It’s simple to turn a picnic table into a lab bench where you can try oil spherification. After that, mix up some cosmetics chemistry with coconut oil, beeswax, and flavored drink mix to create lip balm. Blowing giant bubbles isn’t just fun; it teaches you about surface tension. And if you like mixing baking soda and vinegar together, you’ll love making foaming slime.

MATERIALS

 Unopened 8-ounce (235 ml) plastic water bottle

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Supervise young children so they don’t put detergent in their mouths.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Remove the label from a water bottle, take the lid off, and pour out about 2 ounces (60 ml) of water.

STEP 2: Using a paper funnel, add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) detergent and 5 teaspoons (23 g) baking soda to the water in the bottle. Put the lid back on the bottle and shake well. Label the bottle “detergent–baking soda.” (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Add the detergent and baking soda to the water.

STEP 5: Immediately pour all the glue-vinegar solution into the water bottle very quickly. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Pour the glue-vinegar solution into the detergent–baking soda solution.

STEP 6: Watch the chemical reaction create foaming slime. When your bottle has stopped “erupting” foamy slime, squeeze it out of the bottle. (Fig. 3, 4)

Fig. 3: Watch the foaming slime emerge.

Fig. 4: Squeeze the foam out of the bottle.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. Add more or less water to your glue solution to see what happens.

MATERIALS

 About 54 inches (137 cm) of cotton kitchen twine

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Use the recommended detergents for the best results.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Tie one end of the cotton string to the end of one stick. Put a washer on the string and tie the string to the end of the other stick so the washer is hanging in-between, on around 36 inches (91 cm) of string. Tie the remaining 18 inches (46 cm) of string to the end of the first stick, forming a string triangle. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Make a bubble wand with sticks, string, and a washer.

STEP 2: Mix the water and cornstarch. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well without whipping up tiny bubbles. (Fig. 2) (Optional Step: Let the solution sit for one hour; stir gently before using.)

Fig. 2: Mix up your bubble solution.

STEP 3: With the two sticks parallel and the washer hanging down in between, completely immerse the string on your bubble wand in the bubble mixture. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Dip the bubble wand string into the bubble mixture.

STEP 5: Step backwards or blow bubbles with your breath. You can “close” the bubbles by moving the sticks together to close the gap between strings. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Make some giant bubbles!

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. What other substances can you add to your bubble solution to prevent evaporation?

MATERIALS

 16 ounces (454 g) cornstarch

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Chopping and boiling red cabbage should be done with adult supervision.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Mix together the cornstarch and either water or red cabbage juice. You can use your hands. The resulting mixture, which will look like glue, is fun to play with. (Fig. 1, 2)

Fig. 1: Mix cornstarch and water.

Fig. 2: The mixture looks like glue and is fun to play with.

STEP 4: To decorate an acid-base fresco made with red cabbage juice, put vinegar in one cup and a few tablespoons (40 to 55 g) baking soda mixed with 1/4 cup (60 ml) water in a second cup. Use toothpicks or paintbrushes to make designs on the cornstarch with the baking soda solution and vinegar. For a painted fresco, put food coloring on a plate and use toothpicks or paintbrushes to paint designs with it on your fresco. (Fig. 3, 4)

Fig. 3: Paint a cabbage juice fresco with vinegar and baking soda.

Fig. 4: Paint your fresco with food coloring.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. What other household acids and bases could you use to paint on an acid-base fresco?

MATERIALS

 Microwaveable bowl

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Heating and pouring steps must be done by an adult or with adult supervision to avoid burns.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: In a microwaveable bowl, mix together 2 parts coconut oil to 1 part wax beads (e.g., 8 tablespoons [112 g] coconut oil, 4 tablespoons [55 g] wax beads).

STEP 2: Microwave the mixture at 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the wax is completely melted and the solution is clear. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Melt the coconut oil and beeswax.

STEP 5: Carefully pour some hot coconut oil–beeswax mixture into one of the lip balm containers and stir with a toothpick. To mix the color in, continue stirring as the lip balm cools into a smooth paste. Repeat until you’ve filled all of your containers. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Mix liquid drink flavoring into the lip balm.

STEP 7: Try the lip balm out. Keep it, give it to your friends, or peddle it at a lemonade stand! (Fig. 3, 4)

Fig. 3: Display lip balm alongside lemonade at your summer stand.

Fig. 4: Make lip balm for your friends.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

Make up your own lip balm recipe. Research the safety of all extra ingredients and label your lip balm if it contains allergens.

MATERIALS

 2 cups (475 ml) vegetable oil in a tall container, such as a jar or glass

SAFTEY TIPS & HINTS

— Adult supervision is required for microwaving and pouring hot liquids.

PROTOCOL

STEP 1: Chill the vegetable oil on ice or in the freezer until very cold but not frozen. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Chill the vegetable oil on ice.

STEP 2: Heat the water in a microwaveable bowl or in a saucepan on a stovetop. Whisk in the unflavored gelatin or agar powder. Continue to microwave or boil on the stovetop as needed, stirring until the powder is completely dissolved. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Add the gelatin or agar to the water.

STEP 6: Slowly squeeze the gelatin or agar solution into the cold oil, a few drops at a time so it forms into marble-size orbs and sinks. Allow them to cool for 30 seconds or so and retrieve with a slotted spoon or strainer after you’ve made about ten orbs. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Drop the gelatin or agar solution into cold oil.

STEP 7: Rinse the orbs with water and repeat, rechilling the oil as needed until you have as many orbs as you want. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Make more orbs.

STEP 8: Dry some of the super spheres by setting them on a plate overnight to watch them shrink. Rehydrate them with water to see what happens. They can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5: Dry some super spheres on a plate.

CREATIVE ENRICHMENT

1. Make floating spheres by making the orb mixture with 1 cup (235 ml) white vinegar and 3 tablespoons (24 g) agar powder. Add the orbs to water containing a few teaspoons (14 to 18 g) of baking soda.