FUNKY MONKEYS

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Show how soap breaks the surface tension of water. Materials Needed: A shallow dish or bowl Water Ground black pepper Dish soap Cotton swab or your finger Procedure: Prepare the Dish: Fill the shallow dish with water until it is about halfway full. Add Pepper: Sprinkle ground black pepper evenly across the surface of the water. The pepper will float on top due to the surface tension. Dip the Soap: Dip the tip of the cotton swab or your finger into the dish soap. Touch the Water: Gently touch the surface of the water in the center of the dish with the soapy cotton swab or finger. Watch what happens to the pepper. Observation: When the soapy cotton swab or finger touches the water, the pepper rapidly moves to the edges of the dish, clearing the center. Explanation: The surface tension of the water allows the pepper to float. When soap is added, it breaks the surface tension by disrupting the bonds between the water molecules. This causes the water to spread out

  ges: 8-12 Objective: Demonstrate the principles of density and chemical reactions to create a colorful, bubbling "lava lamp" effect. Materials Needed: A clear plastic bottle or glass jar Vegetable oil (1/2 cup) Water (1/4 cup) Food coloring (various colors) Baking soda (1 tablespoon) Vinegar (1/4 cup) A small funnel (optional) Procedure: Prepare the Bottle: Fill the plastic bottle or glass jar about halfway with vegetable oil. Add Water: Carefully add water to the bottle on top of the oil. You’ll notice that the water will sink to the bottom because it is denser than the oil. Add Food Coloring: Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. You’ll see the food coloring mix with the water but stay separate from the oil. Create the Lava Effect: Using the funnel (if needed), add the baking soda to the bottle. Add Vinegar: Pour the vinegar into the bottle and quickly cover the top with the cap (if using a bottle) or just watch if using a jar. Watch the bubbling reaction. Obse

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Demonstrate the effects of carbonation on surface tension and buoyancy. Materials Needed: Clear carbonated beverage (like soda or sparkling water) A few raisins A clear glass or plastic cup Procedure: Prepare the Glass: Fill the clear glass with the carbonated beverage. Leave some space at the top to prevent spills. Add Raisins: Drop a few raisins into the glass of carbonated beverage. Observe: Watch the raisins as they sink to the bottom of the glass. After a few moments, observe what happens next. Explanation: The carbonated beverage contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which forms bubbles. When the raisins are placed in the beverage, the bubbles attach to their surface. The bubbles increase the buoyancy of the raisins, causing them to rise to the top of the glass. Once they reach the surface, the bubbles pop, and the raisins sink back down. This cycle continues, making the raisins appear to “dance” up and down in the glass. Extensions: Try Different Items

  Ages: 6-12 Objective: Show children how chemical reactions create gases and cause eruptions, similar to a volcanic eruption. Materials Needed: Baking soda (1/4 cup) Vinegar (1/2 cup) Red food coloring (optional, for lava effect) Dish soap (a few drops, for foam effect) A small plastic cup or container A larger tray or dish (to contain spills) A small funnel or spoon Procedure: Prepare the Volcano: Place the small plastic cup or container in the center of the larger tray or dish to catch any spills. Add Baking Soda: Using a small funnel or spoon, add the baking soda to the plastic cup. Prepare the Lava Mix: In a separate container, mix the vinegar with a few drops of dish soap and red food coloring (if using). The dish soap will make the eruption foamier, and the food coloring will give it a lava-like appearance. Create the Eruption: Pour the vinegar mixture into the cup with baking soda and quickly step back. Watch as the mixture fizzes and bubbles over, simulating a volcanic erupt

Ages: 5-12 Objective: Introduce children to the concepts of surface tension and chemical reactions by creating a colorful, swirling milk experiment. Materials Needed: Whole milk (1 cup) A shallow dish or plate Food coloring (various colors) Dish soap (a few drops) Cotton swabs or toothpicks Procedure: Prepare the Milk: Pour the milk into the shallow dish, making sure it covers the bottom evenly. Add Food Coloring: Add a few drops of different food coloring colors near the center of the dish. Try to keep the drops close together but not touching. Prepare the Soap: Dip a cotton swab or toothpick into the dish soap. Create the Magic: Gently touch the soapy end of the cotton swab or toothpick to the center of the milk, where the food coloring is concentrated. Hold it there for a few seconds and watch the colors burst and swirl around in a vibrant display. Observe the Reaction: Notice how the colors move and mix on their own, creating beautiful patterns and demonstrating the reaction betw

  Ages: 8-12 Objective: Teach children about chemical reactions and propulsion by creating a simple rocket using baking soda and vinegar. Materials Needed: Empty film canister with a tight-fitting lid (or a small plastic container with a screw-on lid) Baking soda Vinegar Measuring spoons A small piece of paper or tissue Optional: food coloring for a visual effect Safety goggles (for protection) Procedure: Prepare the Rocket: Make sure the film canister or plastic container is clean and dry. Add the Baking Soda: Measure about 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda and place it into the small piece of paper or tissue. Fold it to create a small packet. Prepare the Vinegar: Pour about 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar into the film canister. You can add a few drops of food coloring if you want a colorful "rocket fuel." Set Up the Rocket Launch: Place the baking soda packet into the film canister with the vinegar. Quickly put the lid on the canister and shake it slightly to mix the ingredients

  Ages: 8-12 Objective: Teach children about the process of oxidation and how iron rusts when exposed to water and oxygen. Materials Needed: Small iron nails or iron screws Water Salt Clear plastic bags or small containers with lids Paper towels A small bowl Procedure: Prepare the Iron: Place a few iron nails or screws into the small bowl. Create the Rusting Solution: Mix water with a generous amount of salt to create a saline solution. Stir until the salt is dissolved. Soak the Iron: Pour the saline solution over the iron nails in the bowl, ensuring they are fully submerged. Let them sit for a few hours. Prepare for Observation: Remove the iron nails from the solution and gently pat them dry with paper towels. Create the Rust Environment: Place the iron nails into separate clear plastic bags or small containers. For one set of nails, add a small amount of water to the bag or container to create a humid environment. For another set, leave them dry or add just a few drops of water. Ob

  Ages: 7-12 Objective: Introduce children to the concept of chemical reactions and heat activation by creating and revealing messages written in invisible ink. Materials Needed: Lemon juice (freshly squeezed or bottled) A small bowl or cup White paper Cotton swabs or a small paintbrush A heat source (like a lamp, iron, or hairdryer) Optional: food coloring to add color to the lemon juice Procedure: Prepare the Invisible Ink: Pour a small amount of lemon juice into the bowl or cup. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to the lemon juice to make the ink more visible when applied, though the ink will still be invisible when dry. Write Your Message: Use a cotton swab or small paintbrush to write a secret message or draw a picture on the white paper with the lemon juice. Allow the paper to dry completely. The message will be invisible when dry. Reveal the Message: Once the lemon juice is dry, gently heat the paper using a heat source. You can use a lamp, an iron (set to low heat)

  Ages: 5-12 Objective: Teach children about chemical reactions, particularly the reaction between an acid and a base, through an exciting and visually stimulating volcanic eruption. Materials Needed: A small plastic bottle (like a soda bottle) Baking soda Vinegar Dish soap Red food coloring A funnel A tray or large dish to catch the overflow Playdough or modeling clay (optional, to create the volcano structure) Procedure: Prepare the Volcano: If using playdough or modeling clay, mold it around the bottle to create a volcano shape. Leave the bottle opening clear and place the volcano on a tray or large dish to catch any overflow. Add Baking Soda: Use a funnel to add a few tablespoons of baking soda to the bottle. Add Dish Soap and Food Coloring: Add a few drops of dish soap and several drops of red food coloring to the bottle. The dish soap helps create more bubbles, and the food coloring makes the "lava" look more realistic. Prepare for the Eruption: Make sure the volcano

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Introduce children to the concepts of surface tension and chemical reactions using simple kitchen ingredients. Materials Needed: Whole milk (or any milk with high fat content) Food coloring (various colors) Dish soap A shallow dish or plate Cotton swabs Procedure: Prepare the Milk: Pour a generous amount of milk into the shallow dish or plate, just enough to cover the bottom. Add Food Coloring: Drop several different colors of food coloring onto the surface of the milk. Place the drops in different spots to create a colorful pattern. Prepare the Dish Soap: Dip a cotton swab into dish soap. Make sure it’s well-coated but not dripping. Create the Swirls: Gently touch the tip of the cotton swab (with dish soap) to the surface of the milk. Observe what happens. Observe the Reaction: Watch as the food coloring rapidly swirls and moves around the milk. The colors will spread and mix in exciting patterns. Explanation: The Magic Milk Swirls experiment demonstrates the

  Ages: 6-12 Objective: Teach children about density and how different liquids can stack on top of each other without mixing. Materials Needed: Clear glass jar or cup Honey Light corn syrup or maple syrup Dish soap (colorful if possible) Water Vegetable oil Rubbing alcohol Food coloring Spoon Procedure: Prepare the Liquids: In separate containers, mix water with a few drops of food coloring to create colored water. Also, mix a small amount of food coloring with rubbing alcohol in another container. Layer the Liquids: Carefully pour honey into the bottom of the jar. Let it settle. Slowly pour corn syrup or maple syrup on top of the honey. Use the back of a spoon to help pour it gently. Next, pour dish soap on top of the syrup. Slowly add the colored water on top of the dish soap, again using the back of a spoon to prevent mixing. Pour the vegetable oil on top of the colored water in the same way. Finally, gently pour the colored rubbing alcohol on top of the oil. Observe the Layers: N

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Introduce children to the concepts of buoyancy and gas bubbles through a visually engaging experiment with everyday materials. Materials Needed: A clear glass or plastic cup Carbonated water or soda (like Sprite or club soda) Raisins (or other small, lightweight objects like dried beans) Optional: food coloring for added visual effect Procedure: Prepare the Glass: Fill the clear glass or plastic cup about halfway with carbonated water or soda. Add Food Coloring (Optional): If you want to make the experiment more colorful, add a few drops of food coloring to the carbonated water. Stir gently to mix. Drop the Raisins: Gently drop a few raisins into the carbonated water or soda. Observe the Reaction: Watch as the raisins begin to float, sink, and rise again. The raisins will initially sink to the bottom, but then you will see them rise and fall repeatedly. Explanation: The Dancing Raisins experiment demonstrates the principles of buoyancy and gas bubbles. The car

  Ages: 6-12 Objective: Introduce children to the concept of chemical reactions and heat activation by creating and revealing messages written in invisible ink. Materials Needed: Lemon juice (freshly squeezed or bottled) Cotton swabs or a small paintbrush White paper A heat source (like a light bulb, iron, or hairdryer) Small bowl or cup Water (optional, for diluting lemon juice) Procedure: Prepare the Ink: Pour a small amount of lemon juice into the bowl or cup. If the lemon juice is too concentrated, dilute it with a few drops of water. Write Your Message: Use a cotton swab or paintbrush to write a message or draw a picture on the white paper using the lemon juice. Allow the paper to dry completely; the writing will be invisible when dry. Reveal the Message: Once the lemon juice is dry, gently heat the paper using a heat source. You can use a light bulb (by holding the paper close to it), an iron (set on a low heat without steam), or a hairdryer. Be cautious and supervise children

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Introduce children to chemical reactions and color mixing through a fun and visually stimulating experiment. Materials Needed: Baking soda White vinegar Food coloring (various colors) Baking sheet or large tray Small containers or bowls Pipettes or droppers Plastic spoons Procedure: Prepare the Tray: Spread a thin layer of baking soda evenly across the baking sheet or large tray. Set Up Color Containers: Fill small containers or bowls with white vinegar. Add a few drops of different food coloring to each container and mix well. Add Colors to Tray: Use pipettes or droppers to suck up the colored vinegar. Drop the colored vinegar onto the baking soda on the tray. Observe the Reaction: Watch as the colored vinegar reacts with the baking soda, creating fizzy, bubbling reactions. Observe how the colors mix and spread across the tray. Explanation: The Exploding Colors experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction between baking soda (a base) and vinegar (an acid). Whe

  Ages: 6-10 Objective: Demonstrate the effects of acid erosion on calcium-based materials by dissolving the shell of an egg using vinegar. Materials Needed: Raw egg (in its shell) White vinegar Tall glass or jar Spoon Paper towels Water (for rinsing) Procedure: Prepare the Egg: Carefully place the raw egg into the tall glass or jar. Add Vinegar: Pour enough white vinegar into the glass or jar to completely cover the egg. Observe and Wait: Watch as bubbles form on the surface of the eggshell. These bubbles are carbon dioxide gas released by the chemical reaction between the vinegar (acetic acid) and the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. Check Daily: Leave the egg in the vinegar for 24-48 hours. Check on it periodically to observe changes in the eggshell. Remove and Rinse: Carefully remove the egg from the vinegar using a spoon. Rinse it gently under running water to remove any remaining vinegar and eggshell residue. Observe the Egg: Examine the egg carefully. Notice how the eggshell

  Ages: 4-8 Objective: Introduce children to the concepts of surface tension, chemical reactions, and color mixing in a visually captivating way using simple materials. Materials Needed: Whole milk (low-fat or skim milk may not work as well) Dish soap (liquid) Food coloring (assorted colors) Cotton swabs (several) Shallow dish or plate Procedure: Prepare the Milk: Pour enough milk into the shallow dish to cover the bottom with a thin layer. Add Food Coloring: Drop several drops of different colored food coloring onto the surface of the milk. Space the drops out a bit. Introduce Dish Soap: Dip the end of a cotton swab into the liquid dish soap. Just a small amount is enough. Touch the Milk Surface: Gently touch the soapy end of the cotton swab to the center of one of the drops of food coloring. Observe what happens. Observe and Experiment: Watch as the colors swirl and move around on the surface of the milk. Try touching the swab to different areas with food coloring to see how they r

  Ages: 6-12 Objective: Demonstrate basic principles of Newton's third law of motion and aerodynamics by building and launching a balloon-powered rocket. Materials Needed: Balloon (standard size) Drinking straw (preferably with a large diameter) String or fishing line (about 3 meters) Tape Scissors Markers or stickers (for decoration, optional) Procedure: Prepare the Rocket: Decorate the balloon and straw if desired. Attach the balloon to one end of the straw securely with tape. Create a Launch Track: Tie the string horizontally across a large room or outdoor space. Ensure it is taut and straight. Launch Preparation: Thread the straw onto the string, ensuring it can move freely. Position the balloon end of the straw near one end of the string. Launch the Rocket: Inflate the balloon by blowing air into it, but do not tie it off. Pinch the end of the balloon to prevent air from escaping. Release the balloon while keeping hold of the pinch. The escaping air will propel the straw (ro

  Ages: 5-12 Objective: Demonstrate capillary action and color mixing by creating a colorful display of "walking" water between cups. Materials Needed: Six clear plastic cups Water Food coloring (red, yellow, blue) Paper towels Spoon or pipette Procedure: Set Up the Cups: Arrange six clear plastic cups in a row. Fill cups 1, 3, and 5 with water. Color the Water: Add a few drops of red food coloring to cup 1, yellow to cup 3, and blue to cup 5. Stir each cup to mix the color evenly. Prepare the Paper Towels: Fold paper towels into strips. You will need two strips per color (total of six strips). Place Paper Towels: Place one end of a paper towel strip into cup 1 filled with red water and the other end into cup 2 (empty). Repeat with yellow (cup 3 to cup 2) and blue (cup 5 to cup 6). Observe and Wait: Watch as the colored water begins to "walk" up the paper towels and into the empty cups 2, 4, and 6. Color Mixing: Over time, observe how the colors mix in cups 2, 4,

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Demonstrate the concept of density and gas formation using simple household ingredients to make raisins "dance" in a glass of carbonated water. Materials Needed: Clear glass or jar Carbonated water (e.g., club soda or sparkling water) Raisins (or other small dried fruits) Spoon Procedure: Pour Carbonated Water: Fill the clear glass or jar about halfway with carbonated water. Make sure it is fizzy! Add Raisins: Drop several raisins into the glass of carbonated water. They will sink to the bottom initially. Observe and Wait: Watch as the raisins sink to the bottom of the glass due to their density compared to the carbonated water. Watch Them Dance: After a few moments, observe as bubbles of carbon dioxide gas attach to the rough surface of the raisins and lift them towards the surface of the water. The raisins will "dance" as they move up and down in the glass, following the path of the bubbles. Explanation: The Dancing Raisins experiment dem

Ages: 7-12 Objective: Engage children in understanding the principles of density and chemical reactions by creating their own colorful lava lamp. Materials Needed: Clear plastic bottle (e.g., a 16-ounce water bottle) Vegetable oil Water Food coloring (assorted colors) Alka-Seltzer tablets (or any effervescent tablets) Flashlight or small lamp (optional, for added effect) Procedure: Prepare the Bottle: Fill the plastic bottle about three-quarters full with vegetable oil. Add Water and Food Coloring: In a separate container, mix water with a few drops of food coloring (choose a color you like). Stir well to combine. Slowly pour the colored water into the bottle with the vegetable oil. Leave some space at the top. Watch and Observe: Observe as the colored water sinks to the bottom of the bottle due to its higher density compared to the vegetable oil. This creates the lava lamp effect. Activate the Lava Lamp: Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into small pieces. Drop one piece into the bottle

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Demonstrate how plants absorb water and transport it through their stems using a colorful and visually appealing approach. Materials Needed: Celery stalk (with leaves intact) Clear glass or jar Water Food coloring (assorted colors) Knife (for cutting celery, adult supervision required) Tray or plate (to catch any spills) Procedure: Prepare the Celery: Cut the bottom of the celery stalk to create a fresh surface. This helps the celery absorb water more easily. Add Water and Food Coloring: Pour water into the clear glass or jar, filling it about halfway. Add a few drops of food coloring into the water. Stir gently to mix the colors. Place Celery in the Glass: Place the cut end of the celery stalk into the glass of colored water. Ensure the celery is standing upright and the leaves are above the water level. Observe and Wait: Leave the celery in the colored water for several hours (4-6 hours or overnight). Keep it in a well-lit area. Check and Record Observations

  Ages: 5-10 Objective: Engage children in a mysterious experiment to write secret messages using invisible ink and reveal them using a simple chemical reaction. Materials Needed: Lemon Water Bowl or cup Cotton swab or paintbrush White paper Lamp or heat source (e.g., hairdryer) Procedure: Prepare the Invisible Ink: Squeeze the lemon to extract its juice into a bowl or cup. Add a few drops of water to dilute the lemon juice slightly. Write the Message: Use a cotton swab or paintbrush to dip into the lemon juice mixture and write a message or draw a picture on the white paper. Ensure the strokes are light and the paper doesn’t tear. Let it Dry: Allow the paper to dry completely. The lemon juice will dry clear and become invisible. Reveal the Message: To reveal the hidden message, hold the paper near a lamp or use a hairdryer set on low heat to gently warm the paper. As the paper warms up, the lemon juice will oxidize and turn brown, making the message visible. Explanation: The Invisib

  Ages: 6-12 Objective: Engage children in a fun experiment to observe the effects of an acid-base reaction and the concept of osmosis using a common household ingredient. Materials Needed: Raw egg White vinegar Clear glass or jar Spoon (for handling the egg) Procedure: Prepare the Egg: Carefully place the raw egg into the clear glass or jar. Add Vinegar: Pour enough white vinegar into the glass to completely cover the egg. Observe Initial Reaction: Watch as bubbles start to form around the egg almost immediately. This is the vinegar reacting with the calcium carbonate in the eggshell. Wait: Leave the egg in the vinegar for 24-48 hours. Check periodically and add more vinegar if necessary to keep the egg submerged. Remove the Egg: After 24-48 hours, use a spoon to carefully remove the egg from the vinegar. The shell should be completely dissolved, leaving a translucent membrane. Rinse and Examine: Rinse the egg gently under tap water to remove any remaining bits of shell. Observe the

 Ages: 5-10 Objective: Engage children in a colorful and dynamic experiment to observe the interaction between different liquids and the concept of surface tension. Materials Needed: Shallow dish or plate Whole milk (low-fat milk can work but results may vary) Liquid dish soap Cotton swabs Food coloring (assorted colors) Small cup (for dish soap) Procedure: Pour the Milk: Pour enough milk into the shallow dish to cover the bottom completely. Add Food Coloring: Add a few drops of different colors of food coloring to the milk. Space the drops out, but don’t stir them. Prepare the Soap: Pour a small amount of liquid dish soap into a small cup. Dip the Cotton Swab: Dip one end of the cotton swab into the dish soap. Touch the Milk: Gently touch the soap-coated end of the cotton swab to the surface of the milk in the center of one of the food coloring drops. Observe the Reaction: Watch as the colors explode and move away from the cotton swab, creating beautiful patterns and swirling effects.

  Ages: 6-12 (with adult supervision) Objective: Engage children in a visually exciting experiment to demonstrate a rapid chemical reaction and the concept of catalysts. Materials Needed: Empty plastic bottle (e.g., a water bottle) Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution, available at pharmacies) Dish soap Dry yeast Warm water Food coloring Small cup Spoon (for mixing) Tray or large dish (to contain the foam) Procedure: Prepare the Bottle: Place the plastic bottle in the center of the tray or large dish to catch the foam. Add Hydrogen Peroxide: Pour about half a cup (120 ml) of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle. Add Dish Soap: Add a few squirts of dish soap to the hydrogen peroxide in the bottle. Add Food Coloring: Add a few drops of food coloring to make the reaction more visually appealing. Prepare the Yeast Mixture: In a small cup, mix one tablespoon of dry yeast with three tablespoons of warm water. Stir the mixture well for about 30 seconds. Pour the Yeast Mixture: Quickly pour the yeast