We went to my friend’s house the other day to do a science experiment. All the kids were either primary or pre-school ages. I even thought it was fun!

We started with a tall root beer mug and poured in ½ cup of corn syrup, then ½ cup of water, carefully so as not to disturb the corn syrup too much. Then cooking oil and then alcohol.

Then the kids took turns dropping objects into the mug to see what would float in which liquid. Things like a coin, paper clips, raisins, a grape, plastic coin, plastic jack, a tiny wooden house, and toothpick. Sarah wanted to put in food coloring. That was surprising to me; it fell through the alcohol and settled on top of the oil.

Then when the kids were finished dropping things in we stirred it up. The corn syrup would not mix in much at all. The oil and food coloring made it all blue and bubbly, it was kind of pretty. When it settled it formed three layers.

The object was to learn about density. (I had to ask.)

Naomi