Whenever I bring a science experiment into my preschool or kindergarten classrooms, my students are always very excited and engaged throughout the activity. Because of this, I am always looking for new, simple and inexpensive ideas to try. This easy preschool science experiment was an especially exciting experiment because a rainbow magically appears.
You only need a few simple ingredients for this experiment, and kids can get hands-on and cause the chemical reaction, and fizzing!
The experiment is exciting as the rainbow is revealed, but it is also a great learning opportunity as children watch science in action. If you don’t do many science experiments, this is a great place to start.
If you are looking for more hands-on science, check out Teaching Ideas 81 Easy Science Experiments for Kids filled with activities to try at home, or in the classroom. Also make sure to visit another rainbow experiment with a popular, Walking Rainbow Experiment.
Easy Preschool Science Experiment Materials
Most of the materials you need for this experiment are commonly found in a home. A few of the materials may be harder to find. For this easy preschool science experiment, you will need:
- Baking Soda
- Food Coloring
- Vinegar
- Eye Droppers/Pipettes (Optional)
- Small Strainer
- Plastic Wrap
- Magnifying Glass (Optional)
- Tray/Bowl
Creating Your Rainbow Tray
Start by mixing baking soda with food coloring. I mixed approximately half a cup of baking soda and at least 1 tsp of food coloring for each color. Once mixed, place each mixture in some design on your tray. You can create a rainbow, or any pattern.
Next, use plain baking soda and put it into the small strainer. Shake over the colored baking soda. I used a small piece of plastic wrap under the strainer to hold the baking soda in place before shaking it evenly on the colored soda.
You don’t have to use the strainer, however, I found simply shaking the baking soda onto the colored soda created an uneven top coating and in many places a very thick coating. If the coating is too thick it takes a very long time for the vinegar to reach it. A thin coating is all you need.
Shake the baking soda so that the colored soda is covered. Once all of the colored soda is covered, you’re ready to begin the experiment!
Easy Preschool Science Experiment Magic
Give children vinegar and eye droppers to do the experiment. I also provided magnifying glasses to encourage children to take a closer look at the experiment as it happens.
Encourage children to only add a drop or two of the baking soda at a time and watch what happens. The reaction of the plain soda and vinegar is very exciting as it fizzes on the tray.
Ask children to notice what sound it makes, if it has an odor, and what it looks like. This is a great way to encourage children to look at the chemical reaction as a scientist would.
Shortly after adding some vinegar, children will begin to see pops of color appear. As the baking soda and vinegar mix and fizz, the hidden colored baking soda will show through. Keep adding lots of baking soda. If it is taking a long time for the color to show through, encourage children to squirt more vinegar into one spot on the tray. This will help bring the color out.
Keep adding vinegar and watch the reaction. Soon more and more of the color will appear and children will have a vibrant colored tray. Keep adding vinegar until no more fizzing occurs. Children can then watch as the colors mix and change.
The experiment is always a hit with young children because of the fizzing and beautiful colors. It’s always a hit with teachers and parents because of the learning and science that happens!
I hope this experiment is as popular with your kids as it always is with mine. It’s a great way to spark an interest in science and STEM.
Easy Preschool Science Experiment
Alternative Ideas
Although I love creating the rows of colored soda, it can be time consuming. If you want to do this experiment, but have a limited amount of time to set it up, below I have described an alternative way to create the tray.
Instead of mixing the baking soda and food coloring, simply add a layer of baking soda to a tray or bowl. Next, add drops of each color on top of the plain layer. Keep adding as many drops as you wish. The more the better.
Next, cover the layer with the drops with a thin layer of baking soda. Continue the experiment in the same way as described above. Children can slowly add drops of vinegar and the color will appear.
However you choose to do this experiment, children will love the fizzing and magically appearing rainbow!
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