Crystal Growing Sensory Science Experiment

Borax powder

Pipe cleaners

A wide-mouth jar

Boiling water (adult handles this)

Food coloring

String and a pencil

Measuring spoons

Bend pipe cleaners into shapes and tie to a pencil with string.

Boil water (adult step) and pour into a wide-mouth jar.

Stir in borax — about 3 tablespoons per cup of water — until no more dissolves.

Add food coloring for colored crystals.

Lower the pipe cleaner shapes into the jar, resting the pencil across the rim.

Set aside undisturbed for 12-24 hours. The waiting is hard but worth it.

Pull out your crystal-covered shapes. Touch them — bumpy, faceted, and sparkly.

Crystals form because the borax comes out of solution as the water cools, depositing on the pipe cleaner surface. Real mineralogy.

The rougher the pipe cleaner surface, the more crystal seed points, and the more crystals grow.

Check progress at 6, 12, and 24 hours to observe crystal growth over time.

Try different borax concentrations and compare crystal size — more borax = larger crystals.

These make beautiful sun catchers. Hang them in a window and the facets catch light.