The materials needed for this home science activity are whole milk, dish soap, food coloring and a shallow pan. Whole milk is necessary because of its fat content. Pour the milk into the shallow pan. Squirt in a few drops of different colored food coloring, placing each color in a different area of the milk.
Squeeze in some of the dish soap. The dish soap begins breaking down the fat in the milk. This causes the food coloring to mix together, creating different designs and colors.
A balloon shows the reaction caused by yeast when it is activated. You'll need a packet of yeast, warm water, 1 teaspoon of sugar, a small soda bottle and a balloon. Stretch out the balloon by pulling on it and blowing it up a few times. This makes it easier to expand during the experiment.
Place about an inch of warm water in the bottle. The warmth activates the yeast, but water that is too hot can kill the yeast. The ideal temperature is between 110 and 120 degrees. Pour the yeast into the water. Add a teaspoon of sugar and swirl the bottle a little. Place the end of the balloon over the bottle opening. Leave the bottle in a warm place and watch for about 20 minutes to see the balloon inflate.
There are a number of slime recipes that allow kids to see how different ingredients combine to create something new. Oobleck is interesting for the kids to play with because it takes on different forms. It looks like a liquid slime, but you can pick it up and squeeze it into a solid. Once you open your hand it reverts into a liquid slime state.
Pour 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch into a shallow container. Add 1/2 cup of water and stir it until it is mixed well. Test the mixture by grabbing a small amount and then opening your hand. It it balls up and then melts back into a slime when you open your hand, it is ready. Add more cornstarch or water if the mixture isn't correct. Let the kids experiment and play with the oobleck after they mix it.
Rock candy demonstrates how crystals form and results in a tasty treat. A piece of string is used as the base for the rock candy. Tie the string to a piece of wooden dowel. Place the dowel across the top of a glass jar with the string hanging down inside. Another option is to use a wooden skewer for the rock candy handle. Clip a clothespin around the skewer and prop the clothespin on the opening of the jar so the skewer is suspended inside the jar.
Pour 2 cups of water in a pan and heat it on the stove until it boils. Add 4 cups of sugar to the water, stirring to dissolve it. Continue stirring until the mixture is clear and is at a rolling boil. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Pour the sugar water into the jar with the string or dowel. Leave the jar undisturbed for several days. Each day observe the jar to see if the sugar crystals are forming.