Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone a bit? Here is an activity that is a little different and a lot of fun!
what you need: 8 packets of gelatin ~ eye droppers ~ food coloring ~ water ~ large bowl
The gelatin mold needs to be made ahead of time, I prepped mine the night before I was planning on executing this experiment.
Boil 5 cups of water. Add 8 packets of gelatin (I used Knox). Mix until the gelatin is dissolved then pour it into a large bowl. I used two separate bowls, one for each kid. I was glad I did. . .you’ll see why at the end of the post!
I filled little cups (old applesauce or fruit cups work perfect), with water and 4 or 5 drops of food coloring. I gave M and M medicine droppers and medicine syringes (NOT the ones with needles.) You can buy droppers at the craft store, but I found that the dropper I saved from an old medicine bottle worked the best.
Big M had a lot of fun figuring out which droppers worked, which ones didn’t and how the results were different with each one!
Questions (to ask your kids): “What do you think will happen when you squeeze the dropper?” “Does each dropper have the same result?” “Which dropper leaves the best mark?”
Wonder how Little M did this experiment?
YEP, that’s what it looked like about 5 minutes in. She really had a great time and even though it wasn’t what I had planned a lot of learning went on. We talked about the way the gelatin felt, how the the colors changed as she mashed them together and what effects her squishes had on the gelatin.
I hope you’ve enjoyed our week of color, make sure to check back tomorrow for the color Book Review. . .it’s a good list!
I found your blog from SITS 31DBBB. If you aren’t on there, someone else linked to you. Haha. Anyway, I *LOVE* your ideas and I’m adding you to my reader! This one about gelatin absolutely rocks. I can’t wait to try it with my kids and preschoolers.
So funny I am reading this today. I am doing ABCs today and am using alphabet cutters and teaching with jell-o. Think I’ll incorporate the “squeeze” when she’s all done! That should be so much fun for her!
How did it go? I would love to hear more about the alphabet cutter and jell-o idea.