8-20-12 Science Fun

 

Baking soda, vinegar, bottles, and food coloring

 

This afternoon Gus and I decided to experiment a bit with some things that we have around the house. He was very excited to help me pour the baking soda into the container and then said, "Oooohhhhh!!" when I squeezed the blue vinegar onto the baking soda. It made a fizzy sound and then bubbled and he clapped. :-)

I made the initial squeeze and then he was ready to play with the red, yellow, green, and blue colored vinegar. It was very easy to set up, cost next to nothing, and kept him very entertained for more than an hour. I loved watching him play and react to the sounds and reactions of the baking soda and vinegar. This is one we'll do again and again!!

 

Touching the baking soda

 

After it was fizzy he wanted to touch it

 

So pretty!

 

Lifting the bin to listen to the fizzing as the vinegar ran over the baking soda!

 

 

We were all done and he wanted to add more baking soda...

 

And was VERY upset that it was time to clean up!

We'll do this again for sure... I'm going to look online and see if there are other things that can be done with baking soda and vinegar and we'll see what happens!!

Sunday Funday!

 

Colored Rice in our Sensory Bin

This morning Gus was a little cranky. It was a bit of a challenge to keep him content all morning long, so I decided to use the time to dye some rice and pasta for our sensory table. We also made some cookies.

I found a few recipes for dying rice with food coloring, but they called for rubbing alcohol and we didn't have any, so instead I searched for dying rice with vinegar and found a few different ways. I made the first batch with purple and it called for too much vinegar (1 cup of rice and 1/4 cup of vinegar with a few drops of coloring).

Then I decided to use less vinegar and it was just what I needed (I did two tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of rice and a bunch of coloring).Gus was ready and eager to help me and it instantly boosted his mood. :-)

 

Helping to dump the cup of rice into the gallon bag

 

Adding the food coloring

 

Ready to shake!!

 

 

He was doing a great job helping!!

 

Shaking the yellow

 

After a few times he knew what to do and I didn't have to help!

 

Crazy shaking!!

After we dyed the rice, we dyed some pasta (uncooked). We followed the same procedure as above.

While our rice and pasta was sitting (it's recommended that it sit in the bag for about 30-60 minutes to set), we decided to bake some cookies. I pulled over the tot tower and Gus got inside and he was ready to start helping with the cookies!!

 

Dumping the cookie mix into the bowl

 

Adding the butter

 

Mixing the dough

 

Ready to put into the oven!

By the time we were done making cookies, it was time for a nap. Gus was not happy about having to go for a nap, but he was really in need. He ended up sleeping until 6:15!! I had to go up and wake him and he was in a deep sleep. 

When he came downstairs, he was so excited to see what new bin was at the sensory table!

 

The rice sat for a few hours and dried

 

In the bin and ready for Gus to discover it!

 

So pretty!

 

Here's the pasta-- green bowties

 

Blue twisty

 

Purple shells

Here are some pictures of Gus discovering the new rice bin and playing for a bit before dinner.

 

Hmmmm... I wonder what's under the lid...

 

He literally said, "Ohhh!!" :-D

 

It didn't stay pretty for long...

 

He loved mixing it up with his hands and feeling the rice!

 

Fun at the sensory table!

Later this week we're going to play with baking soda and vinegar... should be loads of fun!! I'll be sure to take pictures and post them!!