the Nat Geo Kids book Try This! Extreme .

Once you're done, try it again using a small plate full of craft glue instead of milk. Let the glue dry and remove the glue disk from the plate for a visible souvenir of this experiment.

Fill the dish with about half an inch of milk.

Add dots of colors using food coloring. Make whatever pattern you like, but yse plenty of colorful dots.

Drop just one drip of dish detergent in the middle of the milk. Watch what happens! The colors will sink in response to the dish detergent, then emerge again—marbleizing and combining—before stabilizing and standing still

WHAT'S GOING ON

Milk is an emulsion, a suspension of fat droplets in water. This means they’re not mixed in, just hanging in the milk. Food coloring sits in drops in the water, too, making a stable system—until the dish detergent is added. Dish detergents are meant to separate out dirt or grease so they can be washed away. When the dish detergent is added, the suspension is broken up, and the fat droplets all rush to combine with each other, causing the blossoming of color.

After the colors marbleize, try to transfer the pattern onto a piece of paper. Drop the paper flat onto the milk’s surface and allow the liquid to soak it for a moment or two. Then lift the paper by several corners, flip it, and transfer to a paper towel to dry. Then spray it with Clear-Coat or another acrylic art spray to preserve the colors.

Science Lab

(ad) try this extreme: 50 fun & safe experiments for the mad scientist in you, (ad) make this: building thinking, and tinkering projects for the amazing maker in you, (ad) try this: 50 fun experiments for the mad scientist in you.

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• Baking Soda

Easy STEM Activities & Experiments with Baking Soda & Vinegar

• Kids' Activities

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are the foundations of STEM education and the skills needed for knowledge careers in our high-tech future. An aspiring engineer, computer programmer, research biologist, chemist, or algorithm builder begins with a love of the core STEM subjects.

You can pique the interest of your kids in STEM activities from an early age – you can’t start too young with curiosity! The good news is that you don’t have to have a PhD to create fun STEM activities for your preschoolers or elementary-aged kids. With a few easily found materials, a little vinegar, and the familiar orange box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, you can create quick STEM challenges that use math and demonstrate scientific reactions.

While sodium bicarbonate may seem magical when it releases carbon dioxide to power a rocket or make popcorn kernels dance in water, you can explain that it’s not magic – it's science. Here are 7 fun and easy STEM experiments to try in the classroom or at home with baking soda.

1. Fizzy Hands

You don’t need any helium to make balloon-like hands! The Fizzy Hands experiment might bubble over (literally) but it’s a terrific DIY STEM activity that can help to explain how a solid and a liquid can combine to create a gaseous substance. In this case, the baking soda and vinegar react to create carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles. The bubbles rise to the top of the liquid, which results in foam! Watch as the Fizzy Hand expands and the foam comes oozing out!:

Materials & Supplies

• 3 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda
• Wide mouth jar (plastic or glass)
• 3/4 cup vinegar
• Liquid dish soap
• Vinyl / Nitrile glove
• Food coloring
• Rubber bands
• Baking sheet or tray
• Safety glasses
• Lay materials out on a cookie sheet. It’s easier to clean up.
• Add vinegar, a good squeeze of dish soap, and food coloring to jar of choice. Stir with a spoon or swish to combine the ingredients. Set aside.
• (Adults only) Open up a paper clip and use a pointed end to poke a small hole in each fingertip on the glove.
• Add 3 tablespoons ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to the glove, shaking it to fill the fingertips.
• Stretch and fit the open end of the glove over the top of the jar. Be careful NOT to spill any Baking Soda in. The fingers of the glove will drape over the jar.
• Place rubber bands around the base of the glove to secure it around the jar.
• Take your cookie sheet and jar/glove outside. Gently lift the glove and tip it to empty the baking soda into the jar. Swirl everything around, then stand back to steer clear of the foamy reaction!
• Bonus step: if you dare, you can add more Baking Soda and vinegar for an even bigger reaction. (You may need a *hand* for cleanup.)

The STEM Connection:

• The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and weak acetic acid in vinegar react and trap the carbon dioxide to form bubbles.
• The mixture of the baking soda (solid) and vinegar (liquid) creates a gas and a liquid, which in turn results in a foam (a mixture of gas and liquid, or a colloid). The carbon dioxide pushes the foam out of the holes in each finger of the glove!

The baking soda volcano is a classic from everyone’s childhood, but somehow, it’s still cool to watch every time. You probably didn’t know you were taking part in a STEM activity and witnessing science in action. Try to remember when you saw baking soda and vinegar spew out of the top of a homemade volcano and delight in watching the wonder on your kids’ faces when it happens for them for the first time.

One of the best parts about building a baking soda volcano is that you can make it erupt again and again for pennies. All you need is a bit more vinegar and baking soda.

If you’re looking for a corn-y STEM activity for the fall, how about sprucing up the family harvest by making corn kernels dance around? The popcorn kernels are a great model to showcase the reaction between baking soda and vinegar and to talk about density. Their composition allows the carbon dioxide gas formed from the reaction to lift them to the surface and return them back to the bottom, turning popcorn into hop-corn.

While you’re waiting for the nutcrackers to come to life and dance on ice in the winter, try making corn kernels dance in autumn with this easy DIY STEM fun.

• ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda
• ¼ cup dry popcorn kernels
• Fill mason jar halfway with vinegar.
• Insert popcorn kernels so that they layer the bottom of each jar.
• Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the jar.
• Stir the kernels to get them dancing.
• Watch as the kernels bounce around.
• Optional: use the stopwatch to time how long it takes for the first kernel to rise and how long it takes for the kernels to stop moving.
• The vinegar and baking soda create carbon dioxide gas bubbles that get trapped in the bottom layer of the jar.
• Popcorn kernels are light enough to sink in the water, but not so heavy that they cannot be lifted by the bubbles.
• The gas bubbles lift the kernels. When the gas is released when the bubbles pop at the surface, the kernels fall back to the bottom of the jar.
• Extended STEM experiments:
• Try using different items besides popcorn kernels and see if the carbon dioxide bubbles can lift them. Predict whether you think they have the right density to dance! Examples to try:
• Grains of rice

6. Making Crystals with Baking Soda Baking soda can form crystals because it is a crystalline solid. A crystalline solid you probably already know and love is the salt you put on your French fries! Table salt (NaCl) and baking soda (NaHCO₃) both have sodium in their chemical formulas, so they have similar characteristics. Thanks to baking soda’s sodium crystalline structure, we can make our own crystals at home with just a few household items!   Materials & Supplies ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda Glasses or jars (at least two) Spoon Steel nails (2). These need to be heavy enough to sink to the bottom of the jar Hot tap water Piece of yarn or cotton string, about 6 in. long   Method Place the 2 glasses or jars across from each other, leaving space between them. Fill each glass with hot tap water. Add 2 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to each glass and stir. If all the Baking Soda dissolves, add more Baking Soda until the water cannot dissolve it anymore, indicating that the mixture is saturated. Add a few drops of food coloring if you’d like your crystals to be colorful. Tie a nail to each end of the string/yarn and drop 1 nail into each glass. Let the string dangle a bit (like a smiley shape) between the glasses but not so much that the string touches the ground. Watch the string over the next few days. As the water evaporates, colorful crystals will begin to form along the string.   The STEM Connection: The water holds as much of the baking soda as it can until it becomes supersaturated, with the leftover salt leading to the creation of a solid. In this case, crystals! This is because the sodium and chloride ions that are left behind attract each other, bond, and materialize as crystals! How sweet (or salty) is that? Repeat this activity using regular table salt in one pair of jars, and sugar in another. Compare the crystal size and structure of each! Do crystals form faster for baking soda, table salt, or sugar? 7. Invisible Ink

The combination of baking soda and vinegar doesn’t just serve up explosive reactions. It can also leave traces! Ever wanted to play the part of an explorer who stumbles across a secret message? The Invisible Ink STEM activity allows you to do just that. Your baking soda and water "ink” will be invisible at first, then change color when introduced to heat. Using purple grape juice will produce other colors, as well! You don’t have to write words or letters either, so your preschooler can scribble away and still get a big payoff!

You might not be dusting off ancient artifacts, but this simple DIY STEM activity can still unlock your inner Indiana Jones or Nic Cage.

• Light bulb or other heat source
• Paintbrush or swab
• Measuring cup
• Purple grape juice (optional)
• Mix equal parts water and baking soda together in a cup or small container.
• Try a cotton swab, toothpick, or paintbrush as a utensil to write a message (or draw a picture) on your sheet of paper, using the baking soda solution as "ink."
• Allow the ink to dry. The paper will look blank, but you know there’s a message on it!
• Read the message by holding the paper up to a heat source, such as a light bulb (do not use a halogen bulb) or a hair dryer. The heat should turn the baking soda in the lettering brown, so you can read it.
• Alternatively, you can paint over the paper with purple grape juice, which should yield a different color and make the secret message visible!
• The introduction of a heat source reacts with the water and baking soda mix to reveal written messages, symbols or images.
• If using grape juice, the baking soda and grape juice make for an acid-base reaction, with the grape juice (acid) serving as a pH indicator for the sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda (base).

Want more fun things to do with your kids and baking soda? Check out these other ideas from ARM & HAMMER™:

• Kid-friendly slime
• Baking soda bath bombs
• Baking soda science fair projects
• DIY Baking Soda Kid Projects
• Arts & Crafts Activities with Baking Soda

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3 of 227 How To

Video title

How the Milk & Dish Soap Experiment Works

A fun demonstration for kids.

If you haven't done this colourful demonstration for your kids, you probably should. It is both educational and entertaining.

The experiment/demonstration is easy: Put some milk in a a wide shallow dish, add some drops of food colouring and then put is a few drops of dish washing soap/liquid.

It is fun to watch the colours swirl, but what is actually going on? Why are the colors swirling? In this post, we look at the science behind the milk and dish washing soap chemistry experiment.

How Does it Work: Simple Explanation

Firstly, keep in mind that the food coloring is only there so you can actually see what is going on. Without it, the milk and dish soap will act the same, but it would be really hard to see the effect with your eyes.

Milk contains fat. Dish washing soap bonds to fat. So the molecules in the soap are racing around joining up with fat molecules. It keeps going until the soap becomes evenly mixed in the milk.

How it Works: Complex Answer

For a more complex answer, we did some research, and found a great explanation on Scientific American .

Detergent, such as liquid dish soap, is mostly surfactants. These can lower the surface tension of water as well as milk, which contains water and molecules of fat. Surfactants have a hydrophilic part that wants to interact with the water and a hydrophobic part that wants to interact with the fat molecules. Because of this, when the cotton swab with soap touched the milk, the soap separated the fat from the water in the milk, dissolving the fat (which is how soap cleans greasy, dirty dishes). This also decreased the milk's surface tension. As the soap spread out from the cotton swab, it decreased the milk's surface tension around it, and the higher surface tension surrounding this area pulled the milk (along with its food coloring) toward it. If enough soap is added, however, the soap and milk become evenly mixed and the milk (and food coloring) no longer move when more soap is added.

Watch the Color Changing Milk Experiment

Here is a short video demonstrating the effects of adding dish soap to milk.

How Arduino Works: Simply Explained

If you are trying to understand how Arduino works, here is a really simple explanation so you understand the process.

Milk, Food Coloring, and Dish Soap Experiment

By: Author Susanne Williams

Posted on Published: December 5, 2020  - Last updated: December 29, 2023

Are you looking for easy kitchen experiments for your kids? Then give this cool Milk, Food Coloring, and Dish Soap Science Experiment a try.

It is set up within minutes and is so much fun even for toddlers and preschoolers. Let’s get right into it.

There are affiliate links in this post, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will be compensated if you click through and take action. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Create Your Own Milk, Food Coloring, and Dish Soap Experiment at Home

Did you ever try this easy dish soap milk experiment?

My kids love it and call it the milk magic experiment! It is such an easy setup it is unbelievable for the amount of fun and wonders you will see in your children’s eyes.

Since I found this fun dish soap milk experiment they are asking for more and more food coloring experiments. They simply loved it!

Food Coloring Experiment Materials

But let’s have a look at our magic milk science experiment first. Here is what you will need to fascinate your children:

• plate or bowl
• 2% or whole milk
• food colors
• dishwasher soap
• 1 Q-Tip or cotton ball

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Milk With Food Coloring Experiment Instructions

Follow our easy step-by-step tutorial to get great results:

Step 1: Prepare your Plate

• First, fully cover the bottom of your plate with milk. This food coloring trick works best with 2% or whole milk!

Step 2: Add Food Coloring

• Then choose different food colors and add 3-4 drops of each color to the milk as shown in the picture below. We used yellow, green, and blue.

Step 3: Prepare your Q-Tip

• The secret to our milk, soap, and food coloring experiment is the following: Dip your Q-tip or cotton ball in dish soap till it is fully covered.

Step 4: Milk Painting

Now it is time to let the magic happen and watch your color explosion.

Place your soaked Q-Tip in the center of the milk. You will see how the colors dance magically across the milk surface and create wonderful milk paintings.

Did you know STEM Education has many benefits? Read all about them here. Your kids also might enjoy our popular Sherbet Experiment , explore this classic Skittle Experiment , or enjoy making a Coke Volcano . I also recommend one of these 15+ Water Experiments for Kids next.

Magic Milk Food Coloring Experiment Explained

After your children did their own kid’s experiment with food coloring, they might have some questions for you.

How does this coloring experiment work?

What happens when you drop the soap?

What is the science behind this fun milk experiment?

So let’s have a look at the magic milk experiment explanation:

First, they will have to know that milk is a mixture of water, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

The magic ingredient to this milk, soap, and food coloring experiment is soap. The soap lets the food coloring dance.

Without soap, the cotton ball wouldn’t do anything else than soak itself full of milk.

Soap incorporates water-loving (hydrophilic) and water-fearing (hydrophobic) ends. Water molecules are polar molecules, which means they can dissolve other polar molecules.

Fat and oil molecules on the other hand are nonpolar molecules that can not dissolve in water!

When you add the soap to your milk food coloring mix, the water-fearing end of the soap molecules breaks up the fat molecules, and the water-loving end of the soap molecule links up with the water molecules.

Therefore the dish soap connects the fat and water. As a result, the molecules of fat can be carried by the water molecules.

Now when the soap connects with the fat, the food coloring gets pushed around everywhere resulting in a color explosion.

When the dish soap is done connecting with the fat our food coloring eruption will slow down and eventually stop.

Take Your Milk Food Coloring Experiment Further

Let’s try around and switch your switch our milk and food coloring experiment up.

Try using water instead of milk. Will it still erupt the color?

What happens when you use 1% milk versus 2% milk or whole milk? Will you see a difference and why?

Let your children and students make their hypotheses and observations. They will have a lot of fun while learning!

This is such a fun food coloring experiment! If you want to see the milk, food coloring, and dish soap experiment in action, watch this video!

Now I would like to hear from you!

How did your kids enjoy this fun science experiment with food coloring? Did they enjoy coloring milk? Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now. I’d love to hear from you!

Pin this Milk, Food Coloring, Dish Soap Experiment

Don’t forget to save this easy milk, food coloring, soap experiment on Pinterest for later! Be sure you are following along with Lil Tigers.

Milk, Food Coloring, Dish Soap Experiment

Ingredients

• Milk (2% or Whole Milk)
• Food Coloring

Instructions

• Now you can place your soaked Q-Tip in the center of the milk. You will see how the colors dance magically across the milk surface.

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

Hi my name is Fanta and i will like to know what is the year of publication because i need it for a science fair project and it's due Dec 15. So you can message my in your free time Have a wonderful day/night

Thursday 1st of December 2022

Dear Fanta, thx for reaching out. I wrote my post on the 20/12/05 . I hope that helps you. Good luck with your science fair! All the best Susanne from Lil Tigers

Pepper & Soap Experiment: A Fascinating Science Trick for Kids at Home

Hey there, it’s Calie again, bringing you another dose of fun and learning right from the comfort of your home.

Today, we’re delving into a science experiment that not only sparked curiosity in countless families but also went viral back in 2020 when we were all finding new ways to engage and learn indoors. Remember those days?

Well, one of the silver linings was discovering simple, yet fascinating, science experiments like the one I’m about to share: Exploring Surface Tension with nothing more than black pepper, soap, and water!

This experiment is a brilliant way to introduce the concept of surface tension to kids (and adults!) of all ages.

And the best part? It uses items you likely already have in your kitchen.

Let’s dive in!

What You’ll Need:

• Ground black pepper
• A plate or bowl
• Liquid soap

Steps to Magic:

• Start with the Setup : Fill your plate or bowl with a thin layer of water, less than an inch deep is fine. This will be your experimental surface.
• Pepper It Up : Sprinkle a generous amount of black pepper onto the water’s surface. The goal is to cover as much of it as possible. This step is visually fun and sets the stage for the main event.
• The Touch of Wonder : Dip your finger into the liquid soap, just a little dab will do. Now, gently touch the peppered water surface with your soapy finger.
• Watch in Amazement : Observe the immediate reaction as the pepper swiftly moves away from your finger, spreading towards the edges of the plate or bowl.

What’s Happening?

This simple yet mesmerizing experiment demonstrates the breaking of water’s surface tension by soap.

Surface tension is the elastic tendency of fluid surfaces to acquire the least surface area possible. It’s why water droplets form and why some insects can skitter across water surfaces. In our experiment, water’s high surface tension—thanks to its molecules’ strong attraction to each other—is disrupted by soap.

The soap molecules wedge themselves between the water molecules, reducing the water’s surface tension. As a result, the water molecules, trying to maintain their bond, retreat along with the pepper flakes, creating that wow-worthy movement.

For a closer look and more fun, check out this engaging video: Exploring Surface Tension Video .

It’s a great companion to this activity and adds an extra layer of understanding and excitement.

Similar Experiments

Rainbow Celery

Traveling Rainbows

Dancing Raisins

Let me know if you do this experiment and how it went!

For more easy science experiments you can do at home with your kids, check out our main blog post called 100 Easy Science Experiments For Kids To Do At Home .

Warm wishes, Calie

Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.

Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.

Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.

Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page  and Editorial Policy Page .

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Magic Milk Science Experiment

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• Pinterest 123

The Magic Milk experiment is a quick and easy experiment that is sure to wow your child.

The Magic Milk experiment shows how dish soap separates the fat and water molecules within milk using food coloring as the visual component. Milk is comprised of fats, water, and other substances. By adding dish soap, we affect the surface tension of the milk with “water-loving” and “water-hating” parts, which separates the fats and water. The food coloring shows this reaction!

This reaction could be more difficult to explain to a younger child, but I have some ideas for you below that could make it make sense.

How to make the Magic Milk experiment

Supplies you will need.

For the Magic Milk experiment, you’ll need:

• A shallow bowl
• 1 smaller bowl (for dish soap)
• Food coloring
• Whole milk (important!)

Before you start

It is important to use whole milk for this experiment because it has the highest fat. Since the Magic Milk experiment is all about how the dish soap separates water and fats in milk, you will want to use the highest fat milk possible.

Instructions

Here is how to do the Magic Milk experiment:

Step 1: Add whole milk to a shallow bowl

I used a pasta bowl for the milk, to give an idea of how shallow the bowl is here.

You do not have to add much; we added enough to cover the bottom of the bowl and that is plenty for the experiment.

Get your child involved : if you are confident in their pouring skills, let them pour the milk into the bowl. Just know that it could get messy quickly!

Step 2: Add dish soap to a smaller bowl

A small amount of dish soap is enough here. We only need enough to dip a Q-Tip into the dish soap and saturate the cotton portion of the Q-Tip.

Step 3: Add food coloring to bowl with milk

Get creative! We added a drop or two in several spots around the bowl. See what fun color patterns you can make and how that affects the outcome. You can’t go wrong here.

Get your child involved : I let my toddler add drops wherever she wanted around the bowl. I only had to ensure she knew how to get just one or two drops out the first couple of times and she was off!

Step 4: Dip Q-Tip in dish soap and touch colors to make the milk react

Saturate your Q-Tip with the dish soap and simply touch the colors with your Q-Tip (no need to dunk your Q-Tip).

Get your child involved: if you let your child do anything during this experiment, let them do this part! My toddler LOVED seeing the reaction as she touched each color.

Step 5: Experiment!

One fun experiment we did was to hold the Q-Tip in one spot on the milk for an extended period of time.

The result was SO COOL. You could see the colors flowing away from your Q-Tip, but it looked like they were even bubbling up from the bottom of the bowl to flow away.

Check out the entire video below to really see this part of the reaction.

The science behind the Magic Milk science experiment

The Magic Milk experiment is a fun and colorful experiment to learn about chemistry!

For the parent

Milk is made up of fat, protein, water, vitamins, and minerals.

Dish soap is a surfactant, which affects our milk’s surface tension with hydrophilic (attracted to water) and hydrophobic (repels water) portions.

When soap is added to the milk, the hydrophilic portion connects to the water molecules in the milk and the hydrophobic attaches to the fat molecules.

During this reaction, the food coloring is bumped around, causing the reaction you see in the experiment.

For the child

The milk you drink is made up of lots of things, including vitamins, water, and fat.

When we add dish soap to our milk with a Q-Tip, we are separating those fats and water inside the milk. It is happening at such a small level that there’s no way we could see it, so we have to add food coloring to show it happening.

Touching a Q-Tip with dish soap on it to the milk separates the fats and water really quickly, and we see that in how quickly the colors move away from our Q-Tip!

More chemistry experiments to try out with your child

• Fizzing lemons experiment – using lemons and baking soda to make a lemon volcano
• Homemade lava lamp – vinegar and baking soda bubble around in a container of oil
• Fizzing paint experiment – another vinegar and baking soda reaction, but with an artistic twist!

FAQ about the Magic Milk Experiment

Why do i have to use whole milk in this experiment.

Whole milk has the highest fat content, and in turn gives the best reaction.

Here’s a great explanation of why a higher fat milk is better:

As the soap molecules race around to join up with the fat molecules, the fat molecules bend, roll, twist and contort in all directions. As the soap becomes evenly mixed with the milk, the action slows down and eventually stops. This is why milk with a higher fat content produces a better explosion of color: there’s just more fat to combine with all of those soap molecules. Try adding another drop of soap to see if there’s any more movement. If so, you discovered there are still more fat molecules that haven’t found a partner in that big color dance. Add another drop of soap to start the process again. https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/milk-color-explosion/

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Coffee Cups and Crayons

Simple play ideas, learning activities, kids crafts and party ideas, plus acts of kindness for kids!

January 15, 2019

Magic Pepper and Soap Experiment

Want to be the cool mom?

All you need to do is raid your kitchen cupboards!

Yes, it really is that simple. If you have pepper, water and dish soap then you can set up this science experiment/magic trick in less than a minute.

And if you don’t have pepper or soap send the kids next door to borrow some! No special trips to the store needed.

This simple science experiment is a great way for kids to explore properties like buoyancy and surface tension or even just cause and effect.

But it can also double as a cool boredom buster when you need a fun idea ASAP.  We’ve got all the details and instructions you need to become the Magic Pepper and Soap Master!

How to Do the Pepper and Soap Experiment

Grab your supplies and get ready for the science magic to happen!

• Plate or bowl
• Water (optional to color it blue)

Instructions:

• Pour some water onto a plate or bowl. You want it to cover a fairly large part of the plate. Coloring your water blue with some food coloring is an optional step, but sometimes makes it easier to see the experiment in action.
• Sprinkle some pepper onto the surface of the water.
• Dip your finger into the dish soap.
• Place your finger in the center of the plate into the water.
• Watch as the pepper quickly scatters to the edges of the water on the plate.

The Pepper and Soap Experiment in Action

Want to see the magic pepper and soap experiment in action?

Here you go!

It is really as easy as this. Scout’s honor.

How Does the Magic Pepper and Soap Experiment Work

This pepper and soap experiment is chock full of learning!

Kids can learn about buoyancy, or the concept of sink or float, by adding the pepper to the water. If they’ve already mastered these concepts then this is a great opportunity to introduce surface tension.

When the soap is added to the plate the surface tension changes and the pepper no longer floats on top. The molecules pull back from the soap is able to break down the surface tension of water. As the soap moves into the water, and the surface tension changes, the pepper no longer floats on top. The water molecules want to keep the surface tension intact so they pull away from the soap carrying the pepper flakes with them.

With younger kids a simpler explanation works too. When you touch the pepper water with dish soap the pepper moves to the side of the dish. This is a perfect illustration of cause and effect.

No matter which science lesson you choose to focus on the end result will still be fun! The magic pepper and soap experiment is simple, easy, and totally awesome. Try it today as a science experiment or boredom buster–either option is sure to make you a cool mom!

Don’t let the fun and discovery stop there!

We have TONS of science experiments your kids will love on our  Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids  page! 

Take me to the experiments –>   Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids

About Megan Sheakoski

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog full of simple fun and learning. She believes that kids’ activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and that learning is better with play.

November 10, 2019 at 7:15 pm

I literally just got up off my bed, called my granddaughter into the kitchen for a science experiment. She’s eight. I didn’t get fancy with food coloring; just a small plate, water, shake a little pepper and dip her finger in dish soap .. “Whoow! Why did it do that? That was cool!” 😊😃 Explaines surface tension, rinsed the plate and let her do it all again by herself.

Thank you for much for this Easy Peasy science moment!

March 13, 2020 at 2:20 pm

I did not see the end. Site went away.

May 12, 2020 at 2:53 pm

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Elephant Toothpaste

Elephant toothpaste is such a fun and easy science experiment for kids! Explore this chemical reaction that has an exciting, foaming result — which shoots right out of the bottle!

You can set up this STEM activity for yourself in just a few minutes – you only need a few simple ingredients! It’s quick and easy, and the wow factor will make you want to try the experiment over and over again. The bubbles and foam are SO COOL!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.

How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

• 1/2 cup High volume hydrogen peroxide (12% or 6%)
• 1 Tablespoon Dish soap
• Food colouring
• 1/4 cup Warm water
• 1 Tablespoon Active dry yeast
• Empty 1L bottle (water bottle or similar)
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Fork (or whisk)

Check Out The Video Tutorial:

Instructions:, step 1: find what you need.

Step 2: Mix hydrogen peroxide and dish soap

Step 3: Add food colouring to the bottle sides (OPTIONAL)

Step 4: Mix together the yeast and warm water

Step 5: Combine the ingredients and watch the reaction!

Helpful Tips:

• Make sure you wear PPE (personal protective equipment) while performing this experiment! We recommend wearing protective gloves, safety glasses , and a painting smock or apron. You’ll also want to protect your working surface with a table cloth if you’re worried about spills. Hydrogen peroxide can cause discoloration of surfaces.
• Place your hand close to the bottle after the reaction has slowed down. You should be able to feel the heat energy created. This is called an exothermic reaction.

What is elephant toothpaste?

Elephant toothpaste is an easy science experiment for kids of all ages. The foaming chemical reaction looks just like toothpaste being squeezed out of a big tube!

As the foam rises out of the plastic bottle, the stream of “toothpaste” is so big that it looks like it could be used by an elephant — hence the name!

How does elephant toothpaste work?

Elephant toothpaste is a chemical reaction that illustrates what happens when a catalyst causes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is made up of both hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and with time it eventually breaks down into oxygen and water. Hydrogen peroxide is often found in dark brown bottles, which helps to slow down this process.

When a catalyst is added, this usually slow reaction happens very quickly. Yeast contains an enzyme called “catalase”, which, when added to the hydrogen peroxide, rapidly releases the oxygen molecules.

The dish soap helps increase the surface tension and causes the oxygen gas bubbles to get trapped and last longer — causing the foam reaction.

This science experiment is a demonstration of rapid decomposition, and it also creates an exothermic reaction – or heat. If you put your hand close to the bottle you can feel the warmth created by the energy, and you might even see steam!

Can I use 3% hydrogen peroxide to make elephant toothpaste?

We definitely recommend using 12% hydrogen peroxide , or at the very least 6%, to get a good reaction between the ingredients.

If you can only find 3% peroxide (the regular kind you can find in stores, for disinfecting cuts), your experiment will still work, it just won’t be as impressive. We tried it and it does create foam that comes out of the bottle, but the foam isn’t as thick and it moves slower – so it doesn’t shoot out from the bottle. Overall, it just doesn’t look as good.

For the best (and coolest!) results you’ll want to use 12% hydrogen peroxide .

Where can I buy 12% hydrogen peroxide?

You can find higher percentages of hydrogen peroxide at beauty supply stores (where hairdressers buy their products). Or you might be able to find it online — we bought ours on Amazon.

Look for 6% (also called 20 volume) liquid hydrogen peroxide, or 12% (40 volume). The higher the volume, the bigger and better the reaction will be.

Is it safe to touch elephant toothpaste?

Once the chemical reaction has occurred, it should be safe to touch the elephant toothpaste foam. When the hydrogen peroxide breaks down, all that remains is oxygen, water, and soap bubbles.

However, any remaining hydrogen peroxide has hasn’t broken down may irritate your skin, so we still recommend only touching the foam with your gloves on.

Do I have to use food colouring in the elephant toothpaste recipe?

No, the food colouring along the sides of the bottle gives the experiment a fun toothpaste look, but you don’t have to add food colouring if you don’t want to!

If you don’t like the look of the stripes, you could fully mix the food coloring into the peroxide and soap mixture. Instead of stripes in the foam, it will give you coloured foam.

Watch our video tutorial or follow our step by step written instructions to make this simple (and very cool!) experiment.

Elephant toothpaste is such a fun experiment with a big foaming reaction! It’s great for school science lessons, at home, or even at STEM themed birthday parties.

Here’s even more science experiment ideas:

Dancing Popcorn Experiment

Bouncing Bubbles

Egg in Vinegar Experiment

Our book  Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!

Where to buy:

You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon , or wherever books are sold:

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   |  Books-A-Million   |  Indiebound   |   Amazon Canada

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About Debbie Chapman , the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids . I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

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Milk and the Light Bulb

• February 29, 2024

As an enthusiastic preschool teacher, I am always on the lookout for fun and educational science experiments to engage my littles. . Recently, I came across a fascinating experiment on the Internet that promised to combine art, chemistry, and a touch of magic. Eager to try it out, I gathered my little scientists and embarked on what seemed like an exciting adventure. Little did I know that this experiment would teach us a valuable lesson about the importance of critical thinking and not trusting everything we read online.

The experiment involved placing milk in a shallow dish and adding drops of food coloring around the edges. A lightbulb was to be placed in the center, and finally, a drop of dish soap was added to the mixture. According to the instructions, the lightbulb was supposed to light up, creating a mesmerizing display of colors as the dish soap interacted with the milk and food coloring.

With anticipation and excitement, we followed the steps meticulously. The children’s eyes sparkled with wonder as they watched the food coloring mix and create captivating designs in the milk. However, the much-awaited moment of the lightbulb lighting up never came. We were left perplexed, scratching our heads, wondering what went wrong.

Upon reflecting on our failed experiment, I decided to delve deeper into the science behind it. As it turns out, the experiment we attempted is a popular one known as the “Milk and Soap Experiment” or “Milk Magic.” The dish soap, when added to the milk, disrupts the surface tension of the liquid. This causes the fat molecules in the milk to move, creating a swirling motion that carries the food coloring along with it, resulting in the mesmerizing patterns we observed.

However, the claim that the lightbulb would light up was where the experiment fell short. The Internet can sometimes be a source of misleading or inaccurate information, and this experiment was a prime example. The idea that the dish soap and milk mixture would conduct electricity and light up the bulb is simply not scientifically accurate.

I will add the video to our group.

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How To : Make bubbles with dish soap

Soap suds aren't just for dishwashing! Blow away your family and friends with this cool science experiment.

For this experiment, you'll need the following materials:

dish soap water corn syrup wire string straws measuring cup large bowl

The steps for completing the science experiment are as follows:

1. To make bubble solution: Take 1 cup for dish soap and add it to your mixing bowl. Add 3 cups of water, 1/2 cup of corn syrup and mix everything together.

2. Use a spool of wire or a hanger, and have an adult cut off about 8 inches for you. Take your piece of wire and make a loop with it at one end.

3. Twist your loop around six times to securely wrap the wire in place. Once your loop is in place you can form it into other shapes! Test it out.

4. Now, try making a bubble window. You'll need 2 straws and a long piece of string, about 12 inches long. Thread your string through both straws and then tie off the sting. Dip into bubble solution and try it out!

5. Now, take some of your bubble solution and put it on your cookie sheet. Dip your straw into the bubble solution and then hold it just above your cookie sheet. Blow into your straw until you have blown a bubble dome. Try to blow as many as you can!

Remember that you should always work under adult supervision whenever you conduct experiments. So please don't do these projects alone.

Make bubbles with dish soap

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Science Experiments

Mixing Oil & Water Science Experiment

Have you ever heard the saying, “Oil and water don’t mix”? For this easy science experiment, we observe exactly what does happens when we mix oil and water, then we’ll add another item to the mix to see how it changes!

With only a few common kitchen items, kids can explore density and the reaction of adding an emulsifier (dish soap) to the experiment. A printable instruction sheet with a materials list, demonstration video, and a simple scientific explanation are included.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• Glass Jar with a lid (a pint canning jar works great)
• 1 cup Water
• Food Coloring
• 1 cup Oil (we used vegetable oil)
• 2 teaspoons Dish Soap

Mixing Oil & Water Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Mixing Oil & Water Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Mixing Oil & Water Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Start by filling the jar with 1 cup of water.

Step 2 – Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir until combined. Make some observations about the water. What happened when the food coloring was added? Was it easy to mix the food coloring into the water? Does the food coloring stay mixed with the water? What do you think will happen when we pour the oil into the jar? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then follow the steps below.

Step 3 – Next pour 1 cup of oil into the jar. Make a few observations. Does the oil behave the same was as the food coloring did when you added it to the water?

Step 4 – Securely tighten the lid on the jar and shake it for 15-20 seconds.

Step 5 – Set the jar down and watch the jar for a couple of minutes. Observe what happens to the oil and the water and write down your findings. Did the oil and water stay mixed together? Was your hypothesis correct? Do you think there is anything else that can be added to the jar to prevent the oil and water from separating?

Step 6 – Next, take the lid off the jar and squirt in 1-2 teaspoons of dish soap.

Step 7 – Tighten the lid back on the jar and shake again for another 15-20 seconds.

Step 8 – Set the jar down and watch the liquid for a minute or two. Observe what happens to the oil and the water now that the dish soap has been added to the mix. Write down your findings. Did the oil and water stay mixed together this time? Do you know why adding the dish soap preventing the oil and water from separating? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work

The first thing you will observe is that oil and water will not stay mixed together, no matter how hard you shake the jar. Instead, the oil slowly rises to the top of the water. This is because of the density of the two liquids. Density is a measure of the mass per unit volume of a substance. Water has a density of 1 g/mL (g/cm3). Objects will float in water if their density is less than 1 g/mL. Objects will sink in water if their density is greater than 1 g/mL. The oil is LESS dense than the water. This is because the molecules of oil are larger than the molecules of water, so oil particles take up more space per unit area. As a result, the oil will rise to the top of the water.

The second thing you will observe is that adding dish soap to the mixture changed the results of the experiment. When oil, water and dish soap are mixed together, the oil and water don’t separate like they did when they were the only two items in the jar. This is because of the chemistry of the oil, water and soap molecules.

Oil (and other fats) are made of nonpolar molecules, meaning they cannot dissolve in water. Water is made of polar molecules that can dissolve other polar molecules. Soap is made of molecules that have a hydrophilic (“water-loving”) end and a hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) end. Without soap, water and oil cannot interact because they are unlike molecules. When you add soap to the mixture, the hydrophobic end of the soap molecule breaks up the nonpolar oil molecules, and the hydrophilic end of the soap molecule links up with the polar water molecules. Now that the soap is connecting the fat and water, the non-polar fat molecules can be carried by the polar water molecules. Now the oil and water can be mixed together and stay mixed together!

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Mixing Oil & Water Science Experiment

• Glass Jar with a lid (a pint canning jar works great)

Instructions

• Start by filling the jar with 1 cup of water.
• Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir until combined.
• Pour 1 cup of Oil into the jar.
• Securely tighten the lid on the jar and shake it for 15-20 seconds.
• Set the jar down and watch the liquid for a minute or two. Observe what happens to the Oil and the Water.
• Next, take the lid off the jar and squirt in 1-2 teaspoons of dish soap.
• Tighten the lid back on the jar and shake again for another 15-20 seconds.
• Set the jar down and watch the liquid for a minute or two. Observe what happens to the Oil and the Water now that the dish soap has been added to the mix.

Reader Interactions

October 4, 2017 at 11:43 am

Super ….. !

October 6, 2017 at 12:12 pm

Hi ! This gives us really good experiment

November 6, 2017 at 3:40 pm

This was the best science fair project ever

November 14, 2017 at 5:10 pm

December 10, 2017 at 10:38 am

This experiment is fun

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Color Changing Milk Experiment – Magic Milk Experiment

This is guaranteed to become one of your favorite kitchen chemistry experiments. Some very unusual interactions take place when you mix a little milk, food coloring, and a drop of liquid soap. Use this experiment to amaze your friends and uncover the scientific secrets of soap.

Color-Changing Milk Experiment This magic milk experiment is guaranteed to become one of your favorite kitchen chemistry experiments. Some very unusual interactions take place when you mix a little milk, a bit of food coloring and a drop of liquid soap. Use this experiment to amaze your friends and uncover the amazing scientific secrets of soap.

Kids’ Science and Milk Lab Experiments at Home It’s easy to create memorable science experiments for kids in the kitchen. From amazing egg experiments to candy crystal creations, there is something pretty amazing in store in the kitchen (where chemistry and science experiments occur each and every day, most of which are edible). Here is where you can explore dozens of many easy, fun and safe kitchen-based science experiments — like our magic milk experiment. This unforgettable hands-on learning experience is easy and offers firsthand learning: no wonder it’s one of the most popular experiments at Steve Spangler Science! Read on to learn how to turn this activity into an awesome science fair project. Find more hands-on science fun for kids in Steve’s book, Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes. SICK Science® is a registered trademark of Steve Spangler, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Experiment Materials

• Milk (whole or 2%)
• Dinner plate
• Food coloring (red, yellow, green, blue)
• Dish-washing soap (Dawn brand works well)
• Cotton swabs

Scroll Down To:

• Experiment Steps
• Additional Information

Experiment Videos

Pour enough milk in the dinner plate to completely cover the bottom to the depth of about 1 / 4 inch. Allow the milk to settle before moving on to the next step.

Add one drop of each of the four colors of food coloring—red, yellow, green, and blue—to the milk. Keep the drops close together in the center of the plate of milk.

Find a clean cotton swab for the next part of the experiment. Predict what will happen when you touch the tip of the cotton swab to the center of the milk. It’s important not to stir the mix—just touch it with the tip of the cotton swab. Go ahead and try it.

Now place a drop of liquid dish soap on the other end of the cotton swab. Place the soapy end of the cotton swab back in the middle of the milk and hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds. Look at that burst of color! It’s like the Fourth of July in a plate of milk.

Add another drop of soap to the tip of the cotton swab and try it again. Experiment with placing the cotton swab at different places in the milk. Notice that the colors in the milk continue to move even when the cotton swab is removed. What makes the food coloring in the milk move?

How Does It Work

What’s the secret behind our Color-Changing Milk Experiment? What makes this amazing milk lab magic occur? Well first, milk is mostly water; however, it also contains vitamins, minerals, proteins and tiny droplets of fat suspended in solution. Fats and proteins are sensitive to changes in the surrounding solution (the milk). The secret of these awesome bursting colors is in the chemistry of that tiny drop of soap. Like other oils (as you found in our Oil and Water Experiment), milk fat is a non-polar molecule, which is a “science-y” way to say that it doesn’t dissolve in water. When soap is mixed in, however, the non-polar (hydrophobic) portion of the micelles (molecular soap structures within the solution) break up and collect the non-polar fat molecules. The polar surface of the micelle (hydrophilic) then connects to a polar water molecule with the fat held inside the soap micelle. Thanks to the soap connection (literally), the non-polar fat can then be carried by the polar water. This is when the fun begins. As the soap molecules race around to join up with the fat molecules, the fat molecules bend, roll, twist and contort in all directions. During this fat molecule gymnastics demonstration, the food coloring molecules are bumped and shoved everywhere, providing an easy way to observe all that previously invisible activity. As the soap becomes evenly mixed with the milk, the action slows down and eventually stops. This is why milk with a higher fat content produces a better explosion of color: there’s just more fat to combine with all of those soap molecules. Try adding another drop of soap to see if there’s any more movement. If so, you discovered there are still more fat molecules that haven’t found a partner in that big color dance. Add another drop of soap to start the process again.

Take It Further

Repeat the experiment using water (in place of milk). Will you get the same eruption of color? What kind of milk produces the best color swirls: skim milk, 1% milk, 2% milk or whole milk? Why? These questions are the basis of a great science fair project. Creating your very own magic milk experiment is as easy as comparing the effect that the dishwashing soap has on a number of different liquids. Do you see any pattern in your observations?

The Best Science Experiments for Kids: Steve Spangler Science Don’t miss our other amazing science experiments for kids in our online experiment library; each experiment allows your kids hands-on learning experiences at home or in the classroom. Our easy experiments, including our color-changing milk lab experiment, uses everyday ingredients from the kitchen to make memorable reactions that demonstrate important scientific principles. Don’t miss our other science experiments, including food science experiments, table tricks and more! If you can’t get enough of Steve Spangler Science experiments, join the Steve Spangler Science Club, for monthly kids’ science experiments delivered directly to your door. Each experiment includes everything you need to have some science-based fun!

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Fun DIY Science Experiments for Kids at Home| Hydrogen Peroxide

Table of Contents

Essential safety precautions for diy science projects with hydrogen peroxide.

Engaging kids in DIY science projects can be a thrilling family activity, sparking wonder and providing cool science experiments that enrich a child’s learning experience. Conducting fun science experiments at home or in a school lab transforms the theoretical into tangible fun science activities. Hydrogen peroxide, a common household compound found in many medicine cabinets and stores, often stars in these simple and easy homemade experiments due to its reactive properties. However, it’s vitally important to adhere to safety precautions to ensure these fun experiments remain a source of joy and not harm. Let’s explore the essential safety measures that must be followed before embarking on any science experiment involving hydrogen peroxide.

Firstly, children should always be supervised by an adult when conducting any cool science experiment. Kids’ natural curiosity can sometimes lead them to venture into unsafe practices which will need an adult’s guidance to navigate. Simple, yet effective, safety gear such as gloves, goggles, and aprons should be worn to protect skin and eyes from potential splashes during these fun science activities. A lab coat or an old shirt can also serve as a barrier between the children’s clothing and any spills. It is also wise to prepare the experiment area by laying down newspaper or plastic covers, not just for easy clean-ups, but also to protect surfaces from any accidental hydrogen peroxide contact.

When you’re ready to start your homemade fun experiment with hydrogen peroxide, always ensure you’re in a well-ventilated area, whether it’s a room with open windows or outdoors. This helps to dissipate any fumes that may be produced. It’s also crucial to use only the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide recommended in the experiment’s guidelines, which are typically available in a science project book or reputable online resources. Store-bought hydrogen peroxide is usually a 3% solution, which is generally safe for use in these home science experiments but still requires caution.

By rigorously following these precautions, you can continually create safe and entertaining environments for fun science experiments with kids. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply a science enthusiast, fostering a love for science in an easy and responsible manner is a rewarding endeavor. Through these cool science experiments with hydrogen peroxide, children not only learn scientific principles but also the importance of caution and respect for chemicals, even during fun science activities — lessons that are invaluable both inside and outside the lab.

Elephant Toothpaste

How it Works

Elephant toothpaste is a captivating and visually striking experiment that showcases a rapid decomposition reaction. The primary ingredients involved are hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a catalyst typically in the form of potassium iodide (KI), and a surfactant like dish soap. When hydrogen peroxide is mixed with the catalyst, it rapidly decomposes into water (H2O) and oxygen gas (O2). This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat, and the soap helps trap the oxygen gas bubbles, creating the foamy eruption resembling toothpaste squirting out of a tube. The potassium iodide serves as a catalyst, expediting the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. This vibrant and engaging demonstration vividly illustrates the fascinating chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and the catalyst, resulting in an exciting eruption of foam.

What You Need

• 35% hydrogen peroxide
• Food coloring
• A small spoonful of yeast
• Lots of space
• A mixing utensil
• A clear jar/cup

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

• Safety First: Put on your protective gear – goggles and gloves are a must. Even a small amount of hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation, so ensure safety measures are in place.
• Prepare the Workspace: Choose a spacious area as this experiment tends to create a foam eruption. Clear a table or designated space to conduct the experiment safely.
• Gather Materials : Collect all the necessary materials – a clear jar or cup, 3% hydrogen peroxide , food coloring (optional), dish soap, a favorite fragrance (optional), yeast, warm water, a mixing spoon, and a whisk.
• Set Up the Jar/Cup: Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into the clear jar or cup. Add a few drops of dish soap for a colorful effect. Optionally, add a few drops of your chosen fragrance to enhance the experience. Gently mix these components together.
• Prepare the Yeast Solution: Create a yeast solution by mixing yeast with warm water until it’s thoroughly dissolved.
• Combine Ingredients : Once the yeast solution is ready, swiftly pour it into the jar or cup containing the hydrogen peroxide mixture. Stir the ingredients together, ensuring they’re well combined.
• Observe the Reaction: Step back and watch the magical chemical reaction unfold! As the yeast catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, bubbles of oxygen are released, resulting in a dramatic foamy eruption resembling toothpaste.

Caution: Maintain a safe distance and be prepared for the colorful, bubbly eruption that will take over the jar or cup, showcasing the impressive ‘elephant toothpaste’ effect.

Remember, safety precautions are crucial, and handling chemicals should be done with care and attention to prevent any mishaps. Enjoy the exciting visual display of this scientific experiment!

Creating a Volcano Lava Potion

The Volcano Lava Potion experiment demonstrates the rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide when mixed with a catalyst. The catalyst initiates the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. This decomposition reaction is highly exothermic, releasing heat, and the dish soap helps to trap the oxygen gas released, creating a foamy eruption. The foaming action showcases the liberation of oxygen as the hydrogen peroxide breaks down, resulting in an exciting visual representation of a chemical reaction. This experiment not only entertains but also educates about chemical reactions in a captivating and engaging manner, making it a thrilling learning experience for kids and adults alike.

• Clean bottle
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Catalyst (yeast or potassium iodide)

• Safety First: Ensure safety measures are in place, including wearing safety goggles and preparing the workspace.
• Set Up the Jar/Cup: Take a clean bottle and add a portion of hydrogen peroxide into it.
• Combine liquids : Add a squirt of dish soap into the bottle, which will trap the oxygen released during the reaction and create foam.
• Combine Ingredients: Introduce the catalyst, either yeast or potassium iodide, to kick-start the reaction. You can use a diluted solution of the catalyst for this purpose.
• Observe the Reaction: Observe the awe-inspiring chemical reaction as the hydrogen peroxide decomposes rapidly, generating oxygen, and resulting in a foamy eruption resembling a volcano’s lava flow.

Creating a Piranha Solution

The Piranha Solution may sound fierce, and rightly so—it’s a powerful concoction made by combining concentrated hydrogen peroxide with sulfuric acid.

This mix is no ordinary cleaner; it’s like the superhero of lab cleaning solutions, capable of tackling stubborn residues on glassware and surfaces.

When these two ingredients come together, the sulfuric acid triggers the hydrogen peroxide to break down rapidly. This reaction releases a lot of heat and creates oxygen, which, when unleashed, has a remarkable ability to zap away organic residues, leaving surfaces sparkling clean.

However, a word of caution: think of the Piranha Solution as a fire-breathing dragon. It’s incredibly strong and can cause serious harm if mishandled. That’s why it’s crucial to handle it with the utmost care—gloves, goggles, and protective clothing are your knight’s armor when dealing with this potent mix. Always mix the acid into the peroxide slowly and stir gently to prevent an explosive reaction. And after its superhero duty is done, make sure to properly neutralize and dispose of it according to safety guidelines—this powerful solution needs to be handled with respect.

• Safety equipment (gloves, goggles, and protective clothing)
• Hydrogen peroxide (high concentration, typically 35%)
• Sulfuric acid
• Water (for dilution, if necessary)
• Glass or plastic container for mixing
• Stirring rod or glass stirring stick
• Cotton Ball
• Safety First: Prioritize safety by wearing gloves, goggles, and protective clothing before handling any of the chemicals.
• Prepare the Workspace: Choose a well-ventilated area to perform the experiment and ensure a stable work surface.
• Gather Materials : Pour the required amount of hydrogen peroxide into the glass or plastic container. Note: Piranha solution is highly reactive and dangerous; extreme caution is necessary when handling concentrated hydrogen peroxide.
• Combine liquids : Gradually add the sulfuric acid to the hydrogen peroxide. Take extreme care and add the acid slowly while stirring gently with a glass stirring rod or stick. Always pour the acid into the peroxide, not the other way around, to prevent vigorous reactions.
• Observe the Reaction: As the solution reacts vigorously, producing heat and emitting fumes. The mixture will heat up significantly as the reaction progresses, hence the name “Piranha solution.” Next add a cotton ball to the solution. Once the cotton ball comes in contact with the solution it burns right there and then, and the whole jar is taken over a black color. Pretty amazing right? You can spend the whole day adding other fun stuff and watch it burn. Kids love this stuff.

Allow the solution to cool before use, ensuring it’s properly neutralized and safe for disposal according to hazardous waste disposal guidelines

Start a Fire Without Matches

The fascinating reaction that enables starting a fire without matches using hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate involves the oxidation of glycerin by hydrogen peroxide. Though glycerin is not explicitly mentioned in the materials, it’s formed as a byproduct when potassium permanganate reacts with hydrogen peroxide. Glycerin is highly susceptible to oxidation and readily undergoes combustion. When the concentrated hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with potassium permanganate, it rapidly decomposes, releasing oxygen. This oxygen, in turn, reacts with the glycerin formed, causing a quick exothermic reaction that produces heat and smoke, resembling the visual effect of fire. The chemical reaction is an illustrative example of how certain compounds, when combined in the right conditions, can create an exciting spectacle that mimics fire without the need for conventional ignition sources like matches.

• Splash-free goggles
• Potassium permanganate
• White lab coat
• A clear small bowl
• Ceramic plate
• Prioritize safety by wearing splash-free goggles and a white lab coat to protect yourself during the experiment.
• Take a small clear bowl and add potassium permanganate into it.
• Using a syringe, fill it with 35% hydrogen peroxide, ensuring it’s not filled up to the brim.
• Place the bowl containing potassium permanganate onto a ceramic plate.
• Slowly and steadily inject the hydrogen peroxide into the bowl by pressing the syringe gently.
• Once the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the potassium permanganate, observe as smoke begins to rise, indicating a chemical reaction that mimics fire.
• For a larger-scale experiment, you can use an open large flask following the same procedure as mentioned earlier.
• After completing the experiment, ensure proper ventilation by opening windows to eliminate any burning smell. Additionally, wash the used bowl under lukewarm water to remove any residues.

Potato Catalase Experiment

When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) comes in contact with an uncooked potato, a fascinating reaction occurs due to the presence of an enzyme called catalase in the potato. Catalase is abundant in living organisms, including plants , and it helps break down hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) gas. This enzyme speeds up the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into its constituents, creating bubbles of oxygen gas that you observe as foam. However, in a cooked potato, the high temperature from cooking denatures the catalase enzyme, rendering it inactive. As a result, the cooked potato doesn’t produce the same bubbling reaction with hydrogen peroxide as the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide has been altered and can no longer facilitate the reaction.

• Hydrogen peroxide 3%
• Uncooked potato
• Cooked potato
• Cutting board and knife
• Bowl or container for mixing
• Spoon or spatula for stirring
• Gather the materials: hydrogen peroxide, an uncooked potato, and a cooked potato.
• Place the uncooked potato on a cutting board and carefully cut it into small pieces or slices.
• Take a separate bowl or container and pour some hydrogen peroxide into it.
• Add the cut pieces or slices of the uncooked potato into the bowl containing hydrogen peroxide.
• Observe as the uncooked potato reacts with the hydrogen peroxide, producing bubbles of oxygen due to the presence of the catalase enzyme.
• Next, cut the cooked potato into similar-sized pieces or slices.
• Place the cut pieces of the cooked potato into a different bowl containing hydrogen peroxide.
• Notice that the cooked potato does not produce the same bubbling reaction as the catalase enzyme in the cooked potato has been altered by the cooking process and cannot catalyze the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide.

Fingerprint Enhancement

This experiment is an entertaining and straightforward way to engage in mind-stimulating activities with children, creating a scenario resembling a crime scene, complete with different characters, to fully immerse in the experience of revealing hidden fingerprints.When 35% hydrogen peroxide is mixed with a small amount of distilled white vinegar, it creates an acidified peroxide solution. This solution has a remarkable ability to react with the natural oils present in human skin, which are often transferred onto surfaces when a person touches them. These latent fingerprints, typically invisible to the naked eye, become visible when exposed to the acidified peroxide solution, making it a handy method for revealing hidden fingerprints on surfaces.

• Distilled white vinegar
• Measurement jar
• Begin by obtaining a measurement jar and pour 35% hydrogen peroxide into it, filling it up to 400 ml.
• Add a small quantity of distilled white vinegar, precisely 1 ml, into the measurement jar containing the hydrogen peroxide.
• For testing purposes, place the object or material to be inspected—such as a ring or a fake bullet—into the jar containing the prepared solution.
• Allow the material to soak in the solution for a duration of 12 minutes.
• After the allotted time, use gloves to retrieve the material from the jar.
• Inspect the material under bright light, and you’ll observe previously unseen fingerprints become visible all over the surface.

The Takeaway

The experiments detailed above offer engaging and accessible experiences suitable for conducting at home with children, serving as wonderful entry-level introductions to scientific exploration. Safety precautions are paramount when dealing with chemicals, ensuring a secure environment for both you and your children during experimentation. Selecting the appropriate high-quality hydrogen peroxide, specific to the required concentration for these experiments, is crucial. While hydrogen peroxide is commonly found in households, acquiring the right grade and concentration is key to achieving optimal and safe results. Prioritizing purity and quality is essential for a secure and successful experiment.

So, why wait? Secure your kit today for a fulfilling and safe science exploration journey!

Order you set today!

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These statements have not been evaluated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Glitter Germ Experiment

As cold and flu season approaches I like to work in some activities that teach the kids why proper handwashing and other hygiene practices are. The Glitter Germ Experiment helps kids to actually be able to see the “germs” and give them a more concrete understanding of how handwashing and germ prevention work.

It can be hard especially for smaller children for them to understand that even though you can’t see them germs are everywhere!

Do you think this experiment is cool? I have more on this list of Health and Hygiene for Kids .

It’s always fun to do hands-on learning activities with the kids. Not only do they teach them to be forward-thinking and help with analytical skills, but it also helps them learn to process and research as well.

And since kids are fascinated by touching all the things, learning about germs seems like a great idea!

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

See a list of my favorite Amazon Deals for your home and homeschool.

Recommended Books About Germs

Want to learn more about germs? Head to your library to read one of these germ books to stress the importance of washing your hands to your kids.

You can sit down and read these books with the kids, or have them work through the pages on their own. No matter what, they’ll enjoy the topics at hand!

Only four ingredients to start exploring how germs work. We really want to emphasize that even though we can’t see them, they’re are in fact germs everywhere.

On doorknobs, light switches and table tops.

If you like this activity, check out my list of Healthy Body Activities for Preschoolers to get more ideas on what activities are perfect when teaching kids about living a healthy lifestyle.

>>Get more simple homeschool science experiments !

Glitter Germ Experiment Supplies

All you need to get started on this simple STEM experiment is listed below. It couldn’t be easier to do!

• A shallow dish
• Blue dish soap

Alternatives to glitter

If you’d rather not break out the glitter because it’s such a giant mess or you don’t have it around the house. You can substitute edible food glitter, cocoa powder or pepper. You just want to make sure no one touches their eyes with the last one.

Glitter Germ Experiment Directions

• Pour water into the shallow dish nearly to the edge.
• Sprinkle glitter generously over the surface.

We did this experiment 2 ways, squirting soap directly into a mass of glitter floating on the water then we also coated a finger in soap and tried to touch the “germs”.

Adding glitter to their hands lets you stimulate hand washing so kids can learn how to properly wash their hands to get rid of all of the germs.

The coolest thing that really catches the kids interest is how when soap is added to the water the germs (glitter) quickly moves away. The more soap the faster the reaction.

This fun simple experiment can be done over and over.

Next, we went to the sink and practiced good handwashing practices

Using soap not just water, rubbing between fingers, all the way to the wrist and making sure it was long enough. We sing our ABC’s twice as we wash to make sure that they are nice and clean so that all of the germs and bacteria get washed off.

We encourage you to read our Health Books for Kids blog post. We have there some books that we highly recommend if you want to educate your kids about healthy living.

Fun Germ Kits and Toys

Explore germs and bacteria and even more when you have your own microscope. Or enjoy a germ plushie toy to cuddle with. They come in many shapes and sizes.

Some questions to ask about the germs science experiment?

What is a germ? How do they get on your hands? How do you get them off? Why do I need to wash my hands? What does a germ look like? Are all germs bad?

Find some videos so you can see what germs actually look like and how humans have to use microscopes to see them because they’re so small.

Talk about different illnesses that can be caused by bacteria such as colds, strep infections, E. coli, and salmonella.

I like food examples because it lets them know that germs are all around us. But we cook our meat thoroughly to ensure we kill the bacteria so we can have dinner. And if food isn’t cooked properly, that’s who we get food poisoning.

It’s important to let our kids know that there are good and bad bacteria and each one has a job to do.

That there are good bacteria in our bodies that help us, they’re also in yogurt and we eat them and they don’t harm us.

To emphasize how important it is to wash your hands, grab these printable hand washing posters to remind kids how often to wash their hands and to ensure it is done properly.

The poster shows important times when kids may have dirty hands so that they learn to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer if water is not available after these times.

Do I have to use glitter for this activity?

I get it. Glitter can be a huge mess in the house. Trust me – I know. But for this activity to work really well, glitter shows the steps the best.

Talk to the kids about not making a mess with the glitter, or you can try methods to keep it mess-free.

If it’s a nice day, head outside so that it doesn’t matter as much if the glitter goes all willy-nilly.

You can also lay down newspaper so that there is a catch-all for the glitter as well. Then you can just ball up the newspaper and toss it in the trash!

Learning with glitter doesn’t have to be horrible as long as there is a plan on how to contain it!

Try these Firefighter Activities for Kids , too! They’re perfect for kids who are very fond of being a firefighter.

This glitter germ experiment is perfect for teaching kids about the importance of handwashing and the role of soap in fighting germs.

Instructions

• Squirting soap directly into a mass of glitter floating on the water or coat a finger in soap and try to touch the “germs”. The more soap the faster the reaction.
• To extend this activity, you can go to the sink and remind kids about the good handwashing practices.

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More Germ Activities

Learn more about germs with these activities. This is just a short list of ideas, but the kids will have so much fun with them!

Fighting germs printable cards

Hacks to Get Kids to Wash Their Hands by A Little Pinch of Perfect

Learn All About Germs Through Picture Books! by Artsy Momma

More Health Activities

Dive deeper into health by teaching your kids healthy habits to set them up for success for life.

I love having a mixture of learning activities for the kids. Since kids learn in all different ways, this gives them a chance to find the way that works best for them.

Health Activities for Preschoolers

Even young kids should learn about health and hygiene, too! Check out these fun and engaging health activities that are perfect for preschoolers!

Healthy and Unhealthy Food Activities for Kindergarten

Personal Hygiene Worksheets for Kids

Healthy and Unhealthy Food Sorting Worksheet

Health Books for Kids

Dental Health Books for Kindergarten

Yoga Poses Printable

Healthy Meal Planning with Kids Activity  by STEAMsational

I share educational printables and activities to help homeschoolers make learning science fun and engaging!

We just did this experiment for my son 6th grade project and we added hand sanitizer to compare and sanitizer does the SAME thing as dish soap! We was shocked and amaze! Thanks

Thanks for a job well done.

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Kitchen Science: 3 Mini-Experiments to Try at Home

Did you know that research shows that children’s curiosity makes them natural explorers of STEM topics? It’s true! While you’re going throughout your day, playing blocks with your child, changing their pants after a roll in the dirt, or thinking that they couldn’t possibly ask another question, you might not realize that you have a budding scientist on your hands.

Your best parental move? Encourage exploration and experimentation early and often while incorporating some fun science experiments for kids.

“When you introduce scientific thinking to your child as a parent, you build a foundation for learning, the ability to think critically, and raise your child’s confidence levels,” says Erica Peterson, founder of Science Tots , an organization committed to early STEM education.

You don’t have to set up a lab in the middle of your living room, though—because we have three easy (and fun) oil and water experiments, along with three mini-science lessons, that you can do in 30 minutes or less to inspire curiosity in your kids.

Kitchen Materials Needed for the Experiments:

• Glass jar with a lid
• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Pipette, dropper, or syringe
• Small container or bowl

Mini-Experiment #1: Teaching Basic Chemistry Through The Rules of Attraction

Many students find chemistry to be their most difficult subject, but if you instill basic concepts (like the rule of attraction) at a young age, your child can find it energizing instead of challenging. Plus, we love this easy kitchen science experiment because you likely have all the ingredients in your cabinet.

What to Do:

• Fill the glass jar about halfway with water. Fill it the rest of the way with vegetable oil.
• Ask your child(ren) what they see. Did the oil and water mix?
• Now, shake up the water and oil mixture. Did it mix now?

The Basic Chemistry Experiment, Explained:

The water and oil don’t mix because they are immiscible , meaning the water molecules are attracted to the water and the oil molecules are attracted to the oil. Even when you shake it up, as soon as the molecules settle they separate. And, the water is always on the bottom because it has a higher density than the oil. By seeing this firsthand, your children are getting a glimpse of what it means when the chemical compositions of liquids are different from one another. The sizes of oil and water molecules are different, and so are their forces of attraction.

Mini-Experiment #2: Good, Clean Fun to Understand Emulsion

Now, let’s take the rules of attraction further by introducing emulsion. The simple definition? Emulsion is what happens when two liquids that don’t normally mix, mix. It’s a good way to explain what they just learned (and we’re pretty sure any child will jump at the chance to use food coloring).

• In a small bowl, combine a tablespoon or two of dish soap with a drop or two of food coloring. Mix to combine.
• Using the dropper, put a few drops of the colored solution into the jar you just used, with the water and oil. You should see an effect similar to a lava lamp. Challenge your children to try to explain what happened (after all, you just taught them that oil and water don’t mix).

The Emulsion Experiment, Explained:

So, what caused this? The dish soap is attracted to both water molecules and oil molecules, which is why it forces them to mix. The soap acts to dissolve the oil, allowing the oil and water to mix together. The oil molecules are suspended in the dish soap, which is suspended in the water. This demonstrates emulsion, and it’s why dish soap cleans so well!

Mini-Experiment #3: Get Salty to Explore Density

Our last mini-lesson is in density (AKA mass per unit of volume or the amount of stuff in a given amount of space). If an object is heavy and compact, it has high density. If an object is light and takes up space, it has low density.

We also love this lesson because it’s a fun way for your children to visualize what can feel like an abstract concept.

• Pour a tablespoon or so of salt into the jar. Let your child experiment with starting with a pinch and gradually adding more. It’s a great sensory experiment for children to watch the movement in the jar.
• Again, you should get a lava lamp effect.

The Density Experiment, Explained:

In the beginning of the experiment, the oil settles above the water because it is less dense . Because the salt is heavier than the water, it floats straight to the bottom, bringing some of the oil with it since the oil is on top. But, as the salt starts to dissolve in the water, it releases the oil which floats back up to the top.

Ask your children what’s more dense: oil, water, or salt? Then, encourage them to experiment with different jars, food colorings, food (will sugar do the same thing?), or anything else they want to test. It’s sometimes about the scientific journey more than the result—and by encouraging them to experiment and research, you’re encouraging their scientific development.

Ask your kids to write down what they learned (some definitions to keep handy: molecules, immiscible, emulsion) during these oil and water experiments for kids. Keep the conversation, curiosity, and kitchen science going with a science journal to document your findings. You might just find that you have the next Marie Curie on your hands!

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