Cornstarch can be an interesting medium to work with when it comes to scientific experiments. This activity needs only two common household ingredients, cornstarch and water. Mix one cup of cornstarch with a half cup of water in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork or your hands because the the combination can be difficult to mix with a whisk. Students will see that as you mix the ingredients, the consistency of the mixture will change. Pick up a piece of the mix and move it around constantly in your hands. Relax your hand and watch as the mixture returns to a liquid state. When you and the kids are done exploring the cornstarch mixture, simply wipe up any mess with a wet rag.
Bones are solid objects. Children do not think about the possibility of bones becoming pliable. But with this science activity, they will discover the power of vinegar. Place a chicken bone in a glass or bowl and pour enough vinegar in to cover the chicken bone. Leave the bone in the vinegar for 24 hours. Remove the bone and let the children play with it. They'll think its pretty neat how the bone can now move. Help them tie the bone in a knot or if you have a longer bone, shape the bone on a piece of paper. Let it dry out and they will find that the bone has returned to its solid state.
Give the children a piece of paper and some petroleum jelly. Using their fingers, have them write their names or draw pictures on the paper with the jelly. This can get quite messy so keep some paper towels on hand. Turn off the lights and turn on a black light. Hold the black light up to the paper and see if the kids can see the names and pictures they have drawn with the jelly.
It is common sense to kids that one liquid is the same as the next liquid and of course they will mix. However, we know this is not true. Different liquids with different mass will not mix with others. A great way to show children that this is true is by layering liquids. In a clear glass, pour a layer about 1/4 inch of honey in the bottom of the glass. Using the same method, slowly pour dishwashing liquid, then water, then vegetable oil and, finally, rubbing alcohol. The children will see how the liquids do not mix, but are layered in the glass. When they have seen the layers, mix the liquids with a spoon and let them see the way the liquids react to each other.