This is one of our absolute favorite science activities! The process is stunning, and you only need a few kitchen items to set this activity up at home. Read on to see how you can make magic milk!
Magic Milk Experiment for Kids
Materials
- Whole milk or half & half
- A shallow container
- Food coloring
- Dish soap
- A cotton swab or toothpick
- Paper towels
Method
- Begin by pouring 1-2 cups of whole milk or half & half into a shallow container.
- Add a little more milk if needed, ensuring that the bottom of the container is fully covered.
- Add food coloring drops to the outer surface of the milk, using varying colors as desired.
- Now, dip a Q-tip/craft stick into dish soap.
- Then, have kids place that directly into the center of the milk pan.
- As soon as the cotton swab touches the surface of the milk the milk will "start to dance"!
- As the milk dances the colors swirl and mix, creating the most stunning effects!
- My girls thought this was the coolest thing and wanted to make their milk dance again & again!
Extend the Fun
- Use varying colors of food coloring to create different effects.
- Explore color theory by using two colors that come together to make a new color. Red and blue for example will come together to make purple.
- Try making shapes and designs with the food coloring in the milk. What happens when you add the soap?
- Experiment with different containers. Do the results change if you use a square pan verses a circle pan?
- Make SUPER MAGIC MILK by soaking a cotton ball in dish soap and then dropping it directly into your pan of milk.
- Add a holiday theme to this experiment and make Santa's Magic Milk.
- Try this experiment with other liquids. Does it work?
The Science Behind the Fun
- Why does the food coloring stay on top of the surface of the milk?
- What makes the colors dance?
- Why does the dish soap cause a reaction?
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