Weird science: the party with nerdy fun experiments

EK Wills

Jul 6, 20192 min read

By EK Wills

Its birthday season again, so you can create the best science party ever, in your own backyard filled with erupting volcanoes and more experiments than you can pack into a party period.

The Laboratory

Set the scene with lab coats (we used disposable protective gowns, disposable protective eye wear and gloves. It’s usually one size fits all but that’s half the fun!).

Safety posters and the periodic table can help set the scene.

Set up your lab bench for the experiments before everyone arrives.

Try some or all of these activities to make your science party action-packed. We chose the following from Come Together Kids, including the printable booklet, which was a great hit. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3zrTidgHMVWcDJ5a3lzMVRzNW8/view)

Colour changing Milk

The Disappearing Coin

The Exploding Sandwich Bag or Erupting Volcano

We didn’t actually do the exploding sandwich bag but we did have a volcano that used the same technique of baking soda and vinegar with food colouring to erupt. We made ours from paper-maché but it’s also easily done with sand in a sand pit (maybe a little messier).

Whirlpools

Half fill plastic bottle with water and attach to second bottle with tape.

Turning the bottle upside down creates the whirlpool.

Rocket Launcher

This one is simple to construct using a bike pump with cork (attached to ball needle from the pump), plastic bottles and water:

1. Using a plastic bottle, make your wings using thick tape and cardboard cut outs to help make your rocket fly.

2. Add some water, seal with cork attached to the pump and place on support (we used a brick),

3. Pump hard till it launches, spraying water as it goes.

Experiential Food

This was where the kids get creative with fruit and turn them into molecules. A poster with examples can help them get started or they can create their own elements.

Add green slime (white chocolate with green food dye) in a chocolate fountain to dip their creations.

Add some popping candy for a tingling element.