Children need to become familiar with the scientific method. These "experiments" are a fun way to do that. I did these activities with a group of about 60 9-12 year olds during the summer of 1999. We had a wonderful time and we only had 1 spill!

Preparation:
Put down drop clothes on the tables and floor. (You can purchase a roll of drop cloth plastic in most discount and hardware stores for about $5.)

You will need as many measuring spoons, measuring cups and small bowls (such as cottage cheese containers) as you can borrow. You will also need 3 sandwich size zipper bags for each child.

If you want to create the atmosphere of a real lab, borrow men's shirts or scrubs from friends and let the children wear them as lab coats while they are experimenting. You can also wear a lab coat and speak with a Viennese accent to add to the fun.

Before starting the experiments, set the stage by explaining that we will be experimenting with some chemicals which we have encountered on Planet X. Our task is to discover the properties of the chemicals and decide what they can be used for. (You may need to explain what is meant by "properties").

Explain that the children need to be very accurate when measuring in order for their experiments to be successful. Assign one older child or an adult volunteer at each table to be the "head of the scientific team". This person should control the use of food coloring, as this is the part of the experiments which is most likely to make a mess.

Distribute silly science sheets and pencils to the children. You will probably want to guide them as they make each mixture.

Have Fun!