Make a lava lamp with your preschooler, and your preschooler will love science experiments! I can’t promise that, but Henry has.
Lava lamps are simple to make, too.
What you need to make a Lava Lamp:
- Vegetable oil [or get a clear oil]
- Water
- Food coloring of your choice
- Alka-Selzer Tablets [as many as you choose, the more the merrier!]
- Clear container [the taller and skinnier, the better the effect]
How to make a Lava Lamp:
- Fill the container with 2 parts oil, 1 part water. [Leave some room at the top of the container for a little bit of bubbling.]
- Drop in a few drops of food coloring
- Add an Alka-Selzer Tablet [start with 1/4 or a half a tablet to begin with]
- Watch is fizz and bubble up to the top!
We did three containers of lava lamps. Three different colors, for triple the lava fun!
It took a lot of oil, though. I wish I had more on hand because I didn’t quite have 2/3 for each container. The oil is essentially the lava lamp portion, so it would have been nice to have more of it. But it still worked!
I also wish I had clear oil on hand instead of vegetable oil. But I’m not sure what kind of oil besides baby oil is clear. Any suggestions?
Henry dropped in tablet after tablet. Over and over, watching it bubble up! He used the entire box of Alka-Selzer just for this experiment!
The green one really captured his attention. Maybe because it’s his favorite color. Or maybe because it was the tallest and skinniest, so it had the best reactions.
It was even interesting from the top of the bottles. Or, at least Henry thought so.
Once we were starting to run out of Alka-Selzer tablets, we started combining the colors and making them bubble together.
We were surprised to see that the colored bubbled remained separate! Can you see the little red ones in the mix of the big blue bubbles?
What’s your favorite science experiment to do with the kids?
This one might be a toss up with the baking soda and colored vinegar one… They’re both highly exciting to Henry!
Bern at Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas recently did some Faux Lava Lamps too! In fact, she had entire Mad Science Week! It’s awesome!
Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.
About Jamie Reimer
This looks a lot of fun will try it when J is a little bit older I think
aww, thanks for mentioning us! What fabulous photos you got of the reactions!
Also I found that the cheaper ($$$) the oil the clearer it was. I got a cheapy, cheapy one and it was not as yellow and worked perfectly – just a tip to test for next time!
gorgeous pics!! definitely on our to-do list!
My kids will absolutely love this! Can't wait to try it!
It was on my "to do" list for a long time! So pretty.
Great post! I love that your ad above is advertising real lava lamps!
how long does it last? do you have to throw it away after ur done?
@Rosie – as long as you have Alka Seltzer Tablets, you can keep adding to it! The vinegar/water will stay good for as long as you want!
One of my goals for this year is to get over my fear of science! This one would be awesome… and easy!
this is so neat! I'm buying alka selzer today!
I have a huge bottle of vegetable oil I need to use up. Mineral oil is also clear, but I've only seen it in small bottles. I'm sure it comes larger though!
Oh lava lamps are fab! it was one of our first experiments! Yours are so colourful. Brilliant!
Thanks for linking to science sparks fun sparks!
Great idea, I love the bright colours you made.
Ellie
Wonderful idea! Can't wait to try this out with my little guy.
Oh yeah, we need to do this! I have such a mental block when it comes to science-y things but I think this looks ace
Very cool.
Thanks for this! Emily loved this experiment and like your Henry she kept looking from the top of the bottle to watch the reaction.
I used aspro clear and baby oil so not sure if that is why we had mostly little bubbles of lava but still fun to watch. Emily kept wanting to add more and to shake.
http://blackpaws.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/more-l-craft/
Just did this with my kids. They loved it! Thanks!
This looks amazing! My daughter is constantly asking for more science projects and I think she will love this.
Great project! I had a question…does it really matter what material the bottles are? I’m planning on doing this with my preschool class, and I’m debating whether to stock up on glass bottles/containers, or if I can get away with plastic. Thanks!
Oh, I think plastic would work just fine. As long as they’re clear. And taller, skinnier bottles work best!
This looks like so much fun! I have one son who will definitely love this:).
You asked about our favorite experiment. It was from Apologias flying creatures: The Lazarus Experiment.
Note: no bug will be harmed, but bug haters might not enjoy this one.
Find one bug (we used grasshopper), then pin ‘em down under water until you think they are dead. Carefully place dearly departed bug onto paper towel and cover with fine salt. Carefully blow away salt. (Salt speeds up experiment). Observe bug for 5-15 minutes. It will slowly come back to life! Why? Research spiracles in insects… My boys were fascinated!
Can I use small plastic soda bottles or the liter size ones?
Inez, I think either would work just fine, just change up the amounts accordingly.