This jumping colors science activity had our whole family – including my husband – watching in amazement. It was truly beautiful to watch the colors jump. But it also provided my kids with a basic introduction to the science of soap.
To do this jumping colors activity, I gathered the following materials:
- A bottle of half and half (any kind of milk product will do, but the higher the fat content the better the experiment works, which is why I chose to use half and half)
- Our Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paints
- Plastic pipettes
- A pie tin
- Dish washing soap
I started by pouring a shallow layer (about 1/4 inch) of half and half into the pie tin.
Then I invited the kids to take turns selecting a color from our set of liquid watercolors to drip on top using our plastic pipettes
Once they had dripped in all the colors, I squirted a small pump of dishwashing soap in to the middle of the pie tin.
Amazement ensued as we watched the colors jump very quickly to the edge of the pie tin. Then we watched as they slowly began to come back to the center.
The kids loved it, and we still had more half and half. So I gave each of them their own tupperware with a layer of half and half to continue experimenting. It was so cool to watch the colors they dripped in jump to the side of the container and then slowly make their way back to the center.
For an explanation of the science behind the jumping colors, check out Steve Spangler Science!
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More science activities for kids
More science posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- Dancing raisins
- Candy experiments
- Jumping colors science activity
- Make your own glycerin soap
- Crystallized snowflakes
- Dissecting an apple
- What do ants like to eat?
- Make your own telescope
- The great baking soda and vinegar experiment
- Magic inflating balloons
Don’t have time to gather materials? Want to make science super easy? Check out these monthly subscription services that will send science and creativity kits to your door!
Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board.
Julie Cox says
April 28, 2013 at 7:58 pmWow Katie, what a fun, and creative idea this is! I can not wait to try this in my classroom with my kiddos!
Katie says
April 28, 2013 at 8:06 pmI hope it goes well for you! We were all seriously amazed at how the colors jumped to the edges when we added the soap.
Laura Oreamuno says
April 29, 2013 at 1:10 amI did it in Science clas and the best Was providing a small bowl with the soap on midle of the table and one q-tip each. This made the same effect in smaller portions of the milk and colours but lasted much moré minutes of fun.Each time sop gót near, not even Inside, the color starter moving.
Laura Oreamuno.San José,CostaRica.
Katie says
April 29, 2013 at 6:33 amGracias por la idea, y por visitarnos desde Costa Rica!
Jen says
April 29, 2013 at 1:02 pmI can’t wait to try this with my girls after school on Friday (which is our after school craft day when they get to do something fun and potentially very messy). They loved the glue monsters we made from your blog last week.
Katie says
April 29, 2013 at 1:12 pmHow sweet of you to share your experience with the glue monsters! I hope you enjoy the jumping colors as well. My one piece of advice: buy more milk than we did so you can do it over and over again!
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) says
April 30, 2013 at 1:43 pmA great idea. I’ve done a similar experiment using soap to power a little boat across a bowl but had never thought to use colours in this way. Thanks for a super idea.
Katie says
April 30, 2013 at 2:26 pmPowering a boat with soap? Sounds cool! Do you have a link?
Stephanie says
April 30, 2013 at 7:24 pmThat could definitely spark some amazement in my house and its beautiful how the colors swirl.
Katie says
May 1, 2013 at 3:54 pmThe colors were gorgeous indeed!
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
May 1, 2013 at 8:01 pmWhat a great science experiment! Thanks so much for linking up with Montessori Monday. I pinned your post to my Kids’ Science Activities Board at http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-science-activities/
Tracey@We-Made-That says
May 3, 2013 at 8:07 amLove this experiment we did something like it and my girls LOVED it. Looks like your kids enjoyed it too! Thanks for sharing on We Made That!
Julie says
May 4, 2013 at 10:28 amThat’s so cool and looks simple to do. I love the swirls.
crystal @ Growing A Jeweled Rose says
May 6, 2013 at 11:50 pmHey, thanks so much for linking back to Bath Activities for Kids- it is such a fun experiment, isn’t it? Great photos! Crystal of BAFK & GAJR
Katie says
May 7, 2013 at 7:05 amOf course! I loved it when I saw it on your blog and we had so much fun doing it.
crystal @ Growing A Jeweled Rose says
May 7, 2013 at 7:04 amAnother quick note to let you know I am featuring this on Growing a Jeweled Rose as part of Tuesday Tots this week =D
Lula B says
May 7, 2013 at 1:40 pmWe love this too! We did it first a few years back and then again last week. My kids love it. We’ve only used semi-skimmed milk though – the half and half looks better. Your colours are really vibrant!
Lucinda (via Science Sunday)
Katie says
May 7, 2013 at 1:55 pmNext time we try this I might make it into a science project and have the kids try it with different kinds of milk – non-fat, skim, and whole. It will be interesting to see how the activity is different with each kind of milk!
Allison says
May 9, 2013 at 11:01 pmLooks like so much fun! I’m featuring this on The Sunday Showcase this weekend. 🙂
Ticia says
May 11, 2013 at 11:34 amThat’s always such a fun experiment. I need to do it with my kids soon while they’ll still think it’s amazing.
helena says
February 22, 2015 at 11:04 pmif you use milk, or maybe even watered down half and half? (enough for a large, clear bowl) you can see the beautiful swirls that happen “behind the scenes” as the colors jump away from the soap- it adds a 3d element. it is kind of a huge waste of milk so i understand why some would be uncomfortable doing this
Heather Grunauer says
August 23, 2018 at 8:36 amCan powdered milk or canned milk be used?
Katie says
August 23, 2018 at 9:20 amI honestly don’t know as I’ve never tried either of them.