Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basics of sensory play in relation to chemistry and have fun exploring different sensory experiences.
Materials and Prep
- Water
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Food coloring
- Plastic containers
- Measuring spoons
- Plastic cups
- Plastic gloves
- Apron or old clothes
- Tablecloth or newspaper
Make sure to wear your apron or old clothes and protect your work area with a tablecloth or newspaper.
Activities
- Make a colorful volcano eruption:
- Fill a plastic cup halfway with vinegar.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the vinegar.
- In a separate container, mix baking soda with water to form a paste.
- Place the baking soda paste on top of the vinegar in the cup.
- Watch as the mixture fizzes and creates a colorful eruption!
- Create a fizzy rainbow:
- Fill several plastic containers with water.
- Add different colors of food coloring to each container.
- Put on plastic gloves to protect your hands.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the water in each container.
- Observe the fizzy reaction and watch as the colors mix and blend.
Fourth Grade Talking Points
- "Chemistry is the study of matter and how different substances can interact with each other."
- "Sensory play involves using our senses, such as touch, sight, and smell, to explore and learn about the world around us."
- "In the first activity, we created a volcano eruption using vinegar and baking soda. The vinegar is an acid and the baking soda is a base. When they mix together, they create carbon dioxide gas, which causes the eruption."
- "For the second activity, we made a fizzy rainbow by combining baking soda with colored water. The baking soda reacts with the water and releases carbon dioxide gas, creating the fizzy bubbles."
- "These experiments show us that chemistry can be fun and exciting, and that different substances can react in interesting ways."