Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Science Birthday Party experiments

We did a solubility station that both my then-3-and-6yo kids loved. The trick is to require that they hypothesize about what will dissolve and what won't before they test it.

Testing Ph is also fun with kids that age. You can make your own (stinky) Ph indicator with red cabbage. Just don't boil it the day of the party...or even the day before. Pee-yew!

Sounds like a fun party!

For you to demonstrate outside but a huge hit in our house- the AlkaSeltzer rocket! Use a film canister (hard to find- ask a film counter!) and a half tablet of alka seltzer. Put the tablet in the container and a few drops of water on the lid. Put the container on the lid, lid side down and stand back and wait. If you get it tight, the container will launch 8-10 feet up with a POP!

Flubber is a fun one, probably like the cornstarch experiment you have listed but uses white glue, water and borax. It's a beautiful polymer that keeps for a while in a plastic bag. You can color it with food coloring too. You can send some of this home with th ekids in small ziploc bags.

While not as "exciting" as rockets or volcanoes, I like the simple static electricity experiments:

1. confetti paper and comb (each kid can comb hair--buy them each one so they don't share--and place it close to small pile of confetti on table)

2. empty soda can sideways on table and balloon (statically charged by rubbing it on sweater)

I also like the forces of motion experiments (centrifugal force, center of gravity, friction, etc.)

Oh, yes! It's like silly putty, and it could be a goodie bag item for them to take home.

Good one, Chris!