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by Hannah Boyd
Topics: Preschool, Science
Share Photos to Win

Calling Mata Hari and Albert Einstein! Here’s a project that will inspire both spies and scientists alike. Your child will draw an invisible picture that appears as if by magic when exposed to heat. Here's how to get started.

What You Need:

  • Plain white paper
  • Lemon juice, squeezed into a jar
  • Q-tips and/or a paintbrush and/or a toothpick
  • A lamp

What You Do:

  1. Choose your materials: a toothpick or Q-tip works best for writing, while a paintbrush or Q-tip will work better for painting.
  2. Your child can dip his chosen implement into the lemon juice and paint a picture (or write a letter) on the paper. It will be hard to see his work, so don’t expect perfection. Let the paper dry thoroughly.
  3. When you’re ready to unveil the hidden message, remove the lampshade from a lamp, turn the lamp on, and hold the paper, painted side out, up to the lightbulb. Be careful not to burn little fingers! As the lemon juice heats up, the painting will appear as if by magic!