Need a homeschool win? 5 simple, fun experiments (see below)

1 idea that gives YOU 30 mins of silence

2 simple ideas to improve household

List of games kids love (& educational)

Tips and list of great books

Red Cabbage Indicator

INGREDIENTS:

1 Red Cabbage (few leaves)*

1 Lemon

Plus any Items you have in your house, we used:

Coffee Grounds

Tea

Orange Juice

Baking Soda

Tums (antacid)

Vinegar

*I just bought cabbage for a salad and won't need the whole head, let me know if you need some leaves, I'll save some for anyone interested.

*I also have some litmus strips if anyone is interested, not cool like the cabbage indicator, but we did use both just to try.

DIRECTIONS:

Boil a few red cabbage leaves for about 10 minutes or so. 

Strain the water (this is the part you want, this is the cabbage indicator), discard the leaves.

As mentioned above, I do have some extra; if you want some just let me know.

Put some cabbage indicator (the boiled liquid) in a bowl.

Squeeze some lemon juice and observe what happens.

Put out plates or bowls of any items you have around your house. Pour a small amount of the red cabbage indicated in each and observe the color. Samples we used:

- Lemon Juice

- Coffee Grounds

- Tea

- Orange Juice

- Baking Soda

- Tums (antacid)

- Vinegar

Celery Coloring Experiment

INGREDIENTS:

Celery Stalks with leaves (or flowers, like a carnation)

Food Coloring*

*I have food coloring if you need some, just let me know.

DIRECTIONS:

Fill a few jars with about 1 cup of water. Put a few drops of food coloring in each jar. We over-food colored some and you can see what happened.

Place a stalk of celery in each cup. Observe what happens after 24 hours.

After 24 hours.

I recommend having your children figure out what happened on their own. There are a bunch of videos explaining it and this is a great way to put them in charge of their own learning!

Red Food Coloring

Red Food Coloring

Green Food Coloring

HEAVY Purple-ish Food Coloring

Basic Volcano

INGREDIENTS:

Vinegar

Baking Soda

Food Coloring (optional)

Dish Soap (optional)

Some sort of container, we used simple mason jars

DIRECTIONS:

Once you have whatever containers you want to house your volcano, pour about 1/2 cup of vinegar into the container. Add a few drops of food coloring if you want. You may want to place this on a tray for less mess.

Dissolve approximately 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a cup of water (about 1/4 cup). 

Pour the baking soda mixture into your vinegar mixture and watch what happens. 

Try it again adding some dish soap to your mixture and see what happens.

*Measurements do NOT have to be exact. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

Vinegar is a liquid acid. Baking soda is a solid base. When you mix an acid and a base they create a chemical reaction. 

This reaction creates carbon dioxide, the fizz. This is the same as in carbonated water or soda.

Blow Up A Balloon

INGREDIENTS:

2-liter plastic bottles*, empty

Balloons, large

Vinegar

Baking Soda

*I only had one bottle at the time, but better if you have 1 for each child so they can each do on their own. 

DIRECTIONS:

Pour vinegar into each plastic bottle until it is about 1/6 full.

Using a funnel, pour baking soda into each balloon until it is about half full.

Carefully put the balloon onto the neck of the bottle (being careful not to spill the baking soda into the bottle). Make sure the balloon is securely attached. 

Lift the rest of the balloon so that the baking soda falls into the bottle. Watch what happens.

*Measurements do NOT have to be exact. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

Vinegar is a liquid acid. Baking soda is a solid base. When you mix an acid and a base they create a chemical reaction. 

This reaction creates carbon dioxide, the fizz. This is the same as in carbonated water or soda.

In addition, it creates a carbon dioxide GAS, which filled the balloon.

Cork Rocket

INGREDIENTS:

2-liter plastic bottle, empty

Cork that fits tightly into bottle*

Vinegar

Baking Soda

*You can tack ribbon or just 2 thin pieces of paper on the top of the cork as wings if you want, just to be fun. 

DIRECTIONS:

This should be done outside in an open area.

Pour vinegar into plastic bottle until it is about 1/4 full.

QUICKLY pour baking soda into the bottle, you can use a funnel if you want but you have to be quick, my kids just poured from the box.

QUICKLY put the cork into the opening of the bottle. Back up and watch what happens!

*Measurements do NOT have to be exact. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

Vinegar is a liquid acid. Baking soda is a solid base. When you mix an acid and a base they create a chemical reaction. 

This reaction creates carbon dioxide, the fizz. This is the same as in carbonated water or soda.

In addition, it creates a carbon dioxide GAS, which filled the bottle. When there was too much pressure, it caused the cork to explode off.

Just For Fun - Popsicle Stick Snake

INGREDIENTS:

Jumbo Popsicle Sticks

6 Cups (plastic or paper)*

*You can see in the video the cans were a bit too heavy, so try paper or plastic cups. 

DIRECTIONS:

Video Tutorial

1 idea that gives YOU 30 mins of silence

2 simple ideas to improve household

List of games kids love (& educational)

Tips and list of great books

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