Explore surface tension and chemical reactions with milk, food coloring, and soap
20 mins
Duration
Ages 4-6
Age Range
Easy
Difficulty
Materials Needed
- Whole milk
- Food coloring
- Cotton swabs
- Liquid dish soap
- Shallow dish
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Pour milk into shallow dish to cover the bottom
- 2
Add 2-3 drops each of different colored food coloring near center
- 3
Dip cotton swab in liquid soap
- 4
Touch the soapy swab to one drop of food coloring
- 5
Watch the amazing color explosion and movement
- 6
Try touching different colors and observe what happens
Safety Tips
- Use only food-grade materials
- Supervise to prevent ingestion of soap
- Have paper towels ready for cleanup
Learning Goals
Scientific observationCause and effectChemical reactionsPrediction skills
Fun Variations
- Try with different types of milk (skim vs. whole)
- Use different soap concentrations
- Add multiple soap touches to see continued reactions