Kitchen Chemistry Reaction Testing Lab

Safety goggles and an old shirt as a lab coat

Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice

Whole milk, dish soap, food coloring

3% hydrogen peroxide, active dry yeast

Salt, small cups, a tray

Notebook and pencil

Set up a "lab" with safety gear, supplies, and a notebook.

Experiment 1: baking soda + vinegar. Record: bubbles, gas production.

Experiment 2: milk + food coloring + soap. Watch colors swirl and race.

Experiment 3: hydrogen peroxide + yeast in warm water = "elephant toothpaste."

Record each experiment: materials, observations, hypothesis.

Design your own: pick two ingredients, predict, test.

"What patterns do you notice across the experiments?"

Safety goggles aren't just for show. Hydrogen peroxide can irritate eyes, and vigorous reactions can splash.

The milk experiment works only with whole milk or cream. Skim milk has too little fat.

For elephant toothpaste, use a narrow-necked bottle for the most dramatic foam overflow.

Keeping a lab notebook is a real scientific practice. Date each entry, describe the procedure, and record observations.

The "design your own" step is the most important. It shifts your child from following instructions to thinking like a scientist.