Spooky Science Experiment

What You Need:

• Plastic test tubes
• Child-friendly cups (try clear plastic)
• Paint palette or washable art tray
• Tempera paints
• Paint brush
• Craft sticks
• Shaving cream
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Construction paper
• Vegetable oil

What You Do:

Option 1: Water Color Mixing Potion Lab

1. Pour a small amount of red, yellow, blue, and white onto a palette or washable art tray.
2. Fill three cups halfway with water.
3. Have your child use the paint brush (or a craft stick) to scoop the paint into the water, mixing two colors at a time. Ask him to stir gently, and watch the colors swirl and mix together.
4. If you have test tubes, fill one a quarter of the way full with water, one with vegetable oil, and leave one empty. If you don’t have test tubes, simply use small clear plastic cups.
5. Add one of the paint mixtures to each test tube. Cover and gently shake to see what happens. Ask your child how each one looks different in the test tubes. Then have him try to paint with each color concoction on the construction paper. Do the colors look different? Do they dry differently?
6. Repeat with different colors and different amounts of the added substances.

Option 2: Shaving Cream Lab

1. Scoop a small amount of tempera paint into the shaving cream.
2. Ask your child to use her hands to make a gooey, colorful mixture.
3. Use the mixture to paint with, or simply allow her to explore. Add new colors and more shaving cream to see what happens.

Option 3: Exploding Color Lab

1. Place a large cup onto a covered surface.
2. Mix a very small amount of paint with approximately two tablespoons of water.
3. Mix in one tablespoon of baking soda.
4. Add a tablespoon of vinegar, stand back, and watch it explode!

Choose one or more of these awesome options based on your young scientist’s age or use this as a Halloween party activity for some spooktacular fun!