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Fizzy Painting - Home Fun

Fizzy Painting

This activity is super colorful with an exciting amount of “action” so get ready to paint!

For this activity you will need the following items: 

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Sprinkle the baking soda onto your watercolor paper.
  2. Mix a few drops of food coloring with a tablespoon of vinegar.
  3. Use the pipettes to drop the colored vinegar onto the baking soda and watch it fizz where the drop lands.
  4. Let dry

Scrape off the leftover baking soda once the paper has absorbed all of the colored vinegar. 

Watch your painting come to life with all of the vibrant colors! The really cool part is that the baking soda creates all sorts of hidden patterns, so your final piece of art will be a happy surprise!

The following is an example of the final art from TamingLittleMonsters.com. That link will take you directly to their page on this project, where you will find some videos of it in action!

 

Blossoming Beans - Home Fun

Blossoming Beans

Plants grow from the ground… right? Well, they can also grow in other places, such as a plastic bag! Have fun watching your bean sprout!

For this activity you will need the following items:

      • 1 pinto bean (or 2-3)                      
      • 1 Ziploc bag
      • 1 paper towel
      • Spray bottle for holding water

Now here’s what you do: 

Dampen the paper towel with the spray bottle. Don’t have a bottle? Just get the paper towel wet under the faucet. Place the wet paper towel in the Ziploc bag and place your bean(s) on top of the paper towel. Then close the Ziploc bag.

Place your Ziploc bag in a warm, sunny spot. You can even hang it directly onto a window with some Scotch tape. Then, watch as your plant starts to grow! Keep in mind it takes some time–typically it will start in 3-5 days. If the paper towel dries out, add more water!

After 2 weeks, move your bean plant to some soil. Don’t forget to water it and give it some sun!

Want to try an experiment within the experiment?

Prepare two bags of beans. Place one in the warm, sunny spot as described above. Then place the second in a dark area. Observe the similarities and differences between them. You can even chart your findings!

We’d love to see how your experiment turned out! Post your pictures on Facebook or Insta using #CMofILHomeFun

Source: sciencefun.org

Sparkly Crystals

Sparkly Crystals

Did you know you can GROW your own crystals at home? This experiment takes some time, but once it’s done it will sparkle as a window decoration. 

For this activity you will need the following items:

Sparkly Crystals - Image 1
      •  

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Bend the pipe cleaner around a cookie cutter to make a shape or make a shape by yourself. Twist the pipe cleaner closed at the end of the shape. Cut off any extra pipe cleaner at the end. Repeat for the second pipe cleaner so you have 2 star shapes.

2. Tie the thin ribbon or string around each star, then hang them from the popsicle stick.

3. Lower the 2 stars into a jar and rest the popsicle stick over the opening of the jar. Make sure the pipe cleaner stars aren’t touching each other or the sides/bottom of the jar.

4. Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a glass measuring cup. Add the borax and stir until dissolved. If the borax won’t dissolve, microwave the mixture for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until the water is completely clear.

5. Carefully pour the hot borax mixture into the mason jar. Fill the jar until the top of the star, but no higher. (Crystals will form on the ribbon if it’s below the liquid)

6. Leave them for 6 to 24 hours and watch the borax crystals grow!

This is a great family fun activity. What shapes did your family make? Keep track of your crystal progress with pictures. We’d love to see how your experiment turned out! Post your pictures on Facebook or Insta using #CMofILHomeFun

*This experiment uses borax- do not ingest. Always wash your hands after touching your project.

Source: OneLittleProject.com

 

Cleanin' Lincoln

Cleanin’ Lincoln

Time to mix Presidents Day with science! We’re about to find the best cleaning solution for those dirty pennies you have laying around.

For this activity you will need the following items:

    • Pennies. The dirtier the better
    • Small dishes, cups or bowls
    • Various liquids to clean the pennies. Some suggestions:
        • Lemon or lime juice
        • Water
        • Soy sauce
        • Dish soap
        • Vinegar
        • Ginger ale
        • Ketchup
        • Salt water
        • Hot Sauce
        • Mustard
        • Milk

 

Now here’s what you do: 

    1. First of all, you will want to make a guess (or hypothesis) about which liquid you think will clean a penny the best.
    2. Place each penny in a separate dish/bowl/cup and write down what the penny looks like. 
    3. Add various liquids to each bowl and record what you put in each bowl.
    4. Make observations and talk about what you see. Is anything changing?
    5. Leave the pennies for a few minutes- maybe have a quick dance party- and come back to see if there are any changes. 
    6. Make observations by talking or writing down what changes you see to each penny. Was your hypothesis correct?
    7. You can do this experiment again by trying new liquids. Adults, make sure you assist if a cleaning product is chosen.

We’d love to see how your experiment turned out! Post your pictures on Facebook or Insta using #CMofILHomeFun

 

 Source: teachbesideme.com




Scented VDay Ornaments

Scented V-Day Ornament

Ornaments aren’t just for tree decorations, especially when they smell as good as these. Use this recipe to mix and make a gift for family or friends as a sweet-scented reminder of how much you love them!

For this activity you will need the following items:

    • 1 cup ground cinnamon
    • 2 Tbsp. ground allspice
    • 2 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
    • 1 cup applesauce
    • 2 Tbsp. white glue
    • drinking straw (or large diameter treat stick)
    • ribbon or twine
    • cookie cutters
    • rolling pin
    • wax paper
    • magnets (optional)

Now here’s what you do: 

    1. Mix cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, applesauce, and glue until well blended. The mixture will become stiff.
    2. Form the dough into a ball and place it on a sheet of wax paper. Let your little one roll out to a ¼” thick.
    3. Using cookie cutters, cut dough out in desired shapes. 
    4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with leftover dough until you have used up as much dough as you can. There will be some left over you can use to make accent beads.
    5. For ornaments, use the straw to poke a hole at the top of your ornaments to thread the ribbon for hanging. If you’re making magnets, skip this step.
    6. Place ornaments on a flat surface to air dry; a cookie cooling rack works. Let them dry for 48-72 hours, turning them over halfway through the drying period.
    7. Once they are dry, thread the ribbon or twine through the hole and tie in a knot. If you choose to make magnets, place a self-adhesive magnet to the back.

This is a great family fun activity. What shapes will your family make? Who will you give this gift to? We’d love to see what you create– share with us on Facebook or Insta with #CMofILHomeFun

Source: rufflesandrainboots.com

Homemeade-Birdfeeder

Homemade Birdfeeder

Use this activity to feed and watch birds outside your window. If there’s a peanut allergy in your family, see the extra link below for another way to make feeders for your feathered friends.

For this activity you will need the following items:

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Using a popsicle stick, cover the outside of the toilet paper roll with peanut butter. 
  2. Roll the peanut butter covered toilet paper roll in the bird seed until covered.
  3. Thread a piece of twine through the toilet paper roll and knot.
  4. Hang where birds can enjoy.

That’s it! Super easy and the birds will love it.

What types of birds do you see eating from your feeder? Can you make a list of the different types? Use the internet to look up information about the new birds you discover in your backyard. We’d love to see what you find! Take pictures of your new friends eating and share with us on Facebook or Insta using #CMofILHomeFun

Source: theresourcefulmama.com
Non-PB activity: happyhooligans.ca



Snow in a Jar

Snow Storm in a Jar

Snow storm outside? Not cool. Snow storm contained in a jar? Awesome! 

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Baby oil (you can use vegetable oil as well but the liquid will be yellow)
  • White paint
  • Alka-Seltzer tablets
  • Clear glass or plastic jar (empty spaghetti sauce or pickle jar)
  • Paper towels (just in case)
  • Glitter (optional)
  • Blue food coloring (optional)

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Fill up ¼ of the jar with water.
  2. Add about a teaspoon of white paint in the water and stir to mix. The mixture should look like milk. If necessary add more paint.
  3. Fill up the rest of the jar with baby oil. Let the water and paint mixture settle to the bottom.
  4. Add glitter in the mixture if desired (not necessary but it makes the snowstorm prettier).
  5. Add a few drops of blue food coloring if desired (to simulate the color of the sky).
  6. Let the water/paint mixture settle on the bottom. 
  7. Break up an Alka-Seltzer tablet and drop the broken up pieces one at a time into the jar. 
  8. Watch the magic happen!

Isn’t this much nicer than a blizzard outside? It’s definitely warmer! Follow the link below to learn about the science of this activity. And share with us your results! Do so on Facebook or Insta using #CMofILHomeFun

 Source: mombrite.com

 

Color Changing Flowers

Color Changing Flowers

Just like people, plants need water too! The colored water used in this experiment demonstrates how water is sucked through a plant’s stem and makes its way to the different parts of the plant. After you’re finished with this activity, you’ll have a colorful bouquet!

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • White Flowers 
  • Glass Jars 
  • Scissors 
  • Food Coloring
  • Water

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Pour water about halfway in each of the glass jars and then add a few drops of food coloring to each jar. The more coloring you add the deeper the color on the flower petals will be. 
  2. Cut the flowers stems diagonally across the bottom so they can drink up the colored water easily. It is also important to make sure that the flowers are fresh. The experiment won’t work so well if the flowers are beginning to wilt. 
  3. Place one flower into each jar of colored water (or more if you want!) and then watch as the flowers change color.
  4. After an hour or so you will start to see a little color appearing on the petals. After a few hours, the petals will all begin changing color. If you leave the flowers in the colored water overnight the color will continue to get deeper. 

Show us your bright and colorful flowers! Which color is your favorite? 

 

Inspiration: www.messylittlemonster.com

Monster Suncatcher

Monster Suncatchers

Not all monsters are scary! These cute monster suncatchers are a grrrrrreat way to add some fun to a window! Click here to listen to a book about some fun and friendly monsters. 

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Scissors 
  • Cardstock 
  • Clear Tape 
  • Contact Paper 
  • Tissue Paper
  • Googly Eyes

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Take your tissue paper and cut it into small squares.
  2. Take different colored cardstock and cut out different shapes that you’ll be using for the monster bodies. Because this is a monster craft the kids can be super creative so use any color or shape you can think of!
  3. Tape down the corners of your contact paper to a table with the sticky side facing up. 
  4. Place your monster shape for the body onto the sticky side of your contact paper.
  5. Grab your tissue paper and start decorating, you could even add in some glitter in this step. 
  6. Once your child’s finished filling in the bodies of their monsters you’ll take another piece of contact paper and place it directly over the monster to seal it. 
  7. Cut out your monster shape, when you are finished, you may need to tape some of the edges to keep it more secure. 

Show us your monster suncatchers in your window! Tell us all about your monster!

 

Inspiration: iheartartsncrafts.com

Balloon Rocket Race

Balloon Rocket Race

Bring the wonder of the recent SpaceX rocket launch to your home with this simple but high-energy activity! Your kiddos will be heaving such a BLAST, that they won’t realize they’re learning!

Did You Know: When air rushes out it creates a forward motion called THRUST. In this activity, thrust is caused by the deflating balloon forcing the air out. In a real rocket, thrust is created by the force of burning rocket fuel as it blasts from the rocket’s engine. How cool!

For this activity you will need the following items:

  • Balloons 
  • String 
  • Straws
  • Scissors 
  • Tape
  • 2 Chairs or Two Walls

Now here’s what you do: 

  1. Extend the length of the string as far as you can, given the limitations of your space.
  2. Blow up a balloon. 
  3. Without letting the air out, carefully tape the balloon to the straw. 
  4. Clasping the neck of the balloon tightly, count to 3. Let go! Watch your balloon whizz down the course!!

Turn this activity into a family-friendly competition! Grab a timer and a piece of paper and a pencil to record how long it takes your balloon to whizz down one end of the string to the other. Explore what happens when you blow the balloons up with more or less air. Are your results different when you use a shorter straw? Let us know your observations! 


Inspiration: WhatDoWeDoAllDay.com

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