Hands-on-science activities to keep your kids busy this summer

Noggin Builders owner, Amy Torf, shows us some fun activities using household products to engage kids even while they are on summer break.

Kick-off summer with these scientific art activities you can do at home!

Shaving Cream Prints

Supplies:

• waxed paper
• shaving cream
• food coloring
• craft stick
• card stock
• cardboard scrap with flat edge

Directions:

• Place a square of wax paper on a flat surface
• Spread shaving cream over your wax paper, keeping it foamy with varied elevations
• Drop several drops of coloring on the shaving cream
• Use a craft stick to swirl the colors around; do not blend the colors entirely, you want to see the streaks
• Place a sheet of white card stock right on top of the shaving cream and food coloring. Press it down lightly. Give it a few seconds to absorb the dye.
• Pull the paper off and set it down. It will look like a big glob of shaving cream at this point.
• Gently scrape off the shaving cream with the flat edge of the piece of cardboard.
• There should be a surprise of marbled paper beneath. Blot off any remaining shaving cream with a paper towel, being careful not to smear the food coloring.

Salt Absorption Art

Supplies:

• card stock
• glue
• tray
• salt
• pipette
• food coloring

Directions:

• Make a design with the glue on the card stock.
• Place the card with glue inside a tray (to contain the mess).
• Sprinkle salt over the glue, covering the glue entirely. Shake the tray gently to help cover the glue.
• Using a pipette, drop small amounts of color onto the salt.
• Watch! The salt will “grab” the color.

POV Spinners

Supplies:

• cardboard circles (2)
• pencil
• tape
• markers

Directions:

• Think of two images to combine (ideas: fish in a bowl, animal in tree, person on chair…)
• Draw one of the images on a circle; draw the other image on the other circle. Make sure the images are lined up.
• Attach both circles to a pencil, parallel to the pencil and directly opposite each other. Make