Maker Monday: Kids of all ages can have fun with the ‘Amazing Milk Experiment’

Science and art combine in the Amazing Milk Experiment, this week’s Maker Monday STEM activity. Little kids will love the moving colors as they swirl across the milk. Older kids might find the science lesson behind the experiment more fascinating.

Here’s how it works: All liquids, including milk, contain a property known as surface tension. Surface tension is caused by the cohesive forces of the liquid’s molecules. Soap, when applied to any liquid, will reduce surface tension. In this experiment, the fat and protein molecules in the milk react to the soap. As the soap and fat molecules move together in this chemical reaction, surface tension is decreased.  The food coloring allows you to witness this phenomenon as it happens.

It is very cool — and also beautiful!

As with all Maker Monday projects, kids can make this with items you may have around the house or can pick up at a dollar store. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below. A note to kid makers: Please work with a parent or caregiver on this Maker Monday project. And though this project doesn’t involve any tools, always be careful when using tools of any kind, including scissors.

Maker Monday materials:

• a pie pan or a wide, flat bowl
• 1 cup of milk
• food coloring
• dishwashing liquid
• toothpicks

Maker Monday instructions:

Step 1: Pour enough milk into the pan to cover the bottom. Then dot with a several drops of food coloring in various colors.

Step 2: Add one drop of dishwashing liquid and watch the colors swirl around on their own.

Step 3: This color movement will last for a while. Kids can watch (and take photos, if they’d like) as more and more intricate patterns develop.

Step 4: Once the movement ends, give the color swirls a little help by twirling and pulling through the colors with a toothpick.

It’s quite a sight to see! Kids can take photos or draw their own versions of the colorful pattern they’ve created.

Want more at-home fun creating cool stuff and making beautiful things? Check out more Maker Monday projects right here. Do you have an idea for a Maker Monday craft project? If so, please share it with Kidsburgh! Send your maker activity ideas to info@kidsburgh.org.