Snowy days and frigid temperatures can sometimes be a drag for kids if it means they’re stuck indoors. Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault to the rescue! Leigh-Ann shares fun indoor science experiments that will easily brighten up any child’s day.
DIY edible snow (aka vanilla ice cream)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup half and half milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tbsp of sugar
- 1 large one gallon Ziploc bag
- 1 medium Ziploc bag
- 4 cups of ice
- 1 cup of salt
- a kitchen glass
Method:
Place the opened medium Ziploc bag inside the kitchen glass to make it easy to pour the ingredients inside.
Pour in the cup of half and half and add the vanilla extract and sugar.
Seal the medium Ziploc bag, and remove as much air as possible.
Scoop 4 cups of ice into the large Ziploc bag and then add the salt. The salt will help to lower the temperature of the ice faster.
Place the medium Ziploc full of ingredients inside the large bag with ice, remove any excess air and seal tightly.
Shake the large bag for 5 to 10 minutes until the ice cream thickens. Wear gloves as this can get cold on your hands.
Remove the medium bag with the ice cream and rinse with cold water to remove any of the salt from the outside.
Scoop into a bowl and enjoy!
DIY lava lamp
Materials:
- a medium glass vase or cylinder
- vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup of water
- food colouring
- Alka Seltzer tablets
Method:
Fill the glass vase with vegetable oil, leaving approximately 3-4 inches at the top.
Pour in the half cup of water.
Add 15-20 drops of food colouring.
Break the Alka Seltzer tablets into quarters and drop them in one at a time.
Voila! You have your very own lava lamp!
DIY volcano
Materials:
- A deep kitchen casserole dish
- 2 glass cups
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- Food colouring (optional)
Method for volcano:
Place one glass cup inside the casserole dish to catch the mess.
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda inside the glass.
In the second cup, add 1/2 a cup of vinegar, and add a few drops of red food colouring to create the colour of lava.
Pour the vinegar into the glass with baking soda.
Watch it erupt!
Magical inflating balloon
Materials:
- An empty plastic water bottle
- A 12″ latex balloon
- A funnel
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
Method:
Using the funnel, add the vinegar into the plastic water bottle.
Rinse the funnel with water and pat dry, then place the funnel into the end of the balloon.
Pour the baking soda into the uninflated balloon and remove the funnel.
Carefully place the opening of the balloon over the opening of the water bottle without letting any of the baking soda fall out of the balloon.
When ready, hold the balloon upright allowing all the baking soda to fall into the water bottle and watch the magic begin.
The reaction will cause the balloon to inflate, but not break!
Rainbow flower bouquet
Materials:
- A bunch of white flowers (6 carnations work well)
- Red, blue and yellow food colouring
- 6 glass cups
Method:
Fill each glass cup with water.
Add a few drops of each food colouring bottle into 3 of the cups. Mix the primary colours to make secondary colours for the remaining cups.
Trim the carnation stems on an angle making them short enough to sit well in each cup.
Place a flower in each coloured water cup, and within 24 hours, the food colouring will have transferred into the petals making for a colourful bouquet!
If you tried these indoor science experiements, or have your own share them with us! Let us know in the comments below, or email a photo to submissions@cityline.ca!