Post-4th of July Sensory Activities

With July 4th having just passed, fireworks are still on the minds of many. Help your child create “fireworks” through science activities designed to please. Adapt to the age of your child by the amount of help you give. Even the youngest child will benefit from watching you make the objects for play. The lava lamp is often used in early childhood to visually stimulate a child, and problem solving can be learned by watching, and shaking. For all other ages, problem solving, science and sensory skills are targeted. Go ahead, light up the fireworks!

Make A Lava Lamp: The secret behind the lamp’s “lava” is that oil is lighter/less dense, than water, so it rises to the surface. Salt is heavier/more dense, than water, and sinks to the bottom. When you add the salt, blobs of oil attach to the grains and sink. Then the salt dissolves, and the oil returns to the top. The result? Liquid fireworks!

Supplies: Clear plastic soda bottle with lid, Water, Food coloring, Glitter, Vegetable oil, Salt, Flashlight

– Fill the jar three-quarters full of water. Add drops of food coloring until you like the color you see. A few drops go a long way!

– Sprinkle in glitter for extra sparkle.

– Fill the jar almost to the top with vegetable oil and let the mixture separate.

– Pour salt into the jar until you see the cool lava lamp effect. When the bubbles stop, add more salt to see it again.

– Shine a flashlight behind the jar to watch your lava lamp really glow!

Make Your Own Kaleidoscope: Light travels in a straight line through empty space, but when it hits into an object, it changes direction. Shiny surfaces, like the plastic report cover or a mirror, reflect light back to you., like a ball bouncing off a wall. The plastic tube inside the kaleidoscope reflect the beads, sequins, and confetti. Dry fireworks!

Supplies: Paper towel tube cut eight inches (20 centimeters) long, Clear plastic report cover, Ruler, Pen or marker, Paring knife or art utility knife, Four-inch (ten-centimeter) squares (one each) of black construction paper, plastic wrap, and waxed paper, Scissors, Rubber band, Clear tape, Colored transparent beads, small sequins, and shiny confetti, Stickers and wrapping paper

– Draw an 8-by-4-inch (20-by-10-centimeter) rectangle on the report cover. Cut it out.

– Fold the plastic to form a triangular shape. The quarter-inch (.6-centimeter) strip goes on the outside. Tape the strip along the edge so it stays closed.

– Slide the plastic triangle into the paper towel roll.

– Turn the paper towel tube on one end. Trace a circle around it on the construction paper. Poke a hole through the center of the circle and tape it over one end of the tube.

– Place a square of plastic wrap on the other end of the tube. Press down to create a pouch in the end of the plastic triangle. Put some beads, sequins, and confetti in the pouch.

– Place a square of waxed paper over the pouch. Stretch the rubber band over both the waxed paper and the plastic wrap. Be sure it’s on tight so nothing spills out!

– Trim the corners of the squares. Decorate the outside of the paper towel roll with stickers or wrapping paper.

– Hold the tube up to one eye and look through it. Turn it to see your own fireworks.

I hope your little ones enjoy getting to make their own light shows, and I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!