What Kids Learn From This STEAM Activity
In a STEAM Activity, Colorful Rain Rain kids learn about the separation of liquids with different densities by mixing oil, water, and food coloring. They witness how the food coloring forms colorful droplets, resembling rain, as they fall through the oil and settle into the water below. This experiment teaches fundamental principles of science, such as density and the behavior of liquids, while creating a visually captivating display of a “rainbow” effect.
This post contains affiliated links. Please read my disclosure page.
What We Need For This STEAM Activity
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain Materials
- Clear Container
- Water
- Clear Cup or Drinking Glass
- Vegetable Oil
- Food Coloring
- Stirrer
How to Do the STEAM Activity, Colorful Rain Experiment
- Fill a clear tall glass or container with water, filling it about three-quarters full.
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain – Fill Water About Three-quarters Full - Fill a separate glass with vegetable oil, filling it about half full.
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain – Fill a Separate Glass With Vegetable Oil - Add different color food colorings to the oil and then mix.
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain – Add Different Color Food Colorings To The Oil
STEAM Activity Coloful Rain – Mix The Food Colorings - Pour the colored oil mixture on top of the water.
STEAM Activity Coloful Rain – Pour The Mixture Into The Waters - Watch colorful “rain” droplets form and fall.
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain – Colorful Rain Starts To Drop
STEAM Activity Colorful Rain -Watch Colorful Rain Droplets FallVariations & Challenges
- Create a Hypothesis: Encourage kids to make predictions (hypotheses) about what will happen before they start the experiment. This promotes critical thinking and scientific reasoning.
- Layered Density: Create layers of liquids with varying densities in the glass. For example, you can have sugar water at the bottom, plain water in the middle, and vegetable oil on top. Carefully add the food coloring to each layer and observe how they interact.
- Temperature Effects: Experiment with liquids at different temperatures. Cold water and warm water can have different effects on how the colored droplets move and mix.
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR LEAVE ME A COMMENT! 🙂
Check Out Our Other STEAM Activities!
English