This engaging STEM activity will help your little one learn about science with the colors of the rainbow! It requires only a little prep, and is a great basic science experiment for the very young. Plus, you probably already have most of the items at home.
Materials:
- Baking soda
- Food coloring
- Water
- Ice cube tray
- Vinegar
- Squeeze bottle
Instructions:
- Mix baking soda and water to create a paste consistency. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir to create your desired color.
- Scoop the paste into an ice cube tray, repeating for each color. Keep in mind how you would like to create your rainbow, and be sure to increase the number of ice cubes with each color! (Example: one purple, two pink, three blue, etc.) Include your child in the process to encourage development of practical life skills like stirring and scooping!
- Freeze overnight.
- The next day, arrange colored cubes into a rainbow using a deep tray.
- Fill the squeeze bottle with vinegar and have your little one spray the rainbow cubes. This action builds hand strength, as well as building their upper body strength as they work to stabilize their core.
- Watch as the rainbow bubbles and fizzes as your child squeezes! This is an amazing opportunity to observe cause and effect.
Skill areas addressed:
- Cause and effect
- Hand strengthening
- Upper body strength
Extensions & Adjustments:
- For kids ages 2-4, create separate trays of two primary colors each and discuss what color they make when they blend together. This is a wonderful way to discuss the concept of color mixing!
- For kids ages 4-6, you can use a bowl of vinegar with a dropper to help develop their fine motor skills.
Author: Erica