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SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

LET'S DO CHEMISTRY

Feeling mixed-up about chemistry? Try this fun science activity!

Cup pours liquid into a funnel.
Hand holding a drinking glass filled with fluid.
Erlenmeyer flask containing colored fluid.
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This animal is not on exhibit in the habitats. It is one of our Animal Ambassadors and is used in public and school programs.

If your kids watch any Saturday morning cartoons, they might think chemistry is all mad scientists, bubbling beakers and lab explosions. But what they probably don't know is that chemistry is all around us, everyday! When we cook, mix or smell something.

Kids can freely explore once they have the tools they need — and the encouragement from you — to conduct their own chemistry experiments. They can observe what happens when simple ingredients are mixed together and practice the scientific skill of noticing changes. We promise no explosions and plenty of scents.

GATHER THIS:

  • Water
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Vegetable oil
  • Whole milk
  • Soap
  • Small reusable cups, trays and bowls
  • Eyedroppers

THEN DO THIS:

  1. Create four mixing stations:
    Station 1: Oil, water, cups, eyedroppers
    Station 2: Baking soda, vinegar, trays, eyedroppers
    Station 3: Whole milk, soap, tray or bowl
    Station 4: Water, flour, sugar, salt, eyedroppers, bowls
  2. Let your child move between the stations and try mixing different things together.

Someone will probably want to taste a concoction, make sure ingredients are edible and safe.

ASK THIS:

  • What if you change the amount or mix in another item?
  • Does the same thing happen if you mix in water?
  • Have you seen anything like that before?
  • Does the temperature make a difference?
  • What did you notice about the smell?

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Chemistry is a type of science that looks at what things are made out of and how they act and change when you do things to them. We do chemistry all the time when we mix things together - like cooking or baking!

WHAT THIS TEACHES:

  • Scientific practices
  • Stability & change
  • Matter & its interactions

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1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
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650-342-7755
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CuriOdyssey is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Tax ID 94-1262434

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