Snow Paint...

This snowy day project could not be easier or have more hours of fun attached...

Ages:  All ages of Kid Scientist will enjoy snow pain

Materials:  Spray bottles, food color and water

Procedure:
Fill spray bottles with cold water

Add food coloring to create the color of your choice.  Here's the science...what colors can you create?

My Kid Scientists were ready to play, so they stuck to blue and red.  Attach the top of the bottle and you're ready to go...

Create all sorts of fun spray paint pictures in the snow...try mixing colors and using different intensities on the nozzle for different effects.

The Science Mommy would love to see pictures of your snow paintings...send them via email and I will post them!  Have fun in the snow!

Cookie Time...

So, strictly speaking, cookie baking isn't a science project.  However, there were many science skills practiced by these kid scientists.  We also made a huge mess and had lots of fun!

Ages:  All ages of Kid Scientists can participate in the decorating.  Save the baking for the Big Kid scientists.

Materials: A good sugar cookie recipe and ingredients, frosting, food color & sprinkles

Procedure:  

* The Science Mommy has a post coming that is all about measurement.  Baking is one of the best ways for Kid Scientists to learn how to measure...and to experience the consequences of inadequate measurement!  Take advantage of this opportunity to help your Kid Scientists measure.

The Science Mommy wanted today's project to be about the decorating, so the Halloween-themed cookies were already baked when the Kid Scientists assembled.

Universally, Kid Scientists love to mix colors.  Whether they are using paints, or creating their own paints, mixing colors is a great learning opportunity.  The Science Mommy's nieces, Desi and Chloe, were our expert color mixers.

The kids didn't have a limit to the number of colors they could create and we had two shades of green, purple, gray, orange and blue.

While the girls mixed colors, the boys dove into decorating...

 With several dozen cookies and plenty of frosting and sprinkles, there was opportunity to try out every combination...

The finished products were pretty impressive and tasty too!

There are so many opportunities to explore, to create, and to investigate...The Science Mommy challenges you to make a mess and find science in something ordinary!

Tub Time Paints...

This fingerpaint is great fun!

Ages: Little Kid Scientists

Materials: 2 c liquid dish soap (clear is best), 6 tbs cornstarch, food coloring, muffin tin

Procedure:

• Mom's should mix dish soap and cornstarch together
• Pour the solution into the muffin tin sections
• Kid Scientists create paint colors by mixing in food colors
• Kid Scientists can paint the inside of their bathtub, and themselves, before the water comes in & creates bubble bath
• These paints can also be used on paper, like traditional finger paints

Make Your Own Marbled Note Cards…

This is one of the Science Mommy's favorite, messy projects!
Ages: Big and Little Kid Scientists will both enjoy this project
Materials: Shaving cream, food color, toothpicks, paper plate, paper towels, popsicle stick or plastic knife, paper or note cards (heavy weight paper works better)

Procedure:

• Fill the paper plate with shaving cream, and smooth the top
• Add several drops of food color to the top of the shaving cream

• Drag a toothpick through the food color to create a marbled pattern

• Set the note card onto the shaving cream / food color.  Press gently to make sure all the color connects with the paper
• Remove the note card and scrape the excess shaving cream off  with a popsicle stick or plastic knife

• The design you created in shaving cream is now on your note card!

 

•   You can continue to smooth out the shaving cream and add more color for several prints.

   Since this is such a mess, it’s fun to make several cards at once…or book marks, or frames or…the sky’s the limit.  My Kid Scientists and I had lots of fun with this project.

Make-Your-Own Fingerpaints...

Here's another great rainy day project...

Ages: Everyone will enjoy these paints, but they're aimed at Little Kid Scientists.  Even Very Little Kids can play with these paints, because if fingers go into mouths...it's just pudding!

Materials: large package of instant vanilla pudding, 2 cups ice water, food color, small plastic cups, freezer paper

Procedure:

• Mix water and pudding together in a bowl, until well mixed
• Refrigerate for 5 minutes
• Divide the mixture into several small cups
• Allow Kid Scientists to create their paint colors with food color drops
• Paint

The Science Mommy likes to use freezer paper for fingerpainting because the glossy finish on the back prevents the paints from seeping through.  You are also able to pull off a much larger sheet for a bigger picture. 

Side Walk Paint

Sidewalk paint allows kids to create an amazing design that washes away with the next rainfall!

Ages:  3+

Materials: For each cup of paint you'll need -

• clear plastic cup
• 1/4 c cornstarch
• 1/4 c cold water
• food color
• large, child friendly paintbrush or foam brush

Procedure:

• Depending on the age of child making the paint, pre-measure or encourage children to measure, water and corn starch and combine in a clear plastic cup.  This is best done outside because the cornstarch will be messy!
• Mix the water and cornstarch thoroughly.  If your paint is too thick, thin it with a bit more water.
• Kids can add drops of food color to tint their paint.  With very small children allow them to choose the single color, and add it for them (food color will permanently color fingers and clothes)  Older children can follow the formulas on the food coloring box to make a variety of paints. 
• Turn this into an experiment by throwing away the food coloring box and challenging your kids to make as many different colors as possible.  They can record their combinations and try to replicate each others colors.

Choose a sunny day and relax while kids explore mixing colors and painting all over the driveway.  Cornstarch is non-toxic and easily cleans up with water.