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August 27, 2013 | 17 Comments

Magic Potion Lab from Tinkerlab

kids_science_concoctions_1

When my three-year old woke up the other day, the first thing she did was ask, ” can we do an experiment today?” Seriously.

An “experiment” happens to be three-year-old-code for setting up a concoction station. Also known as magic potion lab. Because this mini-sicence lab activity raises so many questions, engages my child fully, and challenges her curiosity, this is a request that I almost never refuse to fulfill.

kids_science_concoctions_7

The beauty of the magic potion lab is that you can source your pantry and pull out whatever you desire. No special trip to the market is necessary. I don’t know about you, but I am in love with projects that are convenient and low-cost.

The following supply list is what we started with, but feel free to work with what you’ve got.

Supplies

  • Water
  • Oil
  • Vinegar
  • Baking Soda
  • Liquid Watercolors or Food Coloring

Tools

  • Tall Glass Mason Jar
  • Spoon
  • Pipette or Eye Dropper
  • Kitchen Towel

kids_science_concoctions_2

Tip #1: Set this up in the kitchen

We’ve done this in other rooms of the house and even outside, but the kitchen works the best because it’s near a water source, the floors are made to be spilled on, and ingredients are close at hand.

Clear some counter space. Set up all your supplies. In this case we used a tall mason jar, a small jar of liquid watercolors, a small pitcher to fill with water and oil, and a rag for wiping up messes.

I encourage children to do all the work themselves and the little pitcher makes this especially doable.

kids_science_concoctions_3

Tip #2: Introduce just a few ingredients at a time

You might feel inclined to offer your child a smorgasbord of ingredients to pick and choose from, but this tends to be overwhelming and it will actually shorten your child’s attention span. A better bet is to introduce just two or three ingredients at a time. This way, your child will learn about the unique properties of those ingredients and understand what happens when they combine.

In the picture (above), we worked with water, oil, and liquid watercolors to explore the phenomena of immiscible liquids (or those liquids that don’t mix, such as water and oil).

kids_science_concoctions_5

Tip #3: Always keep a supply of baking soda and vinegar in the pantry

When my children or their neighborhood friends ask me if they can make concoctions, they inevitably have baking soda and vinegar explosions in mind. Invest in a gallon-sized bottle of vinegar for just a couple dollars and you’ll keep the alchemy troops happy for a long time.

kids_science_concoctions_4

Two questions for you:

Do you have any tips for setting up a magic potion lab? And what science project has held your child’s attention for longer than you might have expected?

For more creative science experiments that encourage children to think for themselves and develop critical thinking skills, visit us over at Tinkerlab and sign up for the Tinkerlab newsletter.

Science week

If you loved this post by Rachelle of TinkerLab you will love other ideas of hers and other bloggers over on our Science For Kids Pinterest board. Check back here tomorrow for even more fun!

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Preschool Activities, Science | 17 Comments

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17 Comments

  1. Christy says

    August 27, 2013 at 8:47 am

    I’ve done a Halloween themed activity similar to this in the past, where I let the kids be little witches making potions. I’m linking to my blog post about it so if you click on my name it will go direct to that post. We used some of the same things you did, but we added a few other things, such as cream of tartar for a powdered acid, and cabbage juice that changes color in response to ph levels.

    to Christy" aria-label='reply to this comment to Christy'>reply to this comment
    • Rachelle | Tinkerlab says

      August 27, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      Halloween is a great time to bring out a magic potion lab / witch’s cauldron station. Thanks for adding the cream of tartar and cabbage juice (red, I assume) to the mix — super suggestions.

      to Rachelle | Tinkerlab" aria-label='reply to this comment to Rachelle | Tinkerlab'>reply to this comment
  2. lisa says

    August 27, 2013 at 10:46 am

    My kids love adding sprinkles to all experiments! I found the cheapest way to purchase them it to purchase after a holiday when they are discounted. & at Marshalls/HomeGoods.

    to lisa" aria-label='reply to this comment to lisa'>reply to this comment
  3. How Wee Learn says

    August 27, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Love this idea. My SUPER SIMPLE science experiment is with ice. Pop it in a bowl by itself, a bowl with salt, a bowl of warm water, a bowl of cold water. So easy, no materials, and unusually captivating for my 3 year old!

    to How Wee Learn" aria-label='reply to this comment to How Wee Learn'>reply to this comment
    • Tina says

      August 27, 2013 at 3:00 pm

      My kiddo loved this when she was younger. I would color the ice cubes with food coloring and it was fun to watch the cool water swirl down to the bottom.

      to Tina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Tina'>reply to this comment
    • Rachelle | Tinkerlab says

      August 27, 2013 at 3:51 pm

      We adore simple science experiments too, and yours is absolutely perfect for the 3-year old crowd. Thank you!

      to Rachelle | Tinkerlab" aria-label='reply to this comment to Rachelle | Tinkerlab'>reply to this comment
  4. Heather Noel says

    August 27, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Nice! I often have set my daughter up in the kitchen with a mixing bowl, some flour and water and let her go to town; she loves it! Will have to replicate yours.

    to Heather Noel" aria-label='reply to this comment to Heather Noel'>reply to this comment
  5. Sarah says

    August 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    I love adding dish soap to the vinegar/baking soda concoction. It makes for an extra bubbly “explosion.”

    to Sarah" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sarah'>reply to this comment
  6. Tina says

    August 27, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    Oobleck. My daughter loves to make the stuff and will play with it for an hour or longer. All you need is corn starch and water. And food coloring if you want to get fancy.

    to Tina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Tina'>reply to this comment
  7. Sue-Two Kids Cooking and More says

    August 27, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    Kitchen experiments are something my kids loved and now my grandchildren like them too! Thanks for the cool ideas!

    to Sue-Two Kids Cooking and More" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sue-Two Kids Cooking and More'>reply to this comment
  8. Gina says

    September 4, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    baking soda and vinegar here too, literally hours have been spent in the pursuit of explosions. I gave my scientists a bowl of flour and sprinkles and plastic dinosaurs once and they were happy for a whole afternoon.

    to Gina" aria-label='reply to this comment to Gina'>reply to this comment
  9. Kim says

    October 25, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    I got stuck on the water drop microscope experiment, personally. All you need is a dropper and a green laser pointer. Definitely not for the younger kids due to the dangers that accompany handling lasers, but the awesome show projected on my wall captivated me for hours. Though, some may be surprised at what they find in their water, so attempt at your own risk:)

    to Kim" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kim'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

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    August 27, 2013 at 7:31 am

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    to How to set up a magic potion lab" aria-label='reply to this comment to How to set up a magic potion lab'>reply to this comment
  2. Risky Reads: Indian Summer Edition says:
    September 16, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    […] spark so much learning and curiosity. Rachelle from Tinker Lab has a great post on how to set up a Magic Potion Lab in your kitchen that seems totally doable … even for […]

    to Risky Reads: Indian Summer Edition" aria-label='reply to this comment to Risky Reads: Indian Summer Edition'>reply to this comment
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    October 3, 2013 at 11:52 pm

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  4. Follow me... to No Time for Flash Cards says:
    June 21, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    […] Magic Potion Lab written by Rachelle from TinkerLab. […]

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