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Fireworks in a Jar – 4th of July Oil and Water Science Experiment

ByBeth Gorden

Make your own fireworks in a jar with this Independence Day Activities! For these firework activities, children will be doing an oil and water experiment with a twist to make pretty red, white and blue 4th of July science experiments. This summer experiment is such a fun, patritic 4th of July activity for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders to learn about the density of oil and water.

Make your own fireworks in a jar with this Independence Day Activities! For these firework activities, children will be doing an oil and water experiment with a twist to make pretty red, white and blue 4th of July science experiments. This summer experiment is such a fun, patritic 4th of July activity for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders to learn about the density of oil and water.

Firework Activities

I love simple, fun activities that excited early learners! This easy firework activity is a great way to teach toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grad 3 students the oil and water science experiment with a fun twist! Children will be using the water oil food coloring experiment to make pretty fireworks in a jar.  Use this oil and food coloring experiment in your 4th of July theme, summer science, or a creative fourth of july activities for kids of all ages. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschoole r- you will love this oil water and food coloring experiment!

preschool science experiment

Oil and Water Experiment

All you need to try this mason jar experiment are a few simple materials you already have on hand in your kitchen. For this patriotic activity you will need:

  • mason jar or clear container
  • warm water
  • vegetable oil
  • food coloring – we used red, white and blue to be patriotic

Oil and Food Coloring Experiment

4th of july science experiments

Fill a glass container with warm water, leaving a couple inches or so at the top for oil to be added later. Pour 1-2″ of vegetable oil or similar to the top. Wait for it to sepearte clearly.

oil water and food coloring experiment

Independence Day Activities

Add a few drops of food colouring to the oil.

water oil food coloring experiment

Oil and Water Science Experment

With the food colouring, we found that less is more. Too much food colouring, and it tended to colour the water before the fireworks effect had begun. We had the best results when we used 2 drops of food colouring per colour, with about 2-3 colours each time.

Oil and Water Science Experment

Water oil food coloring experiment

Use the fork to stir the few drops of food coloring in the oil  together. The food colouring and oil won’t mix, but stirring helps to break up the food colouring into smaller droplets, and also ensures that the food coloring is thoroughly coated with the oil. (Try not to overdo it though, or your fireworks display won’t be as impressive.)

Independence Day Activities

Density of oil and water

You can continue to create fireworks until your kids are done or the color build-up at the bottom of the glass is starting to make the water too cloudy.

4th of july science experiments

Oil water and food coloring experiment

Kids are mesmerized by the colors and the firework-effect of the falling food coloring.  It is so beautiful and looks different all the time! This is seriously a super easy and fun-to-try science experiment.

summer activities for kids

Summer activities for kids

This makes a fun summer activity to try at any time to celebrate a festival, vacation, or just explore a simple science project that reinds kids of beautiful fire works.

fireworks in a jar

Oil and Food Coloring Experiment

This picture helps you see super clearly all the drops of paint in the oil. THey have been mixed in oh so gently so that they break apart. Notice how they do not mix with the oil as oil and water (you are using water based food coloring) do not mix. As it moves down the oil you will have a fireworks show. See all the fireworks lined up in the oil ready to burst into the water and create a stunning fireworks show!

firework activities for kids

Fireworks in a Jar Explanation

So this looks cool and all, but what is the science behind it? Glad you asked!

This is a Liquid density science experiments that allows kids to explore a little about chemistry and physics with a fun, playful science experiment for kids! As you noticed in the fire works in a jar experiment, oil and water do not mix. Not all liquids mix, some have different weights or densities because of their molecular structure. (If you’ve ever made a density tower this is what you were exploring.) Water is heavier than oil so it sinks because it is made up of a different amount of molecules. Basic food coloring you find at a store is water based so it dissolves in water, but not in vegetable oil. So as the food coloring goes in the oil you can stir just that level gently to break apart the blobs without making a big murphy blue mess. The food coloring drops and the oil remain separated in the container. The colored droplets will begin to sink because they are heavier than the oil. Once the food coloring reaches the water layer in the mason jar they start to dissolve in the water; this is what makes the fun fireworks in a jar.

4th of July Activity Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket My kids love themed activities almost as much as they love candy science! This red white and blue science project combines them both for colorful, fun independence day activities that explore how things dissolve. This fourth of July science allows kids to have fun learning a simple science principle while having some fun with 4th of July activities for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, and 2nd graders. Make your own fireworks in a jar with this Independence Day Activities! For these firework activities, children will be doing an oil and water experiment with a twist to make pretty red, white and blue 4th of July science experiments. This summer experiment is such a fun, patritic 4th of July activity for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders to learn about the density of oil and water.

4th of July Activities

Kids will love making this beautiful firework craft to celebrate America' Independence Day on July 4th. This summer crafts for preschoolers uses a free 4th of July printable as a starting point. Then children will use a simple, but stunning watercolor painting with salt technique to make this independence day craft ideas. Use this fourth of July crafts for preschoolers, toddlers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students too. 4th of july slim  fourth of july craft 4th of july shaving cream art

Kids will have fun revealing the hidden pictures in these free 4th of July Color by Number Printable pages. These 4th of july worksheets are a fun way for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, and first graders to work on number number recognition, strengthening fine motor skills, and having fun 4th of july printables. Simply print pdf file with 4th of july color by number for a fun, patriotic activity for kids this Independence Day. FREE 4th of July Hats Craft for Kids - super cute fourth of july craft for toddler, preschool, kindergarten age kids to celebrate independence day in the united states #4thofjuly #craftsforkids #preschool Celebrate Independence Day with kids by playing this FREE printable, 4th of July BINGO! This 4th of July printable makes fun 4th of july games for the whole family with kids from toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and up. You will love that this 4th of July activity for kids is low prep and great for kids of all ages! Simply print pdf file with  Kids will have fun working on visual discrimination, counting, and strengthing hand muscles while coloring these 4th of july i spy pages. These 4th of July printables are a fun way for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, and first graders to celebrate Independence Day on the fourth of July.  Your kids will love these fourth of July activity pages where they will find patriotic items such as American flags, bunting, Uncle Sam, the liberty bell, Statue of Liberty, and more. Simply print pdf file with 4th of july worksheets and have fun with this 4th of july activity for kids.

4th of July Printables

Looking for more fun and FREE fourth of July printables? You will love these:

american symbols for kids 4th of july worksheets 4th of july activity with playdough 4th of july activity

Make your own fireworks in a jar with this Independence Day Activities! For these firework activities, children will be doing an oil and water experiment with a twist to make pretty red, white and blue 4th of July science experiments. This summer experiment is such a fun, patritic 4th of July activity for toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd graders to learn about the density of oil and water.

 

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of Preschool Play and Learn. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! Beth is also the creator of 123Homeschool4Me.com and kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com where she shares more than 100,000 pages of FREE worksheets,& educational ideas for PreK-8th grade.

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