Skip to main content

Dancing Raisins and Racing Jelly Fish

We just finished up a week of opposites and this science experiment, dancing raisins, was suggested to go along with the theme.  It is suggested because the raisins go up and down (which are opposites) during the experiment.

Materials;
  • 1/4 glass of water
  • 4 T vinegar
  • 3 t baking soda
  • some raisins
We do not have clear glasses but I had a mason jar so we used that.   
Fill the glass 1/4 of the way with water then add the vinegar. 
Next add the baking soda slowly. 
Drop in the raisins. 
Then it is a waiting game. 

The instructions did say you would be waiting for awhile but after 20 minutes with no movement from the raisins we were doubting the experiment would work. 

We added more vinegar and baking soda thinking that the mason jar is bigger then most glasses so the solution may be deluded.  We tried small amounts at first then added larger amounts until we had the effect of overflowing. 

We waited some more. 

No dancing raisins. 

We took a minute to explain to The Dragons what was supposed to happen then left the jar to sit. 
Ideally the carbon dioxide or bubbles would settle on top/side of the raisins.  Once there were enough bubbles to cover the raisin it would float to the top of the liquid, the bubbles would pop and the raisin would sink back down to the bottom.  Then the process would start over again.  All the raisins would be doing this at different times making it look like the raisins were 'dancing'. 

After a couple hours of periodically checking The Dragons excitedly told us that one of the raisins made it to the top. 


We also did a Kiwi Crate this week. 

These jellyfish were fun to make and there was an abundance of supplies so the kids could make them however they wanted. 

I love Kiwi Crates because everything you need and then some is already packed up in a box and ready to go.  All the crafts are easy to make and the directions are simple enough my 3 year old has no problem following. 

First things first The Dragons had to create their racing jellyfish.  They took time placing each sticker and eye.  Doll Dragon even measured hers to make sure it was just right. 

There was some help from the parents securing the jellyfish to the string. 

Then it was time to start the race! 



We counted down and The Dragons pulled their strings apart propelling their jellyfish as fast as they could! 

They competed again and again until I wanted a chance to race.  I raced the winner then Jerry raced me.  
Then we all took turns racing each other.  We were quiet entertained :)

We still have the racing jellyfish out for spur of the moment races.  







Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Elephant Faces

Elephant Faces (masks) We used:  Three paper plates Paint or markers Paint brushes Stapler Scissors Yarn First paint the bottom of the paper plate.  While the kids painted I cut the other paper plate in half for the ears. Using the third plate I cut out the textured part of the plate to make the trunks.   Paint (or color) the rest of the pieces.  Staple them together to make an elephant. Cut out small holes for eyes and small holes behind the ears to attach the yarn. Now that the lesson is over I have the masks hanging in the playroom.  They make a neat decoration. 
12 comments
Read more

Painting With Squirt Guns

We did this as a Fathers Day project, but it fits in outside play perfectly.   I liked this for Fathers because it was an interactive activity for the kids to do with Jerry to celebrate him and the time they enjoy spending with him. I filled 1 gun with yellow paint and 2 guns with black paint.  The squirt guns we used were from the dollar store and had a decently big hole to pour the paint into.  Some squirt guns have itty bitty holes that make squirting paint into the gun very difficult. Taped off the canvas...and made the kids pose Then the guns were handed to the kids and dad.  Instructions were to shoot the canvas not each other. Very simple. Start squirting!   The squirting went on and on.  I refilled the guns a couple times so the activity could continue.     Jerry also took time with each Dragon to squirt with them.  With a Star Wars theme we were looking at having black as the primary color and yellow as the secondar
133 comments
Read more

Mini Story Boards

Mini Story Boards We used:  Foam Cookie sheets Magnets Paper I found the cookie sheets at the dollar store and loved the idea of the kids telling their own stories using movable magnets.   I cut out flowers with the foam (you can cut out any design and use construction paper instead of foam) and little people then stuck a magnet to the back.  I cut out bugs and stuck magnets to the back of those too.    Then I drew little scenes that would inspire a story and put them on the cookie sheet.  One demonstration and their imaginations took off on their own :)
6 comments
Read more