Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Lemon Volcano

Materials

Lemons

Knife

Glass baking dish

Directions

Liquid food coloring

Dish soap

Baking soda

Craft stick or fork

Use whatever colors of food coloring you want your volcanoes to be

This part’s for a grown-up: Cut off the ends off the lemons so they will stand up in the baking dish. Then cut the lemons in half. Now for the keiki: Place the lemon halves in the baking dish with the middle of the lemons facing upward. Add a few drops of food coloring to the lemons. Add a small squirt of dish soap to each lemon half, and then sprinkle baking soda over them. To activate the volcanoes, take a craft stick or fork and stab each lemon half a few times. Watch as the lemons start to fizz and bubble!

The How and Whys: When an acid (citric acid in lemon juice) and a base (baking soda) combine, a chemical reaction occurs — carbon dioxide and sodium citrate form, causing the liquid to bubble and fizz like a volcano. Variations: Use other citrus fruits such as limes or oranges to make volcanoes. Do they work as well as the lemon?

Secret Banana Message

Materials

Banana (unpeeled)

Toothpick

Directions

.Keiki will love doing these fun science experiments!

The best part is all you need is fruit and materials you may already have at home.

On the largest, flattest area of the banana, using the toothpick (or your finger nail), make small holes in the peel in the shape of letters. You won’t be able to see the letters as you make them, but an hour or so later, the message will darken on the banana peel.

Variations:

The How and Whys: When the banana peel gets punctured or damaged, a chemical called polyphenol oxidase is released by the cells of the peel; it reacts with oxygen by turning brown.

1. Decorate the banana by tapping out various patterns and shapes all over the peel.

2. Write a kind message to a friend or parent and give it to them as a surprise.

3. Experiment to see if bananas with messages ripen faster than bananas without messages on them.