Happy Columbus Day

Columbus Day is celebrated today, to commemorate Christopher Columbus historic sailing of the ocean blue to America in 1492.  Help your children create their own ocean with this cool science project that doubles as a fun craft. 

Materials:

Empty plastic water bottle with lid

Clear baby oil or mineral oil

Water
Funnel
Blue food coloring
Small plastic fish, shells and other sea creatures
White or silver glitter
White craft glue
Hot glue gun
Optional: sand

Instructions: Remove the labels from the water bottle.  Use a funnel to pour a cup full of baby oil (or 1/2 way full) into a clear plastic water bottle. Then fill the bottle the rest of the way with water. We give the liquid a chance to settle, then add a few drops of blue food coloring. The kids will have fun watching the blue as it drops through the oil and "explodes" into the water. Last, add the plastic sea items. Apply white craft glue around the rim and screw on the cap.  Use a layer of hot glue around the outer edge of the cap for added protection from leakage. Turn bottle on its side and gently rock the bottle to create a “wave” inside your ocean habitat!

Tip: Use lightweight starfish, shells and other sea creature toys that can float. Test them first in a bowl or glass of water. Find these at your local craft supply store or discount department store.

Note: I have made these for many years in my classroom. Sadly, I do not remember where I got the idea from.

Easy Tie Dye T-Shirt

Do you want to tie dye a shirt without all the mess?   This activity combines chemistry and art to create a designer t-shirt that is sure to get lots of attention whenever you wear it.
Materials:
Newspaper
1 clean white cotton T-shirt
Plastic cup (8 to 12 ounces)
Rubber band
Plastic water-bottle cap
Permanent markers (such as Sharpies) in various colors
Eyedropper
Rubbing alcohol
 
NOTE: On sale this week at Walgreens  you will find an 8 pack of Sharpies for $3.99 and t-shirts for $2.50.

Choose a work surface: an outdoor table(ideal), or a table indoors near an open window and away from any heat source (alcohol is flammable).  Cover work surface with newspaper.

Lay the T-shirt flat on the covered table. Position the opening of the cup directly under the section of the shirt that you want to decorate. Stretch the rubber band over the t-shirt and the cup to secure the shirt in place.

Place the bottle cap in the center of the stretched fabric. Have your child use a permanent marker to make a circle of dots around the bottle cap, keeping the dots  close to the bottle cap.

Remove the bottle cap.  Using an eyedropper, slowly squeeze 20 drops of rubbing alcohol onto the blank spot where the cap was, allowing the molecules of ink to spread outward from the center. ( As the rubbing alcohol absorbs into the fabric, the ink spreads in a circular pattern). The result is a beautiful firework like pattern. Allow the design to dry for 5 minutes before repeating on a new area of the shirt.


When the shirt is done and completely dry, place it in the dryer for 20 minutes to heat set the colors, then wash and dry as usual.  Rinsing the shirt in a solution of vinegar and water is another method you can try to set the colors.
 
Experiment with different shapes — a dotted star, a heart, or concentric rings of dots. To make flowers, when the designs are dry, slip some paper towels inside the shirt and draw stems with markers.

You can purchase a Sharpie Pen Science Kit from http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/

Idea and pictures from Wondertime and Steve Spangler Science

SLIME

I love to provide hands on experiences for kids that combine math and science but also have a huge WOW factor.
This is simple and fun!!
SLIME

Materials:

Glue (only 25 cents at WalMart now)

Borax

Water

Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:  Cover work surface. Mix 1 cup glue and 1 cup of water (equal parts) together in a bowl.  If desired, stir in food coloring.  In another bowl combine 4 Tablespoons Borax and 1 1/3 cups of WARM water.  To make your SLIME, pour the glue mixture into the borax solution. Roll and knead the glue mixture around in the borax solution until the chemical reaction is complete.  PLAY!